Charity Events - Bike MS: The Citrus Tour 2009 May 16 & 17, Central Florida

I am looking forward to the ride. I am riding 100 miles on Saturday and 50 miles Sunday. I have raised over $1000 so far. I will be riding with Team Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center.

Anyone riding this Tour? If so, what routes are you riding and are you riding with a team. How has the fundraising been going.

Hope to see you out there.

My friends and I will be doing 75 miles each day. I hope to be at my goal of 1000 before the ride. This will be my second time riding in the event. I made a video of last years ride. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QSy9GicX5w Check it out! :thumb:

that is cool...I was one of the Deputy Sheriffs working the event last year. I was a rover and worked the whole route in Polk County. This year I am riding in it and going to enjoy the ride. This will be my second century and the first with this many hills....lol...Hope I make it

I'm riding the century on Saturday and 75 on Sunday with my team Awopaspicalimey. I'm also a SAG vehicle with two-way communications capability to call for help. It's going to be pretty toasty so we may have problems with heat exhaustion and sun stroke.

I will be there this weekend. My first MS150 and I am excited and ready to ride. It will be hot, so get your ride in early! I plan on doing the 75 mile route each day. By the way, the 'century' on Saturday is 'only' 90 miles per the cue sheet. Still a very long ride, but if you want to say you rode a century you will need to add some miles somewhere.

Ride safe, Mark

Hey Mark I ride the Suncoast 3 or 4 times a week and start from Starky on the weekends. I see your team out there alot. Only 2 days left I'm pumped! can't wait! :)

The Starkey Park / Suncoast Trail area is a great place to ride, especially during the week. Lots of non-stop miles, nice scenery, smooth trails, and no cars to worry about. We are lucky to have it in our area.

Hope everyone has a safe and rewarding ride for the MS150. I will be with the Suncoast Cycling/Chainwheel Drive team.

Supertroopr, nice job on the video, it gives me some idea of what to expect.

Mark

I've never done this kind of charity ride. What do you do for fundraising? I've been riding less than a year and I'd like to participate but unsure how to go about it.:(

From the MS Site Fund raising 101
There are three basic ways to raise money:

1. Personal Appeal – This is a direct request for financial support to friends, family members, co-workers, clubs, organizations, businesses, and corporations.

2. Special Events – Host a party or another social gathering. A small cover charge or donation basket at your favorite restaurant or night spot is a great way to raise funds!

3. Corporate Sponsorships – Find out if your local businesses will support you and your efforts.

Bike MS TOP FIVE FUNDRAISING HINTS

1. IDENTIFY YOUR PROSPECTS: You’d be surprised at how many people you know; even casual acquaintances who may support your efforts. MS affects more people than you are aware of! (See the next page for prospect leads!)

2. ASK, ASK, ASK – You are doing a great thing! The Bike MS program allows people to experience the joy of helping others vicariously through you. When you participate in this program, you represent not only yourself but also all of those that donated to your efforts. Make sure that everyone realizes that his or her contribution lasts much longer than the 30 seconds it took to write a check.


3. MENTION YOUR EFFORTS WHENEVER POSSIBLE. You never know when someone has $20 burning a hole in their pocket.

4. START NOW! There is a lot to be said for those people who get all of their fundraising done, so they can concentrate on their training as the event weekend nears!

5. Use those close to you as a “mini-committee” to reach your goal! Ask them to share their rolodexes, send out letters, help plan a party, or find a raffle prize. Include everyone!

CHEERS:beer:

I will be there this weekend. My first MS150 and I am excited and ready to ride. It will be hot, so get your ride in early! I plan on doing the 75 mile route each day. By the way, the 'century' on Saturday is 'only' 90 miles per the cue sheet. Still a very long ride, but if you want to say you rode a century you will need to add some miles somewhere.

Ride safe, Mark

I seen that the century is only 90 miles and I was disappointed, but it is still a long way. This is my first MS150 also and I am excited. I drove the route the other day, as I live in Polk County. We have had some strong afternoon thunderstorms in Polk the last few days. Some have started as early as 1pm, so I hope that pattern doesn't continue. I hope to see you guys out there and good luck.

I've never done this kind of charity ride. What do you do for fundraising? I've been riding less than a year and I'd like to participate but unsure how to go about it.:(

I just used the MS website that they provide you and emailed all my family and friends. I had alot of co-workers donate to me. The team I am on did a 5k race and made a good amount of money. They split the money with the team members who help out with the run. I think they did a few bake sales also.

I'm riding 75 miles both days with Team PriceWaterhouseCoopers. This will be my 19th year riding in this event.

I hope everyone had a good time. I enjoyed the event and I look forward to next years.

I definitely enjoyed it. I had a two-way radio and could call for help if a rider needed it. Compared to two years ago, the rest stop food supply early Saturday and breakfast on Sunday was pretty lacking. Rest stop 1 on Sunday was pretty crowded because everybody was hungry. I bypassed it and hit the second. The celebration dinner on Saturday night was an awesome pig-out. I was told that the donations weren't as plentiful due to the economy.

Dana

Had a Geat Time! I did 75 each day. On the second day 2 cars almost had a head on collision right next to us when 1 tried to pass us. I will post the video I have soon.

I had a great time for my first MS150. Did the 75 mile ride Sat and took the shorter option on Sun. I wish I had done the longer ride, but several ride partners went short and the person I was driving with was planning the same. Some good roads, some bad ones, but for the most part I enjoyed the ride and the challenge of the rolling hills.

K4LK, I talked with you briefly on Sun morning at the bike racks, I had a Suncoast Cycling jersey on. That radio setup is something else, probably good to have for the emergencies that can happen out there.

Looking forward to next year.

Mark

K4LK,

I think we passed each other a few times during the weekend. Did you guys see the pictures taken with Bok Tower in the background? I think they look pretty cool. I ordered one the other day. Well see you guys next year.

I had a great time for my first MS150. Did the 75 mile ride Sat and took the shorter option on Sun. I wish I had done the longer ride, but several ride partners went short and the person I was driving with was planning the same. Some good roads, some bad ones, but for the most part I enjoyed the ride and the challenge of the rolling hills.

K4LK, I talked with you briefly on Sun morning at the bike racks, I had a Suncoast Cycling jersey on. That radio setup is something else, probably good to have for the emergencies that can happen out there.

Looking forward to next year.

Mark

It was nice to talk with you also Mark. See you on the road sometime.

Dana

K4LK,

I think we passed each other a few times during the weekend. Did you guys see the pictures taken with Bok Tower in the background? I think they look pretty cool. I ordered one the other day. Well see you guys next year.

No, I haven't perused the glossyphotos.com collection yet. Maybe this weekend. Thanks,
Dana