dmcdam

This. It's not about asking people to pay so you can go for a bike ride. It's about you taking the time and effort to raise money for a good cause. When you think about it that way it's a lot easier to ask people to donate.

surgeonstone

^^^ This^^^.

Jiggle

The government takes tens of thousands from me every year and gives it away to old people, lazy people, sick people, etc.... I'm not writing an extra check for them or doing a ride in their honor. They vote people into office that take my money at the point of a gun. So I don't care about them one single bit.

Falchoon

I'm the same. I don't feel comfortable asking work collegues and friends for money to something I do for fun and fitness at least 6 days a week. I'll do the occasional charity ride where there is just a standard entry fee, just signed up for one with $200 entry fee, 2nd time I've done it.

zymphad

I'm doing the Ride for Cure diabetes too. I raised the $200 required fundraising. I didn't like it. It's not a lot, but I also did not asking people for money for me to ride. My $50 should have been enough. $50 to sit on my ass for 3-4 hours and you want me to ask my friends and family for money?
- IF I do another charity ride, I'll pay the minimum donation. Not asking friends and family for donation again.

I think these charities should have a registration fee to cover costs for the event and then donate whatever you want. I would have been with paying $25 for the event + $50 donation of my own.

And sadly, yes I'm nervous since I've never done group rides. Will be as careful as I can not to cause issues for other cyclists. It will suck if I'm the cause of a crash, and will suck if anyone or anyone's bike gets injured.

This is stupid. Tour de Cure should only cover costs for security and health (police/EMS). Everything else should be volunteer and riders should be responsible to bring their own crap. If that means bringing a backpack or attaching extra bags to carry the snacks and drinks, so be it. If a club or group wants to have their own volunteer staff locations along the way with drinks, then so be it.

Also this is the last time I'm donating to a large organization like ADA. I have problems with organizations that use donations to pay six figure salaries to ED's who are already millionaires.
- Hey I'm going to work for a non-profit dedicated to help people and organize charity rides so I can pay myself six figure salary!

dstrong 

I just completed the MS150 this weekend (Houston - Austin). It was the first charity ride where I was required to raise money. The MS150 organization requires $400 to be raised but the team I joined had a $1000 requirement. Fortunately, I have a strong mailing list (unfortunately because of some health issues my daughter has had over the last 7 years), so I used that as the base. Not sure what I'd do if I didn't have that list...it would have been more difficult for sure.

I sent out my first e-mail a month before the event and ALL the money I raised came from that e-mail. I did another follow-up two weeks before the event and received no additional donations. I *might* send out a recap e-mail with my ride report telling people it's not too late to donate.