2009 Wild Goose Chase Ride Information
Sunday, May 3, 2009

We will update this page frequently, so bookmark it! If you have questions or want to discuss the ride, please visit our Terry forums.

Price
$35/rider includes all pre-ride food, maps, cue sheets, goodie bag, rest stop refreshments and raffle entry. The full $35 will be donated to the Friends of Blackwater. Post-ride food will be available from our friends at the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

Start/Finsh
The ride begins and finishes at the Cambridge/South Dorchester High School, 2475 Cambridge Bypass (Route 16), Cambridge, MD. Registration opens at 7 a.m. You can start your ride at anytime, but for those who prefer an organized start, we will schedule an official start time for each ride.

A bicycle mechanic will be at the high school for minor repairs and tweaks.

The Rides
Four rides will be offered, from ten miles to a metric century (62 miles). The terrain is perfectly flat, with the exception of bridges! The riding is through a very rural area, meandering in and out of Blackwater Refuge. For the most part, you will see very few cars on the route. Cell phone service in the southern part of the area is spotty; Verizon has the best coverage.

Accommodations
We're working on group rates at a variety of motels in Cambridge. here's what we have so far.

  • Hyatt Regency, 100 Heron Blvd., Cambridge
    410-901-1234
    Hyatt website
    Regular rate: $279; WGC rate: $219
    Rooms are available until January 31, 2009 or until they sell out. Please ask for the Wild Goose Chase special rate of $219 when you call.
  • Comfort Inn, 2936 Ocean Gateway, Cambridge
    410-901-0926
    Regular rate: $129.99 - 149.99; WGC rate: 116.99 - 134.99
    Rooms are available until April 9, 2009 or until they sell out. Please ask for the Wild Goose Chase special rate when you call.

Planning to spend Saturday, May 2 in Cambridge?
Here are some activities you may enjoy:

  • Blackwater Paddle and Pedal has reserved the day for participants in the Wild Goose Chase. Guided kayak tours will be conducted from 8 - 10 am, 11 am - 1 pm and 2 - 4 pm. Contact them for more information or to make a reservation: 410-901-9255. Tell them you're on the Wild Goose Chase ride. These tours will sell out fast, so don't put off making your reservation.
  • Enjoy self-guided bike rides to historic spots in the area. Mapsets will be posted here for downloading when we get closer to May.
  • An 8 a.m. bird walk will be held Blackwater NWR. Meet at the Visitor Center -- don't forget your binoculars!
  • Join us at ride headquarters, the Cambridge-South Dorchester High School between 4 and 6 pm for early-bird registration and to shop for Terry and Gore apparel.

Ride Day Events

  • Try and buy Terry and Gore Bike Wear™ apparel.
  • Test ride a Terry bicycle.
  • Raffle - win any number of things, including a Terry Isis Pro bicycle and a Gore Bike Wear Gore-Tex® rain jacket.
  • Yoga sessions presented by Andria Davis, creator of the Yoga for Cyclists DVD.
  • After ride massages.

Food and Snacks
Light pre-ride snacks will be served at the high school. Each rest stop will have bagels, peanut butter and jelly and fruit in addition to energy bars and drinks and fresh water. After-ride food will be served at the High School. It will be provided by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy with an emphasis on local foods from local growers.

Rest Stops
Each rest stop will have bagels, peanut butter and jelly and fruit in addition to energy bars and drinks and fresh water. Basic repairs, like flat tire repair and gear adjustment will be available. First aid kits are on hand at each rest stop.

Porta Potties
At a minimum, porta potties will be available at each rest stop and we'll do our best to add more. Real toilets are available at the Blackwater Visitor Center and the High School.

Sag
Two well-marked sags with tools and first aid kits will be on the course at all times.