When is the Red Ribbon Ride? The Ride is from July 18-21, 2013. This will be our 11th Ride!
Where is the Red Ribbon Ride? Starts at the Mall of America; after 10 years of traveling through southeastern Minnesota we are changing the route to travel to another beautiful area of the state. The Ride will end at the beautiful State Capitol in St Paul.
How long is the Red Ribbon Ride? It's a four-day Ride with three overnights along the route. Riders will travel nearly 300 miles during the four days.
What's the Rider registration fee and age limit? Riders are responsible for paying a $75, non-refundable, non-transferable registration fee. You must be 18 years old by July 18, 2013 to register. Riders are required to raise a minimum of $1,500 to participate. Student registration rate: $50, non-refundable, non-transferable registration fee; $750 fundraising minimum. Proof of current student status required (copy of student ID). Contact the Ride office directly to inquire, admin@redribbonride.org
What's the Crew member registration fee and age limit? Crew members are responsible for paying a $75, non-refundable, non-transferable registration fee. You must be 18 years old by July 18, 2013 to register. Crew members are encouraged to fundraise, but not required; a personal fundraising goal of $250 is recommended.
What's the Volunteer registration fee and age limit? There's no registration fee to sign up as a General Volunteer. You must be 16 years old by July 18, 2013 to register. Go to Volunteer Opportunties for more information on pre- or post-ride volunteer opportunities. "Register Here" to register as a volunteer and we will contact you. Younger children under the age of 16 may volunteer as a general volunteer, with an adult, please contact the Ride office at admin@redribbonride.org
How is the Red Ribbon Ride related to the past AIDS Rides? When the Minneapolis to Chicago AIDS Ride stopped in 2002, the Red Ribbon Ride was started. We were inspired by the AIDS Ride and felt we needed to keep this honorable event alive in Minnesota. The Red Ribbon Ride is produced by a non-profit organization - Minnesota Fighting AIDS on Bikes (MN-FAB) - which raises money for eight Minnesota AIDS service organizations. Are you a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization? Yes. We have a 501(c)(3) not for profit status under the financial administration of Minnesota Fighting AIDS on Bikes (MN-FAB). MN-FAB is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (EIN #02-0650275) dba Red Ribbon Ride.
Where can people cheer on the participants? Spectators can cheer on the participants at various cheering stations along the route. As soon as the new route in announced, and pit stop locations confirmed, we will add this information here. We anticipate this happening in the first quarter of 2013.
ABOUT THE BENEFICIARIES
Who are the benefiting agencies? There are multiple Minnesota AIDS service organizations benefiting from the Ride. Learn more.
How do I join a Team for HIV+ Riders and Crew? Learn more by visiting the Positive Pedalers page.
How many people are expected to participate? We anticipate having 300 Riders and 150 Crew participating.
I'm a registered Crew member and I haven't heard from my Crew Manager? Contact us
I'm a registered Rider (new Rider) and I haven't heard from my Rider Coach? Contact us
I have some specific Crew questions? Please visit our Crew FAQ.
Can I have friends meet me at Camp and can they stay with me? Yes...we encourage it. However, due to our limited space and resources, they're not eligible to receive any participant services such as meals or tenting.
Friends & Family Night - Saturday, July 20th; More details coming in June, 2013. Friends and family will have the opportunity to visit the camp, purchase dinneri (optional - RSVP required) and attend a special program as part of the final evening of the Ride. What costs will there be for participants during the event? Very few - if any. Once you're on the event, meals, tenting, transportation and even some entertainment are provided for all riders and crew. Please note that you'll need some pocket money for incidentals, Ride merchandise, next year's registration or bike parts if needed (complimentary labor is provided by Erik's Bike Shop). What is the schedule to Check-In for the Ride?
Check-In: Saturday, July 13th from 1:00 p.m - 5:00 p.m. TBD.
Mini-Check-In: Monday, July 15th from 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. TBD.
Late Check-In: Thursday July 18th at 5:00 - 6:00 a.m., on the morning of Day One at the Mall of America; Out of town/state participants only. Special permission must be given to other riders and crew that are not from out of town/state to check-in Thursday AM at MOA.
Registered participants: More information will be in the Ready, Set, Ride Guide available in June, 2013. Log into your Ride Center to access.
What will the beneficiaries do with the money raised? They'll help those living with HIV/AIDS achieve a higher quality of life through housing, care, and support services across Minnesota. Learn what $1,500 will do for each agency or learn more about the benefiting agencies.
How much money does this event raise and return to the benefiting agencies? View our Ride History page for more information.
Do I need to carry my own gear? No. Our Gear Crew will transport Rider and Crew gear from Camp to Camp.
What about tents? You'll have to furnish your own tent, or you can tent with another participant that you know on the Ride OR you can leave the tent at home and sleep inside on the gym floor (don't forget your camp mat and sleeping bags!)
Where will we sleep? You'll set up your tent at our campsite locations or inside on the gym floor (don't forget your camp mat and sleeping bags!). Can I stay in a hotel? Yes. However, we encourage everyone to stay in camp for the duration of the event, as Camp life is a wonderful part of the experience. If you do decide to stay in a hotel please note that the Red Ribbon Ride will provide shuttles to and from our host hotels (and only our host hotels) and you'll be required to leave your bicycle at Camp overnight. Crew members will need to arrive back at Camp on time for the start of their Crew responsibilities. Riders will need to return in time to get their bike out of bike parking and on the road by 8am (7:30 a.m. on Sunday) or your bike will be sagged. Official Hotel List will be available in the first quarter of 2013; as we confirm the new route and camp communities.
Is there a shuttle to and from the host hotels? Yes. Shuttles (passenger vans) will run from our campsite to our host hotels in the morning and evening. Learn more about shuttle service soon. What do I need to bring with me? Check out our extensive What and How to Pack list. Note: We allow you to bring one bag, in addition to a small bag for your tent if needed. The bag(s) shouldn't weight more than 50 pounds, total.
Are there laundry facilities in camp? No, there are no laundry services available in Camp. However, we stay in cities that may have laundromats.
Are there showers? Yes - we anticipate having shower facilities in each of the camp locations on the new route. Will food and first aid services be provided? Yes. All meals, beverages, snacks and first aid services will be provided.There'll also be free chiropractic and massage services during the Ride. Each participant gets a hot breakfast and dinner daily in camp, plus a bagged lunch and loads of snacks. You must decide on either vegetarian or non-vegetarian meals in advance of the event and you may not switch between the two during the course of the event, as our caterer goes to great lengths to make sure we have adequate amounts of each choice. Riders must also pick up their lunch on the road at the lunch pit, not in camp.
I have special medicines that require refrigeration. What should I do? Our first aid team (who are Crew members on the Ride) is comprised of doctors, nurses and other medical professionals who'll take care of all your refrigerated prescription drug needs. You'll be able to talk with the First Aid Crew Manager when you check-in. You will also be required to fill out a first aid form listing your refrigerated meds.
What is the schedule for Opening/Closing Ceremonies?
Opening Ceremonies: Take place at the Mall of America in Bloomington, MN on Thursday, July 18th at 6:30am. Spectators should arrive by 6am.
Closing Ceremonies: Sunday, July 21st at the beautiful State Capitol in St. Paul at 1:30pm. Spectators should lawn chairs and arrive by 1:00pm. Free parking at the Centennial Parking ramp (View map).
How much money do I have to raise to participate? Riders must raise a minimum of $1,500 by Check-In Day on July 13, 2013. Contract the Ride Office if you don't have $1,000. Crew members are encouraged to raise money, but not required; a goal of $250 is recommended. Please read the Donation Office 101 manual for more details. Fundraise using the official facebook application. starting Dec. 1st though August 1st. Details about the Facebook App will be emailed to all those registered. It help to be part of a team. Since 2012, Teams are able to pool their fundraising dollars to help all riders reach their fundraising minimum. Crew funds raised can also assist the teams in reaching the fundraising minimum. Funds will be not be transferred but calculated after the Ride to determine if all riders as a group meet the fundraising minimum.
Do you accept matching gift forms? Yes. If you make a donation online please mail the Ride office the completed matching gift form and the donation information (donation amount, date donation was made, participant name donation was made to). What happens if I don't raise $1,500? You'll have the opportunity to self-pledge the remaining amount. Also, we offer a Delayed Self-Pledge form to allow for extra time to fundraise if needed, but if you choose to participate and cannot raise the remaining amount you'll be responsible for the balance.If you can't do that, then you cannot ride.There may be the opportunity to be on the Ride as a Crew member, but this can't be guaranteed, due to the Crew filling up fast.Contact us to inquire about this option. Donations are non-refundable and not transferable. If you are on a team, work with your team captain to determine if enough funds have been raised collectively by the team to cover each rider on the team.
What if I'm having trouble fundraising? Don't fret! Your Rider Coach is there to help you with everything from training to fundraising! With our on-line fundraising option you'll raise your minimum - and then some - in no time! We also have sample fundraising letters located on the Ride Center, which can be accessed after registration. These letter can be used as the basis of your personalized fundraising appeal letter. Best of all, we have amazingly successful fundraisers from the last three years that have shared their fundraising knowledge on our fundraising page.
Where can I learn more about the Rides Donation Policies and Procedures? As a participant, you're encouraged to read the Donation 101 Manual to get up to speed on the best practices to follow when doing Red Ribbon Ride fundraising. This makes is much easier on the Ride office! Siince 2012, Teams are now able to pool their fundraising dollars to help all riders reach their fundraising minimum. Crew funds raised can also assist the teams in reaching the fundraising minimum. Funds will be not be transferred but calculated after the Ride to determine if all riders as a group meet the fundraising minimum.
How can I download a paper donation form for an offline donation? First, you need to know that donating online using our website is not only safe, but it is the easiest and quickest way for your donation to be processed. However, if you prefer a paper donation form you can download one. (You'll need Free Adobe Acrobat). You can also email us a requestor call the Ride office and we'll send one to you.
Tributes/Memorial Gifts When completing an on-line donation, select the box that states " Is my credit card information secure? Convio (our website provider) has made every effort to protect your information. They use industry-standard SSL encryption techniques to make sure your credit card information, Passwords and personal information travel securely over the Internet. They've also installed an encryption engine on our database server so your data is securely stored. Convio has never had an incident of credit card or personal identity theft.
How is my credit card 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. It's passed back is an approval or denial for the credit card donation.
What should I do for training? Go to our calendar of Training Ridesfor registered participants. Then read our training materials and begin with short, regular rides on your bike as you are comfortable.
How do I update my contact information and change my Username/Password? First, login to the site using your Username and Password. Once logged in, visit your Ride Center and look under "Misc. Information" for a link titled "Update My Profile." Then you'll be able to change your contact information, e-mail address, Username and Password. All changes will be made to your account immediately. There's no need to sign in again.
What is a Personal Page? It's the easiest way to raise money! It's an online tool to 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'll have a personal page created for you. You have the option of editing this page to personalize it, by going to your Ride center to customize images, text and the style/color layout of the page.
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. You don't have to change it but a compelling personal page attracts and engages supporters. While you can spread the word using customized email 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.
How do I build my homepage? Go to www.redribbonride.org/loginand follow the easy instructions. You can upload pictures, send email and your friends and family can donate to your account through your homepage.
How do I change my personal fundraising goal? First, you'll need to login to the Ride Center. On the lower right side of the Ride Center home page is the location to modify your personal fundraising goal. Enter your new goal and submit the changes by selecting the "update fundraising goal" button.
How do I change my team name, team goal, and team page content? Only the team captain can change the team name. The team captain will need to login to his/her Ride Center and select 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, division, goal and the team photo and text.
How can I see who has donated to me? Login to the site using your Username and Password. Go to your Ride Center and select the "My Progress" tab; to view your donor list and any amounts that has been donated.
Can we form teams? Yes. You can form a new team or join an existing team at the time of registration. If you decide to become a team member after registering, just contact the Ride office to make the change to your status. Riding team members are still each, individually required to raise the $1,500 donation minimum.Teams are now able to pool their fundraising dollars to help all riders reach their fundraising minimum. Crew funds raised can also assist the teams in reaching the fundraising minimum. Funds will be not be transferred but calculated after the Ride to determine if all riders as a group meet the fundraising minimum.
How can I see and contact who is on my team? Login with your Username and Password. Go to your Ride Center and select the "team progress" tab; this will allow you to view your team roster and the amounts raised by each team member. Under the Team Roster portion of the "team progress" page you will see a link for "send an email to my team." Use this to contact your fellow teammates!
What is a team message? Team captains can simply go to their Ride Center and select the "Update Message to Team" button. This will allow you to make all necessary changes to your team message.
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 hides your name from the participant search list; only people you personally invite via email will be able to support you (we do not recommend making your site private).
How do I enter in offline gifts? On the "My Progress" or "My Team's Progress" pages, select the "Enter Gifts Received Offline" link to add offline gifts to your account. Offline gifts are any checks or credit card donation forms you get in the mail/in-person from friends or family. On the screen that displays, enter the necessary information; make sure to enter information in the fields that are required (prefixed by a star). Select "Save" to commit the offline donation you have just entered. To enter another offline donation without going back to the "My Progress" screen, select "Save and Add Another" button. NOTE: offline gifts are NOT reflected in your fundraising total until donation(s) is confirmed by the Ride office.
Can someone help me set up my personal Web page? Yes. It's critical to your fundraising that you set up your personal Web page. If you've tried on the site and still need help, we're here for you. After you register, you'll be contacted by your Rider Coach or Crew Manager. Your Coach is a fellow rider assigned to you to help with questions and ideas on fundraising, training, ride policies, etc. They can also help you set up your personal Web page. You can also email us or call us.
Where do I find my participant number? It can be found in your Ride Center. Login using the "Ride Center" link on our homepage using your Username and Password. Visit your Ride Center to find your number. If you do not have a username and password please contact the Ride office.
What if it rains on the Ride? The Ride will take place rain or shine. We monitor the weather 24 hours a day on the event and will communicate to participants if severe weather becomes a safety factor. Your safety is our #1 priority.
What if I can't finish the route when I'm on the Ride? Although we bet you'll surprise yourself as you train for the Ride, we aren’t going to leave you stranded along the route. We have an entire team of crew members dedicated to “sweeping” the route. That means there'll be someone to pick you up and take you to the next Pit Stop or into camp if you are no longer able to ride.
Where are the overnight camps? We are currently working on the new route for 2013. As information becomes available we will update this information as quickly as possible.
