Perfect timing on this thread. I write a montly, 150-word blurb for my local bike club and have already roughed out article. I have some new ideas from this thread.

This year, for the 6th year, I will ride AIDS/LIfeCycle, 7 days, 550 miles from SF to LA. My registration is $75. ALC transports our duffle, feeds us well, make us very safe, but we camp, no alcohol and generally "rough it". The big incentive is a bike jersey if one raises $5000. Each rider must raise $3000. Last year the event raised $10.5 MILLION. I like being part of something that raises enough money to make a difference. As I type this, I have raised $5595 using my Christmas Card list and e-mailing my friends. I get donations from $20 to $1000. Most of my donors have been with me for 6 years. The ride is a blast, but a challenge. It may cost me $500 to do the ride with Pre and post motels, my wife driving to LA to pick me up, etc.

I also ride 3-4 charity centuries during the year. For the local volunteer center, some special program at the high school, that kind of stuff. My registration fee is all it costs me. There is one century I have done for the last 8 years.

An observation I have is that often, riders don't even know who will benefit from the ride UNLESS it is a disease (AIDS, MS, Cancer). I think many riders complete their first century on a supported ride. Many would never ride 60-100 miles without the incentive. Some like riding a route they have never seen.

An aside: My taxman writes off some of my "training" expenses for these rides.