How You Can Participate
Rider
As a Rider, you’ll be on your bike for 275 miles from Boston to New York raising awareness and funds in the fight to end AIDS. We want you to focus on riding your bike, making new friends, honoring your reason for riding, and having the experience of a lifetime.
Crew
Crews are the heart and soul of the Ride. For three days these amazing people dedicate their time and energy to make sure the Riders are safe, fed, hydrated, and happy. With 10+ roles to choose from, you’ll have a blast no matter what team you’re on.
Want to learn more? Interested in one of our Specialty Crew roles (Medical, Sports Medicine, Bike Tech, Motorcycle Safety)? Contact us at cycleforthecause@gaycenter.org for more information.
Virtual Participant
You can be part of the movement whether you’re in New York, California, London, or Tokyo. There’s no registration fee and no fundraising minimum. It’s as simple as signing up and planning your own activity (walking, running, sewing, baking, or anything else!) to show that you’re committed to making sure The Center meets the needs of those who rely on us, now more than ever.
Please note that registration fees and fundraising minimums apply to Riders and Crew. Click here to learn more about the fees and minimums.
Fundraising & Training Support
The Cycle for the Cause community has raised more than $18 million over the years to support The Center’s HIV and AIDS services. Our team will guide you throughout your fundraising and training to make it as easy as possible for you to achieve your goal.
We get it—fundraising and training for 275 miles sounds intimidating, but we promise we are here to support you. Click here for access to our Participant Fundraising Resources!
Download the DonorDrive app (available on iOS and Android) and make fundraising even easier! You can share your fundraising page with friends and family through a simple QR code and send emails to your network directly through the app. Plus, get push notifications and updates from the Cycle for the Cause team.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cycle for the Cause is a three-day, 275-mile charity bike ride from Boston to New York City, and the money raised through this event funds the critical HIV/AIDS services of The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center (“The Center”).
Cycle for the Cause is September 19-September 22, 2024. The first day, September 19, is a travel and orientation day, when Riders and Crew travel together in chartered buses and vans from The Center in the West Village to the starting hotel in Boston.
While we fully anticipate this year’s ride to sell out due to overwhelming interest, that does not mean you can’t still participate in some capacity. Those unable to secure a spot on the ride will have the option to be added to a waitlist in the event a spot becomes available. You can also join as a Virtual Participant!
This is an option for those who want to join the Cycle for the Cause movement while raising critical funds for The Center’s HIV and AIDS programs, but can’t be with us in person on the ride itself. Learn more at cycleforthecause.org/virtual-participation.
Riders age 25+ raise at least $3,000. Riders ages 18-24 raise at least $2,000. Crew members raise a minimum of $1,000. The fundraising experts on the Cycle for the Cause staff are here to support you and offer proven tips and tools—most Riders and Crew raise way more than the minimums!
We have been exploring options around the use of e-bikes for Cycle for the Cause, but we cannot currently offer that option for 2024. E-bikes pose a range of challenges, as they typically can’t be transported using our standard bike shipping trucks and they require specialized parts and bike techs along the route to support in the event of damage, charging issues or other equipment malfunctions. We apologize for this inconvenience.
All Cycle for the Cause participants must be at least 18 years old as of September 28, 2023.
Every Rider needs to have a bike and a helmet. Most people choose either a road bike or a hybrid. Whichever type of bike you choose, make sure that it fits you properly and has all of the basics (like brakes). If you need help choosing a bike, contact your Team Captain, or contact our Special Events Manager.
For three days, Crew dedicate their time and energy to making sure our hundreds of Riders are safe, fed, hydrated, and supported. This includes, but is not limited to, staffing themed rest stops while pouring water, mixing Gatorade and serving snacks, checking participants into hotels, parking bicycles, picking up Riders along the route, giving hugs, and leading cheers (lots and lots of cheers!).
We want you to focus on riding your bike, making new friends, honoring your reason for riding, and having the experience of a lifetime. So we take care of your transportation to Boston to begin the ride, hotel accommodations on all three nights, meals (breakfast and dinner at the hotels, and lunch on the route), bike tech, medical services, massage crew, and anything else we can think of that will make your experience amazing.
Very few. Once you are at the event, your meals, hotel rooms, transportation, and even some entertainment are provided for you. You may want to bring your debit card, credit card, or cash for incidentals.
Yes, all meals are provided starting with dinner on Thursday night, September 28. We will eat breakfast and dinner together each day at that day’s hotel, and a nutritious lunch will be served each day along the route.
These plans are subject to change and will be updated depending on future social distancing and safety guidelines due to COVID-19.
Definitely! We don’t expect (or advise) you to ride 275 miles without stopping. There are rest stops every 10-15 miles, and they are like magical oases—snacks, water, Gatorade, restrooms and, best of all, CREW! Plus, Medical and Bike Tech services are available at each rest stop.
Our Medical Team (who are all volunteers, like the Crew) is comprised of doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals who will take care of all your refrigerated prescription drug needs, including delivering them to you during the day when you’re out on the road.
If you have any questions or concerns about this process please do not hesitate to reach out to our team at cycleforthecause@gaycenter.org for more information.
Hotel rooms are provided Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights during the event. These plans are subject to change and will be updated depending on future social distancing and safety guidelines due to COVID-19.
Yes—you can tell us who you’d like to room with on your Travel Planner, or we will be happy to match you up with someone at random.
We love it when friends or family come out to support you on the route. However, due to our limited space and resources, we ask that they not join us for meals or stay in your hotel room.
Take a look at our What to Bring section for a list of required and recommended equipment and clothing.
Absolutely! There is an overnight security team to keep your bike safe in our secure, well-lit bike parking area—it is not necessary to bring a bike lock. Due to hotel rules, bikes cannot be stored in your hotel room. But any other equipment (your helmet, bag, etc.) can, of course, go with you into your hotel room.
Our Bike Techs are on hand at rest stops to fix any problems. You can call the Command Center or flag one of the Sweep vehicles to take you to the next rest stop to check in with the Bike Tech team. We do recommend you carry spare tubes in your seat bag; if your bike needs a part that you don’t have, the Bike Techs can fix it—but there may be a cost for the spare part.
We highly recommend you have two water bottles attached to your bike; one for water and one for a sports drink (like Gatorade). You may also use a Camelbak™ hydration pack.
You should have a small bike pump attached to your bike or bring CO2 cartridges. If you use a CO2 cartridge to refill a flat tire, you should deflate your tire and refill it with regular air at the next rest stop or at the hotel (by using a simple stand pump). CO2 is a gas and quickly dissipates through the rubber, which can make it dangerous to ride on the re-inflated tire longer than you have to.
Even though you won’t be riding in the dark, it’s a good idea to have lights on your bike in case of rain or fog. Also, lights make you more visible to cars—which is always a good thing.
Your seat bag should include the following: two spare tubes, two tire levers, two CO2 cartridges, one valve/nozzle, and a bike wrench set. A portable phone charger is recommended, as well as your ID and a small amount of cash, just in case.
The route is well-marked by our expert route team each morning, so Riders rarely get lost. But if you do get lost, simply call the number on your wristband (distributed at Thursday Orientation as part of your Registration Kit), and the Command Center will help you find your way back or send a sweep vehicle to pick you up.
Cycle for the Cause is fully supported, so we’ve got you covered. The Sweep Team will be driving the route and is able to take you to the next rest stop or to the hotel if you’re done for the day. Of course, your teammates, friends, and the entire Cycle for the Cause family will be there to encourage you to keep going!
Keep in mind that we are riding our bikes across four states where the weather can vary tremendously. September and October can vary with temperatures ranging from 35-60 degrees in the morning to 65-85 degrees in the afternoon. You should consider dressing in layers to be prepared for any kind of weather.
Cycle for the Cause happens rain or shine, so you should bring rain gear to be prepared to ride in the rain. A little rain never hurt anyone. A LOT of rain, on the other hand, makes riding our bikes unsafe. So, in the event of severe weather, our staff may delay, postpone, or cancel a day of riding.
If you’re a Rider, you’ll make the trek from New York to Boston on comfy charter buses. Of course, you’ll be making the trek back from Boston on your bike, so…enjoy the plush seats and air conditioning.
Likewise, Crew will ride together in our decked-out Crew Vans. Crew arrives in Boston around 12 p.m. on September 28, 2023, while Riders will arrive around 3:30 p.m. that day.
Yes, you may join a team at any time. To join a team, please contact the Team Captain or our Special Events Manager.
We’ll be sad to see you go. But if you need to leave the event early, you should talk with Cycle for the Cause staff, as we can provide information and advice on securing transportation home. Any related costs will be your responsibility.
There is a Medical Crew who will be at each rest stop and at the hotel each day. It is understood that the scope of services provided by the Medical Team will be limited to the provision of First Aid. In an emergency situation, the team will provide emergency support until local Emergency Medical Service Teams arrive on-site.
Two or more people can form a team, although we suggest that a team consist of at least three. A team can be made up of friends, family, co-workers, frenemies, neighbors…anyone at all! And both Riders and Crew can be on the same team.
Nope! While being on a team is fun and can support you with fundraising and training, many Riders join Cycle for the Cause as individuals. Whether you join a team or as an individual, we assure you that you’ll meet tons of amazing new friends!
Due to limited space, insurance requirements, and team continuity, the general answer is no. But we still love you.
Once Cycle begins, we provide all your transportation. Generally you travel with your team in a truck, car, or van.
Want More Info?
We’d be happy to send you more information about Cycle for the Cause. Just let us know where to send it.