On Saturday, June 13th I'm going to ride my bike for 10 consecutive hours for a Bike & Build fundraiser I'm calling the 10 HOUR BIKE-A-THON. I want you to be a part of it. Here's how the game works:
1. You pledge an amount PER MILE that you're willing to donate to the Bike-A-Thon.
2. I bike for 10 consecutive hours and see how many miles I can ride.
3. a x b = $, where "a" represents the amount you pledge per mile, "b" represents the number of miles I bike in 10 hours, and "$" represents your donation to Bike & Build.
4. Everyone celebrates for supporting affordable housing!
Get it? It's kind of like gambling...with a purpose. Here's a handy little chart so you can calculate what your pledge could end up amounting to:
How to Make a Pledge:
- Send me an email at katy.branston@gmail.com with your pledge amount by June 12th
- Call or text me at 901-246-9197 with your pledge amount
- Send me a Facebook message, leave a comment, write a letter, etc. It's simple, really.
- Note: I will email or call you with the final mileage and instructions on how to make your donation to Bike & Build (there are also several channels for donation via this blog). Please plan to make good on your pledge within a week of the Bike-a-Thon or I shall bike to your house, knock on your front door, and demand the pledge in person!! Only kidding, but really...
FAQs:
- How many miles are you going to ride? I don't know! That's the fun. There are a lot of variables - the weather, the road conditions, my riding ability, unexpected bike repairs, my temptation to stop at every diner/cafe/bakery - who knows what could happen! The most I've ever ridden in a day is 110 miles, and my goal is to ride 150 miles in 10 hours, if that helps your guesswork.
- How is your mileage being verified? I'll have a bike computer that will display the number of miles I've ridden and the duration of the ride. I can send you a picture of the screen to prove it. Also I'll have friends riding along with me at various points who can verify the mileage. Also, WHY WOULD I LIE?!!? I am not a liar. Even when it comes to raising money, no, ESPECIALLY when it comes to raising money.
- Will the ride be supported? Sort of. I'm planning to carry everything I might need for 10 hours on a bike in my camelbak. I'm also recruiting friends to ride sections with me to help be my support squad, cheerleaders, pacers, windbreakers, food providers and more. Do you live in the Flathead Valley and want to join in the fun? Let me know!
- Do you plan on stopping? Yes, but there will be no dillying and definitely no dallying. I'm gonna be on the clock, yo! Let's just say I have a bit of a competitive edge and will have the motivation of raising money for a cause I care about deeply, so I will only stop when needed.
- Where are you going to ride? While I haven't mapped out the specific route yet, I'll be mapping out a carefully designed route throughout the Flathead Valley that will take terrain, elevation change, road conditions, bike infrastructure, scenery, traffic, convenience, and more into consideration. It's going to be one giant tour of this beautiful part of Northwest Montana that I call home.
- When are you doing this? Why 10 hours? The Bike-A-Thon is taking place on Saturday, June 13th from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm. I thought about doing 12 hours, but 10 sounds more manageable and 5:00 sounds like a nice time for a beer.
- Why would you want to ride a bike for 10 consecutive hours? I love riding my bike. I love riding long distances to challenge myself. I love Bike & Build and care about affordable housing. This fundraiser is a no brainer, really. It's also a personal challenge that seems like a fun way to push my limits and engage my friends and family in a FUNraiser, rather than simply asking for money.
That said, this is me asking you for money. In the form of a pledge. For the 10 HOUR BIKE-A-THON!
How much are you willing to pledge? How many miles will I ride? Let's find out!!
