Okay I need to talk about something and I need you to hear me with love: bikes. Specifically, bikes after drinking. More specifically, the bach weekend I watched go sideways because of a bicycle.
This is a love letter. Stay with me.
What Happened
It was the summer of 2024. A beautiful group. Amazing bride. They'd rented bikes—adorable! Very Nantucket! Great for Instagram!
The plan: morning at the beach, lunch at Cisco, bike back to the hotel to freshen up before dinner.
The problem: the lunch at Cisco turned into a... longer lunch at Cisco. Wine was involved. More wine. Then one bridesmaid decided she was "totally fine" to ride her bike the three miles back to town.
Reader, she was not totally fine.
Thankfully—THANKFULLY—she only hit a curb and went over the handlebars. She was okay. But she was shaken, the bride was crying, and the entire day derailed into an emergency situation instead of a celebration.
The bridesmaid spent the rehearsal dinner with a sprained wrist and road rash she had to explain to everyone.
Why I'm Telling You This
I'm not here to lecture. I'm here because I love bachelorette weekends, I love Nantucket, and I love YOU. And I have seen this scenario play out too many times.
Bikes are cute. They're fun. They're EXTREMELY photogenic. The bike paths are gorgeous. But they still require coordination and judgment, and they do not mix with afternoon wine.
The New Rules I Give Every Group
Rule 1: Morning bikes ONLY.
Want the bike content? Do it before drinks. Early morning ride to the beach? Perfect. Biking to brunch? Adorable. Post-brewery bike ride? Hard no.
Rule 2: The designated sober rider is NON-NEGOTIABLE.
If your group is doing afternoon activities that involve alcohol, at least one person stays sober. This person can be rotated daily. This person is a hero.
Rule 3: The Wave exists.
Nantucket has a free shuttle bus called the Wave. Use it! There are also Ubers, taxis, and rideshares. Build transportation costs into the budget from the start.
Rule 4: The bike photo can be staged.
You want the photo of everyone on matching cruisers with baskets full of flowers? Amazing. Do that BEFORE the drinking starts. Stage it. Take 100 photos. Then lock the bikes and take the shuttle.
Rule 5: Cobblestones are no joke.
Even sober, downtown cobblestones are tricky on a bike. After a few glasses of rosé? Recipe for disaster. The roads are uneven. Tourists are unpredictable. It's not worth it.
What I Want For You
I want your bach weekend to be the most magical weekend of the bride's life. I want photos and memories and stories you'll tell forever.
I want those stories to be "remember when we did that wine tasting?" and not "remember when someone broke their arm?"
The island is beautiful. The vibes are immaculate. The bikes are adorable. Just please, PLEASE, time them right.
The Love Letter Part
This is me, Brittany Rosé, who has planned 47 bachelorette weekends, telling you that I care about your safety more than your content.
That's the love letter. I love you. I love your bride. Please don't bike drunk.
It's giving responsible main character energy and I'm obsessed.
Have a Response?
Got a bike story of your own? Need help planning transportation for your group? I promise no judgment, just solutions and maybe a spreadsheet. Brittany reads every email.
Write to brittany@ackguide.com