Ride Details

Ride Requirement Reminders: Visit the Ride Info Requirements section of the Registration page for more details.

Start line and finish line location:

120 Flagg Road
Kingston, RI 02881

Day 1: Saturday, June 8

5:30 am - Breakfast opens in URI Dining Hall

6:00 am - Registration and packet pick up opens in Festival Area

• Visit the Packet Pick Up section below for more details on obtaining your packet
• Visit Food & Support section of this page for breakfast details

7:00 am - Begin line-up in corrals on Flagg Road, 2023 Top Teams lead the ride out.

7:15 am - Opening ceremony

7:30 am - Day 1 of the 2023 Ride the Rhode begins (all routes)

12:00 pm - Finish Line Festival begins: lunch service begins

• Visit Food & Support section of this page for lunch details

12:00 – 5:00 pm - Check-in available for Saturday night on-campus housing

2:00 - 6:00 pm - Beer garden is open, *No outside alcohol is permitted

4:00 pm - All routes close

5:00 – 7:00 pm - Join us for dinner and awards celebration under the tent

Day 2: Sunday, June 9

5:30 am - Breakfast opens in URI dining hall

6:30 am - Registration and packet pick up opens in Festival Area

• Visit the Packet Pick Up section below for more details on obtaining your packet
• Visit Food & Support section of this page for breakfast details

7:00 am - Begin line-up in corrals on Flagg Road, IRWMS participants lead day 2 ride out

7:15 am - Opening ceremony

7:30 am – Day 2 of 2024 Ride the Rhode begins. All routes begin

11:00 pm - Finish Line Festival begins: lunch service begins

4:00 pm - All routes close

4:30 pm - Dorms close

Weather

We ride rain or shine. Please be prepared for rain, cold weather or very sunny conditions. Weather can change overnight so prepare for every scenario. Stay tuned to our site and your inbox for up-to-date announcements regarding inclement weather.

You’ll select your desired route options when you register for the ride. However, your choice can easily be modified prior to ride weekend in your Fundraising Center or on ride morning. Please note that routes are subject to change until ride morning.

On day one, riders will leave campus and head west, with three ride options:

• 40 miles – The shortest route option available, and three rest stops at:
  • Rest Stop 1: Mile 13.3 – Richmond Elementary School
    • 9.9 miles to next rest stop
• Rest Stop 2: Mile 23.2 – St. Elizabeth’s Church
  • 5.6 miles to next rest stop
• Rest Stop 8: Mile 28.8 – Chariho High School
  • 13.1 miles to finish
• 75 miles – Complete 75 miles on both days for the ultimate bragging rights of having cycled 150 miles in one weekend. Five rest stops at:
  • Rest Stop 1: Mile 13.3 – Richmond Elementary School
    • 9.9 miles to next rest stop
• Rest Stop 2: Mile 23.2 – St. Elizabeth’s Church
  • 10.6 miles to next rest stop
• Rest Stop 3: Mile 33.9 - Ashaway Elementary School
  • 6 miles to next rest stop
• Rest Stop 6: Mile 39.9 – State Street Elementary School
  • 13.1 miles to next rest stop
• Rest Stop 7: Mile 53 – Hidden Berry Farm
  • 10.1 miles to next rest stop
• Rest Stop 8: Mile 63.1 – Chariho High School
  • 13.1 miles to finish
• 100 miles – Check a century off your bike ride bucket list while making memories to last a lifetime. Have your climbing legs ready as the extra loop on the century route adds on an extra 1,000 feet in elevation to your day. Rest stops will be found at:
  • Rest Stop 1: Mile 13.3 – Richmond Elementary School
    • 9.9 miles to next rest stop
• Rest Stop 2: Mile 23.2 – St. Elizabeth’s Church
  • 10.6 miles to next rest stop
• Rest Stop 3: Mile 33.8 - Ashaway Elementary School
  • 75-mile route and 100-mile routes split just after rest stop 3
  • To continue on 100-mile route, turn right onto Laurel Street at mile 34
  • All century riders must be past route split by 11:00am to continue on route. If later than 11:00am, riders will continue on the 75-mile route
  • 9.4 miles to next rest stop
• Rest Stop 4: Mile 43.2 – First Baptist Church
  • 12.7 miles to next rest stop
• Rest Stop 5: Mile 55.9 – Ashaway Elementary School
  • 6 miles to next rest stop
• Rest Stop 6: Mile 61.9 – State Street Elementary School
  • 13.2 miles to next rest stop
• Rest Stop 7: Mile 75.1– Hidden Berry Farm
  • 13.2 miles to next rest stop
• Rest Stop 8: Mile 85.2 – Chariho High School
  • 13.1 miles to finish

Day two of Ride the Rhode will continue your tour of Rhode Island, taking riders past Narragansett’s famous beaches on the front half of the ride, before heading north and back to campus. Two route options are available:

• 35 miles – This is the day’s shorter route, but it’s not short on scenery! Rest stops are located at:
  • Rest Stop 1: Mile 13.8 – Spain of Narragansett
    • 13.6 miles to next rest stop
• Rest Stop 2: Mile 27.8 – Hamilton Elementary School
  • 14 miles to finish
  • 35-mile and 75-miles routes split here!
• 75 miles – Complete your 150-mile journey on Sunday. Rest stops are located at:
  • Rest Stop 1: Mile 13.8 – Spain of Narragansett
    • 13.6 miles to next rest stop
  • Rest Stop 2: Mile 27.6 – Hamilton Elementary School
    • 14 miles to next rest stop
      • 35-mile and 75-miles routes split here!
  • Rest Stop 3: Mile 41.5 – Cedar Hill Elementary School
    • 10.9 miles to next rest stop
  • Rest Stop 4: Mile 52.4 – Conneaut Industries
    • 10.3 miles to next rest stop
  • Rest Stop 5: Mile 62.7 – Stony Lane Elementary School
    • 10.2 miles to finish

2024 Cue Sheets & Maps: Ride With GPS

We highly recommend you take a look at the route maps ahead of the ride and download cue sheets (Ride With GPS best viewed in Google Chrome). The route cues contain a lot of helpful information, such as areas of caution. A limited quantity of cue sheets will be available at the start each day. Riders are encouraged to follow the colored route markers. Note: routes are always subject to change.

Route Markings

Day 1:

• 40-mile cyclists follow the WHITE route markers
• 75-mile cyclists follow the ORANGE route markers
• 100-mile cyclists follow the BLUE route markers

Day 2:

• 35-mile cyclists follow the GREEN route markers
• 75-mile cyclists follow the YELLOW route markers

Route Closing

The route closes at 4:00pm on Saturday and at 3:00pm on Sunday. We will make every effort to work with you to complete the ride.

Ride With GPS App

Not only will you find the different routes for Ride the Rhode on Ride with GPS, also use the app to get turn by turn directions of your route. Here’s how it works:

1. Go to your App Store

2. Search for: Ride with GPS (Red cyclist on a black background)

3. Download the app (it’s free!) While the app is free, using the Turn by Turn feature is part of a paid subscription. If you use another bike computer, you can download the file from Ride with GPS and load it onto your computer.

4. Go to your internet browser app - (Safari, Google Chrome, etc.)

5. Visit the Ride with GPS website for your route

6. Click “Open in App”

7. Once you’re in the app you can Download or Navigate to stream the route

2023 Bike MS: Ride the Rhode Facebook Event Page | MS Awareness Week | Logistics Call

Kick-Offs, Lunch and Learns, and Other Events

If you're hosting a team-kick off or celebration or would like to host a lunch and learn for your company, let us know! The Bike MS team would love to be present and help support your events where possible. Think you're interested, but not sure what it would involve? Reach out anyway - we're happy to help get you all set to go. Email any Bike MS staff member or contact us here for more information.

Bike MS: Ride the Rhode Facebook Event

Stay up-to-the-minute with conversation and event details by marking yourself as “going” to the 2024 Ride the Rhode Facebook event. We will use this page for event updates, recognition, encouragement and to connect with fellow riders!

MS Awareness Week: March 10-16

MS Awareness Week is a great time to rally your team, recruit new members, begin fundraising, and most importantly, a great week to foster awareness and inspire others by sharing your personal story and reason for riding.

Pre-Ride Event Logistics Call

Around three weeks before the ride, we will host a pre-ride event logistics call to ensure you have all the information you need to make your ride day fantastic! You’ll learn about various aspects of Ride the Rhode including:

• Event schedule
• What to expect along the way: Routes, Rest Stops, Support and more
• Ride Safety
• Finish Line Experience
• And more!

Click here to join our call on Wednesday, May 15^th at 6:00 pm.

Bike MS Fundraising Week is proudly sponsored by Point B, an organization who shares our commitment to creating a world free of MS. Elevate your fundraising and win some prizes along the way.

Raise money and win prizes! Fundraising Weeks are an opportunity to kick your fundraising into high gear and compete for some great prizes. Both teams and individual riders can win BIG during this year’s Fundraising Weeks. Fundraising Weeks run Monday through Sunday and winners are based on the highest amount of online fundraising.

When:

• Fundraising Week #1: April 1 - April 7
• Fundraising Week #2: April 29 - May 5

Who:

The individual and the team who raise the most money online during the designated Fundraising Week dates will win big!

• Individual rider (team member or non-team member) 
• Mid-Sized Teams: Team with 2-14 members (Team members must be registered by the Monday of Fundraising Week)
• Large Teams: Team with 15 or more members (Team members must be registered by the Monday of Fundraising Week)

What:

As a reward for your amazing fundraising, the teams and the individual who raise the most online funds will WIN. One winner will be awarded from each team size category.  Prize details:

Team Prizes – we’ll work with your team captain to create a Super Team experience that is meaningful for your team. Examples of a Super Team experience include a fully stocked team tent, a team packet pick up party or an enhanced housing experience for the team suite on campus.

Individual Prize – complementary housing on campus at URI (includes breakfast on Saturday and Sunday and dinner Saturday night)

***We’re adding another incentive to help you get ready for the first Fundraising Week!***  All riders who activate a Facebook Fundraiser by the end of day on April 1^st will be entered into a random drawing for a Bike MS Coleman© Comfortsmart Suspension Chair. Random drawing and winner will be announced at the close of the first Fundraising Week.

To set up your Facebook Fundraiser after registration, simply log into your Fundraising Center and click on the Create a Facebook Fundraiser link below your progress bar. Donations will automatically sync to your Bike MS Fundraising Center. 100% of all donations received via Facebook Fundraiser go toward your Ride the Rhode fundraising goal.

Questions? Reach out to Fundraising Support at fundraising.support@nmss.org or 855-372-1331 for one-on-one help.

How:

Utilize the Fundraising Weeks to reach out to your donors, share why you ride, and reach your fundraising goals. Hit Top Fundraiser status, and you’ll also earn the 2024 Ride the Rhode commemorative top fundraiser jersey and more prizes!

Download the Bike MS App and take advantage of mobile check deposits. Utilize the Bike MS Fundraising Tool Kit and visit the Bike MS Fundraising Ideas page for more ways to help you reach your goal.

Plus, check your inbox during these weeks for more details!

Your Bike MS rider packet contains important items that must be worn on ride-day. In order to pick up your packet, you must meet the $300 fundraising minimum and have a completed waiver on file. If you registered online, then you completed a waiver during the registration process.

Packet Pick Up Dates & Locations

• Wednesday, May 29:  4:00pm – 7:00pm at The Guild Pawtucket, 461 Main Street, Pawtucket, RI
• Friday, June 7:  4:00pm – 7:00pm at the Ride the Rhode start line
• Saturday, June 8:  6:00am – 7:30am at the Ride the Rhode start line
• Sunday, June 9: 6:30am – 7:30am at the Ride the Rhode start line

What’s in my rider packet? Your Bike MS packet contains many important items that must be worn at all times on the route including your bib number, bike and helmet tags, emergency number wristband and safety pins.

How do I receive my packet? You must meet the $300 fundraising minimum and have a signed waiver on record. Plan to attend one of the scheduled Packet Pick-ups. Someone else may pick up your packet on your behalf as long as the fundraising minimum is met and a waiver is on record. Someone else may also pick up your t-shirt and Top Fundraiser jersey if you earned one, so remember to tell them your size.

Why the $300 fundraising minimum? The National MS Society makes a concerted effort to utilize each dollar raised to help people living with multiple sclerosis. To continue making an impact on the lives of those living with MS through our fundraising efforts, the National MS Society requires all registered participants to have met the $300 minimum fundraising requirement prior to picking up their packet.

How do I sign the waiver? When you register online, the waiver is part of the registration process. Minors and anyone registering the day of the event must complete a paper or electronic copy of the waiver.

On-Campus Accommodations 

Overnight accommodations are available at the University of Rhode Island. Dorm room housing is available for Friday and Saturday nights in apartment style suites. Volunteers who work two eight-hour shifts are eligible for complementary housing on Saturday night and may purchase a room for Friday night if they wish.

Each air-conditioned suite features a shared kitchen and living room space, two shared bathrooms and single-occupancy private bedrooms. Each single-occupancy bedroom is fitted with a full XL bed. Linens are provided and include pillow, blanket, linens, towel and washcloth. 

Please indicate your team name or preferred suite-mates when purchasing your room. We will do our best to accommodate specific requests.

The deadline to purchase housing is Friday, May 17, 2024. After May 17th, housing will be available on a first come, first served basis, and we may not be able to accommodate specific requests, for example, sharing a suite with teammates.

To purchase housing, you must be a registered participant of Bike MS: Ride the Rhode 2023. If you have not yet registered, please visit the Bike MS: Ride the Rhode website to sign up.

You can purchase a ticket for this event online. Please log in to continue.
Don't have an account? Create an Account now.

Purchase Housing

 

Transportation

Amtrak offers Northeast Regional Train Service through Kingston, RI, just two miles from the University of Rhode Island and Ride the Rhode’s festival area. For schedules and passenger information, call or visit the Amtrak website.

Parking at the University of Rhode Island

When you arrive on campus, please park in either the Flagg Road Lot or the Fine Arts Lot. Both lots are located on Flagg Road and are an approximate 5-minute walk to the Ride the Rhode festival area. Other events are happening at the same time on campus, and these two lots are reserved for Ride the Rhode cyclists and supporters.

Bike MS is an extraordinary ride no matter where you are! If you have a flat tire or need a snack to help get you across the finish line, we’ve got you covered!

Click the links below to jump to the relevant topic:

Meals & Food | Rest Stops: First Class Support | Route Markings | Medical Support & Emergency Assistance | Support and Gear (SAG) Vehicles | Bike Mechanical Support | Police & Communities Who Welcome Us 

Meals & Food

Pre-Ride Food on Saturday and Sunday

A full breakfast is available and will be served in the common area of the dorm from 5:30am – 7:00am on Saturday and Sunday mornings. All cyclists are welcome to breakfast, including those not staying overnight at the dorms. Click here to view a map of campus.

Food at the start line will be limited. Water, sports drinks, breakfast bars and bananas will be available. Please arrive with a full stomach, full water bottles and be ready to get on the road! 

Lunch on Saturday and Sunday

Lunch is provided post-ride at the Festival Area for all cyclists. Please note that lunch is NOT provided on the routes.

Rest Stops On The Route

At the rest stops, enjoy individually packaged sweet and salty snacks such as Goldfish, energy bars or gel, fruit and more. Cyclists must bring their own water bottles.

Heavier snacks and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are provided on the following routes:

• Saturday: 75-mile and 100-mile routes only
  • Rest Stops #3 & 5 – Ashaway Elementary School
• Sunday: 75-mile route only
  • Rest Stop #3 – Cedar Hill Elementary School

See additional information regarding rest stop support listed below.

Dinner on Saturday

On Saturday evening, please join us for dinner while you rest and socialize with fellow riders. Dinner on Saturday evening will be served under the main tent in the festival area beginning at 5:00pm. Stay for the Saturday evening awards and candlelight ceremony program which will begin during dinner. 

Rest Stops: First Class Support

Each route includes fully stocked rest stops every 10 to 15 miles with some of the best snacks and volunteers around! Protein bars, water, electrolytes and fruit are available at every rest stop. Rest, hydrate, use the restroom, re-apply sunscreen, and socialize with volunteers while you enjoy the Ocean State.

Bike mechanics and support and gear (SAG) vehicles will also be on the route and at rest stops to assist you if needed.

Only authorized Bike MS vehicles and cyclists are permitted access to the rest stops ride weekend. All other vehicular traffic is prohibited.

Route Markings

We make every effort to ensure you won’t get lost. The route will be clearly marked with direction signs, including on straightaways, so you will know you're riding in the right direction. Please note, when maneuvering a turn, you will notice three markers: the first to let you know a turn is quickly approaching; the second is at the turn; the third is to confirm you are pedaling in the right direction. The colors of the arrows correspond to each route.

Saturday, Day 1:

• 40-Mile Route: White Arrows
• 75-Mile Route: Orange Arrows
• 100-Mile Route: Blue Arrows

Sunday, Day 2:

• 35-Mile Route: Green Arrows

• 75-Mile Route: Yellow Arrows

Medical Support & Emergency Assistance

Emergency medical support travels the entire route in the event that a cyclist may be injured. Help us provide top-notch first aid by completing the back of your rider number. In addition, an emergency number will be printed on the wristband included in your rider number packet. Use this number on the route if you spot an accident or need assistance.

Support and Gear (SAG) Vehicles

Just can’t push another pedal, or need help with a flat tire? Designated passenger vans, trucks and vehicles with orange flags are on the route and at rest stops. Make sure you are in a safe and visible location, flip your bike upside down and call the number on your wrist band or wave down the first SAG vehicle to come your way. SAG vehicles are equipped with bike racks, basic bike repair kits and water.
NOTE: The trip into the finish line is not always direct. Be patient as we pick up other cyclists in need. 

Personal SAG Vehicles PROHIBITED. Personal SAG vehicles are not permitted on the route. Please understand our need to cut down on vehicular traffic for YOUR SAFETY. 

No trailers, tagalongs or child carriers are allowed on the route per the Society’s Youth Riders policy.

Bike Mechanical Support

We’re working hard to partner with local bike shops to be on the route to support you with minor repairs. Stay tuned for more details. If you know of a great bike mechanic willing to help, let us know!

Please be sure your bike is Bike MS ready before the ride. Get your bike inspected prior to ride weekend to identify any major issues and ensure your bike is in excellent riding condition. 

Police & Communities Who Welcome Us

Please be respectful of the communities that support and welcome Bike MS! Their hospitality makes this event possible. Every effort is made to keep you safe. Where possible, local law enforcement agencies have been recruited to help you travel safely through intersections and on shared roadways. Be courteous as they help you travel safely through their communities. Visit the Training & Prep page for more details on safe and courteous cycling behavior.