Who rides for a Charity.

Once again we find ourselves at or near the beginning of another ride season. Each year there are a number of rides that draw some huge groups of riders and they are generally riding for some form of charity. Examples of this would be the Love Ride out of Glendale California that draws roughly 20,000 riders in support of Muscular Dystrophy, West Coast Thunder which draws roughly 7,000 riders in support of the Riverside National Cemetery for Veterans and let us not forget the huge number of rides around these United States that are dedicated to fighting diseases like breast cancer . I was just wondering about the rides you folks may go on and what those rides gather money for. What is their cause?

I ride for breast cancer and abused children. How's about you folks.....

[DefyInertia]

I really doubt I would ever get involved in one of those large group rides. I can't imagine I'd enjoy it much at all and it does not strike me as an efficient way for ME to pitch in.

Toys for tots is huge in Chicago...they do it in the middle of the winter and at least one person usually gets hurt because of the crappy conditions and low average skill level.

Post some pics if you've got them....it's usually pretty entertaining to see that many bikes together.

[Nelly]

Originally Posted by DefyInertia

I really doubt I would ever get involved in one of those large group rides. I can't imagine I'd enjoy it much at all and it does not strike me as an efficient way for ME to pitch in.

Toys for tots is huge in Chicago...they do it in the middle of the winter and at least one person usually gets hurt because of the crappy conditions and low average skill level.

Post some pics if you've got them....it's usually pretty entertaining to see that many bikes together.

Humbug defy, if no one bothered then fek all would be achieved. [edit] Its not h]the poor kids fault that the rider who fell off can't ride 4 sh1t

[DefyInertia]

Originally Posted by Nelly

Humbug defy, if no one bothered then fek all would be achieved. [edit] Its not h]the poor kids fault that the rider who fell off can't ride 4 sh1t

You completely misinterpreted my post and made me sound like a jerk - thanks.

I was talking about ME

[Nelly]

Originally Posted by DefyInertia

You completely misinterpreted my post and made me sound like a jerk - thanks.

I was talking about ME

Not intentionally rising you mate, but to me reading your post could have ment ME (as in me) or ME as in the terrible muscular fatigue condition many people suffer from.
I mistook you post as the former as ther was very lilttle info or insight for an over the seas reader to go by.
Nel

Gentlemen, let me share a few thoughts here. I have been on many of these rides for years and I can tell you that DI is right however, it is often an incident leading to the ride or after the ride is over that makes the news. The First Patriot Ride I went on in SoCal drew roughly 8,000 riders from 5 locations to get to the starting point. Later, we traveled with escort a distance of 25 miles and not one incident. Love Ride 22 drew over 20,000 bikes and it took me 6 hours to get from Glendale Harley Davidson the the party at the lake and again not one incident. Fact is I have never, not once, ever observed or knew about an incident that actually occurred during the actual charity ride in decades of riding them. I also understand some folks have a problem riding axle to axle in a group because it scares the crap out of them. Either way they're all a good cause and folks do get helped because of them. Here's a couple of pictures just to keep you happy.....

[steveindenmark]

I do not like riding with dozens of people, it always seems to be very slow and stop start.

I contribute to charities by the clothes I ride in. For example I have some RIDERS T shirts also UNICEF muffler and International League for the Protection of Horses muffler. I have an assortment of charity T shirts.

I can choose what I wish to support this way.

Most charities at least do t shirts.

https://www.buffwear.co.uk/catalog/

Rider's Shop

Steve

[Nelly]

Good point mate. Although a t-shirt may not get the same level of publicity as a huge ride out. each to there own and your doing your bit.

Nelly

[Hellgate]

I've done a few centuries, 100 milers, on the bicycle. They were okay. The Lance Armstrong foundation does the Ride for the Roses and there are a lot of squrily riders. Seen a lot of crashes from newer cyclists with no group ridding experiance. I'd assume a big motorcycle rides would be similar.

I'd rather just cut a check at this point and save my hide.

[steveindenmark]

Ive never seen a crash at a big bike ride. I have seen dropped bikes when in a parking lot but never an accident on the road.

Steve