Information for Cyclists

Why we are doing this
General Policies
Costs and Accommodations
What to Bring
Safety
Fundraising
2012 Ride

Why we are doing this

We, Texas Baptists, created Bike Out Hunger to be a voice for, increase awareness for and provide food and life skill training for those in a cycle of poverty and hunger. We are also doing this to provide you with an outlet to share your story about why you are riding, why you care to impact the lives of those around you while you are impacting those same lives.

You are doing this to impact the lives of people around you, to make a difference. So, remember that as you pedal and remember that during interviews along the way. Riding is an outward expression of our caring for others. Yes, riding with a group of great people for 450 miles is a lot of fun and a great challenge (that’s another reason). But, we are all brought together to do this because we know that some people, a lot of people, don’t have enough to eat – and we can do something about it.

To enable all of this, we have set up cyclist giving pages to help you raise money and we have enabled it to work seamlessly with Facebook and twitter. Furthermore, we will have news outlets set up to interview you and our own Texas Baptists Communications crew will also like to talk with you on and off camera to help spread your story.

General Policies

The first meeting for Bike Out Hunger will be at 7 pm at Zio’s Italian Kitchen. At this meeting we will begin getting to know one another but also, we’ll go over the routes, rules and purpose of our ride. (This is also a great time to size up the other riders and determine what peloton you best fit in…yeah, being honest about your skills is the best policy.)

Speaking of, there are three riding groups: A, B and C. You are free to choose your own group based on your ability. The caveat is that each of these groups ride and stay together as a group. Some limited stretching out is expected but that needs to be kept to a minimum for safety and support. I’m a very easy going guy until I lose a rider because he/she left the group. If the group you chose to ride with isn’t your pace, you can change groups by either waiting at a stretch area for the next group to come along or waiting until the next day to jump up a level.

To keep track of all riders on the route, we will have a quick daily check in system in place during the ride. If for any reason you have to leave the ride or route, please contact one of the Bike Out Hunger officials (all this contact information will be available at the meeting).

General safety riding tips and more information on what to bring can be found online.

Costs and Accommodations: What’s covered? What’s not?

Accommodations:
Corporate sponsorships are covering the cost of the hotel rooms with double occupancy. The hotels are listed below.
Sunday 4/22 – Quality Inn at 1505 Bexar Crossing, San Antonio
Monday, 4/23 – Sleep Inn at 2820 E US 290, Dripping Springs
Tuesday, 4/24 – Inn at Lampasas at 1200 Central Texas Expwy, Lampasas
Wednesday, 4/25 – Best Western (a nicer one) 1505 E Central Ave, Comanche
Thursday, 4/26 – Comfort Suites 903 Harbor Lake Dr, Granbury
Friday, 4/27 – Homestead Suites 1601 River Run, Fort Worth

Breakfasts:
The hotels will have their usual breakfast fare but feel free to bring extra or specific items if you prefer. Saturday’s breakfast will be a little different. Our Friday night hotel is so close to Ol’ South Pancake House, that we’ll just go there for breakfast…early…it’s 24/7. Also that hotel doesn’t serve breakfast.

Lunch:
Lunches are not covered. If you choose to eat lunch, it will be at your expense. Last year some ate lunch, some did not and that is each rider/group decision.
The one exception (every rule has one) is on Saturday. Saturday’s lunch will be at Baylor Hospital as we conclude the ride together with one of our sponsors. This is open to anyone you have coming to pick you up / congratulate you.

Evening meals:
Suppers (Monday – Friday) will be covered by the various churches/facilities in our evening locations.

Snacks:
Snacks, water and limited rehydration drinks are available at the break points during the ride and are provided by Texas Baptist churches who thank you for taking your time and energy to raise money and awareness of the hunger needs. If you have a special energy drink you prefer, please bring that with you on your bike.

Transportation:
Transportation from Dallas to San Antonio on the afternoon of April 22 is included. This year we have rented a motorcoach to carry the riders as our bikes ride in trailers. Many of these vehicles will accompany the riders along the route as sag and break vehicles. The bus will also take us to supper each night at a local church.

What to bring

Necessary:

• Your Bike – make sure it is in good working order
• Your Helmet – all riders must wear an ANSI, CPCS or ASTM approved helmet
• Tire changing kit – even if you aren’t adept at changing tubes, we can help
• Water bottles
• Sunglasses
• Tubes

Worth the space:

• Sun block
• Lib balm
• Tire inflation system – either on-bike pump or CO2 cartridges; the sag wagons will have tire pumps, but just in case you don’t want to wait…bring one
• Your favorite energy replacement supplement
• Helmet mirror
• Headlight / taillight for dark or rainy days
• Spare tire

Safety

Aside from raising awareness and money to fight hunger, we care about your safety. Below and linked are some general safety guidelines which we will adhere to during Bike Out Hunger.

1. All riders must wear a helmet while riding
2. Adhere to the ride route and follow directions from Bike Out Hunger support staff. Departure from established route will negate sag/support.
3. Take responsibility for your safety and those riding with you. Your actions affect others.
4. Please avoid using earphones and cell phones while riding as it causes unsafe riding situations.
5. Obey all rules of the road. You are a vehicle on Texas roads.
6. Use proper hand signals.
7. Be courteous of drivers and fellow cyclists.

Fundraising

Sponsoring you couldn’t be easier. The link on this site “Sponsor a Cyclist” provides online giving as well as a physical location for people to send checks. Put a link to your personal rider page in your e-mails, Facebook posts and twitter tweets to make it even easier for others to support you and your efforts. On that page, they will see you, why you are riding, what your fundraising goal is and where you stand on reaching it.

One thing to keep in mind while raising money for a cause is to ask. You know this is a worthy cause, and so do most of your friends, no matter how cheap you may think they are. Encourage people to give, even if all they can give is $5. Trust me, it helps. Often people don’t give because they can’t give as much as they want to. Help them understand that they don’t have to single-handedly reach your goal but whatever they give does help.

Make a list of people you know. Then visit with, call on the phone, send e-mail and post on social media outlets about what you are doing and ask people to sponsor you. It’s also OK to ask for a specific amount (although that’s best done in private) if you know that person is interested in your cause.

Ask your Sunday school, church, Bible study, school or civic group to sponsor you.
Use Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites to increase your reach to potential sponsors.

Create a team of riders from your friends who are riding with you to go in together to reach a specific fundraising goal.

Hold a car wash, bake sale, forgo eating out…basically any creative idea you have.

Send a reminder. Often people want to help out, just need to be reminded or asked twice.

Finally, thank your donors. After the ride, we will supply you with a list of people who sponsored you, the amount donated and their address.