Pedal The Cause

FAQ

General Riding Donation Volunteer Team Profile

General Questions

I want to ride. Are there fundraising requirements? How much is the registration fee for riders? How old do you have to be to ride or volunteer? What is the Early Bird Special? What is the spin tent? What is a Virtual Rider? How do I sign up to volunteer? Why do we ask for your credit card? Can I withdraw from the event? Do I have to reach my fundraising goal by the day of the ride? How do I fundraise? What is a Sprinter? What is a King of the Mountains? What is a Yellow Jersey? What is the Young Rider Program, fees, and fundraising requirements for young riders? How do I switch to a different course? What is the Saturday, October 5th event all about? Am I required to be there? What is PTC San Diego?

I want to ride. Are there fundraising requirements?

Yes, there is a fundraising minimum for each route. They are:

$500 to ride the 15 mile course
$500 to ride the 25 mile course
$1000 to ride the 50 mile course
$1000 to ride the 75 mile course
$1000 to ride the 100 mile course

How much is the registration fee for riders?

The registration fee is $100. This fee covers costs for your cycling jersey, water bottle, Opening Ceremony dinner and drinks, and day-of-the-ride breakfast and lunch. This fee allows us to give you the best weekend experience while still allocating 100% of your fundraising to cancer research.

How old do you have to be to ride or volunteer?

You must be at least 13 years of age by October 6th to ride or volunteer in Pedal the Cause.

If you have a child that is 3-12 years of age, they may be interested in participating the Ameren Kids Challenge. For more information, click here.

What is the Early Bird Special?

If you register to ride by July 1 at 11:59 pm, your fundraising minimum lowers to...

$250 for the 15 and 25 mile ride and
$500 for the 50, 75 and 100 mile ride.

This Early Bird Special applies to regular riders only (not to Young Riders Program riders and Spin Tent participants).

What is the spin tent?

The spin tent is an opportunity for you to fundraise and ride, but while being stationary and having a spin bike provided for you. The details for the spin tent are as follows:

Where: Ride Village (Soldiers' Memorial, Downtown St. Louis)
When: 8 am - 11 am (with ride options of 8-9:30 & 9:30-11)
Time commitments: 1.5 hours OR 3 hours (you choose)
Fundraising commitments: 1.5 hours - $250, 3 hours - $500

Early Bird rates do not apply.

What is a Virtual Rider?

Virtual Riders are individuals who choose to participate in Pedal the Cause by only fundraising instead of riding or volunteering.

There are no fundraising minimums for Virtual Riders and Pedal the Cause does not retain your credit card information. You must pay a registration fee of $10 to create a profile page as a Virtual Rider.

How do I sign up to volunteer?

There are so many ways to get involved from working in the ride village selling apparel, to working at a refueling station on the course, to adopting a mile on the course. Volunteer registration is expected to open April 1. We will update you via e-communications and social media once volunteer opportunities are open. Sign up for our newsletter here. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter, too!

Why do we ask for your credit card?

Each rider must pay a non-refundable registration fee that does not count toward their fundraising minimum. This $100 fee ($50 young rider fee) is charged to your card at the time of registration.

Your card information will remain on file in case you do not reach your minimum by the fundraising deadline of October 31, 2013. Any remaining balance will be charged on November 1, 2013 to the card on file. A tax receipt will be mailed to you within a week.

Can I withdraw from the event?

Pursuant to the fundraising agreement, you may withdraw from riding in Pedal the Cause on or before September 1, 2013. To withdraw, you must contact the Pedal the Cause office. Your registration fee is nonrefundable.

Remember, all riders have until October 31, 2013 to reach their fundraising goal. If you have questions, please contact us at info@pedalthecause.org or 314-787-1990.

Do I have to reach my fundraising goal by the day of the ride?

No, you have until October 31, 2013 to reach your fundraising goal.

How do I fundraise?

Pedal the Cause provides great tools to help you reach your goal. When you register, you can create your own customized profile which allows you to add a picture and tell others why you're riding. Pedal the Cause also provides a pre-written email which includes a link to your profile. You can customize this message and send it to your contacts.

Please see our Fundraising Tips page for more suggestions.

What is a Sprinter?

Sprinter riders are those who have raised $1500 or more for cancer research. Riders who reach the Sprinter level will earn $25 PTC bucks (good toward merchandise store purchases).

What is a King of the Mountains?

King of the Mountains riders are those who have raised $5000 or more for cancer research. Riders who reach the King of the Mountains level will receive an invitation to a private researchers reception with the opportunity to exclusively learn more in-depth about their groundbreaking work.

What is a Yellow Jersey?

Yellow Jerseys are riders who have raised $2,500 or more for cancer research. Riders who reach the Yellow Jersey level will earn the following:

Recognition on our website
"Yellow Jersey" designation icon on your rider profile page
Featured profile on our front page
Yellow Jersey check-in at Rider Registration
Invitation to the Yellow Jersey Celebration (Spring 2014)
Yellow Jersey Gift

What is the Young Rider Program, fees, and fundraising requirements for young riders?

The Young Riders Program is for those that are 13 to 23 years old wishing to get involved with PTC. Young riders fundraise on a best effort basis and have a fundraising minimum of $100 for any participation level. All young rider program participants have a registration fee of $50, which covers the cost of their young rider jersey (with option to upgrade to official PTC riding jersey), opening ceremony dinner, water bottle, breakfast and lunch on ride day, and refueling station support.

Young riders under the age of 18 must have their parent/legal guardian sign an additional waiver that must be submitted at least two weeks before the event. Failure to do so will disqualify the young rider from participating in the ride. Click Here for a copy of the young rider waiver.

How do I switch to a different course?

You have the ability to change the course you want to ride through your profile page. You can always go up in mileage and fundraising commitments, but you can only go down in mileage and fundraising commitments before September 1. If you would like to change your mileage and had previously participated in the Early Bird special, the Early Bird fundraising commitment will still be acknowledged. (For example, if you're riding 25 miles and would like to change to the 100 mile course and had originally participated in the Early Bird Special, your new fundraising commitment will go from $250 to $500. If you would like to go from 25 to 100 miles and did not participate in the Early Bird Special, your fundraising commitment will go from $500 to $1000.)

From September 1 through September 18, you can only increase your distance and fundraising commitment. If you would like to lower your distance at this time, your fundraising commitment remains the same. If you would like to increase in distance and you had previously participated in the Early Bird special, the Early Bird fundraising commitment for the 50, 75, and 100 miles will be acknowledged. (For example, if you're riding 100 miles and would like to switch to 25 miles, you are able to, but your fundraising minimum will stay to what you originally committed.)

What is the Saturday, October 5th event all about? Am I required to be there?

The Saturday event is not required, but it is a lot of fun! PTC is a community, so it's great to meet others that are working as hard as you are to end cancer.

The schedule of events for Saturday is as follows:

3:00PM-8:00PM - Ride Village Open
3:00PM-5:00PM - Ameren Kids Challenge
3:00PM-8:00PM - Rider Packet Pickup
5:00PM-7:00 - Taste the Cause
6:00PM-6:30PM - First Annual PTC Cruiser Cup
7:00PM - Inspirational Program

You can purchase additional tickets for the Saturday event at the PTC online store.

What is PTC San Diego?

You may have noticed the option to go to Pedal the Cause San Diego when you entered the website. PTC San Diego is its own 501(c)(3) organization, separate from PTC St. Louis's 501(c)(3). It was started in San Diego by PTC St. Louis's founder, Bill Koman, who now resides in San Diego. The funds for PTC St. Louis stay 100% in St. Louis and the funds for PTC San Diego stay 100% in San Diego.

Riding Questions

Which course should I select? How much training should I do? I don't have a bike but would like to ride. Can I rent one? How far do we have to ride between rest stops? What can I expect on the ride? What are the rules of the road and do I have to follow them? Can I ride with a tandem bike? Can I ride with my infant or child?

Which course should I select?

We encourage you to register for a course that you are physically comfortable riding. Please note, the 75 and 100 mile courses will likely require training for someone who is not an avid cyclist.

How much training should I do?

We have provided training tips for each of the routes in the Training Tips section.

I don't have a bike but would like to ride. Can I rent one?

Yes, bike rentals will be available for the ride. Please contact Mike at Big Shark at 314.862.1188 or mike@bigshark.com. For more information, visit the Need a Bike? page.

How far do we have to ride between rest stops?

There will be a rest stop every 12 to 20 miles for water, food, and mechanical and/or medical attention. Support vehicles will also patrol the course to provide assistance, if necessary.

What can I expect on the ride?

We've selected a very scenic route through St. Louis city and county, keeping in mind that riders of all levels will be participating. For more specific information about each course, visit our Courses page.

What are the rules of the road and do I have to follow them?

Yes, riders are required to abide by the rules of the road for this ride. Please visit the Rider Safety page for a complete description of the rules of the road.

Can I ride with a tandem bike?

Yes, you can ride with a tandem bike. Each rider pays a registration fee dependent on their status (regular or young rider) and the two individuals share the fundraising commitment. If you will be riding with a tandem bike, please contact info@pedalthecause.org so we can adjust your fundraising commitment.

Can I ride with my infant or child?

No, under no circumstances may you ride with an infant or child attached to your bicycle. However, if your child would like to participate they can register for the Kid's Challenge!

Donation Questions

How do I make a donation? How do I make multiple donations at one time? How can I make an anonymous donation? How do I make a check donation? Why do my donors send checks to Chicago? I thought all money stayed in St. Louis? What do I do if a donor handed me their check? Why do you ask for so much donor information? What do I do with cash donations? How do I transfer a donation to my team member? What if I meant to make a donation to a rider or team but accidentally made a general donation instead? Why doesn't the amount "I've raised" equal the total donations listed on my profile page? What happens when donors do not send the check donations they have pledged? Can I change the recognition name? Is my donation tax deductible? Is Pedal the Cause a 501(c)(3)?

How do I make a donation?

You can make a donation by clicking "Donate" at the top of the screen. You can make a general donation to Pedal the Cause by clicking on "General Donation" or you may select a specific rider or team to make a donation towards. If you are making a donation towards a rider or team, you may also make a donation by searching for their name by clicking "Search" at the top of the screen to take you to their profile page to make the donation.

How do I make multiple donations at one time?

You can make as many donations to different riders and/or teams as you'd like at one time by clicking "Add Another Donation" on the rider's or team's donation screen. When you are done selecting your riders and teams you would like to make a donation towards, enter in the information in the field for each rider and team and click "Check Out". Your credit card will be charged the sum of the donations made.

How can I make an anonymous donation?

When making a donation, click the "Remain Anonymous" box located on the donation screen. Your donation will be anonymous to the public, but the rider you made a donation towards will be able to view your name. We provide this information to the rider so that they may properly thank their donors.

How do I make a check donation?

To make a donation by check select "check" from the "I will be paying by" line on the donation page. After submitting your donation, print the invoice from the Thank You page by selecting "Click here to view the invoice for your donation". If you forget to print this invoice, print a copy of the Thank You email that you will receive at the email address you provide because it will contain the same information.

Please make the check out to Pedal the Cause and mail the check and invoice to:

The Private Bank
c/o Pedal the Cause
8410 Solutions Center
Chicago, IL 60677-8004

Why do my donors send checks to Chicago? I thought all money stayed in St. Louis?

Private Bank logo All money does STAY in St. Louis! Our sponsor, The PrivateBank, has their processing center in Chicago, therefore checks go through Chicago to credit to Pedal the Cause.

What do I do if a donor handed me their check?

Please mail the check to us at the above address. Make sure that your Rider # and/or name are included in the memo line, so that we may appropriately apply the donation to your ride.

Why do you ask for so much donor information?

The data we collect is necessary to create accurate donor records and provide appropriate tax acknowledgement information. The information is not used for solicitation purposes. If you have any questions about the information that is being collected, please email info@pedalthecause.org.

What do I do with cash donations?

Credit card and check donations are always best for tax acknowledgement purposes.

If you are a donor, you must bring the cash donation to the Pedal the Cause office if you wish to receive a tax acknowledgement receipt. Pedal the Cause cannot issue a tax acknowledgement for cash donation submitted by anyone other than the actual donor. Please do not send cash through the mail.

If you are a rider who has received a cash donation, either from an individual or from an event, please do not bring the cash to the office. Instead, please keep the cash and make an online donation to yourself for that amount. Pedal the Cause cannot issue tax acknowledgements for cash donations that are not brought directly to the Pedal the Cause office by the actual donor. Please do not send cash through the mail.

How do I transfer a donation to my team member?

There are two ways to share funds among team members:

The team's general funds may be shared among individual members who still require funds to reach their minimum fundraising commitment.
An individual team member's funds in excess of their minimum fundraising commitment may be transferred to another team member who still needs additional funds to reach their minimum fundraising commitment.

There is a funds transfer form located on the Team Captain's page. All requests to share funds in either of these scenarios MUST be completed by the team captain at least one week before the fundraising deadline.

What if I meant to make a donation to a rider or team but accidentally made a general donation instead?

Please contact us at 314.787.1990 if you would like to change your donation to go towards a specific rider or team.

Why doesn't the amount "I've raised" equal the total donations listed on my profile page?

While every donation pledged to you is immediately reflected on your donation list on your profile page, a check donation can only be added to the amount that you've raised after the check has been received by the Pedal the Cause office.

To see which check donations have not yet been received by the Pedal the Cause office, log in to your profile page to view your donor list. Check donations which have not yet been received will not have a green checkmark next to the dollar amount.

What happens when donors do not send the check donations they have pledged?

It is up to you to make sure your donors send their checks. When logged in, you can view your profile and look at the details for each donation. Donations without a green checkmark next to the dollar amount are donations which Pedal the Cause has yet to receive. If some time passes and you don't see a change, you may want to follow up with that donor and remind them of the donation they've pledged. Please remember, any unpaid pledges will not count toward your fundraising and you are still responsible for meeting your fundraising minimum.

If a donor never sends the check they pledged to the Pedal the Cause office, it will not be counted towards the amount you've raised. If you need that check donation to meet your minimum fundraising commitment, you must follow up with the donor to make sure they send the check to the Pedal the Cause office by the fundraising deadline. Pedal the Cause does not contact individual donors on your behalf. Pedal the Cause does not send a separate invoice for check donations other than the invoices that are sent in the emails immediately after the check donations are pledged.

Can I change the recognition name?

If you would like to change the recognition name that appears on the riders public profile page, please send an email to info@pedalthecause.org. Please include the following information: rider name; donor name; date of the donation; and desired recognition name.

Is my donation tax deductible?

All donations are 100% tax deductible. All credit card donors will immediately receive a tax acknowledgement letter via email. All check donors will receive a tax acknowledgement letter (snail-mail) within 48 hours of the check being processed by the bank.

Is Pedal the Cause a 501(c)(3)?

Yes, Pedal the Cause is a 501(c)(3). If you would like more information about our Tax ID# or non-profit status, please email info@pedalthecause.org with your questions.

Volunteer Questions

Where and when can I volunteer? How do I sign up to volunteer? Can a volunteer fundraise? Can I volunteer with my team/club/group?

Where and when can I volunteer?

Pedal the Cause's fourth-annual ride for cancer research will be held Saturday, October 5 and Sunday, October 6, 2013. We have volunteer opportunities at every stop along the route, including opportunities in the weeks leading up to PTC weekend, Saturday night's Opening Ceremony, and Sunday during and after the ride. Last year, we had 700+ volunteers; we can always use the help!

How do I sign up to volunteer?

Can a volunteer fundraise?

We invite all of our volunteers to actively help us fundraise for life-saving cancer research.

For those wishing to do so, you have the tools necessary to execute a fundraising campaign through your volunteer profile page. After you register as a volunteer, log in using your username and password and create your page. You can solicit and receive donations through your volunteer profile page and track your fundraising.

Can I volunteer with my team/club/group?

Yes, you may volunteer with your group for a specific volunteer job but keep in mind that all volunteers must register individually first. Additionally, there may be a set number of open shifts available so it is best to encourage your group to register early to ensure you all can volunteer together.

If you are a corporate volunteer group and would like some guidance on how you can sign up your company to volunteer, please email volunteer@pedalthecause.org.

Team Questions

What are Pedal the Cause teams? How can teams share funds? Can I change the name of my team? How can I join a team? How can I create a team? Why can I be a member of only one team? What is a Corporate Challenge team? How do I sign up my company for the Corporate Challenge? What is corporate matching and how do I get my company to match my fundraising? What is a Ride for a Child team?

What are Pedal the Cause teams?

A Pedal the Cause team is a great way for a group of riders to share their experience. In addition to the individual rider profile pages, a separate team profile page allows you to highlight your roster and your motivation for riding. Team members can share donations made to their team as a whole and/or share funds raised by individual members. Funds may only be shared with fellow team members.

How can teams share funds?

There are two ways to share funds among team members:

The team's general funds may be shared among individual members who still require funds to reach their minimum fundraising commitment.
An individual team member's funds in excess of their minimum fundraising commitment may be transferred to another team member who still needs additional funds to reach their minimum fundraising commitment.

Can I change the name of my team?

Yes, the team captain can change the name of your team by emailing info@pedalthecause.org with the current team name and the new team name.

How can I join a team?

You must first register yourself before you can join a team. Once you are registered, log into your profile and click the "Join a Team" link in the left submenu, then select the team you wish to join from the list. The team captain will receive a notification email when you join the team.

How can I create a team?

You must first register yourself before you create a team. Once you are registered, log into your profile and click the "Create a Team" link in the left submenu. You'll be asked for the name of your team and the type of team. If you are creating a team for your company, you are creating a Corporate Challenge team. If you are creating a team for the Ride for a Child program, you are creating a Ride for a Child team. If you are creating a team for friends and family, you are a creating a Friends and Family team.

Why can I be a member of only one team?

Participants can be a member of only one team because membership can involve sharing funds and funds may only be shared among team members.

What is a Corporate Challenge team?

Any company/corporate team is designated a Corporate Challenge team. There is no limit to the number of riders and riders adhere to the standard fee and fundraising requirements. Visit our Corporate Challenge page for more information.

How do I sign up my company for the Corporate Challenge?

First, register yourself as a rider. Once you are registered, log into your profile page and click "Create a Team" on the left sidebar. Type in the name of your place of work as the team name and select "Corporate Challenge" as the type of team. If your business participated last year, only the captain from last year may register again and reactivate the team to avoid multiple teams with the same name.

What is corporate matching and how do I get my company to match my fundraising?

The corporate matching program is a way for companies and corporations to acknowledge and support the donations made by their employees. Through corporate matching, you can match your employee's gifts to Pedal the Cause, making every dollar go further. To get started:

Check with your human resources office to see if they offer gift matching. If they don't, you may want to ask your company to start one.
If your company does offer gift matching, your human resources department should provide all of the employees who are participating in Pedal the Cause with a matching gift form to send to Pedal the Cause. Please have them fill out the form and email it to info@pedalthecause.org.

For a list of companies that we know offer corporate matching, click here.

What is a Ride for a Child team?

A Ride for a Child team is a team that is participating in our Ride for a Child program. Participating teams train, fundraise, and ride in honor of a child who is receiving or has received treatment for cancer at St. Louis Children's Hospital. Visit our Ride for a Child page for more information and contact us at info@pedalthecause.org if you are interested in having your team participate in Ride for a Child.

Profile Questions

I participated in last year's ride, but how do I register for this year's ride? I've registered, but how do I edit my profile? Why can't I upload my profile picture? Can I change which course I'll ride? ow do I change my personal information or my login username and password?

I participated in last year's ride, but how do I register for this year's ride?

If you rode in last year's event, we have your 2012 rider information on file in our database. To register for this year's ride, click "Register" at the top of the screen. The first thing it will ask is if you are a returning rider. Click "Yes, I am a returning rider" and enter in your login username and password. Once you enter, you will have a chance to edit your information and complete your registration for this year's ride.

I've registered, but how do I edit my profile?

To create and edit your profile after you've registered, click "Login" at the top right corner of the website and enter the username and password you used when you registered. Logging in will take you to the private view of your profile where you can edit your story, personal details, image, etc.

Why can't I upload my profile picture?

Your picture cannot be larger than 1MB and must be in a common image format - JPG or GIF. If your image is too large, please resize it using an image editing program or an online editor such as Picnik).Please don't make it too small, because it may end up blurry when our system processes it.

Can I change which course I'll ride?

From September 1 through September 18, you can only increase your distance and fundraising commitment. If you would like to lower your distance at this time, your fundraising commitment remains the same. If you would like to increase in distance and you had previously participated in the Early Bird special, the Early Bird fundraising commitment for the 50, 75, and 100 miles will be acknowledged. (For example, if you're riding 100 miles and would like to switch to 25 miles, you are able to, but your fundraising minimum will stay to what you originally committed.)

How do I change my personal information or my login username and password?

You can change this information by logging into your profile page and clicking the "My Information" link in the blue submenu below your name and image. Make sure to hit "Save" after making any changes.

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