Bostreal
About the Ride
Bos/tréal (pronounced Boss-tree-all) is a 400-mile fundraising bike ride from Boston to Montreal to benefit the Bike Union, and to bring cyclists to a city that exemplifies world-class bike infrastructure. Montreal has an extensive system of bike paths and protected bike lanes that are a model of success for other North American cities, and an example of what Boston could be like with a more advanced bike network
The entire trip lasts 7 days. Riders spend the first 5 days cycling from Boston to Montreal, taking in beautiful bikeways, challenging hills, pastoral vistas, and urban cycletracks. Riders will pedal through the towering Green Mountains and camp in quiet Vermont forests. They’ll cross Lake Champlain on the placid Hero Islands, before entering Montreal on the bike paths of the St. Lawrence river.
For the first four nights, Team Bike Union will sleep in tents, prepare campfire meals together, and take refreshing dips in lakes and rivers. This is certainly a rustic adventure, but don’t worry: There are showers & restrooms at each campsite.
The final two nights, riders will stay in a group hostel close to the center of Montreal. This is the perfect location to explore Montreal‘s bike network and to see and do all that Montreal has to offer.
In Montreal, riders will meet with local bike advocates, discover Montreal’s bike culture, and learn about ways to use the experience to advocate for a better bike network in Boston.
Read one rider’s reflections from their experience in 2017 here!
Ride Details
Dates:
Depart to Montreal: Saturday, May 25th
Return to Boston: Saturday, June 1st
Lodging: We will camp at campgrounds equipped with indoor bathrooms and showers for the majority of the trip. Once we reach Montreal, we will stay at a hostel. (All accommodations have been booked and paid for by ride planners.)
Transportation back to Boston: We will supply transportation back to Boston for all riders and their gear.
Ride Support: This is a fully supported bike ride. Designated support vehicles will transport gear/supplies and be available to pick up riders in the event of mechanical issues or other circumstances.
Food: Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks will be provided for all riders during the first 5 days of the trip (ride days). Once riders have reached Montreal, breakfast will be provided by our hostel, and riders will be responsible for their own lunches and dinners.
Registration and fundraising: To secure a spot on the ride, participants must pay a $100 registration fee, and are then required to raise $1,600, for a total of $1,700. All funds go directly to support this ride and to support the Boston Cyclists Union’s campaigns and programs to make the Boston area better for biking. Don’t forget: all of your ride costs (food and lodging) are included!
Fundraising
Each rider will be equipped with a customizable fundraising webpage that will make receiving donations simple, secure, and easy to track your progress as you get closer (and exceed!) the $1,700 fundraising requirement for the ride. The money you help raise will support the various programs that BCU offers, including Bike to Market, Bikeways for Everybody, and our ongoing efforts working with the regional transportation departments to make sure our city’s roads are designed to accommodate people who ride bikes.
Join the Team!
From the first moment we depart Boston City Hall on bikes, you will see that this is more than a cycling trip — it is an inspiring journey with fellow cyclists who share an interest in making Boston a better city for cycling.
The ride is a challenge. You can do it!
You don’t need to be a pro-level athlete to join Team Bike Union. We’re looking for riders who have grit, determination, a positive attitude, and are eager to make a difference in Boston’s cycling community. This is a fully supported ride, so riders won’t get stuck if something goes wrong with you or your bike. Our SAG support vehicles will carry all your gear, so you can stay focused on the road ahead and on seeing the sights along the way.
Check out our RIDER CHECKLIST for a list all the things you’ll need to be prepared for the trip.
Bostreal Scholarship Program
A note from the ride organizers
The dedicated planning and support team is made up of experienced ride leaders that will make sure every rider has the support they need to complete the ride, including plenty of training ride opportunities before we depart Boston.
We’re 100% volunteer powered, and we’re also responsible for meeting the same fundraising goals as all of the riders. We’re doing this because we believe in the Bike Union’s mission, and we want to make this the trip of a lifetime. We hope you choose to join us in this adventure!
