Myrtle Beach Cycling

Hello!

The Grand Strand Bicycle Club and the City of Myrtle Beach are excited that the 4th Annual Bike the Beach 2024, Sunday October 13^th is nearly here! There is, of course, still time for your family and friends to sign up and/or volunteer. . Registration rates do increase this weekend, and though we really prefer folks sign up before Sunday morning, you can register at the start. Below are some logistics and announcements for this week. Please do read in its entirety, because you don’t want to miss out on the good stuff!

SATURDAY ACTIVITIES:
- Packet Pickup is Saturday October 12^th from 3:00 PM to 5:30 PM at Fleet Feet (7931 N Kings Hwy #120, Myrtle Beach, SC 29572)
  - If you don’t want to worry about check-in lines Sunday morning and want to sport your Bike the Beach T-shirt Saturday night, stop by Saturday afternoon to visit one of our sponsors, Fleet Feet.
  - Your family and friends can register on Saturday too! And if they forgot a bike, rentals are available in town, check out Boardwalk Bikes.
- Bike the Beach is Sunday, so consider joining a local Saturday ride. Rides are listed on the community calendar at myrtlebeachcycling.com.
- Though not associated with Bike the Beach, we appreciate all athletes. The Myrtle Beach Mini-marathon and 5K is Saturday, another option to maximize the weekend fun!
- To see what else is happening at the beach, check out VisitMyrtleBeach.com.
CHECK-IN & START:
- CHECK-IN and registration will open at 8:00 AM on Sunday October 13thwithWhit’s Coffee and Beer Metric sponsored by Fleet Feet launching at 9:00 AM. The 30-mile Showcase Loop and Family Fun 10-mile Ride sponsored by State Farm will launch at 10:00 AM. Please, arrive at least 30 minutes prior for announcements and staging.
  - NOTE, Rest Stop and direction volunteers may not be available if you do not start with your ride distance.
  - The metric will begin staging pace groups of A, B, and C no later than 8:45 AM.
  - Check-in and registration will continue until 9:45 AM for the 30-mile Showcase Loop and Family Fun 10-mile Ride. Participants will start staging no later than 9:45 AM, based on route length and pace. The 30—mile ride plans offer B and C pace groups.
  - All rides will have marshals for ride support and to lead pace groups for the metric and 30-mile.
  - The metric and 30-mile ride are $80 for onsite registration and though the 10 miler is at no cost, we still need you to register for liability and to be sure we can invite you next year! Cash or a credit card can be used via a QR code to Bike the Beach registration site.
  - ANNOUNCEMENTS including welcome, logistics, and safety will start about 8:45 AM and again at 9:45 AM.
- LOCATION is the old Pavilion at the beach volleyball courts or on N. Ocean Blvd between 8^th and 9th Ave N (Burroughs & Chapin Pavilion Place, 812 N Ocean Blvd, Myrtle Beach, SC).
- PARKING: Downtown parking should not be a concern at that time of day. There is plenty of street parking as well as paid parking garages and lots. The finish at Grand Strand Brewing Company has a large parking lot off Oak Street. This is free and an easy ride to the start. A map below shows parking details.
- Last minute bike support will be handled by our sponsor Beach Bikes.
THE COURSE:
- ROUTES are located on theBiketheBeachregistration site under “Routes” as well as on myrtlebeachcycling.com. We plan to have a few printed cue sheets available at check-in for the metric and 30-miler.
  - NOTE, Whit’s Coffee and Beer Metric is currently the same as last year and a few miles longer than a metric at 65 miles. There is some passable road construction on this route at Bear Bluff and Hwy 90. Please use caution. We are closely watching the route for flooding. All that mountain water from Helene (prayers for our mountain friends) has to drain to the ocean. If there is flooding and a route change is needed, it will be posted Saturday evening. Most up-to -date posts will be on Grand Strand Cyclists Facebook.
  - The 30-mile Showcase Loop has options. It can be completed on off-road multi-purpose paths and bike paths, yet the road is available for the majority. Most riders will find a hybrid of paths and lightly-traveled, roads most enjoyable for this route.
- ROADS ARE OPEN!: This is not a closed-road event. Traffic should be lighter at this time of year and day. Police and/or volunteers will be at selected intersections and caution areas for support. Please listen to them and obey all traffic laws. Please listen to the Ride Marshals as well for route caution areas and how to maintain safe, efficient pace lines.
- RIDE MARSHALS: For safety and fun, we will have ride marshals to keep pace groups together on the metric and 30-mile.For the metric ride marshals will lead A, B, and C pace groups (rolling A 21-24+ mph; B 19-21 mph; C 17-20 mph). The 30-mile ride will have B and/or C marshal(s). The 10-mile ride will also have ride marshals, but not structured pace groups. Please listen to them for your safety!
  - For the metric, it is encouraged that you ride with a pace group or group of friends as well as be able to maintain a minimum 16 mph average to ensure you can complete the course prior to event and support wrap up at 2:00 PM.
- HELMETS are required and rear lights highly encouraged. Front lights are encouraged too.
- REST STOPS: These stops will be noted on course files/map and with road signs. The metric will have up to 2 rest stops that will be passed by twice with a couple of local store options if needed. The 30-mile will have 2 rest stops and the 10-mile 1 rest stop. For SAG information see below.
- PHOTOS: There will be a professional photographer out and about. Please smile and wave so we can capture this fun, special event. You will have the opportunity to purchase photos post-event.
  - Check out the awesome 2022 video compiled by Boardwalk Bikes.
SAFETY FIRST!:
- THIS IS NOT A RACE!: It’s a fun social ride to meet new friends, reconnect with old friends, showcase our beautiful city, and celebrate one of our own’s love and legacy of riding.
- ROADS ARE OPEN!: This is not a closed-road event. Traffic should be lighter at this time of year and day. Police and/or volunteers will be at selected intersections and caution areas for support. Please listen to them and obey all traffic laws. Please listen to the ride marshals as well for route caution areas and to maintain safe, efficient pace lines.
- RIDING ON PATHS: Please be courteous to everyone and yield to pedestrians. Always ride on the right side of the path except when passing. Use an audible warning message, e.g. “on your left”. When riding in groups, fall into single file to allow others to pass without having to leave the path.
- E-BIKES: E-bikes are welcome! For safety we highly encourage pedal-assist only, with no throttle, and having a maximum speed of 20 mph.
- HELMETS are required and rear lights highly encouraged. Front lights are encouraged too.
- SAG:
  - Our sponsor, Pee Dee Bicycle will be providing SAG and sweeping the course. Direct contact number to be provided in next email. Alternates are Mike Snow at 843-655-9062 or Pee Dee shop at 843-839-4657.
  - Ask a Ride Marshal too. They will have SAG contact information
WEATHER: Knock on wood – it looks great! High 50s to low 60s at start and mid to upper -70s by finish
AFTERPARTY: The ride ends at Grand Strand Brewing Company (GSB) on 9th Ave. N. across Hwy 17th from where the ride started. Again, you can park your car there for the start.
- If you didn’t pick up Saturday, T-shirts and swag will be handed out at the finish.
- Unpaid registrants as well as jealous family and friends can purchase T-shirts, while supplies last.
- GSB will be open and Nance’s Plaza will be setup with games and music. Every paid registrant will receive a drink ticket from GSB in their swag bag. In addition to GSB’s culinary offerings, there are a few new restaurants around Nance’s Plaza and there may be a couple of food trucks. Stay awhile to enjoy camaraderie, beverages, food, and music!