Ride Overview

Come ride the 9th Annual MCDS Tour of Marin on Sunday October 16th, 2011 at 8:00 am! Join the peloton for the Tour of Marin Half Century (50 miles), or ride at your own pace in the metric Half Century (33 miles). Either way, you’re in for a wonderful morning of cycling and post-ride brunch at the finish.See pictures from prior years on Facebook group “Tour of Marin.”

For the past eight years, Tour of Marin participants have taken to the rolling hills and redwood groves of Marin for a 50 mile police-escorted ride led,by professional cyclists from across the country. The Tour has featured such notable American cyclists as Davis and Taylor Phinney, Levi Leipheimer, George Hincapie, David Zabriskie, Freddy Rodriguez, Steven Cozza, Roman Kilun and Daniel Holloway. As in the past, the ride will be ably guided by the Specialized Masters Cycling team. Featuring a number of former Olympic team members, as well as multiple World and National Champions, the Specialized team is one of the most accomplished groups of masters riders in the world.

Among those who may be riding at the Tour of Marin are Ken Carpenter, Dylan Casey, Mike McCarthy and Scott McKinley. But no matter who shows up to ride with us, you’re sure to enjoy the thrilling experience of the Tour peloton, pedaling side by side with friends and cycling enthusiasts while being unencumbered by stop signs and intersections.

For those whose ambitions tend toward the more relaxed end of the cycling spectrum, the Tour of Marin offers a shorter but equally spectacular 33 mile option. With rest stops in Nicasio and again in Fairfax, it’s the perfect ride for casual cyclists looking for a new challenge or a more leisurely outing with friends.

Both rides will take us out through sleepy central Marin toward Nicasio, safely escorted by officers from the California Highway Patrol and supported by MCDS parent volunteers. At Nicasio, the 33-milers will turn back, accompanied by MCDS volunteer support riders and cars, while the police-escorted Half Century will continue around the reservoir before heading for home. The pace for the Half Century is moderate to fast, but generally enjoyable for anyone who is comfortable riding 50 miles in a group setting. We make every effort to keep everyone together, and there are several rest areas that provide an opportunity to regroup. Following the rides, participants are invited to a delicious freshly prepared brunch at the school where they can refuel and recap.

The entry fee for the Tour of Marin is $200, which includes the ride, post-ride brunch at the school, commemorative socks, water bottle and reusable tote bag. This year we will raffle off a Tour of Marin bicycle jersey and shorts, so bring a little extra cash ($10 a ticket). The Tour of Marin raises funds for MCDS’ Indexed Tuition program, which provides tuition assistance to approximately one-quarter of the families at our school, as well as to support our community partners. This year, as in previous years, the Tour will donate a percentage of its proceeds to Trips for Kids and TeamSwift.

The ride is limited to 200 participants, so be sure to sign up early. Prior to the event, registration must be completed online at www.tourofmarin.org beginning in August. We will also accept live registrations the morning of the ride, but only to the extent that spaces remain available. So mark your calendars, pump up the tires, and join us for the ride of the season!

The 50 mile ride is for participants 18 and older (with the exception of Team Swift riders).
The 33 mile ride is for participants 18 and older.
The 33 mile “family ride” is for current MCDS 8th graders riding with their parents. Please note: Although there will be van support for the family ride, this ride is not CHP escorted and will start 15 minutes after the main pack. Parents/Legal guardians must ride WITH their child at all times. The 33 miles of this course are strenuous and contain multiple hills. We are only recommending the family ride for 8th graders and parents who are comfortable riding 33-miles of hilly terrain on an open road. This route is not for a first time rider. Please contact tourofmarin@mcds.org to register and/or with questions.

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