Add a casual doughnut ride to your 30 Days of Biking

by John Brown

Last year I spent some time in the cradle of liberty, Philadelphia. While there, I enjoyed a few rides, but the most enjoyable one was the Trek of Philadelphia’s Doughnut Ride. I was reminded of the joys of simple rides and good company rather than strenuous efforts and a competitive pace. With 30 days of Biking a few weeks away, here is a fun idea you may want to consider with friends as warmer weather returns our way.

A doughnut ride idea 

From a Doughnut Ride in Philly, we left the shop with a group of eight. Our bikes were a mishmash of road bikes, commuter rigs, single-speeds, and an e-bike. When we departed the shop and headed toward the city’s center, it was immediately clear that the pace would be conversational.  Rather than stay on the path, we crossed the Falls Bridge onto West River Drive. On the weekends, Philadelphia closes West River Drive, so we had our run on the entire roadway. After a bit of riding and talking, we found ourselves at the end of West River Drive and the base of the Art Museum.

At the Art Museum, our ride began to slip through the surrounding neighborhoods until we reached our hallowed destination – Federal Doughnuts.

We hopped back on our bikes after stuffing our faces with warm doughnuts. Full of sugar and fat, we returned to the bike shop along the same route. Ultimately, the ride took under two hours, including the time spent eating. Everyone had fun, the conversation was great, and we all got to meet more friends to ride with.

Why does this ride work?

The ride was great because the pace and route were clearly stated in advance. Therefore, everyone knew what to expect and where to go. The route was carefully chosen to promote great conversation and a casual pace. Every rider could enjoy the trip stress-free by choosing traffic-free paths and streets, and a casual destination. Additionally, the pace is controlled by the ride’s start time. For example, a competitive-minded rider has a list of fast-paced rides leaving on Saturday morning, so there would be no need to come to the Doughnut Ride to try and get a killer workout with so many other options. From start to finish, this ride is a winner.

How to plan your ride

Setting up a casual ride should be easy if you already lead rides for a local club or shop. If this is your first attempt at leading an organized ride, then there are a few things to remember. First off, you want people to be at your ride! To ensure you have attendees, start talking about and advertising (if you’re working with a local club or shop) at least two weeks in advance. Also, ensure all your information explains the pace and payoff (in this case, doughnuts) for your ride to build interest. Finally, make sure your route is friendly to a group of riders. For example, I’ve been on a few rides that required riders to be single-file for almost the entire time due to narrow roadways. In contrast, the Doughnut ride should promote conversation with wide paths and clear roads, for riding two abreast.

According to Paul T. at Perennial Cycle, Minneapolis does a great job with these types of rides and has lots of them. Watch for the upcoming events there this season.

About John Brown, the author

John operates Browns Bicycle in Richfield, MN. As a lifelong cyclist and consummate tinkerer, it all started for him in grade school when the bike bug bit, and that particular fever is still there. Now and over the past 30 years, he has worked at every level of the bike industry. Starting like most, sweeping floors and learning anything he could about bikes. He eventually graduated to a service manager and then to a store manager.  Over the years, he has spent extensive time designing and sourcing bicycles and parts for some of the world’s largest bike companies. All the while focusing on helping as many people as possible enjoy the love of riding a bike. In that pursuit, he has taught classes (both scheduled and impromptu) on all things bikes. John also believes in helping every rider attain their optimal fit on the bike of their dreams. Please feel free to stop in anytime to talk about bikes, fit, parts, or just share your latest ride. You can also see more of John’s tricks and tips on the Brown Bicycle Facebook Page.