If you’re out and about this morning anywhere in Newton you’ll be crossing paths with groups of 25-30 orange-shirted bicycle riders of all ages. It’s the 2nd annual Tour de Newton and over 600 riders will be on the streets.
The 20 mile ride starts simultaneously in all 13 villages and each group stops at each of the villages. So if you’re driving, relax and give them some space and if you’re not then head down to your local village stop and welcome the riders from around the city into your neighborhood. A new group of riders will be arriving in your village every 5 or 10 minutes from 9:30 until about 1 PM.
Check the Tour de Newton web page for the location of your village’s stop and come on down and cheer them on..
It was a fabulous event today. There were 25 separate groups of riders simultaneously moving around the city this morning. The weather was beautiful and at every one of the village stops we were greeted by very enthusiastic locals with everything from cowbells and howling, to history lessons, to homemade cookies and all sorts of delicious treats.
There were lots of families, lots of kids and lots of folks who had never ridden this far before and they all seemed to love it.
Here’s the Newtonville crew getting ready to ride.
Here’s a few quick video’s from Julia Malakie, one of the West Newton greeters.
Here’s Upper Falls’ ‘I Was Here Board’
Many, many thanks to the 100+ volunteers from around the city who made this event happen today – all the village greeters, the ride leaders and sweeps and all the behind the scenes people marking roads, sorting T-shirts, distributing fliers … as well as the city staff that helped with street cleaning, tree trimming, auxilliary police and traffic cones and publicity.
… and you gotta love this year’s logo (above). Another great design from Heidi Werner. You need the best, she’s it.
That Newtonville shot is only 2/3 of the group! off to your right is the other bit already split off to be in the leader group 🙂 Lots of fun! my group finished about 1:30, the rest of the Newtonville folks closer to 2pm.
Lots of fun! (I think it was easier this year too 🙂 )
Here’s the mayor greeting riders at the Newton Center stop.
My favorite story from Newton Centre: Aldermen Jim Cote and his family were the Newton Center greeters. When I came through Newton Centre earlier in the ride, Jim gave everyone a capsule history of Newton Center full of various fun facts. Towards the end of the day, when the incoming riders were all at the end of their 20 mile rides, he noticed that many of them had decided less energy so he began peppering his Newton Centre “facts” with a few whoppers – e.g.”George Washington was born right here in Newton Centre”. That woke everyone up.
Another great event, thanks to those who put it together. This year’s larger numbers did not seem to pose any problems from my end (I was a ride leader out of Newton Corner), and it was a great chance to meet new people and get new people out on bikes and aware of the roads.
Plus, I was able to once again visit the mythical land of Thompsonville.
It was very organized event and we got lucky with great weather. Thanks to the Newton PD for their traffic control on Washington Street.
Great event all around. My family had a blast and I heard that Harris Cyclery sold 4 bikes before they officially opened on Sunday! The Cherry Tree and the Local also seemed to benefit from hungry riders stopping in for lunch.
A shout out to Jon Harris who found and fixed a problem on my wife’s 3 speed before we took off. Such a great help. It happens that I needed tires later so I spent plenty of money there!
The only thing that my wife pointed out was that because we were all going at the same time, we never had a chance to mingle with riders form other villages. I know that Natick has a BBQ at the end of their ride. I don’t know how practical that is given Newton’s relative size and the number of riders, but it may be interesting to have everyone meet at City Hall, have a BBQ and then the ride leaders get people back to their starting points.
Oh, and I lost my Auburndale pin, otherwise I have a full collection 🙂
@Chuck – My wife (Upper Falls greeter) just told me that she found an Auburndale pin at her stop. Grease my palm and I might be willing to return it to you 😉
Every one of the riders looked spandex, splendid, svelte! No one above mentioned that the age range of the riders was BABY (in trailers behind parents) to AROUND NINETY (I can’t remember which number he floated, but I was impressed by the admission of one young man– who cycled with his daughter– to being either 85 or 92!)
Hope all those 1200 knees are feeling no pain today!!!!!!