Touring - 42Ride: A huge bike ride across the country. And people get paid to do it?!

This thing seems too good to be true. The attached flyer is only slightly informative, but if you email them at ilikebike@bicyclefilmfestival.com, they get back to you explaining everything in greater detail. The basic thing is that they're rounding up 42 people to bike across the country in 55 days. Two groups of 21, as opposed to one huge 42-person group. It's fully supported, and they're taking care of the camping/accommodations/food all along the way. And they're paying people $3,000 a pop to do it. They're PAYING PEOPLE. I'd freaking do it for free.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2354/3530817461_0a0aa28a0d_o.jpg
I asked the guy if there was like an overwhelming wave of applicants and he said NO! They're, like, needing people. But I mean what do you guys think of this thing?

I for one am applying....

Is this like The Real World on a bike? Do you get voted off the tour?

Meh, you have to advertise for them.

Did they want you to send in a deposit?

its legit. The Bike Film Fest has been growing steadily for the last few years, expanding to more and more cities. A new sponsor (42Below) wants to get recognition, develop a brand image as they begin to distribute their product stateside. The total costs they will spend on the ride is most likely comparable to putting up a few billboards and doing open bars at parties.

I have toured cross country before with a friend - I can't image what it would be like to go with 20 others. That said, it's sure to be a fun time for those that get to go. If the jerseys are well made, what's the big deal about wearing one with a logo? Any touring cyclist knows the first thing you forget to pack in your panniers is your self-awareness and concern for looks.

I sent them an email saying I'm in if they'll have me.

Bicyclists wear all kinds of crazy advertisements, team jerseys of teams they've never been on, names of companies that make components that cost more than they're worth, and so on. I recently bought a wool jersey, and the only one I could find that I liked said "Louis Garneau" on it. That doesn't bother me, but i'd have preferred it blank. In cycling, one rarely has an opportunity to wear an advertisement for something one is actually invested in, and I'd be glad to do it.

same. the thing is totally legit. i hope it becomes an annual thing...

I'm applying. I'm planning on doing a tour from Wisconsin to Vermont throughout June but I think it'll be worth it to pull some long days and get to NY by June 26th. If the WI-VT tour goes by too quickly, I might have to do it over to catch what I've missed!

I don't care for most advertising but I'm ok with supporting the Bike Film Fest and some Vodka. I really hope we get each get a bottle or two for the trip...

I would consider doing it if I could take that much time off work. If I was young and just out of college, I wouldn't even have to think about it, particularly in today's job market.

So, should one be honest with them if applying and being a non drinker? Any promo shots of rider taking, well, shots, just sort of sling it over the shoulder?

I sent in my info. Since the spelling and grammer sounded right in the flyer, and there is no "FIRST BNK OF NATIONAL NIGERIA" involved... Thanks to the OP for bringing this up.

I'm going to apply, sounds great and i am still job hunting.

skeptical to say the least but the email is sent.

Kind of sketchy. Cost of getting 42 people to ride is around $250,000 and that's before figuring in the cost of the touring company (I'm assuming someone is driving a SAG wagon, figuring out a route, probably carrying luggage, and finding accommodations). No indication of what happens if you have to back out before the ride or during the ride (or what happens if the touring company splits). Five weeks to get your affairs in order to do this is possible, but likely excludes those of us with the detritus of middle age.

Never had much use for vodka other than as a disinfectant. Burning it in my alcohol stove would probably produce a lot of smoke.

hmmmmmmm. well, i'm 21, have the summer off before next semester, am just getting into touring, and don't quite have a summer internship yet.


though, i don't know how i'd feel about being a poster boy for vodka. in fact, if I were to ever tour across the country i'd probably want to do it solo and unsupported, taking my leisurely time.

On the other hand, I don't know if i'll ever have another summer off in my life after school, or another opportunity like this where I could get paid to do it.

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

I've sent in my app. but haven't heard back yet. Has anyone heard more about the logistics of the tour? The flyer says we get 25 per diem. That makes me think that it'll be more like 42 self-supported riders rather than a giant supported ride. Bike Film Fest would have to partner with a touring company if they were trying to keep this super organized and I'd imagine that partnership would have been on the flyer. How are they planning to keep the group from getting too spread out? Since this is for the Bike FILM Festival, I'm guessing there'll be some kind of documentary made. Having the group too spread out wouldn't make for a good film, nor would having all the rider's needs provided by a touring company.

As you can see, I'm excited about this ride, thinking about how it might go. Daydreaming is fun but I'd love to hear some solid information!

$25 x 55 days = $1375
$800 for travel to start and return home
Total $2175

Who knows.
I asked for more details.

I applied, and it definitely sounds like a completely self supported tour. 25 per diem would be great!

http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=42below+vodka&rls=com.microsoft:en-US:IE-SearchBox&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7GWYE&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=kJcRSquiGJLaMc-9jaoG&sa=X&oi=video_result_group&resnum=4&ct=title

has anyone researched the company? some of their stuff seems so irreverent...

most of the "flyers I found are on fixed gear, messenger, and hipster bike forums/blogs.
makes me wonder if they actualy are looking for experienced tourers.(not that hipster messengers fixed gear riders could not do it) But I wonder if, based on thier style, they would rather have a bunch of gasping people in tight jeans laying about in ditches.

Just a thought, I am daydreaming just as much as anyone. IF anybody has any other solid contact info or insights this may bea good place to share them, aside from the cutthroat competition applying involves:)

They do seem to have sponsored a few other rides of shorter duration though, so who knows. I think that anyone who gets accepted should go into it with eyes wide open, get a contract of some sort, and have a bailout plan of their own.

Here is all the contact e-mails if you want to ask more.


http://bicyclefilmfestival.com/2009_site/contact.php

http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=42below+vodka&rls=com.microsoft:en-US:IE-SearchBox&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7GWYE&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=kJcRSquiGJLaMc-9jaoG&sa=X&oi=video_result_group&resnum=4&ct=title

has anyone researched the company? some of their stuff seems so irreverent...

most of the "flyers I found are on fixed gear, messenger, and hipster bike forums/blogs.
makes me wonder if they actualy are looking for experienced tourers.(not that hipster messengers fixed gear riders could not do it) But I wonder if, based on thier style, they would rather have a bunch of gasping people in tight jeans laying about in ditches.

Just a thought, I am daydreaming just as much as anyone. IF anybody has any other solid contact info or insights this may bea good place to share them, aside from the cutthroat competition applying involves:)

They do seem to have sponsored a few other rides of shorter duration though, so who knows. I think that anyone who gets accepted should go into it with eyes wide open, get a contract of some sort, and have a bailout plan of their own.

Hey! I resemble that remark!

What makes my experiences of touring cross-country on a dumpstered fixed-gear conversion (albeit a px-10) with little mechanical knowledge any less remarkable than that of an "experienced tourer"? You're holding yourself to a pretty high standard for a bike ride. It's not a race. If their routes are about 3500 miles or so, that's 60 miles a day for two months- not a hard pace at all. In fact, if it was all pro riders or "Adventure-Cycling certified Cat1 tourers" (:rolleyes:) the ride wouldn't be very interesting at all. It's the problems, the difficulty, the humor in things breaking, sweat & discomfort that makes for good tv/good advertising/good short films.

I know nothing about the vodka company, but the Bike Film Fest are the ones organizing the tour. I'm fairly certain there will not be a touring company supporting the ride, but [this is an assumption] instead some filmmakers/sponsors following along to document, since it would be futile to fund the whole thing and not get great shots of it. They could probably use that van as mechanical/sag vehicle should need be, but I would assume this ride to be no-frills.

Also, if you are not familiar, I would suggest checking out the Film Fest site. Understand they are gearing up for playing in dozens of cities worldwide at the moment, apart from organizing this ride, so be patient for the replies. They put out a dvd of favorite films last year - you might want to check it out to see what the organization is like. It's not all "hipster messenger types" that attend - i've seen that when i've attended screenings in both NYC and Minneapolis.

anyone else get a follow-up email with questions to answer?

anyone else get a follow-up email with questions to answer?

Not yet, now I get to be jealous of you! :D

42Below Vodka seems to have decided that they want to market themselves to urbanites in the states. They're poping up as sponsors of several events and seem to have given loads of money to BFF. 7 cities in the states last year to 42 this year! Since bikes are cool with young urban professionals right now, it makes sense to partner with an organization like BFF. BFF is very welcoming to all sorts of cyclists but its been adopted by urban riders particularly passionately, so I can see why it's mostly the urban rider blogs that have picked up on the news. Heck, I learned about the ride from UrbanVelo. Seems like 42Below is running a smart marketing campaign. The next step is to popularize a drink combining their vodka with PBR! :lol:

Hey! I resemble that remark!

What makes my experiences of touring cross-country on a dumpstered fixed-gear conversion (albeit a px-10) with little mechanical knowledge any less remarkable than that of an "experienced tourer"? .

Its not less remarkable, its probably more. But for this ride it would just have more drama and comedy potential, which would be great for a film.
For what its worth, I have a virtualy Zero dollar outlay policy on my bicycles, at least untill the student loans are paid off.

[In fact, if it was all pro riders or "Adventure-Cycling certified Cat1 tourers" () the ride wouldn't be very interesting at all.]

exactly. That is the basis of my theory about this. Nothing I deeply believe, just speculation. Heck I don't really believe it, much.
I was imagining most of the roll your own smoking, PBR drinking cool kids whose bikes I work on doing something like this and saw the documentary/editing possibilitys. It would be a laugh riot, though note I did say that there was no reason that they could not.
I admit that I am generalizing the hipster genre, and also admit that many of my hipster friends can out last and out sprint me, Not in a pissing contest about who can tour here. Touring is after all, mostly about just riding a bike. Mostly. But I should like to se a group of "adventure cycling certified cat one tourers" participating in an allycat, wouldn't you?

Yeah, I did scope the fest site, but will take your advise and look more closely. I was looking more at the vodka companys ads, imagining that they are the ones paying for it, they would have some say in the creative proccess.

If it were me doing a documentary thing like that, it would kind of look like "Lord of the flys" on bikes, as written by Thorne Smith.

Finaly

[You're holding yourself to a pretty high standard for a bike ride]

Not a high standard, just recognizing that it would be less interesting to film me doing something like this than it would be to film some others. Not trying to sound elitist(I ride a bike with a freewheel cluster, not real cutting edge, am in general a slow riding goofball), just speculating. Really not looking to step on any toes or piss anyone off. For penance I will ride my fixed gear to the post office today, with all my packages tied to it:)

anyone else get a follow-up email with questions to answer?

No, not yet... but I guess it's only been six days or something, so no need to give up hope....

I would consider doing it if I could take that much time off work. If I was young and just out of college, I wouldn't even have to think about it, particularly in today's job market.

Ah man, I AM young and just out of college, but I've got a job that I can't quit because of today's job market! :bang:

No, not yet... but I guess it's only been six days or something, so no need to give up hope....


Yeah, I got the email with the questions. If you haven't gotten that email yet, you have been eliminated. They said they will be making their choices this weekend and if you got picked you will be notified as soon as Monday.

It sucks because I am trying to move into a new place this next week but I don't want to sign a lease if I end up getting picked to do this. But then again, I don't want to hold out in hopes of getting chosen but then miss out on the place I want to move to.

wow, this sounds amazing! I sent them an email earlier today with several paragraphs explaining why I want to go. I hope I hear back from them soon - if I get accepted I will brit a shick.

Yeah, I got the email with the questions. If you haven't gotten that email yet, you have been eliminated. They said they will be making their choices this weekend and if you got picked you will be notified as soon as Monday.

It sucks because I am trying to move into a new place this next week but I don't want to sign a lease if I end up getting picked to do this. But then again, I don't want to hold out in hopes of getting chosen but then miss out on the place I want to move to.


Not true....

So cryptic! Did you get picked?

So cryptic! Did you get picked?

We will all know next week.

Not true....

Has the ilikebike email address been responsive to questions or have you been in contact with others in the organization? You have had confirmation that further action will occur next week?

Update: I got an email with a prescreening questionnaire. Here's the text of the email:
Dear 42Ride Applicant,
Thank you for sending more information about yourself.
You have been chosen for preliminary questioning for selection as one of
the 42Ride riders. Although this absolutely does not guarantee selection,
it is a way for us to learn slightly more about you and to finalize our
decision. Please see the attached questionnaire and answer all the
questions to the best of your ability, keeping in mind that we must
receive your response no later today. We will be evaluating all the
responses in the next few days, identifying those whom we think might be
the best fit, and the official rider list will be solidified and
confirmation sent out by early next week. Apologies if you have already
answered these same questions in the explanation you provided in your
application, but, considering the volume of applicants, we will need you
to answer them once more.
Please let me know if any of you have questions.
Thank you once more for showing interest in the 42Ride, we look forward to
your responses.
Best of luck,
42Ride

Has the ilikebike email address been responsive to questions or have you been in contact with others in the organization? You have had confirmation that further action will occur next week?

They (ilikebike) have answered all of my questions.

Out of curiosity, what questions did they ask?

we must
receive your response no later today.

They should be recruiting copy editors.

anyone heard back? i got the second question part (posted above) and said they'd start letting people know as early as monday.

I got their questions on Sunday and haven't heard back. Anyone know how many applicants they had?

Out of curiosity, what questions did they ask?
Mostly questions on the applicants level of commitment, experience, readiness.

I haven't heard back yet. I was googling "42Ride" and came across a thread on the Adventure Cycling forum where someone posted responses to their questions to ilikebike. From the thread:"Two groups of 21 as opposed to one huge 42-person group. It's fully supported, and they're taking care of the camping/accommodations/food all along the way."

I'm actually a bit disappointed to hear that it will be fully supported and planned out. I'm still excited but it takes away some of the sense of adventure that carrying my gear would have engendered. Maybe I can keep up while loaded...

the "two groups of 21..." was also posted in this thread too. wish it was more self sufficient, but if i get selected maybe i'll do it on my cross bike instead of my heavier touring bike.

at the risk of being super annoying to them, i emailed them this morning to see what the status was. knowing that some people didn't get their questions til sunday makes me feel better about not hearing anything yet (good or bad)

anyone hear anything yet?

anyone hear anything yet?

Nothing......

No News is Good News.

Don't panic man.

If it happens it happens. Good luck.

3 of us from the UK applied. Myself and one other haven't heard anything back. The other sent off an e-mail asking them for an update and got a rejection e-mail back. Apparently it said something along the lines of: 'we've had hundreds of applicants and every single one of them would be perfect for the ride but we regret to inform you that you have not been selected.'

I don't think there's much more to it than that. I assume they'll be sending something out soon, otherwise the ride would be ridiculously short notice.

The three of us were planning to cycle across the country anyway, starting June 25th, so none of our plans change. We only applied because the timing was just about right and with the money and the extra time we could have just added a self-supported tour to the end of it. If either of the remaining two of us are accepted then there'll be an extra free space because it's either all of us or none of us. It looks unlikely at the moment that we'll be accepted though because we haven't received anything back - no extra questions etc - and we all applied in pretty much the same way.

ChrisH120, there was a question asking if you could work in the US in the questionnaire. Perhaps your friend was only rejected due to paperwork issues arising from their nationality?

i didn't have that question in my questionnaire. weird.

i didn't have that question in my questionnaire. weird.

Are you legally able to work in the United States?

How much experience do you have biking?

Have you ever participated in any type of long distance bike riding event?
What is the longest distance you have traveled on a bike?

Would you be comfortable biking between 50 – 100 miles per day on your bike for 55 straight days? (No break days per se, just “short” days)

weird, i had some of those questions but not that exact wording (ie: none of the "(no break days per se...)

weird, i had some of those questions but not that exact wording (ie: none of the "(no break days per se...)

You will need to provide your own bike and safety equipment during the ride. Is your bike in road-worthy condition and do you have proper safety equipment? (i.e. helmet, shoes, gloves, sun glasses, biking shorts, etc.)

You will be required to promote 42 Below Vodka at events throughout the tour. These may take place in bars, restaurants, stores, etc. Do you have any concerns with these promotions?

Are you comfortable “roughing it” (i.e. camping in tents) on this journey?
Do you have your own camping equipment? (i.e. tent, sleeping bag, etc.)

I find it hard to believe that they've had hundreds of applicants. Maybe 200 tops. A quick internet search shows that this forum is really the only place discussing this online. I don't know how far their real world advertising went, but %99.99 of regular people out there don't have the combination of free time, motivation, fitness, US citizenship, and bicycle enthusiasm to participate.

Even with 200 applicants, 42/200 = %20 odds. It depends on how much experience they are looking for. I am guessing that there are a lot of people who have never toured applying. Maybe that is what they want, but that could also lead to a dismal success rate, unless they withheld the $3000 for finishing the tour.

On the other end of the spectrum, they probably don't want someone who has toured across America every summer for the last 5 years and is just adding another trip under their belt and collecting a paycheck.

We or they are chumps.. I'd pay them for the privilege.. Some of the pricier organized tours have a price tag well in excess of 3 K.