My first tour, MN Red Ribbon Ride
Donation protected
For more than a decade I have dreamed of touring across Europe on my bike. I planned and had saved money to take a year after my enlistment in the USMC ended. However I chose to move to MN and begin going to school. I had my whole life to bike accross Europe. June 18th is the 10 year aniversery of when my enlistment ended and the begining of my journey through europe was to begin.
The biggest reason I did not fly to europe was that I didn't know enough about bikes, tours and most importantly I was not comfortable with myself. I didn't even know the word for it was 'tour' or that other people had done it. It's about time I get started on acheiving this dream.
Enter the MN, Red Ribbon Ride.
The Minnesota Red Ribbon is a fundraiser for AIDS in MN. It primarily goes to support one of the 8 organizations in the state that care for people with the Deadly desease.
"Riders and Crew raise pledges from their friends and family and that money goes to 8 different Minnesota HIV/AIDS organizations that provide a variety of services to their constituents, including housing, case management, food programs, testing, education, etc." http://www.redribbonride.org/site/PageServer?pagename=faq#ride
I don't know if I have ever met somebody with HIV/AIDS but the cause is good and I will get experience touring while having the saftey net of the support team. Help me raise money for this charity and begin the process of accomplishing my goal of cycling across Europe.
Current Barriers and the reason for using GoFundMe:
*Still have not gone on a ride longer than 90 miles, or one that spanned more than one day. I don't know what a week on the bicycle is like.
*Not sure either of my two bikes are capable of being ridden for more 40 or 50 miles at a time. I put 1000's of miles on both every year. But they seem to breakdown everytime I go for a long ride. Last was River Valley 100 where I did the 100 km gravel ride and I broke 2 spokes and got a flat tire.
*Money, I need to get to the start and home from the finish line. I also want to ensure I have a few $$ for bike Maintence incase it breaks down. All $$ not used for either the $1500 fee or on my bike over these 4 days will be donated to the Red Ribbon Ride.
*I don't have the equipment needed for such an endeavor, normally I would say a trailer and lightweight camping gear, however due to it being a supported ride I actually don't have to carry anything becuse the support crew will take care of getting it to the checkpoints. Camping gear I have some and I have access to the rest of what I need.
*Also having never done a tour I don't know what I need for sure. I've done alot of reading and know people who tour so I think I will be able to get bases covered but it's scary.
Use of Money Raised:
I set the $2000 goal because $1500 is what the MN Red Ribbon Ride requires for all four days of the ride. The remaining $500 is for getting me two and from the start and finish of the ride about $60~65 depending on if I need to take the bus or a friend drops me off/ picks me up, a friend would be more convinent but would possibly be more expensive. I want to purchase one of the Red Ribbon Ride jerseys to wear one of the days $60, and I would like to buy or get 3 other jerseys about $40-$80 a piece so I have one for each day, I would also like to buy 4 pairs of biking shorts to protect myself from such a long period on the bike, $40 - $80 each. I already have some Chamois Butt'r. And I would like to invest in a good pair of shoes for the ride. (it's been a long time since I've bought shoes anywhere but payless so I'm guessing $80). The ride plus clothes equals at most $640 but I should be able to get a few thing on clearence and not spent directly related to these four days will be donated to the Red Ribbon Ride. I will keep all receipts and upon request will show them to anybody that donates and askes for them. Progress of both the fundraising and the event can be tracked on my blog: www.bikeurup.com I will also update this site periodically.
Thank you for your support.
The biggest reason I did not fly to europe was that I didn't know enough about bikes, tours and most importantly I was not comfortable with myself. I didn't even know the word for it was 'tour' or that other people had done it. It's about time I get started on acheiving this dream.
Enter the MN, Red Ribbon Ride.
The Minnesota Red Ribbon is a fundraiser for AIDS in MN. It primarily goes to support one of the 8 organizations in the state that care for people with the Deadly desease.
"Riders and Crew raise pledges from their friends and family and that money goes to 8 different Minnesota HIV/AIDS organizations that provide a variety of services to their constituents, including housing, case management, food programs, testing, education, etc." http://www.redribbonride.org/site/PageServer?pagename=faq#ride
I don't know if I have ever met somebody with HIV/AIDS but the cause is good and I will get experience touring while having the saftey net of the support team. Help me raise money for this charity and begin the process of accomplishing my goal of cycling across Europe.
Current Barriers and the reason for using GoFundMe:
*Still have not gone on a ride longer than 90 miles, or one that spanned more than one day. I don't know what a week on the bicycle is like.
*Not sure either of my two bikes are capable of being ridden for more 40 or 50 miles at a time. I put 1000's of miles on both every year. But they seem to breakdown everytime I go for a long ride. Last was River Valley 100 where I did the 100 km gravel ride and I broke 2 spokes and got a flat tire.
*Money, I need to get to the start and home from the finish line. I also want to ensure I have a few $$ for bike Maintence incase it breaks down. All $$ not used for either the $1500 fee or on my bike over these 4 days will be donated to the Red Ribbon Ride.
*I don't have the equipment needed for such an endeavor, normally I would say a trailer and lightweight camping gear, however due to it being a supported ride I actually don't have to carry anything becuse the support crew will take care of getting it to the checkpoints. Camping gear I have some and I have access to the rest of what I need.
*Also having never done a tour I don't know what I need for sure. I've done alot of reading and know people who tour so I think I will be able to get bases covered but it's scary.
Use of Money Raised:
I set the $2000 goal because $1500 is what the MN Red Ribbon Ride requires for all four days of the ride. The remaining $500 is for getting me two and from the start and finish of the ride about $60~65 depending on if I need to take the bus or a friend drops me off/ picks me up, a friend would be more convinent but would possibly be more expensive. I want to purchase one of the Red Ribbon Ride jerseys to wear one of the days $60, and I would like to buy or get 3 other jerseys about $40-$80 a piece so I have one for each day, I would also like to buy 4 pairs of biking shorts to protect myself from such a long period on the bike, $40 - $80 each. I already have some Chamois Butt'r. And I would like to invest in a good pair of shoes for the ride. (it's been a long time since I've bought shoes anywhere but payless so I'm guessing $80). The ride plus clothes equals at most $640 but I should be able to get a few thing on clearence and not spent directly related to these four days will be donated to the Red Ribbon Ride. I will keep all receipts and upon request will show them to anybody that donates and askes for them. Progress of both the fundraising and the event can be tracked on my blog: www.bikeurup.com I will also update this site periodically.
Thank you for your support.
Organizer
Jessica Myer
Organizer
Mankato, MN
