Hatching Plans: ALA's Big Ride Across America

[divingbiker]

If you and your mom need a place to stay when you get to DC, let me know!

[Reesha]

Thank you

I'll be passing through a lot of Team E hotbeds. Here's this year's route list:
Day 0 Seattle
Day 1 Easton, WA
Day 2 Vantage, WA
Day 3 Odessa, WA
Day 4, Spokane, WA
Day 5, Spokane, WA
Day 6, Sandpoint, ID
Day 7, Thompson Falls, MT
Day 8, Missoula, MT
Day 9, Missoula, MT
Day 10, Avon, MT
Day 11, Townsend, MT
Day 12, Harlowton, MT
Day 13, Billings, MT
Day 14, Billings, MT
Day 15, Hardin, MT
Day 16, Sheridan, WY
Day 17, Gilette, WY
Day 18, Newcastle, WY
Day 19, Rapid City, SD
Day 20, Rapid City, SD
Day 21, Kadoka, SD
Day 22, Pierre, SD
Day 23, Miller, SD
Day 24, De Smet, SD
Day 25, Tyler, MN
Day 26, New Ulm, MN
Day 27, New Ulm, MN
Day 28, Owatonna, MN
Day 29, Winona, MN
Day 30, Viroqua, WI
Day 31, Madison, WI
Day 32, Madison WI
Day 33, Belvidere, IL
Day 34, Morris, IL
Dau 35, Valparaiso, IN
Day 36, Kendallville, IN
Day 37, Napoleon, OH
Day 38, Sandusky, OH
Day 39, Burton, OH
Day 39, Burton, OH
Day 41, New Waterford, OH
Day 42, Washington, PA
Day 43, Confluence, PA
Day 44, Bedford, PA
Day 45, Gettysburg, PA
Day 46, Gettysburg, PA
Day 47, Clarksburg, MD
Day 48, Washington, DC

[aquamoose32]

Do you have the miles on these days? This looks like a great route. Where are you staying each night?

[Reesha]

Do you have the miles on these days? This looks like a great route. Where are you staying each night?

I don't personally have the miles for each day but one of the riders from the 2008 ride (same route) has a fantastic blog that details each leg:

http://dianasbigride.blogspot.com/

The average leg is 83 miles and there are 6 days with over 100 miles. I think the worst day of climbing is 6500 feet. Nothing insane or anything.

During the trip, the group camps out in tents that they've brought with them, often on high school football fields-- always some place with showers. Sometimes they stay in dorms after hard days.

[redrhodie]

How's your bike search going? Any decisions, yet?

[ridebikeme]

Another Soma fan here! I built up a Doubke Cross this summer intended for self contained riding, and what a treat it is! Although I typically ride lighter weight road bikes and love them, including a custom ti frame... this Soma frame was incredible! Rides well, handles well and even has me thinking about building a steel road frame.

I built this bike with Velocity Deep V wheels, 32 hole 3 cross pattern, bar end shifters for reliability with any shifting issues, and Avid Shorty brakes. Whether I rode the bike loaded or not, I had NO issues with "lack" of brakes. They worked well on my self contained tour which consisted of dry conditions, a bit of dirt roads, and tons of rain on the last day.

It's defintiely heavier than my other bikes, but more versatile in terms of where I can ride it, AND rides extremely well.


http://chasecyclery.blogspot.com

[Reesha]

I can't even express how disheartening it is to try and find a bake sale location in a city. Seriously. In a rural area it would be no problem whatsoever. It's like they've just conspire to collectively outlaw that sort of charity event all together. One grocery store guy actually said "well it's in direct competition with us". REALLY? Yes, we'd be doing so much damage to your multi-million dollar sales.

I am just venting. I understand that people don't want to be pestered by people just soliciting without offering, but at least with a bake sale they are getting something in exchange for their donation.

Grargh. I don't even know what to do. I feel like I'm only going to get a 1/10th of the way to my goal with letters to my family and friends. I guess being new in town (well, three years new) is a real disadvantage when it comes to fundraising.

[/rant]

[Blueberry]

I truly hope that I'll have funds to support your cause, and one day do the ride myself. My grandfather passed away while I was in college from smoking related emphysema, so the ALA is a cause that is very near and dear to my heart.

A couple of ideas:

What about bringing lunch for all teachers? Like Chili? And asking for donations. Maybe enlist someone to bring sides?

How about setting a dollar amount to "sponsor a day of your ride?"

Some folks here used to ride rollers outside of stores (with permission). The "trick" would earn them donations.

Local bike clubs that might let you "lead" a ride and ask for donations?

Info Table/donation jar at a school sporting event?

Can your friends with the documentary plug your ride in their social circles?

Good luck!!

ETA: What about asking restaurants to donate a portion of the profits from a night? Lots do that.

With stores - try grocery coops and small places (or places like Whole Foods). I think they are more likely to support your cause than "big box retailers."

[Reesha]

Thank you for the advice, Blueberry. When you're busy and you set your mind to do something it is simply exhausting to be told NO so many times.

I'll have to get creative I suppose! The restaurant thing is a good idea!

[Sky King]

Reesha also what about a bake sale at your favorite LBS? And if there is a group ride and they knew in advance that you were showing up with goodies they would remember to bring money to buy said goodies. I am horrid about not carrying any money on group rides so that what made me think - need to know ahead of time

[Reesha]

Great idea, Sky King. When I am riding more often in the spring I will definitely try that. I am also hoping that they'll let me do a bake sale at some of the races I am not participating in next spring!

I made a thread at a forum that I've been posting in science 2004 offering handmade cookies of their choosing for anyone who donates at least $30. I've already had 2 donations, but they said the cookies were unnecessary. They were happy to help

Lastly, I am going to try to put together a small, but classy benefit dinner. I work in the kind of environment where people often support these kinds of events and so I'm hoping someone will be able to help me organize it. I've never done anything like it, but I already have a venue that's willing to donate wine. It's just a matter of tapping into the right resources.

Thanks for all the encouraging words, everyone!