Details
It's that time of year again, and YES!, the club will be hosting another New Years' Day Ride!
This year, there will be just 1 group and we will stay on the tarmac the entire route.
We will meet in Brookshire and then work our way down to Galveston for lunch.
After lunch, there will be an optional group ride back to Houston that makes its way back to the Brookshire starting point.
For those not heading to this part of Houston, we'll encourage the formation of small groups of 2-6 riders that head more directly to other parts of town.
Lunch-only option - If Brookshire is way out of the way and you prefer to simply meet up with everyone in Galveston for lunch, that's great! However, we ask that you please sign up for this event so we can have an accurate headcount for the restaurant to help plan for seating. Then, put a note in the Comment section below that you will not be riding with the group from Brookshire--we don't want our ride leaders expecting you and possibly delaying the group's departure!
As for specific lunch start time, we've moved the ride's starting time back this year to avoid arriving at the peak of the lunchtime rush. This also gives everyone an extra hour of sleep, plus, an extra hour for the morning to warm-up if it is cold! So, our target arrival will be 1:30 PM this year, but you know how rides go! If the groups ETA changes appreciably, one of our leaders can let folks know in the Comment section below.
Ride Specifics:
Meet in Brookshire at the Shell station located at FM-359 and I-10 (the southwest corner) no later than 9:45. Make sure you fill up, and pre-ride briefing begins at 9:50.
KSU (Kick-Stands Up) promptly at 10:00 AM, so plan accordingly.
Our lunch will be held at The Spot in Galveston--same place as last year!
Note 1: There is a $2 fee (cash only) to cross the bridge at San Luis Pass, so plan accordingly. Historically, the ride leader collects everyone's cash and makes a single payment to expedite the crossing!
It's a 144-mile ride down with an optional 114-mile return route. The GPX file and map is here: https://bit.ly/2023-01-01-Galveston
Note 2: It's not definite, but we anticipate the need to break into 2 groups--we don't want the group getting too big causing folks to be very spread out (which also can impede the flow of vehicular traffic). This means that most likely we will be recruiting a 2nd ride leader and sweep that will start ~5 minutes later than the first group.
Some general rules for the ride to help with safety, inclusion, and also minimize confusion:
- Ride your own ride! Your participation indicates your understanding that you participate entirely at your own risk and accept complete responsibility for the safety and well-being of yourself, your passengers, and your property. Your participation also indicates you carry insurance in accordance with Texas law, and that you have a motorcycle license.
- Please ride with your bright lights on (except for the rider immediately behind the leader) and carry emergency contact information with you.
- Let's maintain a safety-minded culture: All the Gear, All the Time. That includes a helmet, jacket and riding pants (preferably armored), over-the-ankle boots, and gloves.
- Please make sure you start the trip with a full tank of gas. Plan on having enough gas to travel 125 miles between gas stops. Never pass up an opportunity to get gas when we stop for a break.
- This is not a ride for stunting. Please don't pull wheelies, stoppies, or stunts of any kind!
- If you are going to break off from the route, please wave at someone so we know you left the group on purpose, then have a great day.
- Keep an eye on the person behind you. If you lose sight, turn around and find out what happened. Let's not leave anyone behind.
- Any place where there is a turn signal required, we will wait until the last rider (Sweep Rider) makes the turn before continuing.