Contact Event
06/09/2018 @ 7:30 am

The Train Ride

56-mile one-way bike ride from Cary to Burlington with optional train ride return

Cary, NC
Presenting Sponsor

About the Event

What //

56-mile one-way bike ride from Cary to Burlington with optional train ride return

When //

Saturday, June 9, 2018 @ 7:30 am

Where //

Cary Train Station
Cary, NC 27511

Event Information

Don't miss The Train Ride on Saturday, June 9, 2018!    

Event Overview

The event begins at the Cary Train Station in downtown Cary.  The 56-mile one-way ride takes you through rural NC to Burlington and ends at the historic Burlington Train Station.  

Participants are encouraged to experience the full event by purchasing the optional return transportation back to Cary on the Amtrak train.   With a dedicated car for all event participants, the train ride back to Cary will be almost as fun as the bike ride to Burlington!

For those looking for a 112-mile ride, turn-by-turn instructions will be provided for the bike ride back to the start.  The round-trip cyclists may even beat the train back and be ahead of the crowd at the post-event party at Bond Brothers in downtown Cary. 

Note: Due to a change in the Amtrak train schedule, the event schedule has been updated.  See details under Event Schedule below.

This is a USA Cycling sanctioned event and benefits NC Operation Lifesaver.

Event Details

The event includes:
  • Light breakfast before the ride (bagels and coffee)
  • Snack and refreshments at midway rest stop
  • Full lunch at the Burlington train station
  • Access to the NC Railroad Whistlestop Museum (inside the Burlington train station)
  • SAG vehicle with mechanic 
  • Custom event socks
  • Post-event party at Bond Brothers Beer Company in Cary with a free beer for all participants
(Optional) Return Transportation

The return trip purchase includes:
  • One passenger ticket on the Amtrak train from Burlington to Cary on Saturday, June 9, departing at 12:24 pm and arriving in Cary at 1:21 pm.
  • Dedicated train car for event participants
  • Snacks and refreshments on the train.
  • Return transport of bike (provided by Inside-Out Sports).
  • Transportation of small bag of personal items from the event start in Cary to the 56-mile ride finish in Burlington for participants to access at the ride completion.
  • NOTE: Due to seating capacity on the train, only 60 tickets are available for the return trip.
Event schedule (Updated 5/14/18)
  • 7:00 - 7:30 am: Check-in, Drop-off Clothes Change bag, Cary Train Station
  • 7:30 am: Ride begins, group start
  • 8:15 - 10:00 am: Mid-point stop is open
  • 10:00 - Noon: Lunch served in Burlington
  • Noon: All participants must arrive in Burlington for bike loading and train boarding
  • 12:24 pm: Train scheduled to depart Burlington 
  • 1:21 pm: Train scheduled to arrive in Cary 
  • 1:30 pm: Post-event party begins at Bond Brothers
Event Pricing

Registration uses Tier-pricing:
  • [SOLD OUT} Tier 1: $45 (first 25 registrations)
  • Tier 2: $55 (all remaining registrations)
(Optional) Return Transportation (limit of 60 seats):
  • $20
Location

Route

Overall Route:
Cyclists are in for a treat with this pleasant ride through rural North Carolina with several interesting sites.


Interesting Sites:
The route includes several noteworthy sites:
  • Jordan Lake
    • Triangle cyclists and residents are accustomed to the beauty of Jordan Lake!  But this treasure is worth appreciating and possibly even stopping at the Audobon Overlook at 281-691 Marthas Chapel Rd, Apex, NC 27523
    • Learn the history of Jordan lake here.
  • The Haw River
  • Saxapahaw
    • The historic mill in Saxapahaw has been converted to accomodate businesses and housing.  Stop by on your way through to experience the pleasant atmosphere!
  • Historic Graham, NC
    • The route takes you down S. Main Street in Graham with several homes and businesses on the National Register of Historic Places including circling the historic Alamance County Courthouse.

Turn by turn

Download turn-by-turn instructions here. (Note, be sure to check back as the ride date approaches to make sure you have the most current version of the route.)
 
MILE DIRECTION  INSTRUCTION
0 mi RIGHT Turn right on N Harrison Ave
0.23 mi LEFT Turn left onto Chapel Hill Rd
2.65 mi LEFT Turn left onto Morrisville Pkwy
6.8 mi LEFT Turn left onto Highcroft Dr
7.14 mi RIGHT Turn right on Green Hope School Rd
7.31 mi RIGHT Turn right on NC-1621/Green Hope School Rd
8.11 mi RIGHT Turn right onto NC-1600 / Green Level Church Road
8.52 mi LEFT Turn left on Morrisville Pkwy.  (Becomes Lewter Shop Road)
12.45 mi RIGHT Turn right on NC-751 N
12.86 mi LEFT Turn left on Marthas Chapel Rd
15.68 mi RIGHT Turn right on Farrington Rd.  (Becomes Farrington Point Rd.)
17.83 mi LEFT Turn left on Lystra Rd
22.37 mi RIGHT Turn right on US-501 N
23.3 mi LEFT Turn left on Manns Chapel Rd
REST STOP REST STOP REST STOP ON RIGHT at BP Station
23.3 mi RIGHT Continue on Manns Chapel Rd.  (Turn right out of rest stop.)
25.25 mi RIGHT Turn right on Poythress Rd
25.43 mi LEFT Slight left on Lamont Norwood Rd
28.66 mi RIGHT Turn right on Jones Ferry Rd
29.71 mi LEFT Turn left on Crawford Dairy Rd
35.5 mi LEFT Turn left on Old Greensboro Rd. (Becomes E Greensboro Chapel Hill Rd.)
39.31 mi RIGHT Turn right on Whitney Rd
42.03 mi RIGHT Turn right on Church Rd
42.42 mi LEFT Turn left on Jordan Dr
42.52 mi RIGHT Slight right on Swepsonville-Saxapahaw Rd. (Becomes Darrell Newton Dr. then Swepsonville Rd.)
49.49 mi RIGHT Turn right on Cooper Rd
50.54 mi LEFT Slight left on E Gilbreath St
52.84 mi RIGHT Turn right on S Main St
53.22 mi RIGHT Turn right to enter the traffic circle.
53.28 mi RIGHT Take the second right in the traffic circle onto N Main St.  (Becomes Providence Rd. then Sidney Ave)
55.05 mi RIGHT Turn right on E Webb Ave
56.2 mi RIGHT Turn right on N Main St
56.24 mi RIGHT Turn right to enter Burlington Train Station Parking lot