Boston Countryside Cruisers

Welcome!  Boston Countryside Cruisers (BCC), started in 2013, is a group for riders of most two- and three-wheeled motorcycles.

Our group’s mission is to enjoy motorcycling the backcountry roads of New England at a leisurely pace, in a fun and relaxed social atmosphere and in a safe manner.  Our members, who typically reside around metro Boston, come from all walks of life, but all share the same love of cruising the countryside by bike. On ride days, we leave our problems behind to enjoy no-drama riding and making new (or renewing old) connections.  Rides typically start from a variety of locations along or between Routes 128 and 495. Then we head out for half or full-day rides, traveling on quiet and beautiful country roads. We sometimes host multi-day rides.

All BCC event organizers, ride leaders and sweeps are unpaid volunteers.

Check out upcoming and past rides on the Events tab of this Meetup site.  You can also visit our group’s Facebook Page to see more about BCC people and events.  The “Files” section on Facebook contains recent group newsletters.

## Our Guiding Principles …….

All Boston Countryside Cruisers rides will:
- Be open to all two- or three-wheeled motorcycles that can safely ride at and maintain highway speeds. (We’ll occasionally need to ride short highway segments for expediency in getting from Point A to B).
- Be thoughtfully planned.
- BE DRUG and ALCOHOL FREE.
-Typically have 8-14 riders.
- Stay within 10 mph of the speed limit nearly all of the time.   (If you have the need for speed, this may not be the group for you).
- Choose back roads over highways whenever possible.
- Be a relaxed and fun way to meet other riders.

## What to Expect on A Typical Ride…

Our rides are well planned.  You’ll have a good idea, before you RSVP for a ride, about the route, mileage and riding time, the stops and where/when the ride will end. A posted ride will usually have a route map and a list of planned stops. We plan rest stops every 60-90 minutes at facilities with bathrooms and fuel (such as newer Cumberland Farms or Alltowns) . Rides often include a casual meal, ice cream, etc. along the way (generally avoiding chain restaurants.)

Rides typically avoid highways, but if we plan to use one you will know before signing up for a ride and we'll keep the highway travel to a minimum. All members and their bikes must be capable of safely riding at highway speeds.

## We’re Also About Safety…

While we want to hold fun events, our core principle  is that everyone must be able to ride safely.   BCC requires a minimum of one-year or 2,000 miles of riding experience, and an understanding of good practices for riding in a group of motorcycles. Many of these practices are discussed in this 10-minute video on group riding skills from the Motorcycle Safety Foundation.   Each rider must also be able to understand, act on, and pass along group safety hand signals.

Ride leaders conduct a safety briefing before each ride, including a review of commonly used hand signals.

Bottom line - to ride with BCC, you must be comfortable with, and have the riding skills necessary, to safely ride in a staggered motorcycle formation.  This requires maintaining a 2-second gap between you and the bike in front of you, without drifting sideways in your lane or lagging behind.

## Joining BCC………

Boston Countryside Cruisers is free to join until you've participated in two (2) rides with us. After two rides, we'll ask for $20 annual dues which we use to pay for the Meetup platform. All members and passengers must also complete our on-line Annual Liability Waiver and Emergency Contacts Form before taking your first ride with us. Here’s this year's form.

Come Out and Ride with Us!