BSU Bike Tour

ABOUT THIS EVENT

The purpose of this seeks to support Bowie State University's student's educational pursuits.  As a fundraising event, the net proceeds will be allocated to BSU scholarships. Your participation in the BSU Bike Tour 2024 will help BSU student's dreams become a reality.

Thank you for your interest in supporting the BSU Bike Tour 2024. This year's tour will be both traditional and virtual. This event is organized by the Bowie Metropolitan Alumni Chapter (BMAC) as a scholarship fundraiser for students at Bowie State University. This is our 8th tour and we’re excited to have you be a part of it. The BSU Bike Tour 2024 will occur on Saturday, August 24th, 7:00 a.m. ET and end at 4:30 p.m. Join cyclists from around the world to be a part of this fun and exciting bike tour.

For those electing the virtual tour you can ride anywhere you choose, for whatever distance or duration you choose. For example, you can ride in your neighborhood, park or trail, city, county, or state. You can even opt to ride a stationary bike for any time period.

For those riding in the traditional tour, we have 20, 40, and 100 mile routes with rest stops. The check-in registration table opens at 6:30 a.m. and is located at Vista Gardens Market Place, 10201 Martin Luther King Jr Highway, Bowie, MD 20720. All are welcome to participate.

Please note pictures will be taken during the event and your image/likeness may be used in electronic postings or future advertisements for the Bike Tour.  If you do not want your image/likeness used, please send an email message to [email protected] to inform the Bike Tour Committee.

GOAL
The BSU Bike Tour has a goal of 500 registered cyclists . It's a great way to get plenty of fresh air, sunshine, exercise and enjoy a portion of Maryland's outdoor scenery.  
 
EVENT SCHEDULE (Rain or Sunshine)
Date: Saturday, August 24th, 2024

Ride Time Window is 7:00am - 4:30pm. Eastern Time

Note: Even though route departure times are listed, riders can depart on their course at anytime, after they check in at the registration table.  Understand that event support and rest stops are available based on the start times listed below.  Be mindful of your riding abilities to ensure ride support is available for your entire ride distance. 

6:30 - 9:30am  Registration table open

7:00 - 8:00am  100 mile riders depart

9:00am  40 mile riders depart

9:30am  20 mile riders depart

3:30pm  Estimated shut down of last rest stop (Based on riders coming through the last stop)

4:30pm  Estimated time that all ride support will cease (Based on accounting for all riders)
 

ROUTES
For the virtual tour you can create your own adventure and ride wherever you choose, however, some suggested distances are 18 miles and 65 miles to match Bowie State University's founding year (1865).

For the traditional tour, we have 20, 40, and 100 mile routes with rest stops. The start and end point for all routes is Vista Gardens Market Place, 10201 Martin Luther King Jr Highway, Bowie, MD. 

Ride With GPS Route links:

20  TBP

40  TBP

100  TBP

AMENITIES

Ride GPS, Rest Stops, SAG, Ride Marshalls

REGISTRATION FEES 

Early Registration: $45 (Mar 1st - May 31st)Regular Registration: $65 (June 1st - August 24th)Registration Fee is NON-REFUNDABLE!  (NOTE: If a health emergency is declared requiring social distancing and lockdown, there are two options for traditional tour registrants. 1) Opt to ride virtually or 2) Opt for a refund. If you opt to ride virtually, your registration package will be mailed to you. For either option, send an email to [email protected] to indicate which option you prefer.)

NOTE: On-line registration will close at 11am Eastern Time on August 24th.  Any registrations made on the day of the event must be made from riders' personal electronic device.  No other means of payment will be available at the registration table on the ride day.

For questions, email us at [email protected]

Registration Package
•    T-Shirt  (Registered riders, who do not pick up their shirt on the day of the event, must pay postage to have tee-shirts mailed to an address.)

•    Wristband

For virtual tour registrants, a registration package will be mailed to you. For registrations received after August 9th, we cannot guarantee you will receive your package prior to the tour. 

For traditional tour registrants, pick-up your registration package when you check-in on the event date at the registration site. Contact the Bike Tour committee at [email protected] to make arrangements to receive registration packages not picked up on ride day; mailing of any traditional ride packages WILL REQUIRE PAYMENT FOR POSTAGE.

ADDITIONAL PURCHASES
Additional t-shirts for the BSU Bike Tour 2024 are available for purchase. You can place your order on this registration site. T-shirts can be purchased by anyone, even if you do not plan to ride in the event. 

The Bowie State University bike riding kit (tops and bottoms) will be posted on the BMAC website, during January and June each year.  The BMACBulldogs.com website provides ordering details.

DONATIONS
Anyone can make a donation, even if you're unable to ride in the event. Remember, this is a fundraiser for BSU scholarships.

Celebrity GRAND MARSHAL
More details to come.

SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE
To make this bike tour fun and exciting, registrants are encouraged to post photos/videos at the beginning and end of your ride. Share your experience with other riders from all over the globe. Take a picture wearing your bike tour t-shirt. Send your pics to [email protected].  If you send any pictures to our email address, it is understood that you are giving your consent for the images to be posted to our website and/or social media platforms.
 
SAFETY GUIDELINES
•    Obey all traffic laws, including your areas bicycle laws.
•    If you are riding with a group, ride single file as required by law.
•    All riders are required to wear an ANSI/SNELL/CPSC approved helmet.
•    Please be courteous to others sharing the road with you.
•    Riders under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult and have the consent of a parent or guardian to participate in the event.
•    All minors must be under adult supervision at all times.
•    An electronic ride waiver is required to complete the registration.

 

BY COMPLETING YOUR REGISTRATION and PAYMENT FOR THIS EVENT YOU AGREE TO THE FOLLOWING:

Waiver and Release

Waiver and Release. Participants RELEASE, WAIVE, FOREVER DISCHARGE AND HOLD HARMLESS, AND COVENANT NOT TO SUE the Bowie Metropolitan Alumni Chapter of the Bowie State University National Alumni Association, its officers, members, agents, volunteers, related entities, successors, and assigns (collectively, the “Indemnitees”) from any and all liability, claims, causes of actions, and demands of any kind or nature, either in law or in equity, which arise now or in the future in connection with Participants’ participation in the Bowie Metropolitan Alumni Chapter of the Bowie State University National Alumni Association Bike Ride. Participants understand and agree that this Release discharges the Indemnitees from any liability or claim that Participants may have against the Indemnitees with respect to bodily injury, personal injury, illness, death, or property damage that may result from Participants’ participation in the Bowie Metropolitan Alumni Chapter of the Bowie State University National Alumni Association, howsoever arising or caused, including THROUGH THE NEGLIGENCE OF INDEMNITEES. Participants expressly waive any right to a trial by judge or jury that Participants may otherwise have with regard to any claim or liability related to Participants’ participation in the Bowie Metropolitan Alumni Chapter of the Bowie State University National Alumni Association Bike Ride.