2023 Gator Ride, Gear Up to End Hunger!

Join us for the 34th Annual Gator Ride!

March 11, 2023

The Gator Ride is a Baytown tradition and will celebrate 34 years in 2023! Hearts and Hands of Baytown is honored to take on the mantle of this incredible legacy that has been built by the YMCA. 

As a recommended ride, this is an event that you need to place on your schedule. Course lengths are 33, and 53 miles. There is even a 5.6-mile family ride!

All proceeds from the Gator Ride, Gear Up to End Hunger will go toward our Annual Campaign. The most basic need for survival is food, and an unacceptable number of families need food assistance in our community. Hearts and Hands of Baytown is leading the fight to address food insecurity by providing access to fresh, healthy food to residents via our four pillar programs. In all our endeavors, we work to take away the stigma of needing food and provide clients with opportunities to strive toward self-sufficiency. 

It is because of the support of organizations like yours that we are able to provide food for families in a dignified and supportive manner while supporting services with collaborating partnerships not only to work to eradicate hunger but to address the underlying causes. All proceeds from the event are invested directly back into our community.

The first 400 riders to register are guaranteed a ride shirt!

For more information, visit our Event Page on Active.com

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Packet Pick- up

2023 Gator Ride Information Map at Lee College

Early packet pick-up will be available on Friday, March 10, 2023, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Packet pick-up will be handled as a drive-through process in parking lot 2 on the Lee College Campus right outside of the Gymnasium. You can map the destination to 200 Lee Drive, Baytown, TX 77520. When you arrive, we will greet you at your vehicle to verify your name and hand over your rider packet, including your bib number and additional ride information. When you return for the ride on Saturday you will not be able to park near the Gymnasium. Parking will be available in lots 8, 10, 11, and 15 indicated on the map below and signs will help direct you to park. Once parked you can ride your bike through campus to the starting line.

Day of packet pick-up will be available on Saturday, March 11, 2023, from 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Plan to park and ride your bike through campus to the check-in/starting line area. There will be signs to assist you in finding the parking area and getting to the check-in area.

The rolling start is from 7:30 am to 8:30 am.  The Family ride will start at 8:45 am. No one will be allowed on the 33 and 53-mile routes after 8:30 am.  Gator Ride will end at 2 pm.

Course signage will be removed, and rest stops will be closed upon passage of route turtles. To comply with road permitting, all rest stops and ride support will end at 2:00 pm.

YOUR SAFETY IS OUR PRIORITY

Rider & Volunteer Safety:

Gator Ride Course Rules, Cycling Etiquette, and Safety Tips on Passing

  • All drinks and snacks will be offered in single-use containers. 
  • Hand sanitizing stations will be available at the start and finish lines and at breakpoints.
  • Volunteers will disinfect high-touch areas throughout the ride.

Route Maps:

2023 Gator Ride – 33 Mile Ride Map or be found on the Ride with GPS website.

Gator Ride – 53 Mile Ride Map or be found on the Ride with GPS website.

2023 Gator Ride – Family Ride

Accommodations:

Contact Nikki Rincon at heartsandhandsofbaytown@gmail.com for details on accommodations.

Volunteers:

We are looking for volunteers to help make this year’s gator ride a success! Positions include Traffic Marshal, parking & traffic, set-up and tear-down, cheer squad, and more! Please click on the following links for more information and to sign-up.

Traffic Marshall Volunteer

Parking and Traffic Volunteer

Starting Line Cheer Squad

SAG Drivers

What is the Gator Ride?

The Gator Ride is a Baytown tradition and will celebrate 34 years in 2023! Hearts and Hands of Baytown is honored to take on the mantle of this incredible legacy that has been built by the YMCA. 

As a recommended ride, this is an event that you need to place on your schedule. Course lengths are 33, and 53 miles. There is even a 5.6-mile family ride!

All proceeds from the Gator Ride, Gear Up to End Hunger will go toward our Annual Campaign. The most basic need for survival is food, and an unacceptable number of families need food assistance in our community. Hearts and Hands of Baytown is leading the fight to address food insecurity by providing access to fresh, healthy food to residents via our four pillar programs. In all our endeavors, we work to take away the stigma of needing food and provide clients with opportunities to strive toward self-sufficiency. 

How much does it cost to participate in the Gator Ride?
  • Early Bird Registration $40 December 5, 2022 – January 31, 2023
  • Regular Registration $50 February 1, 2023 – February 28, 2023
  • Late Registration $55 March 1, 2023 – March 11, 2023

We also provide a Family Ride, which is $10. As part of Gator Ride, Gear Up to End Hunger, we have found an easy terrain for the family ride that is short, and flat and provides paved path roads. The route is also safe and away from traffic and also easy to navigate.

To register, click here.

Can I request a refund?

Yes, in order to request a refund, an email requesting a refund must be sent to Nikki Rincon at heartsandhandsofbaytown@gmail.com by March 1st

Does the ride include going over the Fred Hartman Bridge?

Unfortunately, the bridge is not included in this year’s ride.  With the constant closures and construction of the bridge, we were unable to include it as part of this year’s routes. We look forward to including the ride over the bridge in 2024!

Can I pay on the day of?

Paying for the ride the day of is an option and can be completed online. T-shirts are not included but may be available for purchase.

Click here to register today!

What time does the ride start?

We will have a rolling start from 7:30 am to 8:30 am.  The Family ride will start at 8:45 am. No one will be allowed on the 33 and 53-mile routes after 8:30 am.  Gator Ride will end at 2 pm.

Click here to register today!

How old do I have to be to participate in the ride? Is there a family ride?

We offer a ride for those 12 and up and a family ride for parents and their children younger than 12.  To learn more about both our rides, please visit the Gator Ride webpage.

Where do I go to see a map of the routes?

Visit the Gator Ride webpage to see the routes we’re taking as part of this year’s Gator Ride.

What is the weather policy?

The Gator Ride will take place rain or shine.

Can I volunteer for the ride?

© Hearts and Hands of Baytown. Site by Kiefer Slaton