When Dartmouth resident Tom Gidwitz participated in the Buzzards Bay Coalition’s very first Buzzards Bay Watershed Ride in 2007, he and the 39 other cyclists who signed up for the 75-mile, day-long bike ride from Westport to Woods Hole weren’t quite sure what to expect.
“It was an adventure in pioneering – we’d never done it before,” said Gidwitz of that first Watershed Ride, held under blue skies on a crisp October day.
Gidwitz came back in 2008 for the second Watershed Ride, and again in 2009 for the third – and every year since then. Now, Gidwitz and hundreds of other cyclists from across the South Coast and beyond are gearing up for the 10th anniversary Watershed Ride, which will take place on Sunday, October 2.
With each passing year, the Watershed Ride has grown from its humble beginnings into a can’t-miss community event for South Coast cyclists of all ages and abilities.
“There’s been more and more people riding [each year], which has added to the camaraderie,” said Gidwitz. “A lot of that original excitement has carried through from year to year.”
The Watershed Ride isn’t a race – it’s an outdoor experience that brings riders together to celebrate clean water. Collectively, riders and their supporters raise roughly $100,000 to support the Coalition’s environmental education, restoration, protection, and advocacy work across the Buzzards Bay region.
“The Watershed Ride is special because it’s such a unique way to experience the diversity of the landscapes in our watershed, from streams to salt marshes to cranberry bogs,” said Mark Rasmussen, president of the Buzzards Bay Coalition. “All of these communities are connected to Buzzards Bay, and being on a bike is one of the best ways to see that up close.”
The route winds along the country roads of Westport and Dartmouth, through New Bedford’s waterfront streets, and down the leafy bike path from Fairhaven to Mattapoisett. It then meets up with the farms, forests, and cranberry bogs of Acushnet, Rochester, and Wareham before crossing the Bourne Bridge over the Cape Cod Canal. On the other side of the bridge, cyclists cruise down the coastal roads of Bourne and Falmouth’s Shining Sea Bikeway to the finish line in Woods Hole. It’s a safe, fully supported event with water stops, lunch, a SAG wagon, and volunteer guides along the way.
Ride of the Century
For its 10th year, the Watershed Ride is celebrating with a brand new route option: a 100-mile “century ride” – considered a badge of honor among avid cyclists. The 100-mile route will begin at Sakonnet Point in Little Compton, marking the first time the Watershed Ride will begin in Rhode Island.
Cyclists can also choose one of the Watershed Ride’s original routes: a 75-mile route that begins at Horseneck Beach in Westport or a 35-mile route that begins at Rochester’s Eastover Farm.
Gidwitz has done both the 75-mile route and the 35-mile route in the past, and he insists that anyone who enjoys bicycling can complete the 35-mile route with a few weeks’ training. “It’s not just for people who are out every weekend riding – you can work up to it, finish the course, and have a feeling of accomplishment.”
Parents with young children will also be able to participate in this year’s celebratory Watershed Ride together, with a special new 10-mile family route through Falmouth.
No matter which of the four routes you choose, all cyclists end the Watershed Ride together at a finish line party along the shores of Buzzards Bay in Woods Hole.
“It’s fun, and it’s a great cause,” said Gidwitz about why he’s returned to the Watershed Ride for 10 years running. “Plus, when you get to the end, there’s plenty of food and good beer!”
To learn more about the Watershed Ride and sign up, visit savebuzzardsbay.org/ride.
