help_outline Skip to main content
  Join Login
HomeEvents27th Annual Endless Summer Watermelon Ride

Events - Event View

This is the "Event Detail" view, showing all available information for this event. If the event has passed, click the "Event Report" button to read a report and view photos that were uploaded.

27th Annual Endless Summer Watermelon Ride

When:
Sunday, September 11, 2016
Where:
Atlantic Recreation Center
2500 Atlantic Avenue
Fernandina Beach, FL  32034
Additional Info:
Event Contact(s):
Jodi Hohlstein
Category:
Endless Summer Watermelon Ride
Registration is closed
Payment In Full In Advance Only
Activities/Items    (Click the down-arrow to the left of the activity/item to view the details)

The North Florida Bicycle Club brings you a classic one-day bicycle event designed for all road cyclists, the 27th Annual Endless Summer Watermelon Ride.


Enjoy a wonderful bike ride on scenic Amelia Island through historic, tree lined Fernandina Beach, along the ocean and south to the Talbot Island State Parks. Come check out the League of American Bicyclists’ 2013 Bronze Level award winner, Fernandina Beach. Take your pick of five routes: 19, 30, 55, 75 and 101 miles.

 
We'll provide pre-ride snacks, rest stops stocked with food, water and Gatorade, marked routes, maps, mechanical support, SAGs, motorcycle safety escorts in Fernandina Beach, and a post-ride lunch.

 
Online Registration is now CLOSED. however, you can still sign up!
Day before the Ride – Saturday, September 10, 2016
12:30 PM to 4:00 PM - Early pickup of ride packet including wristband ID, map and T-shirt and in-person registration at Atlantic Recreation Center. Also, if jerseys are ordered by the to-be-published deadline, they will be available.
Day of Ride- Sunday, September 11, 2016 

6:30 AM - Doors open for ride packet pick up including wristband ID, map and T-shirt and day-of-ride registration.

 
ALREADY SIGNED UP OR PLANNING TO?
HERE'S SOME MORE COOL STUFF THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW!
 
The Ride starts at the Atlantic Recreation Center
2500 Atlantic Avenue, Fernandina Beach, FL 320434
 
Note: The following downloads are only live on PC's. If you have a mobile device and click on these, you'll find the documents in your Download files.
 
Click on the parking sign to find a cool  map.
 
Click the logo to view Jonathan Tomassetti's entertaining and informative presentation
about your ride and some things to watch out for on the route.
The new Sister's Creek Bridge is beautiful and still under construction!
Learn in this presentation how to avoid the hazards! 
-AND WHILE YOU'RE VIEWING IT-
Listen to our Safety brief here where you can actually understand it!
 
 
Event Ceremony and Release Plan 
Things are different this year, please read!
  • Remember, parking is all off-premises and it takes some time to get to the Recreation Center. Please plan accordingly.
  • There will be a short 9/11 remembrance ceremony starting at 7:20. 101, 75, 55 mile riders, please plan to be in place for the start by 7:10 AM.
  • We are releasing by planned ride speed. Everybody will go through Fort Clinch with its narrow, winding roads and two way traffic. This is not a good place for passing. Please be realistic about your planned initial riding speed and line up accordingly. 

Riders within each Release Group should line up according to the pace they expect to ride, with faster cyclists up front and slower cyclists toward the back. Use your best judgment to determine where you should be in the lineup as no signs will be posted.  Cyclists will be released in short intervals using the below described rope system.  Groups of teams and friends should be side-by-side at the start and request that the line person keep you together.  A Traffic Coordinator will remain with a law enforcement officer on Atlantic Avenue and in phone contact with the Release Captain to coordinate traffic flow between waves.  This will create a smooth flow through Fort Clinch, and minimize traffic delays on Atlantic Avenue.
 
Release Group 1: 55, 75, and 101 Mile Routes 
Please plan to be ready to go and at the starting line by 7:10 AM. Release will begin promptly at 7:30 AM. 
 
Release Group 2: 19 and 30 Mile Routes
Please plan to be ready to go and at the starting line by 8:05 AM. Release will begin promptly at 8:15 AM.
Final Release: Bicycle Sweep The last cyclist to depart will be the Bicycle Sweep at 8:30.  There will be no departures after the Sweep.

Rope System:
  • Two sets of rope will be used to release groups of approximately 50 cyclists at a time.
  • Rope A will be in front of the starting group and Rope B will be behind the starting group of 50.
  • When it is safe to go, Rope A will be dropped, allowing the first group of cyclists to cross over the rope and depart.      
  • Rope B will move to the front starting position and Rope A will be moved over the next group of 50 cyclists.
  • When it is safe to go, Rope B will be dropped and again allowing the next group of cyclists to depart.
  • Rope A will then be moved into the starting position and Rope B will be moved over the next group of 50 cyclists.
  • This method will continue until all cyclists have departed.
 
 
 
Come for the ride, stay for the watermelon!

Make your ride a vacation destination.  Check below for details and prices for hotel packages.   

 
RIDE RULES - WE WANT THIS TO BE A FUN, FAMILY EVENT!
This will be a monitored ride. Wrist bands and bibs will be issued and required to be worn during this ride.
Helmets are required. 
Each bicycle must be equipped with at least one brake that meets the requirement of FS 316.2065(14). Headphones are prohibited by Florida State Law, per FS 316.304. No use of aerobars while riding in a paceline.

To maintain a safe, fun, family oriented ride for everyone, we expect that riders will obey all traffic regulations and police officers. Riders must follow standard, well-accepted safe cycling practices which will be emphasized in the pre-ride safety briefings. Ride marshals will be on the route to monitor compliance and provide assistance pending the arrival of SAGs or emergency personnel, as appropriate.
      
CANCELLATION POLICY - Sorry, but there is no rain date and we cannot offer refunds. The event takes place, rain or shine. If for some reason you cannot attend the ride after registering, you can have someone pick up your T-shirt for you at the ride or you can pick it up at the next scheduled NFBC club meeting. Otherwise, it becomes the property of the club.
                        
 NFBC Pedaling for Safety Campaign

    A portion of your registration fee will go to support our Pedaling for Safety Campaign. There is no additional fundraising required for this event. We want you to enjoy the ride and have great day! Please consider making an additional contribution to support this worthy cause. Just click on Donation when you register. 
 
ENDLESS SUMMER WATERMELON RIDE 2016 JERSEY 
NOW AVAILABLE!

This year's unique commemorative jersey is now available! It highlights the wonderful scenic ride that you'll enjoy, and it pays tribute to the significance of the date that we will never forget. You may order it here. But HURRY, final ordering date to receive your jersey at the event, is August 7th!
Jerseys ordered between August 8 and September 18th will be shipped to you by November 10th.
Please note: This is an optional full ride jersey, not the T-shirt that is offered as part of normal on-line registration.
 

Regular on-line registration at $40 for Club members and $55 for non-members + 7% sales tax. The included T-shirt ends on August 30th. Note that non-member registration is also subject to a $3.00 Technology Convenience Fee paid to our website host.

 

Last day for on-line registration (no T-shirt included) is September 6th.

 

Onsite registration at Atlantic Recreation Center on Saturday, September 10th from 12:30 – 4:00 PM and on the day of the ride, Sunday, September 11th, beginning at 6:30 AM for $65 + 7% sales tax. Cash, checks and credit cards accepted.

 
JOIN THE NFBC OR RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP AND SAVE WHEN YOU REGISTER!
For a $25 individual membership fee and a $30.00 family membership, you receive up to $50 of value or more with a $18.00 savings ($15.00 discount & no convenience fee) on each of our twice yearly major rides, ESWR and Tour de Forts, and free picnic rides. Benefits, in addition to becoming a member of the largest recreational bicycle club in northeast Florida, include no technology convenience fees when registering for Club events, our award winning, monthly online newsletter, Wheelspeak, discounts on accessories at participating bike shops including shipping case rentals, free classified ads in Wheelspeak and on our website and periodic email notices about club rides and events. To become a member, click the Join NFBC! button on the upper left of your screen and follow the prompts.

IMPORTANT REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS. MEMBERS MUST login AND NON-MEMBERS MUST FIRST JOIN AND login TO BE PRESENTED MEMBER RATES:
To start registering as a member, click the Register Now! button at the upper right of this page and sign in using your unique user name and password. For non-members wishing to receive the membership registration fee, you must first become a member of NFBC by clicking the Join NFBC! button on the upper left of the screen. Do this first, then complete the registration process by clicking the Register Now! button on the upper right.

In addition to registering yourself, you may register other family members or friends except for registration of a minor child which can only be done by mail or in person at the Atlantic Recreation Center on September 10-11, 2016. Every registrant will be required to sign their own "hard" (printed) copy of the ride waiver at packet pick-up before the ride.

Registration of a minor child (under the age of 18) can only be made by mail or by a parent or guardian in person at the Atlantic Recreation Center on Saturday, September 10th from 12:30 to 4 PM, and on the day of the ride, September 11th, beginning at 6:30 AM. Endless Summer Watermelon Ride 2016 Minor registration form and waiver. Mail the application with a check made out to NFBC for payment of the registration fee to the address listed on the bottom of the form. Please note that a parent or legal guardian must accompany the a minor child below the age of 16 on the ride.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
The success of undertakings like Endless Summer Watermelon Ride requires the assistance of many volunteers. If you are not planning to ride ESWR or have a family member, friend or co-worker who would be willing to help out, click on the Volunteer! button on the upper right of the screen just below the Register Now! button. Listed on the Volunteer page are the open positions. Check back periodically as the list will be updated as we get closer to ESWR.
 
For questions about the ride, contact Jeff or Jodi Hohlstein, ESWRDirector@nfbc.us or 904-282-2180.

For questions about registering, contact the Membership Director at Membership@nfbc.us.

 
ROUTE MAPS AND GARMIN FILES The Route Mileages have changed since the Registration Page originally went up. The mileages here and in the Registration have been corrected. If you've already registered, no problem. You'll be asked to confirm your planned distance at Package Pickup and you may change your planned mileage then.
 
RIDE PACKET PICK-UP AND EVENT SCHEDULE

RIDE WAIVER

Every registrant will be required to sign a "hard" (printed) copy of the ride waiver before receiving a ride packet. Copies will be available at the registration desk. If you are picking up a ride packet for someone else, they should Endless Summer Watermelon Ride 2016 Adult Ride Waiver, sign it and give it to you to bring when you pick up their ride packet. NO EXCEPTIONS. NO SIGNED WAIVER. NO PACKET.

Day before the Ride – Saturday, September 10, 2016
12:30 PM to 4:00 PM - Early pickup of ride packet including wristband ID, map and T-shirt and in-person registration at Atlantic Recreation Center. Also, if jerseys are ordered by the to-be-published deadline, they will be available.

Day of Ride- Sunday, September 11, 2016 

6:30 AM - Doors open for ride packet pick up including wristband ID, map and T-shirt and day-of-ride registration.

The remaining departure schedule will be posted when the maps are finalized. Also, if jerseys are ordered by the to-be-published deadline, they will be available.

10:30 AM to 4:30 PM - Lunch served

4:30 PM - All services end.                                                     


 
ACCOMMODATIONS
There are great hotels on Amelia Island.  The following have agreed to offer special rates to ESWR riders on September 11-13.  Contact the hotel directly to make reservations.

 

The Hoyt House
King room for $219 per night plus tax
Book online with promo code: KG219
OR
Queen room for $199 per night plus tax. 
Book online with promo code: QN199

 
Myrta, Innkeeper
804 Atlantic Avenue
Fernandina Beach
Amelia Island, Florida
904-277-4300
800-432-2085


 
Addison on Amelia
Enjoy the Endless Summer Watermelon Ride weekend at the Addison on Amelia.  Riders are offered a flexible breakfast time on ride day, indoor secure storage for bicycles and plenty of moral support from the cyclists who run the inn.  Weekend room rates are reduced 15% for the weekend with a two night minimum.
 
Bob Tidball, Innkeeper
614 Ash St, Fernandina Beach FL 32034
904-277-1604
info@AddisonOnAmelia.com

 
Amelia Hotel at the Beach
Riders may call our hotel and ask for the group discount for Endless Watermelon Ride to receive this special offer.
Rate Code: EWR
 
Jayla Awa
Assistant General  Manager
1997 S Fletcher Ave
Amelia Island, FL 32034
904 206-5600
ja@ameliahotel.com
 
 
Start date: 9/9/16
End date: 9/12/16
Last day to book: 8/19/16 
Marriott hotel(s) offering your special group rate: 
Residence Inn Amelia Island  for 149.00 USD  - 278.00 USD  per night
Book your group rate for 2017 Endless Watermelon Ride 

Jenna Moore 
Digital Marketing Strategist
Residence Inn by Marriott | Amelia Island
Direct Line: 904.557.9804
Fax: 904.277.2449
 
 
Endless Summer Watermelon Ride on