WELCOME TO THE 2011 BIKE MS COAST THE COAST
from the BIKE MS DIRECTOR
This winter will be one to remember with all the snow, but let’s think spring as the 20th Annual Bike MS Coast the Coast Ride will surely be the hottest cycling event of the year!
You are the sunshine that warms the world for those who live with MS. In 2010 you contributed to the National MS Society’s $35 million support of 345 research projects internationally. Your energy is providing housing to those living with MS as 30 housing units are being constructed right now at Kershaw Commons in Freehold, near the MS Wellness Center at CentraState Hospital. You’ve also contributed to the 100 on-going programs our chapter provides to those living with MS including computer outreach programs, self-help groups, educational programs, health and wellness programs, Kids Camp, Fun Day, nursing home programs and much more. Your ride has led to great success for those we serve at the NJ Metro Chapter. Thank you for your dedication to lead us to a world free of MS!
As this year marks the 20th year of the Coast the Coast Ride, we look back at the history of the event. For many years the Coast the Coast Ride started at Sandy Hook National Seashore. Having grown to over 1,600 cyclists, we now appreciate the Monmouth University facilities. We love the energy of the big group, the excitement of more support on our TV and local radio stations and the better quality of snacks and drinks, thanks to The Vitamin Shoppe. The Coast the Coast Ride has grown up and become bigger and more exciting, much like the exciting breakthroughs in MS research, treatments and programs.
“Ride It, Live It, Love It” has been the credo of this ride. We hope you love it just a little bit more this year as we heat it up as we celebrate the 20th Annual Ride. Please don’t miss it as we need you, our sunshine, to create a world free of MS!
Thank you for riding in 2011!
Mary Beth Maclearie
Director, Bike MS
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Greetings for the 2010 Bike MS Coast the Coast!!!
The Jersey Shore has been cold, but our offices are warm and busy as we prepare for the 19th Annual Bike MS Coast the Coast Ride! I’m excited to be working on the route, launching new tools to help you like boundless Fundraising on Facebook and TrainingPeaks, creating new social media groups and focusing more on the safety of the ride. It has been a very busy winter and it all gears up to make this year’s Coast the Coast the best one yet!
Our registration numbers are looking good, but we need you to continue to invite more friends, family members, co-workers and any other cyclists you know. We’re going for 2010 cyclists in 2010 and we need your help! Need to register? Do it here!
The value of personally recruiting someone to join this ride and the movement is immeasurable. I know as I was originally asked by a friend. Why wouldn’t you want others to experience riding in this amazing event? For me, it’s one of the best things I’ve done in my life and hope you think so too! I hope you take advantage of our Bonus Bucks Program and recruit some new riders this year.
Relive your memories and share the experience of the ride on our new Flickr group: Bike MS Coast the Coast where you can add your own photos or just enjoy others, but share it with new recruits so they can see what we mean when we say “Ride it, live it, love it!” Everyone has great stories from this ride, so check out the blog, comment and ask questions. Also, please share photos of your own on the Flickr group. I look forward to seeing your pictures and, if you add a good one, we might just ask you if we can use it in future event materials like the brochure and poster!
We hope that our new tools like boundless Fundraising make it easier for you to increase the amount of pledges you receive, with very little work! There are many other new things at The Coast the Coast this year, so read on and check our website for updates too.
Our mantra “Ride It, Live It, Love It” sums it up, but now I just want to add “Move It”… because you have joined the movement to create a world free of MS!
Thank you for riding!
Mary Beth Maclearie
Director, Bike MS
Can someone comment on the course profile. Is it mostly flat or is it hilly? Any big uphills or long downhills? Thank you.
Hi Joe-
The course is generally easy… very flat for the 25 and 50 mile courses. The 85 mile course on Saturday has some rolling hills later in the day, but again, quite easy. On Sunday morning, there are rolling hills again.
On Sunday afternoon there are some bridges to cross, the two most notable ones are rather large and lead into Ocean City.
The biggest challenge you’ll find all weekend is the possible headwinds. If the wind is blowing hard, it can make for a story as this is a coastal ride much of the time!
Thanks for your interest. Come join us!
Mary Beth
Hi,
Are there any links or resources for public transport to West Long Branch from NYC? And does the ride include transport from Cape May back to West Long Branch?
Hadn’t thought about the headwinds, but of course you’re right! I guess that’s the tradeoff for hill-free coastline terrain.
Kent
Yes, there is New Jersey Transit train service from Penn Station in New York to Long Branch, NJ. The first train on May 21st leaves Penn Station at 6:07 am and arrives Long Branch at 7:43 am (http://www.njtransit.com/sf/sf_servlet.srv?hdnPageAction=TrainSchedulesFrom). The Long Branch train station is a short bike ride to Monmouth University (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Long+Branch,+NJ+07740+(Long+Branch)&daddr=Monmouth+University,+Cedar+Avenue,+West+Long+Branch,+NJ&hl=en&geocode=FbniZgIdFQeX-ynf0NIpHyXCiTHG_kMBqQ5wrA%3BFSuZZgId0MWW-yHJ360f5FnUVg&mra=ltm&dirflg=b&sll=40.288015,-73.995905&sspn=0.025927,0.055661&ie=UTF8&ll=40.287972,-73.995581&spn=0.025927,0.055661&z=15&lci=bike). Depending on the ride you’ll be doing, you may want to consider traveling to New Jersey Friday evening and staying nearby the university. Good luck.
Andre,
Thanks for that info. Doesn’t sound like that’s early enough for the 170, so I will probably drive myself from New York…
Kent