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[Back] Note:
We’re a Touring Association. But sometimes we all need
ideas of where to go on a ride. If you’re looking for
new rides, the following might help give you some
ideas. (Please note that we are not trying to tell
anyone what to do or how to do it; do what works for you
and your chapter.)
New
Years Day Ride -
Some chapters have a tradition of gathering on New Years Day
and going for a short ride, no matter the weather, no matter
the temperature. (And perhaps no matter the hang-over,
either.) <top>
Valentines Day Ride
- What better way to share
this holiday than with a ride with sweethearts? <top>
President’s Day Ride
- Many people have 3-day holiday’s for this remembrance of
the birthday’s of Washington and Lincoln. So plan a ride
that involves remembering the accomplishments of these great
American heroes. (I’m sure our Canadian friends probably
have something similar they could use.) <top>
Snow
Ride - Of course,
be safe. But sometimes it’s fun to plan on a ride to go
from the clear to where there is snow off the road, if only
to throw a snowball at each other. (Cold? That’s what
Gerbings are for.) <top>
Easter
Egg Ride - Many
folks like to get together over Easter weekend. Why not put
on an Easter Egg hunt for kids and grandkids of members?
<top>
Generations Ride
- The idea here is to have a special ride where Grandparents
can invite their grandkids to go with them on a ride. Any
open backseats would be encouraged to give a ride to
someone. Another tangent of this idea is for younger
members to invite their Grandparents for a ride.
<top>
Military Installation Tour Ride
- There are many military
installations around the country that will give a tour of
their facilities. Let the public relations folks know
you’re coming, and you might get a great show.
St.
Patrick’s Day Ride
- Like any other holiday, leverage the theme. Do something
green and/or Irish, and invite members to add their
creativity. <top>
Romance Ride -
Like the Valentines Day ride, just not on that day. Think
of a sweet road with scenic views, and plan a ride that gets
to a romantic spot just before the sun goes down. <top>
Ladies Choice Ride
- Let’s face it: the GWTA is getting lots more women who
ride, and have their own ideas about destinations. Guys, we
might have to agree to a trip to visit quilting shops and
antique stores. (Oh boy!) <top>
Ride
to the Water, Ride to the Mountains,
Ride to the Plains - The
idea here is to go to a place with different geography than
where you’re at now. Think of somewhere to take the chapter
that they might not have been before. <top>
Patriotic Ride -
Could be a parade ride on the 4th of July (in
America), or another other ride where you use streamers and
symbols of national pride. <top>
Progressive Dinner Ride
- You can imagine the drill: one member’s house for
appetizers, another member’s house for the main dish, and
another’s for dessert. <top>
Teddy Bear Ride -
Collect Teddy Bears, and then deliver them to a Police
Station or children’s hospital where they could be used.
<top>
Vampire Ride
- Get people up to give blood. (Make sure they have
recovered enough after giving blood to have a safe ride
home.) This might get local publicity, too.
<top>
Retirement Home Ride
- Work out a deal with your local Retirement home to give
the residents a ride around the block on your shiny
machines. You’ll see lots of big grins. <top>
Baseball Game Ride,
Football Game Ride,
Soccer Game Ride - Get
together as a chapter (or multiple chapters), and you might
get a discount on tickets, as well as your name up on the
scoreboard in-between innings or quarters. <top>
National Parks Ride
- Make arrangements with the
Park staff to get a ranger to give you a guided tour over
the CB, stop at special sites, and make for a very memorable
trip. <top>
Flower Ride -
Invite a botanist to guide you on a ride that visits all
kinds of local flowers. Variations of this might be a Rose
Ride, Daisy Ride, Apple Tree Ride, and so forth.
<top>
Halloween Ride,
Thanksgiving Ride,
Christmas Lights Ride,
April Fools Ride - Every holiday lends itself to a
ride. Come up with an angle, and promote the heck out of
it. Get people involved. <top>
Ride to the State
Gathering,
Ride to the
Regional Gathering - State and Regional Gatherings
are fun events, and it's even more fun to get there as a
group. <top>
Fool’s Gold Ride
- Ride 10 miles in whatever direction the Ride Leader wants,
then the Ride Leader becomes the “Charlie” (last rider), and
the next person in line becomes the new Ride Leader, and
goes in whatever direction they want to go. Ride continues
until the original “Charlie” is the Ride Leader, and you
stop for a meal. <top>
Magic Ride -
Invite an amateur magician to give mini-shows at every rest
or gas stop. <top>
Zoo
Ride - Most major
zoos have new programs going on all the time. Take a trip
to see. <top>
Iron
Butt Ride - (For
the most serious riders only.) Coordinate with the Iron
Butt Association for a 500-, 1000-, and 1500-mile ride.
Finishers can get a really cool belt buckle. <top>
Mothers Day Ride,
Fathers Day Ride - Invite the local motorcycling
community to invite their parents out for an easy, pleasant
ride. Spread the news, get publicity, and maybe get new
members, too. <top>
Make
A Movie Ride -
Video equipment is small and easy to use nowadays. Get some
creative members to come up with a plot involving your
bikes, and make a movie using the chapter members as the
cast. <top>
Scavenger Hunt Ride
- Make a list, divide into teams, give some clues, go out
and collect the necessary items, and celebrate the team that
collects the most or best stuff. <top>
Best
Burger Ride, Best Pizza Ride,
Best Ice Cream Ride,
Best
Milk Shake Ride - Simple theme. Hold a contest, get
recommendations, and go out and vote for your favorite on a
ride with the chapter. <top>
New
Bike Ride - Many
chapters get together whenever a member gets a new bike, and
show up en masse to collect the bike and ride it home.
<top>
Puzzle Ride -
Make up a ride where pieces of a puzzle are distributed,
with a clue of how to get to the next checkpoint, where
another puzzle piece is found, until a whole picture is
complete. <top>
Chapter Visit Ride
- Schedule a ride where you visit another GWTA chapter,
perhaps with an invitation or challenge.
<top>
Retracing History Ride
- You can’t get away from history. So take advantage of
it. Plan a ride that explores the history of your region of
the world. <top>
Road
Hazards Ride -
(This one requires a good deal of preparation.) Plan a
ride, but along the way you discover a member along side the
road with a flat tire, a blown alternator, a dead battery, a
dead headlight, and/or some other malady which might befall
any of us. And lead the whole ride in how to deal with this
or that emergency. <top>
Election Day Ride
- Just another excuse to get on your bike and go. Plan a
ride in your community, where you see how many voting places
you can hit, and wait while your members vote at their
site. <top>
Fire
Department Ride -
Like the Teddy Bear Ride, plan a ride where you visit the
Fire Departments in your community. Be sure to have a
letter from you chapter thanking them for their service.
<top>
Ecology Ride -
Invite a naturalist or ecologist to join you for a ride
where you explore major activities in your part of the world
where efforts are being made to preserve our planet.
<top>
Mystery Ride -
Plan a ride where folks are told to be observant along the
way (and reminded by CB), and a quiz is given at the end to
test your memory skills. <top>
Latté Ride -
(Especially suggested for those in Seattle.) Plan a ride
where you go 50 miles, stop at Starbucks, go 50 miles, stop
at Starbucks, go 50 miles, stop at Starbucks, etc., etc.
(Can be adjusted for any tasty favorite in your area.)
<top>
Museum Ride -
There are lots of interesting museum’s all around the
country. Pick one that strikes your fancy, and plan a ride
in that direction. <top>
Train Ride -
Trains have a special fascination with many people. Find an
old train that’s still running somewhere, and plan a ride to
go see the train, and maybe take a short ride on the rails.
<top>
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