FAQ
How much money do I have to raise and by when?
Each rider has to raise a minimum of $5,000 and this will cover your flight home from Texas, vehicle rental, gas, your entrance fee to the LiveStrong Challenge, and all accommodations from October 10th (the night before departure) until Monday the 25th (the day after the LiveStrong Challenge).
IMPORTANT FUND-RAISING DEADLINES:
- $1,000 by July 1st
- $3,000 by September 1st
- $5,000 by October 1st
Please understand that these deadlines are so that we can be sure you are serious about the fund-raising aspect. Unfortunately, in the past we have had too many people drop out at the last minute because they didn’t have any funds raised… and this prevented another rider from taking their spot. Our goal – as we are sure it is yours – is simply to donate as much as possible to the war on cancer. It also allows to us to accurately plan the flights, hotels, etc. for you.
New for 2010: If you raise $7,500 you will receive a food per diem of $30 per day for the 12 days on the road. If you raise $10,000 you will receive the food per diem, a special cycling jersey as part of the top fundraisers club, and we will fly you to the departure point of the ride. All participants will be flown home from Austin, Texas.
How much will we raise as a group?
As a group we are targeting to donate a minimum of $50,000 each (total of $200,000) to our four charities: Ovarian Cancer Canada, Canadian Cancer Society, Craig’s Cause for Pancreatic Cancer and The Lance Armstrong Foundation. We may donate a smaller amount ($10,000) to a charity in our departure city as well. To see where your money goes and why we chose these charities, see the Finance section.
When is the money due?
Your $5,000 is due by October 1; no later. In order to reserve your spot, we need a deposit of $200. This will allow us to make sure that we are holding spots for people that are able to raise the money as well as to smooth out our costs and revenues. Once you raise the $5,000 you can have the $200 returned to you – or if you are feeling generous donate it and receive a charitable receipt.
What if I do not raise enough money?
Unfortunately, you will not be able to go on the ride if you do not raise the $5,000. We will do everything we possibly can to help you raise the money so you can share in this experience. We believe in the power of the human heart and mind to make this happen for everyone!
What is the structure of the ride?
Please click here to see the ride schedule.
How many people are on my team?
There are seven people per team. You may request who you would like to ride with. Your team will have a van and a rack to carry your bikes and thus you will be self-contained. One of you will be responsible for driving the van behind your teammates while they cycle and you can rotate as you please. This is primarily done for safety reasons but also because we need a means to move the bicycles when you are not riding. You should expect to drive 1/7th of the time.
Can I register as part of a team? Can I register if I don’t know anyone?
The answer is YES to both questions. If you have a partial or full team you can register and all be on the same team. We will work this out with you down the road after you register. Or if you are just an individual rider and you don’t know anyone, we will assign you to a team. Don’t stress over this part… most people don’ t know anyone when they join and we make sure that each team is well balanced with a nice mix of enthusiasm, experience, and diversity.
What can I bring?
A bike, one bag (this is important… we cannot accommodate more than one bag and unfortunately we do not have room for bike boxes), and all the enthusiasm you can muster! As we get closer to departure, we will issue some advice on the type of gear you want to have and the food you may want to pack in your van at the start.
What are my costs?
Costs on the ride that are covered include rental vehicles, gas, your flight home, your entrance into the LiveStrong Challenge, and your accommodations (1 night in Vancouver and 3 nights in Texas). In addition, we give each rider a nice GIVETOLIVE cycling jersey. If you raise over $7,500 we will provide a food per diem of $30/day and if you raise over $10,000 we will provide the food per diem and fly you to Vancouver from within North America…. and you get a very cool unique jersey only for those raising over $10,000!
You have to pay for your flight to Vancouver (unless you raise $10k or more), your food/drinks along the ride (that is new for this year – you only get a food per-diem if you raise over $7,500), a passport (required), travel health insurance (required – about $75 usually – but check with your provider at work first as you may be covered already), and the cost to get your bike to Vancouver and home from Austin (this ranges from $0 to $175 so be sure to check with the airline before you book – some airlines will waive it if you ask nicely over the phone but there is no guarantee)
How many hours per day will I bike?
Three to seven hours per day. The range will be 80-120 km per day and the pace will be set by your team. However, you should be prepared to bike at a minimum of 25 km/hr on flat terrain in a group setting. We are climbing through some mountains this year so you should be prepared to bike up some good size hills… we strongly recommend that you touch base with one of our coaches in the training section so that you are prepared for this. Don’t be discouraged or worried if you have never done this before… we have had a lot of beginner cyclists in our 3 years and we will help you train every step of the way as well as coach you out on the road.
How do I fund raise?
Click here to see a list of creative ideas that you can use.
Can we give receipts?
Yes. All donations will receive a charitable donation receipt. If someone sponsors you in Canada, the receipt will come from The Canadian Cancer Society (who distributes the money to the other charities for us). If someone from the US sponsors you, the receipt will come from the Lance Armstrong Foundation. We work with The Canadian Cancer Society to ensure that the other charities (Ovarian Cancer Canada and Craig’s Cause for Pancreatic Cancer) receive an equal portion of the funds we raise.
Where do we sleep?
We will be arranging accommodations for people to sleep. To keep costs down, this will not be a five-star trip! More of what we call a GIVETOLIVE Adventure. When we stay in motels, there are about four people to a room and at times we are sharing beds (it really helps with the team building). Sometimes we stay at places where you get your own bed, but we can’t promise that every night. In the last 2 years we have stayed at motels, B&Bs, an army base, an evacuation centre, a Boys and Girls Club, a church and we were even billeted by the wonderful folks of Port Angeles, Washington… all a ton of fun! We promise that even though the shared bed thing can be uncomfortable for some, you will get over this hurdle and realize that not only does it mean more money for the charities but it can create some pretty funny moments as well!
What do we eat?
You should be prepared to cover the costs of your meals yourself (this is different from previous years but it means we can donate more to our charities). Costs are often minimized by teams by hitting grocery stores along the way and pooling funds to buy stuff for sandwiches, snacks, etc. Note: if you raise $7,500 or more we will provide a food per diem for $30 per day for the 12 days on the road ($360). Note that we do our best to get continental breakfasts included with hotel stays as well as get product donated but we can never guarantee anything until we get well into the planning stages… prior to leaving we will be able to provide a list of accommodations for each night and what is included.
What is the age/experience of the riders?
We have riders from 15 to 78 with all levels of experience. We have a rider that has done over 15 Iron Man Triathlons and the Eco-challenge and we have numerous riders that have not been on a bike since they were 10! Do not stress if you are a beginner… almost 50 percent of our riders in the last two years had limited to no experience and they all made it! We have coaches, on-line training articles, many group rides, and much more. Heart and enthusiasm are what matters here and we will get you through the ride! We do not consider this a competitive or fast event… it is about enjoying the journey, smelling the roses, laughing with your teammates, and celebrating life. In addition, if you have never ridden in a pack, we will be teaching you both before and on the ride how to do this safely.
How do we get home?
We fly you home from Austin, Texas to your home city (within North America). We will provide standard bike boxes and some packing material but you are responsible for covering costs associated with flying it home or shipping it. Check with the airlines before booking any flights to see what it can cost to bring a bike… the prices range from $0 to $175.
What is the terrain and weather?
Flat roads. Uphill, downhill, windy, sunny, rainy, and dark at night! Be prepared for everything. Oh… and mountains! Lots of them. As for weather, the low temperature will be at or below freezing and the high will be about 25 Celsius (80F). Dress warm, bring base layers, and be prepared to be in cold weather for a few hours at a time. If you want some advice on gear, check the training section and email one of our coaches.
Do we bike at night?
Yes, we do. Safety will be a priority and we have a very experienced team that will be ensuring that the night riding is done properly. You will bike one to two night sessions over the 2-week period and we’ll fill you in on some basic gear you will need to have. Night riding is actually a very fun part of the ride… there is no experience like being on a bike at midnight in the middle of the country… it will be one of the most beautiful and peaceful experiences you will ever have on a bike.
What type of bike do we need?
A road bike or a crossover bike with road tires is necessary so that you can keep pace with your team. Mountain bikes are not allowed as they cannot keep up with road bikes.
Where do I learn about what to eat and how to train?
Dr. Stephen Cheung, accomplished cyclist and Chair of Exercise Physiology for Brock University is one of our coaches and has been provided a series of educational training articles, posted here. In addition, you can email any of our coaches that will be happy to help you develop a training plan, pick the right gear, or work on your diet. You can email Todd McDonald at tmcdonald@energyatlantica.com or John Gillis at johnhughgillis@gmail.com. Todd and John both have extensive cycling experience and will be happy to help you, no matter what your experience level.
What speed will we be maintaining?
Each group will have a predetermined start time, so theoretically it won’t matter how fast or slow your group goes. However, we are recommending people be prepared to bike three to seven hours per day at a pace of around 22-25 km/hr on flat terrain.
What support will be on the ride?
We have volunteers going on the ride to help with food, accommodations, logistics, etc., however we are looking to attract people that like to help out and take care of themselves… and to be part of a larger team effort where everyone applies their skills to the larger group so that we can operate as efficiently as possible and raise as much money as possible.
Where does the money go?
GIVETOLIVE is an all-volunteer organization that does not have any paid staff or overhead. We strive to get as much as possible donated so that all our funds can be given directly to Ovarian Cancer Canada, Canadian Cancer Society, Craig’s Cause for Pancreatic Cancer, and The Lance Armstrong Foundation. In the last 2 years, 73% of the total funds we raised went directly to our selected charities. This means we had an expense ratio of 27%, which is considered excellent in the fund-raising community . This year, we are striving to hit 75%.
Where do I buy a bike?
Kijiji is good. Local bike shops have bulletin boards. Talk to us, we can find discounts at local bike shops… especially if you are in Nova Scotia.
