Hi,
I know how many rides / events / clubs have a charity bent which I think is great. That being said, do you think that walking for cures, or doing a gran fondo for cancer is best? I have seen it where it's sincere, other times it just seems tacked on.
I do events for fun, any charity bent admitedly is nice, but not the main course so to speak. I tend to get directly involved in charitable activities or write a check and sport is sport.
Just curious what others think about it...
j
I do a couple of local charity rides, but none of the big national events. Since I am so nice and popular, I usually recruit three or four friends to ride with me. There are a couple of people who I sponsor when they are doing the same.
I'd say I raise somewhere around $2500 a year for charities via cycling events.
I'd rather send a check and then go for a ride by myself or with a few other people who I know can ride a straight line.
I don't mind the charity ride if it is an interesting locale or supports something that trips my interest. Same old ride or variation thereof in the local area, I will pass. Did the 5 boros a few times and it was an adventure with good and bad. Squid city, but no worse that a bunch of morons attempting to descend in a Gran Fondo. I liked the bridges and the people watching
I do a handful a year and use it as an excuse to wrangle up some folks to ride somewhere different. In 2012 I did a mtb festival tour thing and the Gran Fondo NJ.
I do one every year that is near and dear to my heart. Lost my Mom to cancer in July of '98 and a friend told me the following winter about this "century ride" thing nearby that raised money for a regional cancer research and treatment center each July. It always within about a week of the aniversary of my Mom's death. It's what got me riding and I try to do it every year. The first year I did 50 miles and there were maybe 300 riders doing a few different routes/distances. Since then, I do the century and have done the two-day 200 mile version a couple times. The main day (day 2) now has about 3,000 riders so your head is on a swivel for sure. An early departure is key to avoid overlap in places with inexperienced riders (who are generally either oblivious or scared witless). Still, it just means a lot to me to get out there for Mom each year. That, and about 99% of the money goes to research and treatment locally, so I'm good with that.
I have done others with a charity component, but since I fundraise like crazy for the cancer ride (The Prouty, named after a patient that inspired four nurses to go out and ride 100 miles just over 30 years ago) I just cough up the fundraising minimums for those.
Well...I direct a charity ride so I'll chime in. I should disclaim that I've been on this forum LONG before I was working at a non-profit and directing a charity ride.
I think it matters how the event is run, specifically if it is a third-party benefit or a event solely own and operated by the charity. I'm not a fan of third-party events though we have had partnerships with them. Those are very much like licensing agreements where a portion of the profit margin go to the organization. If we can generate a few thousand dollars for minimal work...that's great for the organization, but whatever money you're paying into the event as a participant is mostly going to the for-profit event manager.
I work for a non-profit and the ride I direct is our sole property...I'm actually the person that launched the ride back in 2010 and it's my baby. We do contract out for many services and I draw a salary, so there are costs involved. The difference comes both on the expense and revenue side of things. Because of our 501c3 status, I can go to sponsors/vendors and get cash and donations that greatly offset my production cost. It is a tax write-off for them and they also get marketing ROI. My production expenses are mostly funded by sponsors, meaning that 90% of the money the participants are raising are going to the mission.
I agree with vtguy though...if you have a cause you love, write a check and ask nothing in return. Most non-profits even allow you to donate specifically to a program, specifying that your donation will not be used for administration and fundraising expenses. That obviously doesn't work for everyone or else there wouldn't be people like me.
A lot of people treat charity rides like tax-deductible vacations...they simply make the full donation and have a great time. That's all fine and good, but the person trying to get 100 donations at $25 each is doing a lot more for us because that's 200+ times they are telling people about our mission. A charity event has the dual function of being revenue AND awareness generators.
There are a lot of fun charity rides out there...many of which are so popular that they sell out very quickly. Definitely look for the ones with a good reputation.
Tai
i like doing them; good vibes.
Generally speaking I like the smaller scale ones better and ride a few around here when I can.
Having done one of the big ones here in CO (Copper Triangle), I spent the entire day wondering why I didn't just grab my wife or a friend and do the route any other day. I learned I had no interest being on the road with thousands of other cyclists.
I love the vibe, too. Happy volunteers, good courses, nice people. Can get too big, though, like Ride for theRoses got.
We usually do 1-3 a summer on the tandem. They can be fun and sometimes better than the race trash scene.
They have gotten expensive too, just like the races. Sometimes it is tough to spend 70 bucks for us to go ride the tandem even if it is a good cause. It seems like they are pricing themselves out of range for a fun ride. It would be nice if they did a half price, self support option. Of course people would probably not be honest about that...
I would advise being careful at the start and watch the group you are riding with for signs to drop off the back and be safe.
Lots of people that have never raced or ridden in a group view these events as their race.
I only focus on one that comes the week before Thanksgiving. This year I may try to register for the Pan-Mass Challenge. Agree with taterheadrob about being careful at the start and watch the group you are riding with for signs to drop off the back and be safe. I saw a wicked crash at the start of last years El tour de Tucson. Nothing worse than training all those miles to go down in an instant and off to the hospital.
I try to avoid centuries/gran fondos that cost more than $100 or so. Just too much to spend regardless of the charity benefit. And, I'd never do a charity ride where I have to go around and ask people to sponsor me while I do the ride.
I have only done one for TNT 15 years ago. But I do a ride that TNT uses as their national fund raising ride. I don't fund raise I just ride. I love to see all the riders from around the country working for one cause. Many of them you would never think could finish a 10 mile bike ride let alone 100 miles but they do. Kinda warms my cold old heart.
Spud,
I have a buddy that does Pan Mass every year. Based on his tales, register as early as possible and try to get on the party barge back to Boston. It is a big time hoot based on the pics he's sent me.
And hey, if you're in New England this summer, he and I are mulling over the VT 100-200. Check out Ted King's description. Whaddya think?
http://bicycling.com/blogs/kingme/2011/10/31/the-epic-defined/
Thinline, I've been on that party vessel back to Boston. Thank goodness for designated drivers. I'm sure the anti has been raised for this years PMC. Billy is always pushing that fee up and up. We will be back for sure. I'll check out that VT 100-200. Let you know.
Spud, either way, when you're in the area, it would be fun to try and hook up for a ride.
I like charity rides so long as I don't have to ask my friends to donate money...
One of my biggest pet peaves:
Friend wants to run a marathon in Hawaii or other exotic place for charity. Said friend wants me and his other friends to "donate".
Reality is, friend is going on a vacation paid for by his friends.
Uggh.
Well, timm,
If you donate directly to the event then you're donating to the event. Your friend still pays airfare and room and board out of his own pocket so I'm not sure what your complaint is. If your friend asks you to donate by handing him cash maybe he's not your friend.
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