BIKE THE CBUS & BIKE THE CBUS PLUS FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: WHERE AND WHEN DO THE RIDEs BEGIN AND END?
A: Bike the Cbus and Bike the Cbus PLUS begin and end at the Grange Insurance Audubon Center located at 505 W Whittier St, Columbus, OH 43215. Announcements and a group photo will happen at 7:45am for Bike the Cbus with riders will roll out at 8am. Those participating in Bike the Cbus will leave at 7am.
Q: WHERE CAN I PARK?
A: Your options are:
Ride your bike and park you bike after the ride on our racks in the food area.
Park near the climbing wall and ride to the start
Q: WHEN AND WHERE DO I PICK UP MY RIDER PACKET?
A: Packets can be picked up Friday, August 31st, 5:30–8:30pm or the morning of the ride from 6:00–7:45am at the Grange Insurance Audubon Center located at 505 W Whittier St, Columbus, OH 43215.
Q: What kind of support will be offered on the ride?
A: There are four full service aid stops that provide snacks, water and mechanical support provided by Franklinton Cycle Works, roll:, Paradise Garage and Jonny Velo Bikes. REI will be at the start and Third Hand Bicycle Co-op will be at the one mile mark for any quick emergencies you may have.
Q: What is the route for Bike the CBUs and Bike the Cbus plus?
A: Maps will be provided at pre-registration and the day of the ride. Click on links for GPS file of the route. Please make sure you are downloading the correct route!
Q: Are you going to feed me?
A: You bet! You will be given a food ticket to redeem at your pick of food trucks including; Donatos, Broke Johnny and Paddy Wagon. Don't want to eat a meal but want something cool and sweet? Graeter's Ice Cream will be there to satisfy your sweet tooth. We also will be selling beer crafted by Lineage Brewing in our Beer Garden. Upper Cup Coffee Co is providing coffee before the ride and Lucky's Market is providing Cliff Bars bananas and apples at all the Aid Stops.
Q:How does the finish Line Festival Raffle work?
A: Tickets will be available on Friday evening and Saturday. If you pickup your registration packet on Friday night, you will receive one FREE raffle ticket! Tickets will be $5 for 1 or 10 for $20. Cash, check and credit/debt cards will be accepted. It's a "choose what you want to win" type of raffle. Each item will have a bag for your to put your tickets into. We have over $1500 of merchanidise in our raffle including a dome tent from REI, fine dinning at the Refectory and passes to BalletMet to name a few. We will draw the winners at 1:30 pm You do not need to be present to win. All items not claimed on Saturday by 2 pm will be taken to the Yay Bikes! office at 82 E 16th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43201. We will contact you to arrange pickup.
Q: CAN I REGISTER ON THE DAY-OF?
A: Yes, but you save by registering online. Online registration ends at NOON on Friday, August 31st. On-site registration is $50 for non-members (cash or credit card) and may be accomplished on Friday, August 31st 5:30–8:30pm or the morning of the ride from 6–7:45am (Bike the CbusPLUS registration ends at 6:45AM) at Grange Insurance Audubon Center located at 505 W Whittier St, Columbus, OH 43215. Late registrants may purchase a t-shirt for $15 while supplies last.
Q: CAN YOU CHANGE MY T-SHIRT SIZE?
A: We would be happy to swap your un-worn shirt for another size, if available, at the "problem child" registration area.
Q: WHO SHOULD REPORT TO THE "PROBLEM CHILD" AREA?
A: Participants who;
would like to exchange t-shirts,
don't understand why they are not receiving a shirt,
think they already registered but we have no record,
won complimentary tickets but didn't register online,
complainers. Don't be a "problem child".
Q: IS THERE A RAIN DATE?
A: Nope. We ride rain or shine! However, during Yay Bikes! events there is always the potential for extreme or severe weather conditions (for example: lightning, tornado, high winds, extreme hot or cold temperatures, blizzard, nuclear winter etc...). Yay Bikes! will do as much as we can to make the experience as safe as possible. But if there is severe weather, the event may be delayed as event organizers consult public safety officers. If there is more than a reasonable delay, or if conditions persist, event organizers reserve the right to shorten or cancel the ride. Entry fees are non-refundable. Please check the website, email and social media before the event for any changes or cancellations. If you are already at the event listen to the announcer.
Q: WHAT DOES MY REGISTRATION FEE INCLUDE?
A: All registrations include ride participation, including food and drinks at designated stops, plus lunch. If you register before July 31, you will also receive an exclusive 2018 Bike the Cbus t-shirt.
Q: HOW DO I CLAIM MY YAY BIKES! MEMBER DISCOUNT?
A: Choose the Yay Bikes! Member ticket option. At check out, enter your Yay Bikes! member number. These tickets will be verified. Not yet a Yay Bikes! member? Join today before you register. At check out, enter NEW as your member number. These tickets will also be verified.
Q: CAN YOU TELL ME IF I'M REGISTERED? OR, I CAN'T FIND MY TICKET, CAN YOU SEND IT TO ME?
A: Fortunately, eventbrite.com makes it really simple to manage your own tickets and registration. Head to "My Tickets" after logging in and you will be able to find it. You can also search your email for the copy that was sent to you after registering. Important: this is why when you are registering, before the process is completed, we ask you to verify your email address. If it is entered incorrectly, you will be unable to retrieve your ticket and will not receive pre-ride emails.
Q: WHAT IF SOMETHING COMES UP AND I CAN’T RIDE?
A: We are unable to provide refunds, but you may transfer your registration to another participant if you are unable to ride.
Q: ARE KIDS ALLOWED ON THE RIDE?
A: Kids of all ages are welcome on Bike the Cbus neighborhood tour, as long as they are accompanied by an adult. Kids who meet the physical requirements of Bike the CbusPLUS are welcome. Yay Bikes! will not assume the responsibility of minor children participating without supervision. HELMETS ARE REQUIRED FOR CHILDREN UNDER 18 BY LAW. If a child does not have a helmet, one can be provided for them at no charge—just ask before Saturday, September 1st. Children (under age 18) ride at a discounted rate. Toddlers or infants in a trailer or child seat on an adult bike, ride free and do not need registration.
Q: WHAT SAFETY ACCOMMODATIONS ARE THERE?
A: Bike the Cbus offers a cue sheet/map and route marked with directional signs, but no street closures or police escort. Bike the CbusPLUS offers a cue sheet and is lead and swept by experienced volunteers. Participants must share the road with automobile traffic, obeying all traffic regulations. Medical support, links to emergency medical services and en-route support will be available. To learn how to safely negotiate urban streets by bicycle, you may want to take a How We Roll course before the tour.
Q: DO I HAVE TO BE A STRONG CYCLIST TO PARTICIPATE?
A: Bike the Cbus is a ride, not a race, and it’s designed to accommodate riders of all ages and abilities, You set your own pace, there are stops along each route to explore and 4 shorter routes for those who don’t want to ride the full ride. You can do it! Riders in Bike the CbusPLUS must be able to travel at a consistent pace of 15mph or more. Any rider falling under the pace will be removed from the group and offered an opportunity to return to the start with SAG.
Q: I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS RIDE AND MISSED THE EARLY REGISTRATION RATE. CAN YOU GET ME IN AT THAT DISCOUNTED RATE?
A: No.
Q: I AM INTERESTED IN JOINING THE ATTRACTIVE, INTELLIGENT, SUCCESSFUL, FORWARD-THINKING GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS THAT PUT ON THIS AMAZING CYCLING EVENT. HOW CAN I BECOME ONE OF THESE WORLD-CHANGERS?
A: We’d love to have you, especially if you are willing to setup or breakdown the event this year. Wanna assist? Volunteer opportunities will be posted soon. In the meantime, email heidi@yaybikes.com with your interest.
Q: HOW CAN I SPONSOR BIKE THE CBUS?
A: Sponsors make this event possible! Please email catherine@yaybikes.com and we will send you more information. Thanks for considering us!
Q: HOW LONG HAS BIKE THE CBUS BEEN TAKIng CYCLISTS AROUND COLUMBUS?
A: 2018 will mark our 11th year! The event started out as the brain child of Ray George who recognized that the best way to see a city was by bicycle. At the time Columbus did not have a city-wide cycling event and Bike the Cbus was born. He worked with Long Street Businessmen's Association (LSBA) to host the event during the Long Street Tour held traditionally on Labor Day weekend. The event has grown from 195 participants in 2008 to well over 500 annually touring the neighborhoods of Columbus. In 2013 the event was co-hosted by LSBA and Yay Bikes!. Yay Bikes! has organized the event since then. See more of the history here.
