The following will help you plan what you should do each month, to prepare for the 15th Annual Friends for Life Bike Rally, 2013. 

• Register - make sure your web site (pledge page) is up and running; add personal touches - remember donors don’t give to causes, they give to people with causes - start your fundraising now!
• Sign up for e-News: this newsletter and the website are two important sources of information in addition to the Friends for Life Bike Rally Facebook page and Twitter feed

January:

• Save the date, Sunday, January 20, 2013, for the kick-off Carnival — the 15th Anniversary of the Friends For Life Bike Rally. Check the Calendar for more details.
• Book your Bike Rally Seminars

February:

• Start training: spin classes or wind trainers, cross-country skiing, running, weight lifting, yoga
• Book your Bike Rally Seminars

March:

• Continue training
• Avoid the spring rush take your bike in for a tune up and fitting; if you need a new bike or gear, now’s the time to get a good deal on last year’s models whether at a bike shop or at the Toronto Bike Show, Exhibition Place, Better Living Centre
• Book your Bike Rally Seminars
• Continue your fundraising. If you are considering a fundraising event, start planning early!
• Check your gear: seams on bike shorts not unraveling and chamois still in place; biking shoe cleats have all their screws and helmet (mandatory) doesn’t have any cracks - even a small crack can compromise a helmets effectiveness

April:

• Training Rides start - the key to enjoying the ride itself is to train as much as possible
• Attend the bike rally seminars you booked
• Continue cross-training and stretching for muscle balance
• Check your camping gear and start stocking up on what you need for the ride - look for deals on last year’s models
• Continue fundraising

May:

• Continue training and stretching for muscle balance
• Continue fund raising
• Training rides continue
• By May 19 you must have completed one 50 km training ride

June:

• Continue cross training and stretching for muscle balance
• Continue fundraising – you should be at or near your minimum of $2,500 - if you’ve surpassed it, congratulations but don’t stop there - there’s never too much money.  The deadline for raising $2,500 is June 30.
• Training rides continue
• If you plan to make any changes to your equipment do it now so that you have time to adapt - DON’T make major changes three weeks out from the bike rally - that’s a bad time to realize the changes you made aren’t working
• Attend the BIG Meeting - this is where you’ll hear the final details and see everyone all in the same place - you’ll be blown away!
• Make sure you submit a completed Medical Form well in advance of packing day.
• By June 23 you must have completed one 100 km training ride

July:

• Continue fund raising
• Check the Packing List (twice) and make sure you have everything that you need - practice packing so that you’re sure everything will fit - practice setting up your tent if it’s new. You don’t want to be setting it up for the first time on the first night of the rally
• By July 7 you must have completed two 100 km back-to-back training rides
• July 21: Team Ride, the last ride before we depart for Montreal. Each team rides together on a route of their choosing - something easy, perhaps followed by brunch and last minute tips and plans.
• July 27: Packing Day - bring all your gear to the Monsignor Fraser College - you’ll have two bins in which to fit all your gear - remember whatever you bring to Montréal you’ll have to lug home with you so pack light! This is also the day that you can hand in any last minute pledges.
• July 28: Departure Day - hooray!! You’ve made it. This is when all that training pays off. Enjoy the day. Revel in the feeling that you’re doing an amazing thing!
• Aug 2: Arrival into Montreal - Celebrate your incredible accomplishment - even the most seasoned veterans get a little misty eyed - but it’s not all fun and games - after the arrival ceremony you have to get to the residences to pick up your gear and hand in your bike which will be transported back to Toronto - get your room key and take a shower, get changed and get ready to party

August:

• Pick up your bike (location TBD), Monday, August 5, 2013 (2 p.m. to 6 p.m.) and Tuesday, August 6, 2013 (4 p.m. to 8 p.m.) If you are staying in Montreal and can’t pick up your bike during the designated times please make arrangements with a friend to pick it up for you

September:

• Reunion party - this is the fix we need to get rid of the post Bike Rally blues - date and location will be announced in the e-news.
• REGISTER FOR BIKE RALLY 2014

Last Updated on Monday, 18 February 2013 20:14