Charity rides, thoughts please

MartinM said:

What do the panel think? should charity bike rides be sexed up as
ardous when they are actually great fun?

I don't really see that they can't be both. Most of my physical
activity hobbies require a bit of a grunt every then and now, but I
don't resent that and if someone wants to give us money for a decent
cause then why not?

In any case, while I find cycling 40 miles every then and now no
particular hardship I wouldn't want to do it every day, and it is fair
to say it's beyond the typical remit of cycling as a functional and
enjoyable A to B transport.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Peter Clinch said:

MartinM said:

What do the panel think? should charity bike rides be sexed up as
ardous when they are actually great fun?

I don't really see that they can't be both.

I think a well organised one is both, and by having different lengths
it appeals to all abilities. The only one I now do (L2B) is great fun,
and the only really ardous bit is Ditchling, but I always raise money
for it, even though I feel a bit embarrassed taking peoples' money. At
the end of the day it is money spinnign, I would always rather sponsor
someone to do something (as long as they are not getting a freebie out
of my donation) than sign up for a direct debit with a "chugger" *

* (the term for the people who stop you in the street, apparently
derived from charity mugger)

MartinM said:

In one of the moments it was possible to converse without shouting at
or drafting each other in Saturday's headwind, William and I were
talking about how whenever we mention doing a long ride to a
non-cyclist, we get the stock reply "It is for charity though isn't
it?". When we say no we get the stock other reply "so why are you doing
it?" which is harder to answer. Dave Khan pointed me to a very good
article by Sheldon about Thons as he calls them, very true, they do
often make out cycling to be some sort of ordeal that one needs to be
sponsored to do. Just looking through the blurb for a 40 miler I'm
doing at the weekend (mostly to drag my unfit brother out) at the end
in big letters;
"Congratulations...You've made it"
What do the panel think? should charity bike rides be sexed up as
ardous when they are actually great fun?

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/thons.html

I think the issue is that while for most regular cyclists a Thon is no
big shakes, for the average person on bike or member of the public, they
are a big effort. I see no problem in making the participants feel good
about what they have achieved and who knows, they may feel so good about
it they cycle more.

As for answering the question, next time ask where they are planning to
go for the summer this year and presuming the answer is somewhere
overseas ask "Which charity are you doing it for?"

--
Tony

"Don't argue the matter, the difficulties will argue for themselves"
-W.S. Churchill

Agreed. The first question I was asked when I said my holiday was
cycling Paris - Finisterre was "which charity are you doing it for?".
To my mind, raising money for charity by sponsorship is about doing
something arduous or daring or against your nature.

There seems to be a trend for raising money by going on holiday, eg all
the "walk the Great Wall of China" or "cycle Peru" so-called
expeditions. Basically they are done by people who want to go somewhere
exotic, otherwise they'd be just as effective walking the Fens or
cycling a velodrome.

The second question everyone asked me was "why?" - but they don't ask
"why?" if you say you're going on a driving and camping holiday. I use
my bike as transport first, and an enjoyable mode of transport second.
The fact that I cycled 2100km is a personal achievement, but it does
not detract from the fact that I had a thoroughly enjoyable holiday.

Sponsor for a day ride, fine. Charities need money and a day ride is a
fair way to to this.

Sponsor someone else's holiday, definitely not. (Don't get me started!)

Let the world know how much you normally cycle for commuting and at weekends.

Let them know Audax is great.

--
Helen D. Vecht: [email hidden]
Edgware.

MartinM said:

What do the panel think? should charity bike rides be sexed up as
ardous when they are actually great fun?

Well, I think it's sensible to get non-cyclists to think of a 60
mile bike ride as a challenge. From the charity point of view
they are going to be more likely to drum up sponsorship if it's
perceived as "hard", and from the personal point of view they will
be more likely to do some training beforehand.

--
jc

Helen Deborah Vecht said:

Sponsor for a day ride, fine. Charities need money and a day ride is a
fair way to to this.

Sponsor someone else's holiday, definitely not. (Don't get me started!)

Definitely not. In fact I have avoided Bike Tours for precisely this
reason, on some tours they give free entry to those who raise a minimum
amount, paid for presumably by not only their sponsors but those who
are paying full whack due to not having raised money.

MartinM said:

In one of the moments it was possible to converse without shouting at
or drafting each other in Saturday's headwind, William and I were
talking about how whenever we mention doing a long ride to a
non-cyclist, we get the stock reply "It is for charity though isn't
it?".

[snip]

Yes, happens regularly. I explain I'm doing it because I like it. I add
that if they feel an urge to hand some money to charity they should go
ahead and not mind what I'm doing.

If they're still fixated on giving to charity I might see if they
understand Gift Aid etc. Why any tax payer gives anything to registered
charities other than through Gift Aid mystifies me.

--
Joe * If I cannot be free I'll be cheap

MartinM said:

In one of the moments it was possible to converse without shouting at
or drafting each other in Saturday's headwind, William and I were
talking about how whenever we mention doing a long ride to a
non-cyclist, we get the stock reply "It is for charity though isn't
it?". When we say no we get the stock other reply "so why are you
doing it?" which is harder to answer. Dave Khan pointed me to a very
good article by Sheldon about Thons as he calls them, very true, they
do often make out cycling to be some sort of ordeal that one needs to
be sponsored to do. Just looking through the blurb for a 40 miler I'm
doing at the weekend (mostly to drag my unfit brother out) at the end
in big letters;
"Congratulations...You've made it"
What do the panel think? should charity bike rides be sexed up as
ardous when they are actually great fun?

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/thons.html

Well, I would probably have procrastinated getting back on to my bike for a
lot longer without my current excuse of the charity ride I'm training for.

I did a sponsored 24 hr famine for World Vision a while back. Being a
healthy eater and WWer, people seemed to think that this was just an excuse
to not eat for a whole day...the perception being that for me it would be
easy, so the level of sponsorship raised was not what it might have been.

However, everyone perceives cycling as hard. Say "47 miles" and they look
all astounded. As would I have done beforehand - yet having done a couple
of 25mile type runs in c. 2hours, it no longer seems so scarey..... Since
it's seen as an ordeal - people sponsor me more willingly, and for more, so
the total raised is much greater. Our ride is actually being painted as a
fun trip with the money raised being an added bonus. The accomodation etc
for our overnight stay afterwards is all out of our own pockets, not the
sponsorship money raised.

Personally I wouldn't consider a walk-a-thon an ordeal, because I love to
walk.....it's all a question of perception.

So - sex 'em up as arduous if it helps raise the money, and in the meantime,
I can enjoy myself and feel virtuos simultaneously.....and it ain't often
that happens! *grin*

--
krys

MartinM said:

In one of the moments it was possible to converse without shouting at
or drafting each other in Saturday's headwind, William and I were
talking about how whenever we mention doing a long ride to a
non-cyclist, we get the stock reply "It is for charity though isn't
it?". When we say no we get the stock other reply "so why are you doing
it?" which is harder to answer. Dave Khan pointed me to a very good
article by Sheldon about Thons as he calls them, very true, they do
often make out cycling to be some sort of ordeal that one needs to be
sponsored to do. Just looking through the blurb for a 40 miler I'm
doing at the weekend (mostly to drag my unfit brother out) at the end
in big letters;
"Congratulations...You've made it"
What do the panel think? should charity bike rides be sexed up as
ardous when they are actually great fun?

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/thons.html

I'm seeking sponsorship for the Dunwich Dynamo for my department's
adopted charities.

Basically it gives me an incentive to turn up if it rains, and it *is*
arduous unless you're a PBP or LEL nutter.

Zog The Undeniable said:

I'm seeking sponsorship for the Dunwich Dynamo for my department's
adopted charities.

Quoted message said:

Basically it gives me an incentive to turn up if it rains,

I already have one; have stumped up the readies for the coach back, but
then after all the hype would probably ride whatever as it will be my
first time. It can't rain all night can it? Can it?

and it *is*

Quoted message said:

arduous unless you're a PBP or LEL nutter.

I hope so, it's going to take a lot to make me jump in the sea off the
East Coast, expecially at some ungodly hour of the morning.

in message <[email hidden]>,

MartinM (') said:

In one of the moments it was possible to converse without shouting at
or drafting each other in Saturday's headwind, William and I were
talking about how whenever we mention doing a long ride to a
non-cyclist, we get the stock reply "It is for charity though isn't
it?". When we say no we get the stock other reply "so why are you
doing it?" which is harder to answer. Dave Khan pointed me to a very
good article by Sheldon about Thons as he calls them, very true, they
do often make out cycling to be some sort of ordeal that one needs to
be sponsored to do. Just looking through the blurb for a 40 miler I'm
doing at the weekend (mostly to drag my unfit brother out) at the end
in big letters;
"Congratulations...You've made it"
What do the panel think? should charity bike rides be sexed up as
ardous when they are actually great fun?

I have on my desk a plea from my local primary school to join in a
sponsored ride, and to raise £25 worth of sponsorship for doing it. The
distance? SEVEN (count them) miles. I've ridden 40 miles today just for
the pleasure of it (well, OK, ten were a time trial).

But the idea that cycling SEVEN (count them) miles is an epic of
sufficient magnitude that it merits sponsorship (to the tune of £25)
seems to me completely lost to all sense of proportion. Seventy miles?
Yup - although I'd still do that for the fun of it. But seven?

Having said that, I'll probably do it, and chuck my own £25 in, because
it is, as they say, a good cause. Grumble. Come the revolution,
education will be properly funded out of general taxation, and we won't
have to be guilt tripped into raising the funds to allow our schools to
buy basic educational equipment.

I've done one charity ride this year when we earned our dosh -
seventy-five miles in February in a 'severe gale'. But, with the
exception of people doing LEJoGs, LELs and PBPs (most of which people
do for fun), is anything anyone does on a bike sufficiently arduous to
merit sponsorship?

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
;; Generally Not Used
;; Except by Middle Aged Computer Scientists

Simon Brooke said:

I have on my desk a plea from my local primary school to join in a
sponsored ride, and to raise £25 worth of sponsorship for doing it. The
distance? SEVEN (count them) miles. I've ridden 40 miles today just for
the pleasure of it (well, OK, ten were a time trial).

But the idea that cycling SEVEN (count them) miles is an epic of
sufficient magnitude that it merits sponsorship (to the tune of £25)
seems to me completely lost to all sense of proportion.

So how many PRIMARY school children are likely to join in (with parents)
and how many of them can do 40 miles?

--
Tony

"Don't argue the matter, the difficulties will argue for themselves"
-W.S. Churchill

On Tue, 31 May 2005 23:31:14 +0100, Tony Raven <[email hidden]>

wrote in message : said:

So how many PRIMARY school children are likely to join in (with parents)
and how many of them can do 40 miles?

Er, well...

Michael did 47 miles on his solo aged eight (standard CTC club run,
not even a leisure ride). And there's always tandems and triplets and
trailer bikes.

Guy
--
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

"To every complex problem there is a solution which is
simple, neat and wrong" - HL Mencken

Just zis Guy said:

On Tue, 31 May 2005 23:31:14 +0100, Tony Raven <[email hidden]>

wrote in message : said:

So how many PRIMARY school children are likely to join in (with parents)
and how many of them can do 40 miles?

Er, well...

Michael did 47 miles on his solo aged eight (standard CTC club run,
not even a leisure ride). And there's always tandems and triplets and
trailer bikes.

And how many in his class could do the same at that age and how many
parents of those that couldn't owned tandems or triplets or trailer
bikes - or are they expected to go out and buy one just for the charity
ride?

--
Tony

"Don't argue the matter, the difficulties will argue for themselves"
-W.S. Churchill

MartinM said:

I hope so, it's going to take a lot to make me jump in the sea off the
East Coast, expecially at some ungodly hour of the morning.

The prospect of jumping in the sea is one of the things that appeals to
me about the ride.

But then I live by the sea and will happily go for a swim several months
earlier in the year than most tourists.

d.

davek said:

MartinM said:

I hope so, it's going to take a lot to make me jump in the sea off the
East Coast, expecially at some ungodly hour of the morning.

The prospect of jumping in the sea is one of the things that appeals to
me about the ride.

So are you doing it?
BTW is the Invicta still on?

Simon Brooke said:

But, with the
exception of people doing LEJoGs, LELs and PBPs (most of which people
do for fun), is anything anyone does on a bike sufficiently arduous to
merit sponsorship?

There's a 26 miler around the Dundee Green Circular coming up. I sort
of tentatively agreed in a random chat in a pub with one of the folk
organising it to turn up to the start on the Muni for a
photo-opportunity for the Courier if I didn't have something else on,
though with the understanding that I wouldn't be doing 26 miles on it!
7 miles on the Muni, at least for me, I'd very much be earning my
sponsorship! Biggest single trip is about 3 miles, with a tailwind, and
I was stuffed at the end of it and took the bus home.

Since the above ride starts down at the docks I might take the Muni down
in the 8 Freight and after the start revert to that, having filled the
excess load space with muffins to hand out to tired looking folk on the
route. But in any case I need to check the dates as our diary is a bit
on the full side.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

"Simon Brooke" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have on my desk a plea from my local primary school to join in a
sponsored ride, and to raise £25 worth of sponsorship for doing it. The
distance? SEVEN (count them) miles. I've ridden 40 miles today just for
the pleasure of it (well, OK, ten were a time trial).

But the idea that cycling SEVEN (count them) miles is an epic of
sufficient magnitude that it merits sponsorship (to the tune of £25)
seems to me completely lost to all sense of proportion. Seventy miles?
Yup - although I'd still do that for the fun of it. But seven?

Well yes, for primary kids and for non-cyclists, seven miles *is* a long
way. I remember when I first got back on a bike after zillions of years off
one, I couldn't manage the four or five miles into Dereham without getting
off a couple of times to catch my breath.

Cheers, helen s