2012 Bike Around the Bay, sponsored by
Ride Details

We are excited to offer our new and improved 2012 version of Bike Around the Bay! Our main change this year is a change to the day one start and day two finish lines. We are excited to offer a full loop for the route this year that will feature a start and a finish at the same location- the Barbers Hill ISD complex in Mont Belvieu, TX, just off of I-10. The ride will now start on day one and head east from the Barbers Hill ISD complex on I-10 over the Trinity River Bridge, where it will wind through Anahuac and join back with our original route at Ft. Anahuac Park. Our new finish will continue past our old finish line at Royal Purple Raceway Park back to the Barbers Hill ISD complex. Therefore, we eliminate the need to put bicycles on trucks and people on busses to get them back to the start from the finish. 

The route change will add approximately 25 miles to the route, making our 2012 distance approximately 170 miles. Our other significant change this year will be our overnight in Galveston. We are pleased to return to Moody Gardens this year for our overnight. We’ve got a new and improved finish and start at Moody Gardens along with a new covered overnight bicycle storage area. We’ve also kept our route along the Seawall for 2012 and even extended it so riders will ride along the Seawall all the way from 25th Street to 81st Street. 

2012 ROUTE (may be subject to minor revisions)

2012 detailed route maps will be available in the next few months.

COST and REGISTRATION INFO

Early Registration: May 1 - July 2, 2012
$30 + $130 donations

Regular Registration: July 3 - September 28, 2012
$30 + $150 donations

Late Registration: September 29 - October 10, 2012 (cyclists who register during late registration are not guaranteed a shirt)
$30 + $170 donations

Registrations and associated pledge donations are non-refundable and non-transferable.

The minimum age for a rider riding his or her own bicycle is 12 years of age as of October 13, 2012.

Each rider of a tandem bicycle should register separately.

The cost of dinner for the registered cyclist at Moody Gardens is included in the registration fee. You may purchase extra dinner tickets for guests for $20.

All pledge donations are tax-deductible. We encourage online pledge donations, but if you prefer to mail in a donation, please use this pledge form and make all checks payable to: Galveston Bay Foundation, 17330 Highway 3, Webster, TX 77598. Please include the Riders's Name and Bike Around the Bay in the "memo" field. Thank you in advance for the support!

GREEN INITIATIVES

As a conservation organization, GBF is committed to making Bike Around the Bay as "green" as possible. We are excited to announce two separate initiatives that will help us accomplish this goal.

Reliant Energy, a current GBF supporter through EcoShare, has retired an additional 500 metric tons of carbon on the Chicago Climate Exchange to offset the carbon generated from our ride (retired from a Williamson County, Texas landfill gas offset project). These offsets are intended to cover not only the carbon footprint of the riders and support vehicles during the weekend of the ride, but also the driving done by riders as part of their training for the ride. Thanks to Reliant Energy for making our ride carbon neutral!

We are also pleased to announce that Waste Management will be providing full recycling and compost services for Bike Around the Bay at the breakpoints and the start/finish lines for each day. We know our cyclists will truly be excited to ReCycle and we thank Waste Management for that opportunity! Galveston Bay Foundation will also make a concerted effort to reduce waste by using bulk packaging for breakpoint supplies where available.

2012 SCHEDULE

TBD

• The overnight stay in Galveston, Texas at Moody Gardens Hotel will be the high point of the day's journey and promises to relax and to re-energize the rider for the Day 2 excursions.
• Secure overnight bike storage will be available at the finish line for all participants.
• Personal vehicles left overnight at Barbers Hill ISD will be secure.

ACCOMMODATIONS

• Applicants are responsible for their own overnight accommodations; it is not included in your registration fee.
• A list of hotels that have discounted Bike Around the Bay rates are listed and mapped out below. Please call the hotel/motel of your choice to make your reservation.

• Please mention "Bike Around the Bay" when making your reservation.
• For other types of accommodations, consult www.Galveston.com
• A complimentary shuttle will run from Moody Gardens to the below listed hotels on Saturday afternoon and evening and Sunday morning.

The following hotels have discounted rates:

These are special Bike Around the Bay Rates so please remember to mention that you are making a reservation for Bike Around the Bay.

TRANSPORTATION

Luggage Transport

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Barbers Hill ISD Start: Luggage trucks will be available to transport riders' luggage to Moody Gardens Hotel. Each rider will receive a numbered adhesive luggage tag to be placed around the luggage handle. Luggage without a tag will not be accepted.

Moody Gardens Hotel/Overnight: Upon arrival to Moody Gardens Hotel, the luggage area will be located near the finish line. Riders may pick up their luggage at this location.

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Moody Gardens Hotel: Luggage trucks will be available to transport riders' luggage to the finish line at Barbers Hill ISD, Baytown, Texas.

Barbers Hill ISD Finish Line: There will be signage indicating where the luggage will be located at the finish line. Riders may pick up their luggage at this location.

For additional details about Bike Around the Bay, see the Ride FAQ.