Great American Ride
Gear up for the ride of a lifetime!
The Great American Ride is a 3,700-mile virtual team bike ride along the route of the Great American Rail-Trail™ , a signature project of Rails to Trails Conservancy, our event charity. The developing trail is more than 55% complete and will one day connect over thousands of miles and 12 states between Washington State and Washington, D.C. We’re combining the camaraderie of team cycling with the fun and sightseeing of a long-distance solo ride. The Great American Ride is a journey that you can experience from whatever corner of the world you call home.
Key Event details
How it works
Form a team of 4, 8, or 12 riders and tackle the miles together! Each day, log your progress and watch your team’s dot move across the map in real time. Keep an eye on the leaderboard to track your standings, and enjoy fun facts and highlights about the places you pass along the way!
Your team has until June 6 to complete the trek.
What’s included
Opportunity to earn Virtual Badges
Event Shirt & Finisher Medal
Virtual finisher’s badge
Leaderboard and Online Map with real time standings
Virtual travel experience provided through fun facts and photos of things you would see along the route
Exclusive access to the Great American Ride Facebook Group
The Route
The Great American Rail-Trail is the nation’s first cross-country multiuse trail, stretching more than 3,700 miles between Washington State and Washington, D.C.. This trail is an iconic piece of American infrastructure that will connect thousands of miles of rail-trails and other multiuse trails, serving tens of millions of people living along the route as well as those who visit the trail from around the country and the world.
Throughout your team’s journey, our group of experienced race organizers will be with you every step of the way! We’ll set up ways for you to stay connected with your team and highlight noteworthy portions of the virtual route you are completing.
Click to view the interactive Great American Rail-Trail Map.
Event Charity
Rails to Trails Conservancy (RTC) is a nonprofit organization working to build a nation connected by trails, reimagining public spaces to create safe ways for everyone to walk, bike and be active outdoors. RTC is the nation’s largest trails organization—with a grassroots community more than 1 million strong—serving as the voice and advocate for the nation’s nearly 40,000 miles of multiuse trails. The Great American Rail-Trail™ is a signature project of RTC and the organization’s most ambitious trail project to date. As the nation’s first cross-country multiuse trail, the Great American Rail-Trail will be entirely bikeable and walkable, connecting travelers of all ages and abilities with America’s diverse landscapes and communities. Connect with RTC and the Great American Rail-Trail at @railstotrails on social media.
Team Captains
Every great ride needs a leader, and that leader could be YOU! Gather your crew, set the pace, and sign up as a team captain in the Great American Ride. Let’s hit the road…or trainer, or dirt…anything goes!
FAQs
Questions? We’ve got answers! Check out the FAQs for everything you need to know about the Great American Ride, from setting up your team to logging your miles and more.
How do I register/join a team?
You will register as an individual. You should assign one Team Captain to set-up your team and share the name for others to join. You will also be able to search for a team during registration and choose to join a team then. For more information, visit our Team Captain Info page.
What are the team sizes and divisions?
A team consists of up to 4, 8, or 12 people. You do not have to have the maximum number in each division to be part of the challenge. For example, if you are a team of 3, then you would compete in the 4-person team category and a team of 9 would compete in the 12-person team category.
Tracking
You should track your ride using one of the many GPS-enabled tracking systems (e.g., Strava, Map My Run, Garmin, Wahoo, etc.). From there you will self-report the time and distance of your ride based on your GPS tracking, which will update the leaderboard and move your team’s dot across the course map. Entries without GPS will be permitted but are not encouraged for the sake of validation. If you are in the running to be in the top 10 in your division, you should be prepared to validate your mileage.
Pro Tip: When you click on “Log Activities” bookmark that page to easily return and log your daily mileage.