dreams soar at Bowie State University. Your ride fuels futures!
The BSU Bike Tour has a blend of traditional and virtual ride options. Organized by the Bowie Metropolitan Alumni Chapter (BMAC) of the Bowie State University National Alumni Association, this event serves as a scholarship fundraiser for students at Bowie State University. Scheduled for Saturday, August 22nd, from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET, the tour invites cyclists worldwide to participate in this exciting and meaningful event. Whether you choose to ride in person or virtually, you'll be contributing to a great cause while enjoying the camaraderie of fellow cycling enthusiasts.
Participants in the traditional tour may choose 20, 40, 62, and 100-mile routes, each featuring designated rest stops. The check-in registration table will open at 6:30 a.m. and is located at Vista Gardens Marketplace, 10201 Martin Luther King Jr Highway, Bowie, MD 20720. For those opting for the virtual tour, participants can ride any route or distance of their choice. Everyone is welcome to join.
Please be advised that photographs will be taken at the event, your likeness may be utilized in electronic postings or future advertisements for Bike Tour. If you do not wish for your image or likeness to be used, kindly send an email to [email protected] to notify the Bike Tour Committee.
GOAL
The BSU Bike Tour wants at least 500 registered cyclists to come enjoy a fully supported biking event and raise funds for BSU students.
EVENT SCHEDULE (Rain or Sunshine)
Date: Saturday, August 22nd, 2026
Ride Time Window is 7:00am - 3:30pm. Eastern Time
Note: Even though route departure times are listed, riders can depart on their course at anytime, after they check in at the registration table. Understand that event support and rest stops are available based on the start times listed below. Be mindful of your riding abilities to ensure ride support is available for your entire ride distance.
6:30 - 10:00am Registration table opens (No Onsite Registration on ride day)
7:00 - 8:00am 100 mile riders depart
8:00am 62 mile riders depart
9:00am 40 mile riders depart
9:30am 20 mile riders depart
3:00pm Estimated shut down of last rest stop (Based on riders coming through the last stop)
3:30pm Estimated time that all ride support will cease (Based on accounting for all riders)
ROUTES
For the virtual tour you can create your own adventure and ride wherever you choose, however, some suggested distances are 18 miles and 65 miles to match Bowie State University's founding year (1865).
For the traditional tour, we have 20, 40, 62, and 100 mile routes with rest stops. The start and end point for all routes is Vista Gardens Market Place, 10201 Martin Luther King Jr Highway, Bowie, MD.
Ride With GPS Route links:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/47064713 20 miles
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/47064539 40 miles
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/50289316 62 miles
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/47063579 100 miles
AMENITIES
Ride GPS, Road Route Marking, Rest Stops, SAG Service
REGISTRATION FEES
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Early Registration: $50 (March 1st - May 31st)
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Regular Registration: $70 (June 1st - August 21st)
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Onsite/Day-of Registration, on August 22nd, cost $90. Onsite registration requires the use of registrants' personal electronic devices.
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Registration Fee is NON-REFUNDABLE. (NOTE: If a health emergency or in case of severe weather, or restrictions mandated by local, state or federal government agencies, the BBT Committee reserves the right to cancel/alter/modify the tour for any safety concerns. In any case, we do not refund tour registration fees or transfer registrations to another tour year. In the unlikely case a tour is canceled, you may claim your registration fee as a tax-deducible donation.
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Registrations received after August 7th will not receive tee-shirts.
NOTE: On-line registration will close at 10am Eastern Time on August 22nd. Onsite/Day-of Registration, on August 22nd, cost $90.
For questions, email us at [email protected]
INCLUDED WITH REGISTRATION
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Ride Rest Stops (Refreshment snacks, drinks, and restrooms, minor first aide items, hand air pumps)
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Support and Gear (SAG) Service
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Bike Tech Support (At registration table start area)
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Hard Copy Map/Cue Sheets (If needed, beyond Ride with GPS)
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T-Shirt (Registered riders, who do not pick up their shirt on the day of the event, must pay postage to have tee-shirts mailed to an address.) Registrations received after August 7th will not receive tee-shirts.
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Event Wristband
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After Ride Meal
(TBD) DRAWINGs for registered cyclists, who check in on-site, on ride day
For virtual tour registrants, a registration package will be mailed to you. Registrations received after August 7th will not receive a tee-sheet
For traditional tour registrants, pick-up your registration package when you check-in on the event date at the registration table. Contact the Bike Tour committee at [email protected] to make arrangements to receive registration packages not picked up on ride day; mailing of any traditional ride packages WILL REQUIRE PAYMENT FOR POSTAGE.
ADDITIONAL PURCHASES
Additional t-shirts for the BSU Bike Tour are available for purchase through this registration site. T-shirts can be purchased by anyone, even if you do not plan to ride in the event.
The BSU Bike Tour has a new 2026 kit on sale. Please click on the enclosed link to have your kit sent directly to your address. The store closes on June 26th. https://sender3.zohoinsights-crm.com/ck1/2d6f.327230a/e07f5460-5f66-11f1-b105-5254005934b4/4acc489630ce02324e0b64bec64d2bfbb69ddbe4/1?e=6RvF1w0JtaZaCUislCavFVGkERipT5iBqcbfROpI%2FhJlELjDmCzzwUwveu2z%2BMCeB1tfLBGjN3T2NWj66HgWOte1mxMYyijHGvlCgyPKeD0%3D
[image.jpeg] [8fcd3d97-323f-4a83-bb7b-8bd5e70b71af.png]
DONATIONS
Anyone can make a donation, even if you're unable to ride in the event. Remember, this is a fundraiser for BSU scholarships.
VOLUNTEERS
The Tour welcomes volunteers to assist with this fundraiser for student scholarships. To help with this event, please view the linked Google Doc to see the positions and descriptions of what is needed to support this event. As a thank you, please provide your tee-shirt size on the Google Doc. The positions with no name listed are open. Fill out all the information requested. Thank you. Link: TBD
EVENT SPONSORS (Updated as sponsors commit)
VENDORs
Select vendors are welcome to the event but must be vetted by the BBT Committee. There is no charge to vend but we do ask for a donation to help raise funds for students; this is a ride with a purpose. All vendors must post their request to vend on the linked Google Doc NLT August 7th. The Google Doc entry must include the name of the business, goods or services the business provides, website information (if applicable), and a name and contact information for a person that can receive the permission confirmation to set up at the event and to confirm the set-up location in the Bike Tour's Registration Area. Link: TBD
BIKE ORGANIZATIONS
Bike clubs and organizations are welcome to set up tent tops in the Bike Tour's reserved parking lot area. Space allocation request must be placed on the linked Google Doc NLT August 7th. The information must include the name of the biking organization and contact information for the person that will receive the confirmation to set up at the event and to confirm the reserved space around the Bike Tour's Registration Area. Link: TBD
SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE
To make this bike tour fun and exciting, registrants are encouraged to post photos/videos at the beginning and end of your ride. Share your experience with other riders from all over the globe. Take a picture wearing your bike tour t-shirt. Send your pics to [email protected]. If you send any pictures to our email address, it is understood that you are giving your consent for the images to be posted to our website and/or social media platforms.
SAFETY GUIDELINES
• Obey all traffic laws, including your area's bicycle laws.
• If you are riding with a group, ride single file as required by law.
• All riders are required to wear an ANSI/SNELL/CPSC approved helmet.
• Please be courteous to others sharing the road with you.
• Riders under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult and have the consent of a parent or guardian to participate in the event.
• All minors must be under adult supervision at all times.
• An electronic ride waiver is required to complete the registration.
BY COMPLETING YOUR REGISTRATION and PAYMENT FOR THIS EVENT YOU AGREE TO THE FOLLOWING:
Waiver and Release
Waiver and Release. Participants RELEASE, WAIVE, FOREVER DISCHARGE AND HOLD HARMLESS, AND COVENANT NOT TO SUE the Bowie Metropolitan Alumni Chapter of the Bowie State University National Alumni Association, its officers, members, agents, volunteers, related entities, successors, and assigns (collectively, the “Indemnitees”) from any and all liability, claims, causes of actions, and demands of any kind or nature, either in law or in equity, which arise now or in the future in connection with Participants’ participation in the Bowie Metropolitan Alumni Chapter of the Bowie State University National Alumni Association Bike Ride. Participants understand and agree that this Release discharges the Indemnitees from any liability or claim that Participants may have against the Indemnitees with respect to bodily injury, personal injury, illness, death, or property damage that may result from Participants’ participation in the Bowie Metropolitan Alumni Chapter of the Bowie State University National
Alumni Association, howsoever arising or caused, including THROUGH THE NEGLIGENCE OF INDEMNITEES. Participants expressly waive any right to a trial by judge or jury that Participants may otherwise have with regard to any claim or liability related to Participants’ participation in the Bowie Metropolitan Alumni Chapter of the Bowie State University National Alumni Association Bike Ride.