I'll chime in with two thumbs up for the Livestrong rides. Like NY biker, I was at the Philly ride. Last year I had 2 others with me, this year we were a team of 16 (9 cyclists and 7 runners). All my new folks commented on how impressed they were with the organization and the comraderie. At packet pick-up my brother in law and his friend met one of the guys running the show and he knew our team, based on our entry into the jersey contest. He sat with them for over 30 minutes and knew everything about my team and my sister, who has cancer and is the reason we ride, by the end of it. He knew me by name and what I did for a living and the next day, called out to me by name again. I'm sure he met hundreds of people, I was impressed that he remembered my name.

All that is just to say that although there isn't a "team" with livestrong, the atmosphere is anything but in my opinion. I figured I'd have to give my team a few weeks before asking if they would ride again next year, but sitting around our little canopy after the ride, they were already making plans for next year and recruiting new team members. I attribute a lot of that to the atmosphere of the ride and how well organized it all is.

Hey NY biker, how about the little girl with her own water stop, I love her! My sister said to her "you were here last year" and she responded, I'm here every year!!! My family also loved the little girl sitting on the wall at her yard and clanging on a triangle. We also love the cops. After 9 of us rode through one intersection, each shouting out "thank you" to the cop, he said to my sister "you people are so belligerent", which cracked us all up.

All that said though - whatever charity you choose to ride for, good for you! You will feel such a sense of accomplishment and a good cause will benefit from it!