Registration Information
Bike MS Event Details
Teams
Fundraising
Website
Registration Information
How do I sign up? Signing up is easy. Register online or call 517-646-0807.
How much does it cost to participate? The registration fee for Bike MS is $50 until April 15, 2009, $60 until two weeks prior to the ride and $80 less than two weeks prior to the ride.
Each participant is also responsible for raising the minimum pledge amount of $250. Your donations and efforts help the 18,000 in Michigan living with MS. If your pledges total $750 or more, you will qualify great prizes including our Bike MS Jersey
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Can my child participate in the Bike MS Ride?Do they need to raise money?The Bike MS Ride is open to participants 13 years of age or older. All cyclist under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian and have a notarized waiver. Keep in mind that with a little help from an adult, children have the potential to be big fundraisers and it’s an excellent learning experience.
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I’ve heard that the waiver form must be signed by a parent or legal guardian and notarized for everyone under 18 years of age. Is that true? Yes, all participants under the age of 18 must submit a waiver signed by a parent or legal guardian. Waivers are included as part of our registration process, and we will have a notary available the day of the event to certify them.
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What if a friend wants to come along at the last minute and isn't registered? No problem. They can register the morning of the Ride as a Team member or individual cyclist. The registration fee for the day of the ride is $80 and the participant will be responsible for raising the $250 pledge minimum.
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Bike MS Event Details
What if I'm not a professional cyclist? Bike MS is for cyclists of all abilities. It is NOT a race! Local bike shops and teams hold training rides several months before the tour to help you get in shape.
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What type of bike do I have to have? All roads for our two day road rides are paved and any type of road or hybrid bike is fine. "Slick" tires are highly recommended. Contact your local Bike MS Bike Shops for professional advice. Our Mountain Bike Ride takes place at Island Lake Recreation Area on dirt trails and it is suggested that you have a mountain bike to ride.
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Where is the Ride? In 2009 the Michigan Chapter of the National MS Society will host three rides across the state. Dates and Locations .
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What about my car at the Start Line? All of our start/finish locations have parking for the duration of the event.
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Are there maps of the ride routes?Because of DOT roadwork and other unforeseen circumstance, the route is finalized just a few weeks out from the ride. Every effort will be made to post route maps prior to the ride online. These maps are intended to give you a general idea of the route. However, the National MS Society, Michigan Chapter does reserve the right to change the route for any reason prior to the day of the ride. Official maps will be provided at check-in the day of the event.
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How long is the ride?A variety of route length options are provide to meet the needs of everyone from the beginning cyclist to the most experienced rider. Please view the Event Details for specific route options
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What type of support is along the route? Approximately every 10-15 miles there will be rest stops as well as Support and Guidance (SAG) vehicles that will give you a ride if needed. SAGs will take you to the closest rest stop but may not be able to take you directly to the finish line. Trained medical professionals and bike repair support is also available.
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Can my family ride along the route with me in their car? NO, for the safety of our cyclists we ask that you not have personal SAG’s on the route. They may meet you at the lunch stops on the routes and at the overnight and finish line locations.
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How long will the Bike MS Ride take me? It depends on how fast you ride and for how long you stop at the rest areas. Routes open at 7am and close at 5pm.
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Will food be provided? We provide food throughout the weekend. Each rest stop is well stocked with snacks and fluids. However, if you'd like extra snacks along the way (power bars, etc.), you may want to bring a supply with you. If you know of any companies that may be interested in donating food, please contact Jeff Bross at 248-351-2190. Donated food helps us to maximize the funds that we are able to contribute to the movement against MS.
Two-day rides: We also provide lunch and dinner on Saturday and breakfast, lunch, and a finish BBQ on Sunday.
One-day rides: We provide rest stops on the route and a finish dinner or Saturday or BBQ celebration on Sunday.
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What if it rains? The ride goes on. Please be prepared to ride in any weather conditions. Unless there is severe weather we will not stop the ride. Our staff is in contact with the National Weather Service throughout the day and will advise you of any adverse conditions.
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Can I use my….? For safety purposes we cannot allow headphones, child seats, bike trailers, or rollerblades on the tour.
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What should I bring? Everyone MUST wear a helmet at all times. Other useful items include; bike gloves, sunscreen, a bike pump, sunglasses, and LOTS OF ENERGY! Bug Repellant is suggested for mountain bikers.
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Where can I stay the night before the tour?
West Michigan: We will be offering dorm rooms at Hope College on Friday, June 12th. The cost of the room is $35 per rider for double occupancy and $55 for single occupancy. You will have the same room on both Friday and Saturday nights and breakfast in the College cafeteria will be provided before the ride on Saturday morning.
Mid Michigan: Many riders choose to stay at a local hotel the night before the tour; any arrangements are the responsibility of the participant. A list of nearby locations, phone numbers and rates is provided on our website on the Resources page.
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Where do I start?
West Michigan: Both the two-day and one-day will start at Holland High School, 600 Van Raatle Ave., Holland MI
Mid Michigan: Both the two-day and one-day rides will start at Lake Fenton High School, 4070 Lahring Rd., Linden, MI 48451.
Mountain Bike: Will be held at Island Lake Recreation Area in Brighton, MI.
Directions to the start/finish locations can be found on our web site on the Event Details page.
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What time can I check in?
Two-day rides: Registration begins at 6:30 am on Saturday.
One-day tours: For riders in West Michigan registration opens at 6:30 am at Holland High School. For the Mid-Michigan ride registration opens at 8:30 am on Sunday at Lake Fenton High School.
Mountain Bike: Registration opens at 8:30 am.
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What time is the route open? Two-day rides: Cyclists can begin riding at 7 a.m. For safety reasons no rider may begin after 9 a.m. they will instead be taken to a rest stop along the route.
One-Day rides: West Michigan riders may start at 7:00 a.m. and must be on the route no later than 9 a.m. The Mid-Michigan route will open at 9 am and no riders may begin after 11 a.m.
Please note that for the safety of riders no one may begin prior to the designated start times.
The route CLOSES PROMPTLY at 5 pm both days. If you are still on the route you MUST be picked up and taken to the finish. If you insist in staying on the route please understand that our support will NOT be available to you and you will no longer a participant of Bike MS Ride. Your rider number must also be handed in at that time.
Mountain Bike: Riders may head out on the trails at 9am and ride throughout the day until 3pm.
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What are the overnight accommodations? Overnight dorm accommodations for two-day cyclists will be at Hope College or MSU. Rooms are based on double occupancy, if you would like to have a single room there is a $20 charge. Towels and sheets will be provided but please bring your own toiletries. A buffet dinner on Saturday evening and a full breakfast on Sunday morning will be served in the cafeteria.
In order for us to keep event expenses to a minimum you MUST turn in a housing request before the event. Because several cyclists choose to stay in local hotel rooms at their own expense and we are charged per person for accommodations we do not automatically reserve a room for every participant. To make your reservation simply return the housing card in your registration packet or e-mail Tammy Willis at Tammy.Willis@mig.nmss.org
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How does my luggage get to the overnight location? Two-day rides: With the help of volunteers your luggage will be transported for you to the overnight location (either Hope College or MSU). Please be sure to put the luggage tag you will be provided with the day of the event on your bag so it is easily identifiable. When you place your luggage on the truck it will be the last time you have access to it before the overnight location so please be sure you have everything you need for the day’s ride (sunscreen, sunglasses, etc.)
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Are Massages available? We do our best to find massage therapists to come out to the ride and volunteer their time and talent. If you know of anyone that may be interested please contact us at bike@mig.nmss.org
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What if I am unable to ride the day of the event? What is a Virtual Rider? Our Virtual Ride program is just for you! If you can’t physically make it to the event, you can still collect and send in pledges. Virtual Riders can register for any of the Bike MS events, just as other participants do, and will be included in all prize categories, team awards, contests, and fundraising clubs.
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Teams
How do I form a Team? All you need is a total of four people and a Team name. The Team Captain must establish the Team and then Team Members may join.
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Can my company participate as a team? Absolutely! A team is made up of four or more cyclists from a company or a group of friends and family. There is a special place on the registration form to fill in the team name and team captain’s name. Please make sure your team captain registers first, then each person on the team can register using the same team name.
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How do I join/register a Team? When registering click on “Join a Team” there you can search for your Team name and/or Team Captain. If you are unsure of the exact name, the list provided also shows who the Team Captain is.
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What if I have already registered as an Individual and want to be on a Team? We’re glad to have more Team members. If you have already registered, just email Teams@mig.nmss.org with your full name and the Team name you would like to join. We will move you over and confirm the change with you.
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Why does each person on a team have to register separately? There are many reasons why it is important that each team member register. The most important reasons are:
- To get an accurate count for each ride and help plan for the best Bike MS Ride experience possible.
- It is important that everyone who plans to participate in Bike MS receives the important information that we send by email and by mail.
- Accounts are not set up by team name, but by each individual team member. The sum of all pledges turned in for each team member provides the total for the team. Each individual total provides the basis for individual prize award levels.
- Participants are responsible for raising the minimum pledge of $250. Other prizes are awarded after the walk on an individual basis.
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Can I send pledges in for my entire team? Yes, but you must include a list of the team members and how much is to be credited to each person’s account.
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Fundraising
How much are registration fees? Early bird registration fees are $50 per rider and are due prior to April 15, 2009. After April 15th they increase to $60 per rider and two weeks before the ride increase to $80 per rider.
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Is there a minimum pledge goal I must meet? Yes. Each participant is required to turn in a minimum of $250 in pledges. The money raised goes to funding national research, programs, advocacy efforts and public and professional education.
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How much money should I raise? Last year the pledge average for Bike MS was $721 and the top fundraiser in Michigan raised more than $25,000!
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When do I have to turn in my pledges? The pledge deadline is August 28th (Sept. 26th for Mountain Bike). If you don’t have your money turned in by then, you will not be eligible for fundraising rewards.
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Are fundraising rewards offered? All cyclists who turn in over $750 will be eligible to receive a fundraising reward. Prize certificates are awarded based on the amount of pledges turned in by the August 28, 2009 prize deadline (September 26, 2009 for Mountain Bike). Many of our riders choose to donate the cost of their prize back to the National MS Society and become members of our Mission First Club. Members of the 2008 Mission First Club donated more than $21,000 in prizes!
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What are the Bike MS Fundraising Clubs?
Top 100 - Do you have what it takes to be part of this elite Bunch? Each year we recognize the success of the events top 100 fundraisers but offering them perks such as a special Top Fundraising Jersey, a yellow bib number, VIP event parking and an invitation to our annual recognition reception. Congrats to the 2008 top 100 who raised a cumulative total of over $372,000! The Top 100 numbers will be assigned based on pledges turned in by October 1, 2009.
Mission First Club - When you join the Mission First Club you are waiving your prize selection to designate your pledges to our mission of ending the devastating effects of multiple sclerosis. Your pledge money will be used for funding national research and local programming for the over 18,000 Michigan residents who are affected with MS.
In 2008 73% of the riders that qualified to receive a prize generously donated the cost back to the Michigan Chapter representing a savings of more than $21,000! We would like to extend our sincere thanks to these 357 members of the 2008 Mission First Club. (return to top)
Above Average - Raise more than $721 and you will be ABOVE AVERAGE. The National BIKE MS pledge average is $721 and we know our cyclists are not satisfied with AVERAGE. So make that extra ask or send out an additional email so you can be ABOVE AVERAGE!
Veteran Riders Participants who have ridden for a minimum of 5 years will automatically be enrolled in this club and have the opportunity to purchase a custom designed jersey. (return to top)
What is the Bike MS Ride National Passport Program? As a National Multiple Sclerosis Society Bike MS Ride cyclist and a top fundraiser, cyclists from our chapter that have raised at least $5,000 are eligible to become a member of the elite Bike MS Ride National Passport Program!
Members simply select a tour or several tours to participate in (before August 28, 2010), send in a signed Bike MS Waiver along with a registration fee per ride, and they are essentially on their way! Members are expected to coordinate and pay for their own travel expenses, bike shipment, hotel accommodations, incidental expenses, etc.
If you are interested in the Bike MS Ride National Passport Program or would like some more information, please contact Tammy Willis at (517) 646-0807 or by e-mail at Tammy.Willis@mig.nmss.org.
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Where does the money go? Your money helps the 18,000 people living in Michigan with multiple sclerosis as well as funding national research. The MS Society is proud to have a very low percentage of fundraising and administrative costs.
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Who sponsors me? ANYONE can sponsor you. Riders can sponsor themselves or ask co-workers, friends, neighbors, local businesses and family members. Many companies sponsor their employees. Visit our Fundraising Tips section for more ideas.
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What is the Paper Bike Sale Program? You can energize your Bike MS Ride fundraising by selling paper “bikes” at local businesses, at school or in the community. The National MS Society will send you bikes at your request to sell for $1 or more. Set your goals high and “paper” your office, storefront, school or other community location to show support of your participation in the Bike MS Ride. For more information or to start your own bike paper sales program contact Tammy Willis at 517-646-0807 or Tammy.Willis@mig.nmss.org
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How do I sponsor someone online? To sponsor someone who’s riding or volunteering, visit the Bike MS Homepage and click on “Donate”. Search for the participant’s name and click it. You’ll be redirected to their personal page where you can click on the gray box that says Support ______. To make a general donation, visit Make a Donation and click on Make a General Bike MS Donation.
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People have asked me for a receipt. What should I do? When someone sponsors you online with a credit card donation they will receive a thank you and tax receipt. For other donations, you can find receipts in our Download Center.
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Who do I make checks payable to? Please make checks payable to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
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Where do I send my donations? You can bring your donations to Bike MS or they can be mailed at any time to:
National Multiple Sclerosis Society ATTN: Bike MS
21311 Civic Center Drive
Southfield, MI 48076
Please make checks payable to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Include the participant's name in the memo section of the check and that it’s for Bike MS or include a note in the envelope. This will help to properly allocate the donation for the participant.
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How do I turn money in at the Bike MS Ride? You will receive a Pledge Form and Pledge Envelope in the mail approx. one week before the your event date. Please follow the instructions carefully and bring both of these items and your pledges to the Check-In area at your site.
When will I receive pledge sheets and how can I get more pledge sheets? Once you register, you will receive registration materials either by mail or email. In an effort to save money and resources, we are encouraging everyone to receive their materials online. You may also download pledge sheets at our Download Center.
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What if my company wants to match my pledges? To take part in the Matching Gifts Program, please visit your Human Resource Department or your Matching Gifts Coordinator and ask for a Matching Gift Form. Then you can mail it to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Please include your information so we can apply the match correctly. Please visit the Matching Gifts section for more information.
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What if I need brochures and posters for others? We are printing a limited amount of brochures and posters this year. Please contact tammy.willis@mig.nmss.org or 517-646-0807 to request materials. You can also visit our Download Center and print materials from your own computer!
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Website
What is the Participant Center? When you register online for the Bike MS Ride, you are automatically assigned your own personal web space, called your Participant Center, which is designed to facilitate every aspect of your fundraising.
To access your Participant Center, click on the “My Participant Center” icon on the Bike MS homepage. You may be asked to log in, at which point you’ll need the username and password created in the registration process. If you’ve registered for Walk MS or Bike MS in the past, you should try to use the same username and password.
Your Participant Center has a variety of features to help you fundraise for Bike MS. After you’ve logged in, you will find six main links across the top of the page. Please visit the Participant Center web page for more details.
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What is my username and password? When you register online, you have to create a username and password to continue with the registration process. Each person has a unique username and password. If you forget either one at any time you may request that they be emailed to you.
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How do I change my Username and/or Password? First, log in to the site using your username and password. Once logged in you will see a link called "My Account." Once in your profile, you will be able to change your contact information, e-mail address and username. All changes will be made to your account immediately. There is no need to sign in again. To change your password, please contact us at bike@mig.nmss.org and we will help you out.
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What is a Personal Page? A personal page is an online promotional tool for your use when asking your friends and family to join your Team or sponsor you by making a donation. Once you sign up for an event online, by default, you will have a personal page created for you. You have the option of personalizing this page by going to your participant center. You will be able to customize images, text and the style/color layout of the page.
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By default I have a personal page, do I have to change it? Once you sign up for an event online, by default, you will have a personal page created for you. A compelling personal page attracts and engages supporters. While you can spread the word using customized e-mail solicitations, your personal campaign page can be your own creative expression of your commitment to the cause. Customize your page by selecting the layout and style that work best for you. Utilize the elements of text, photo and status indicators to their fullest advantage.
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How do I change my personal fundraising goal? First, you will need to log in to your participant center. On the right side of the participant center home page is the location to modify your personal fundraising goal. Enter your new goal and submit the changes.
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How do I change my Team name or Team goal? Only the Team captain has the ability to change the Team name or Team goal. The Team captain will need to log in to his/her participant center and click the "My Team Progress" button on the top right. On the Team Progress Page, Team captains will have the ability to update the Team name and goal.
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How can I see who has donated to me? Log in to the site using your Username and Password. Go to your Participant Center and click the "My Progress" tab; this will allow you to view your donor list and any amounts that have been donated.
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How can I see who is on my Team? Log in to the site using your Username and Password. Go to your Participant Center and click the "Team Progress" tab; this will allow you to view your Team roster and the amounts raised by each Team member.
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What is a Team message? Simply go to your Participant Center and click the "Update Message to Team" button. This will allow you to make all necessary changes to your Team message.
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What is the difference between making my personal page private or public? By default, a personal page is Public, meaning your name will appear in the participant search list, and anyone accessing the site will be able to support you. Setting your personal page to Private means your name will not appear in the participant search list, and only people you personally invite will be able to support you.
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Is my information secure? The Bike MS website and its provider have made every effort to protect your information. We use industry-standard SSL encryption techniques to make sure your credit card information, passwords and personal information travel securely over the Internet. We have also installed an encryption engine on our database server so your data is securely stored.
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How is my credit card information handled? Credit card information is not stored in our database. During the donation process, we send your credit card information to an online processing terminal using a secure connection. The information passed back is an approval or denial for the credit card donation.
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How do I unsubscribe from e-mail? Toward the bottom of each e-mail message there is a link stating, "Click Here to Unsubscribe from this E-mail Message." Click this link and follow the instructions given to unsubscribe.
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