Planning Your Ride
Plan a route for your team in your community. MicroBikers design rides to fit their teams’ goals- do you want a relaxing ride around town or 100 mile challenge? We’ve see it all from our enterprising participants. Below are some tips and tools to help you pick the best route for your group. (Do you have tips for our participants about great bike routes in your area or tips on creating a great ride? We'd love to hear from you! Email us at microbike@accion.org.)
General route planning
These websites have great tools to help you plan the perfect biking route for you and your MicroBike team! Type in your city and take a look at the possibilities for local rides:
- Map My Ride- search for routes of any length in your area, and track your progress.
- Trail Link- did you know that thousands of miles of old railroad paths have been converted for recreational use? Explore some fun rides at Trail Link.
- Ride the City- live in a city? No problem! There are plenty of great routes to be found right in your town.
- International Mountain Biking Association- check out this non-profit's mountain biking route ideas for information on where to ride in the U.S. and around the world.
Planning a ride in a major city?
Create your own ride or join a team in one of the cities below. Check out these links for ideas on routes:
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Boston
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Chicago
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New York City
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San Diego
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Washington D.C.
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Ride checklist
Before your ride:
- Get gear: if you don’t have a bike or a helmet, ask around the group to see if someone has a spare.
- Take a look at your bike and do an easy “ABC” check:
Air: it’s normal for tires to lose air, so check them out before taking off and add some air if needed. If you squeeze your tire and it doesn't resist, it probably needs some air!
Brakes: your brakes shouldn’t be loose on any ride (the two pieces of the brake handle should not be able to touch), but if they are loose, adjust them or have the brake pads replaced if necessary.
Chain: it’s easy for your chain to loosen up or get rusty, take a look and make sure it’s in good shape before your ride.
- Check the weather report and dress accordingly.
- Set your meet-up spot: agree on a time and place to meet the group.
- Contact your captains if you need a ride to the starting point or other info about your ride.
Captains or organizers might want to:
- Collect the phone numbers of fellow riders, and distribute your info to the group.
- Distribute the route map beforehand.
- Have a weather contingency plan: are you guys going to ride in the rain or do you want a rain date?
- Arrange for transportation for riders without cars.
Items you might want to bring:
- A helmet.
- Water bottle.
- Comfortable clothes & shoes.
- Rain Gear (if applicable.)
- Your MicroBike t-shirt.
- First aid kit (just in case!)
- Tire repair kit .