Tour de Shore question

Been thinking about doing the TdS ride this year. I've seen videos on YouTube from the past 2 years and it looks like a blast. I've also read quite a few of the TdS threads here while searching before posting this question.

I was looking at the website, and saw that there is a pledge collection sheet, which brings me to my question. Is there a "minimum amount" that needs to be collected before being allowed to ride? I didn't see any mention of a certain amount, but I'd like to be sure before I think on this ride much more.

I've participated in past charity rides that required a minimum of $150 in pledges, which I always struggled to meet (usually had to make an extra donation myself at the end to make it). Never was too good at talking people into donating to a good cause, and I am hoping to avoid having to do a really hard sell to get pledges.

Any information will be greatly appreciated. Many thanks in advance.

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Permalink Reply by Anne B. on January 5, 2014 at 3:52pm

I don't think there was any minimum when I rode in it last year- it was just however much you wanted to donate on top of the registration fee. REALLY fun ride! 

Permalink Reply by Reboot Oxnard on January 6, 2014 at 4:47am

I don't think there is a minimum collection amount, just a ride fee. $70 - $80 per rider, depending upon options, plus an additional fee if you want a ride back from Michigan to Chicago.

I've found you don't need to do a hard sell to gather funds for rides like this to be effective. Be sure you have some promo materials to give to people who have questions and that the materials have information about the ride, information about the charity and EXACT step by step instructions to follow to donate. Then tell everyone you know that you're in the ride and how incredible it will be. Explain why you're in the ride and about the charity. Be enthusiastic. Then ask them to contribute. My favorite line is to say something like, "I'm paying my own expenses but I'm asking everyone I know to kick a few bucks into the kitty for the ride to help <Acme Charity> out - just $X or so, though rich guys like you should probably dig a little deeper." Smile. Ask once and only once. If they sign up, thank them profusely and remember to send them a Holiday card next year. If they're unsure, give them the promo stuff and let them know you can answer any questions. If they decline, give them a hug and tell them thanks, anyway.

Or you could just write a check for a couple of hundred bucks to the group and leave your friends and family alone. Or you could just pack up and go for a nice ride - you don't need the charity to do that.

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on January 7, 2014 at 1:19am

Correct, Adam.  Must make your own reservation and pay for it separately.  Last year we stayed at the Best Western in Chesterton which was convenient and very bike friendly.  

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on January 7, 2014 at 2:04am

I rode it two years ago.  It was a super-great ride with awesome SAG support.  But I wasn't even aware that there WAS a sponsorship form. I surely didn't fill one out or collect any money for it.   Is this a new thing?  Conflating le Tour de Shore with the Tour de Cure? 

I know that the people they are raising money for do a LOT of volunteering/cooking at the SAG stops and bring donated food to keep costs down as low as possible so that most of the rider's fees can go towards the charity rather than towards the costs of putting on the ride.  The same goes for the big feast at the end.  These things help raise a lot of money for the charity through the rider entry fees.

Lisa, are you going again this year?  Amanda is thinking of doing the ride this year but might be interested in the ride n dine option.  

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on January 7, 2014 at 3:12am

Sorry Adam, I didn't mean to say you were conflating the two, but that maybe the folks at TdS were coat-tailing on the Tour de Cure MO by adding the sponsorship angle.  Maybe they have always had the sponsorship form, but this is the first I have noticed it. 

I've always personally been uncomfortable with this type of peer pressure fund-raising since back in the 60's and early 70's as a kid being forced to sell wreath & roping for the cub scouts, band candy, and UNICEF coin boxes in school.  

Adam C said:

No, no confusing the two. If you hover your cursor over the "registration" link on their home page, you see that 'collect pledges' is the third option.

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on January 7, 2014 at 3:57am

Nice to see you, James.  I am definitely thinking of going.  If Amanda is going to ride, it would be further incentive.  I will ride my LHT this year instead of the Linus, so it should be a bit easier. :-)  I have tried planting the seed with my husband, but I doubt very much that he will do it.  It would mean forcing him to do a lot of riding to get used to the long distance, and I don't see that happening.  Right now he acts the martyr if I suggest riding ten miles.

As you know, I won't be camping.  Best Western suited me just fine last year, although I missed having pizza with Chainlinkers at the campground.
 
James BlackHeron said:

I rode it two years ago.  It was a super-great ride with awesome SAG support.  But I wasn't even aware that there WAS a sponsorship form. I surely didn't fill one out or collect any money for it.   Is this a new thing?  Conflating le Tour de Shore with the Tour de Cure? 

I know that the people they are raising money for do a LOT of volunteering/cooking at the SAG stops and bring donated food to keep costs down as low as possible so that most of the rider's fees can go towards the charity rather than towards the costs of putting on the ride.  The same goes for the big feast at the end.  These things help raise a lot of money for the charity through the rider entry fees.

Lisa, are you going again this year?  Amanda is thinking of doing the ride this year but might be interested in the ride n dine option.  

Permalink Reply by dan brown on January 7, 2014 at 4:39am

I will return again. this is a not-miss event. IIRC it was Lisa's longest ride; what a cool thing to witness. the pizza was amazing - they bring in an old firetruck reconfigured with a wood fired oven and cook the pizza on the spot. really good and fresh ingredients. specer and I made a beer run (carrying lots of beer on bikes after a long day of riding and it was a real treat. after (almost) everyone was full; the main pizza guy just started taking requests based on what

ingredients were remaining (they don't want to take any back). so good.....and having fresh fish and cold beer at the bar outside the Indiana dunes state part at 2pm was awesome too. OK now I predict TdS will sell out faster than ever now.

 

DB

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on January 7, 2014 at 5:18am

It was my longest ride!  Managed to do a few more over the summer after that, so now I am "seasoned". :-)  The stop at the bar was awesome--the perfect thing at the end of that day's ride.

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on January 7, 2014 at 5:45am

The pizza was indeed amazing.  I wonder if they will have it again this year?  There are only 80 spots at the group campground so I'm planning on registering as soon as they open this year in February.  

If Amanda comes she will probably not want to camp either.  It'll also be her longest ride and most likely won't want to sleep on the ground after that extended first day's travel I would imagine.  She completed the metric century at the Apple Cider in September so she knows what she is getting into regarding the local terrain, although riding from our place in Logan Square down to the start adds a bit of length to the first day's ride and is an early start of the day.  At least it is pretty flat for the first couple dozen miles from our door, but as the day goes on...

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on January 7, 2014 at 5:59am

Last year the first day of the ride was on Bike to Work Rally day and the t-shirt last year was pretty cool, so I went there first!  Rode very early from Belmont Harbor down to the Daley Center before going over to Millenium Park for the start.  Fortunately, the first day's ride was pretty flat all the way around except for a gigantic bridge overpass in--I think--Hobart, Indiana.  The second, shorter, day was the terrain of the Apple Cider.  And it rained a little just to add to the fun.  On the other hand, the barbecue at the end was really good. 

Permalink Reply by Anne B. on January 7, 2014 at 6:25am

I loved the route so much last year! Seemed like the first day was something like 80-90% paved trails. Only bummer was getting sorta cold weather right at the end of day 2. 

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on January 7, 2014 at 6:28am

That bridge in Indiana is a real mind-killer IMHO.  It's just so big and imposing as well as steep with some local traffic thrown in.  I've gone over it a few times between doing the TdS and some brewpub rides.  Every time I climb it the bridge seems to be quite the mental obstacle upon the approach.  It's not all that steep or long, it's just imposing with the traffic and seeming narrowness of it as it goes up and up. 

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