cyclinfool

I received a flyer in the email for a ride I was planning to do this summer. It's a 75 mile ride through the Adirondaks. They want $75 for the priviledge with the proceeds going to an environmetalist group with some questionable political positions. I have supported real charitable causes for more than this but this particular one bothers me. I would not question it at 1/2 the price. My inclination is to ride the loop on my own at a different time - if I can find a partner. There is a lot of "black territory" where there is no cell phone coverage.

Here in lies the question - how much would you pay for a supported ride (and a friggin T-shirt) where the proceeds goes to an organization that has a less than neutral political position?

cranky old dude

I guess if it was a half way decent jersey I'ld go for it. I figure I could
eat and drink the balance of the $75...but a "T" Shirt? If you disagree
with the politics of the group then stay away, there's nothing in
it for you.

The roads are open and free to use at your leisure, ride it on your own
time and make your own adventure out of it.

That's just my opinion, of course.

Happy Trails

Retro Grouch 

I'm not looking for a date anymore, I seldom use the support services, and I don't care about event jerseys or t-shirts. It's kind of fun to say hello to people I know and maybe to ride in some areas that are new to me, but the group rides really don't offer much that I'm interested in. I can have almost as much fun, cheaper, riding somewhere else.

I'd consider such an event to be a straight donation with the ride being a bonus add-on. If the organization wasn't one that I'd want to donate to otherwise, I'd simply take a pass.

DnvrFox

I don't like LARGE group rides.

I'll give my charity money separate from my bicycling.

Problem solved.

n4zou

The wacko environmentalist are the reason your now paying $4+ for gasoline with no limit in sight. This is starting to close business in my town with people losing there jobs at a rapid rate. Even my favorite cafe on my bike commute just closed. Stay away from them.

BluesDawg

I love group rides and I will pay for the ride support and to contribute to a cause I believe in/care about. But I wouldn't do a free ride if it supported a cause I disagree with.

BluesDawg

Uh, yeah, right.

DnvrFox

If we shoot all the "wacko environmentalists" will the price of oil go down?

I say, GO FOR IT!

Yen

What he said.

After the ride is said and done, how will you feel about the money you spent on a cause you don't support?

will dehne

The $4 Gasoline is a serious problem for many of us. There are many reasons for that cost and no simple single cause. I will just list a few:
*Personal Motorized Transportation is a very desirable luxury which people will sacrifice to have.
*The most cost effective power for this transportation is Gasoline with no alternate source in sight.
*Gasoline from crude oil is a non renewable energy source controlled by nations hostile to the USA.
*Ethanol is a possible alternative but cost more and affects food prices.
*The rest of the world wants to live the American dream also. That includes having a car.
*Gasoline consumption raises faster than new oil discoveries.
*Alternate energy sources such as Atomic, Wind, Solar and Hydro Power have limitations and environmental concerns.
We need a new source of non polluting energy. I hope to live and see that. Going back to the stone age and ride bicycles is not an attractive idea for me.

Retro Grouch 

Can you explain?

n4zou

https://www.americansolutions.com/act...b-346a1e096659

Tom Bombadil

Given that I donate hundreds of dollars each year to left-wing pro-environmental groups, I would consider it a bonus if they were such a group. But if they were a right-wing group, it certainly would be a problem for me and I'm sure I wouldn't do it.

So I would be influenced by the particular political position of the sponsoring group.

I wonder if I opened my wallet and showed them my Sierra Club, ACLU, People for the American Way, and Rail Trail Conservancy membership cards, if they would give me a discount.

Tom Bombadil

My brother sent me that. So I sent him this:

https://www.newsdaily.com/stories/n25...-oil-offshore/

https://blog.thehill.com/2008/06/25/f...k-butterfield/

CACycling

I wouldn't donate to a cause that I didn't believe in and that is exactly what you would be doing. Plus, your participation makes the event larger which also furthers their cause.

Tom Bombadil

Here's a 75 mile Adirondack Bike Tour that doesn't look very political:
https://www.adkli.org/

The ADK group has a bit of a political agenda, but is mostly focused on education, conservation, and improving recreational opportunities. I would consider them to be a very mild pro-environmental group. Their mission statement follows:

"The Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK) is dedicated to the protection and responsible recreational use of the New York State Forest Preserve, and other parks, wild lands, and waters vital to our members and chapters. The club, founded in 1922, is a member-directed organization committed to public service and stewardship. ADK employs a balanced approach to outdoor recreation, advocacy, environmental education, and natural resource conservation.

ADK encourages the involvement of all people in its mission and activities; its goal is to be a community that is comfortable, inviting, and accessible."

The Weak Link

Can anyone recommend a good, effective conservationalist organization without a left-wing agenda? I dig conservation, but with most available groups out there you'd be better off to avoid the middle man and send your check straight to the DNC.

There's nothing wrong with that.

Tom Bombadil

I don't consider environmentalism to be a Democrat issue.

The Nature Conservancy group has a lot of conservative participants. Their primary focus is upon purchasing lands that have environmental significance to protect them. To that end, they work with representatives from federal, state, and local governments, across the entire political spectrum. They even worked with some very conservative groups to protect lands that were important to the health of ranches, watersheds, and even corporations.
https://www.nature.org/partners/

They've worked hard to remain politically neutral in order to garner support from all corners. It is true that most of their membership tends to come from the liberal side of the house, but their board has done a good job of tempering that with their objectives.

Several of their Board of Directors are conservatives, including Meg Whitman of eBay, rumored to be a strong candidate for McCain's VP nominee and Carol Dinkins, a Republican who served as a Deputy U.S. Attorney General in the Reagan administration, and on the George W. Bush for President committee.
https://www.nature.org/aboutus/leadership/art15462.html

Digital Gee

Try MoveOn.com.

Metric Man

I can't give my money to something that I don't agree with...I have a hard time going to movies and listening to music done by actors and musicians that spout their politics that I don't agree with. That being said I haven't seen a lot of movies lately and most of the music I listen too is stuff I've had for years.

Retro Grouch 

Not really an answer because it totally ignores the fact that the a great deal of area has already been OK'd for oil drilling but the oil companies haven't responded.

I was hopeing for you to explain the reasoning behind your response rather than a dittohead answer.

stapfam

There is a ride over here that is fantastic. The BIG "H". Hampton Court to Hove- about 60 miles. Well supported with rest stations and feeding posts but what makes it is the Charity. It is for Downs syndrome and several of the Youngsters of Norwood House participate. They are fantastic- and if they are not riding- they are at the stations en route.

Entry fee of $50 and I always used to donate another $50 for the charity. I just turn up and they get $100. Don't do it any longer as they now insist you get sponsorship of $500.

That was a fantastic ride and well worth $100 in my mind- But $500- I don't bother.

I believed in the charity and I got something in return. But there are other rides around that I do not take part in. None of them are political but are for charities that I do not think should necessary- or for things I do not believe in. I just go for a ride on my own and enjoy the ride a lot more.

cyclinfool

Tom,

That’s the ride I was referring too. Notice that nowhere in my note did I say that I agreed or disagreed with their politics, what I did say was that there is a political agenda there. ADK has blocked a lot of development in the Adirondacks and the town in which this ride starts (North Creek) is a case in point of some of the damage and good that they do. North Creek is dying a slow painful death - in the past year one major hotel has closed and most of the restaurants and many of the small businesses. The town was hopping for the Old ski bowl to be developed in conjunction with the State run Gore Mountain Ski area, there has been a lot of opposition of doing this - some for good reason some not so good. Although I really appreciate the work they do to help preserve the natural beauty of the Daks - they must also realize that no all development is bad.

So here is my solution to this dilemma, my employer has a matching gift program and if they will take half from me as a gift and the other half from my employer then it now fits into my threshold of how much I want to support this cause. If they won't - well then I have a decision to make.

When I started this thread I never thought it would get so political. Sorry guys (and gals).

Tom Bombadil

Well, TWL did ask for a politically neutral conservancy group and I gave him one.

Knowing nothing of the issues surrounding North Creek, I can't speak to those. But the bulk of the mission/agenda of ADK seemed pretty neutral to me. If I were looking for an organization that was actively fighting fpr a broad environmental agenda, I would not select ADK.

geofitz13

+1 I love doing large group rides. Guess I'm the social type. I put a lot of time/effort/money into the PMC, because it's a cause I care for deeply. But I also wouldn't do a free ride of any kind if I disagree with them. There are plenty of rides out there for causes I agree with.