Hard to believe, but ride is upon us! Here’s all the important info you’ll need in order to have a GREAT weekend riding and volunteering to #crushMS:
Team Fundraising Update:
We’ve raised $221,684 so far – great job!! We are currently the number 2 fundraising team juuuuust behind RawHinies but WE CAN CATCH THEM! PLEASE KEEP FUNDRAISING BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT!!!
- FAQ:
- What if I don’t meet the $400 minimum before the ride?
- All cyclists must meet the $400 fundraising minimum before receiving their rider packet. NEW: The National MS Society will NOT be offering a Promise to Pay option this year. You will need to pay the balance with a credit card, check or cash before receiving your ride materials. No need to stop there, though – you have until August 22nd, 2018 to be eligible for prizes and to turn in any donations.
- My fundraising total in my Participant Center doesn’t match what I know I turned in.
- It may take up to four weeks to process donations during peak event times.
- What if I don’t meet the $400 minimum before the ride?
Team Jersey + MS Packet Pick Ups:
Your Bike MS packet contains many important items including your bib number, event details and sponsor giveaways. You must have your minimum fundraising commitment of $400 turned in and a completed waiver on file in order to pick up your packet.
- Wednesday, June 20th – 4:00-7:00pm – TLH Jersey + EARLY MS Packet Pick-Up
- Location: Left Hand Brewing Tasting Room (1265 Boston Ave., Longmont, CO 80501)
- Join the MS Staff, fellow teammates and Bike MS participants to kickoff the Ride weekend and grab all your essentials! Pick up your Team Left Hand jersey and wristband (new this year) + goodies from our sponsors like Justin’s and Nuun. Plus pick up your rider packet from the MS Society.
- Friday, June 22nd – 4:30-7:00pm – TLH Jersey + MS Packet Pick up at the Bike MS Expo
- Location: Front Range Community College (3645 W. 112th Ave. Westminster, CO 80031)
- Pick up your MS Packet, drop off luggage, shop with vendors and get a final free bike tune up before the ride.
- Please note: TLH jerseys will be available at the Expo beginning at 4:30pm on Friday – just look for the Left Hand Brewing Tent in Sponsor row.
- Saturday, June 22rd – 4:30-7:00am – TLH Jersey + MS Packet Pick-Up at the Starting Line
- Location: Front Range Community College (3645 W. 112th Ave. Westminster, CO 80031)
- Please note: TLH jerseys will be available at the starting line beginning at 5:30am on Saturday morning – just look for the Team Left Hand Table right next to the Allegro Coffee Bus.
2018 Team Shirts:
- Will be available at the packet pick up Wednesday & Friday, and in our Team Tent on Saturday
- $20 donation, goes back to team
- New this year – tank tops available!
Weekend Weather Updates:
- Saturday:
- High of 83, low of 57
- Partly cloudy skies
- Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph
- Sunday:
- High of 80, low of 57
- Partly Cloudy
- Winds N at 5 to 10 mph
Packing List:
- Make sure you bring everything you need to have a safe, comfortable ride… don’t forget your:
- Helmet – REQUIRED! You are not allowed to ride without one!
- TLH Jerseys
- Shorts (with padding!)
- Gloves
- Rider number from rider packet (required)
- Shoes and socks
- Cell Phone
- Credit Card
- Important health/medical info
- Water Bottles
- Spare Tire/Fix a Flat
- ID (for drinking beer at the finish line – you cannot drink without it!!)
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Rain Gear (when necessary or just in case)
- Cash (to tip your amazing massage therapist!) and to buy your 2018 Team Shirt
- A great attitude!
- LUAU STUFF! Grass skirts, coconut bras, tropical shirts… we’re going to be themed out and hope you’ll join in the fun!
Routes + Weekend Info from the Society:
- Find the current route maps and info HERE
- Find the 2018 Official Ride Weekend Guide with #alltheinformation HERE
Saturday Morning:
- Meet at the vintage Allegro coffee bus near the starting line! Yep, Allegro Coffee has come through in a HUGE way yet again. The Allegro FLXBUS, a 1951 vintage bus turned mobile coffee bar, is back and ready to serve you a latte or a spot of tea before you take off in the morning. They will be parked on site near the starting line with Stephen & Susann serving up drinks for our team starting 1t 5:00am on Saturday.
- Line up at 6:00am! Plan to line up at 6:00am near the starting line. We’ll be one of the first groups out and would hate for someone to be in the bathroom and find that we’re already gone! Just look for the sea of TLH jerseys near the bus!
- Get there early! The site gets very busy, so give yourself plenty of time to get parked and ready to ride!
- Need to pick up your rider packet? Head inside FRCC.
- Need to pick up your TLH jersey? Head to the table near the Allegro Bus
Saturday Team Village:
- Our amazing volunteers & sponsors have worked hard to make our Team Tent amazing, as always!! After you finish riding, plan to hang out in our LUAU THEMED TENT and enjoy…
- BBQ from Georgia Boys BBQ (lunch starts around 12:00pm because hand’ pulling all that delicious pork takes time!)!
- Treats from Justin’s, Happy Bake Shop and more!
- Vegetarian options from Biscuits & Berries!
- Keg Footbaths!
- Cold Left Hand Beer!
- Private Team Massage Therapists!
- Good times and laughs with our Team!
- Don’t forget to bring your Hawaiian shirt/grass skirt/coconut bra!
- Our Tent is in the same location as normal in Team Tent Village (Tent # 21)… right next to the beer garden!
- Team Tent Village opens at 10am
- Please make sure to wear your Team Wrist Band so we can recognize each other after wardrobe changes.
Massages:
- HUGE thanks as always to Cathy Balan for once again arranging our team of private massage therapists! Give it up for Toni Cardona, Brian Garcia, Walt Phillip, Debbie Trout, Jenny Robinson and Suzy Knudsvig!!
- There are still some spots available – sign up NOW to ensure your spot on Saturday! Find full sign up instructions and reserve your spot HERE.
- You may bring $20 cash (plus a tip!) to CSU with you on Saturday and take a chance that an appointment may be available later afternoon.
- Remember that our massage therapists are donating their time AND all proceeds from massages, so please thank them with a generous tip!
Team Photo at CSU:
- 3:30 pm Saturday in front of our Team Tent!
- Our team is huge and awesome so we want to document it! Grab a beer, a prop and your team or a Hawaiian shirt and be ready to smile!!
Sunday Morning:
- Meet at the vintage Allegro coffee bus near the food tent! Yep – they’re helping us out and fueling our ride on Sunday, as well! Service goes from 5:00am to 7:30am. Plan for a few extra minutes in the morning to meet up with your friends, grab some coffee and start Day 2 off right!
Left Hand Hill:
- Celebrate finishing the ride (and perhaps take a nap in the grass) on Left Hand Hill at FRCC. Join us for a beverage and some snacks and cheer on other riders as the complete the ride.
- Located to your left near the finish line chute – you can’t miss it!
Social Media:
- We’d LOVE to see your photos form the weekend!
- Please tag @TeamLeftHand on Facebook and Twitter and use the hashtags #crushMS #teamlefthand #whateverittakes on any social media posts!
Team Awards:
- And here they are… keep these 2018 Team Awards in mind throughout the weekend…
- Best Looking in Spandex– self explanatory
- Foot Bath Hog– self explanatory
- Shut Up Legs – our brother or sister who suffers the most but guts it out nonetheless.
- Most Inspirational Rider
- BEST SELFIE!! We’re really excited about this one… use the #crushMS AND #TeamLeftHand hashtags and post your best selfies to Instagram! We’ll choose the winner at our year end party!
- Rookie of the Year – our rookie rider who shows all the veterans whats up!
- Volunteer of the Year – that tireless volunteer that does the most to make your weekend fun and smooth!
Volunteers:
- We simply couldn’t do everything over the weekend and throughout the year without our AMAZING support team of volunteers! Be sure to THANK THEM PROFUSELY over the entire weekend, please.