"Vote for the T-Shirt Design"

Hey Riders!

You should have received the latest News Bites, Ride Edition yesterday, Wednesday March 30th, 2011.

This edition was pretty short, but went over important information about reserving your travel and hotel for the weekend of the Ride. Be sure to check it out and read it carefully to verify that you have booked EVERYTHING you need!

On a more exciting note, it also went over the RFTF T-Shirt Contest! Cast your vote here for your favorite of the 4 competing designs.

Topics Included:

1. Choose the Winning Design
2. Bus/Hotel Reservation Deadlines3. Travel Arrangements
4. Outdoor Training Rides
5. Crew Opportunities
6. Ride Stats
7. Coming Up This Week
8. Save the Date
9. Event Photos

Click here to visit the eNewsletters section of our website to view the March 30th News Bites, Ride Edition and previous ones in the archive.

The City That Feeds

Join Amy Wolpert and the rest of Team Diet Tribe at the Sidebar Tavern on April 15th for The City That Feeds: A Benefit for Moveable Feast!

click to enlarge

The night will feature THE MOTORETTES, the Matrimonials, and Jacob Panic, along with DJ KING GILBERT and DJ ACTION PAT.

See you on April 15th at SIDEBAR - "the punk bar that refuses to move uptown."

Team Diet Tribe will be accepting $10 donations at the door. Click here to purchase tickets online in advance.

"Training Rides & Bike How-To's"

Hey Riders!

You should have received the latest News Bites, Ride Edition yesterday, Wednesday March 23rd.

Topics included:

1. Outdoor Training Rides
2. Bike Readiness
3. Bike Safety on Wet Roads
4. Travel Arrangements 
5. T-Shirt Design Contest (note: deadline extended until Monday, March 28th at 5:00PM!)
6. Ride Stats  
7. Coming Up This Week
8. Save the Date 
9. Event Photos 

The newsletter contained some more detailed information about this Saturday's outdoor training ride with Development director Ted Blankenship, along the BWI and B&A trails to Annapolis. It also went over some weekday outdoor training rides that will be scheduled!

Even better, the newsletter contained important information about doing a thorough bike check and getting your bike ready for 140 miles.

Click here to visit the eNewsletters section of our website to view the March 23rd News Bites, Ride Edition and previous ones in the archive.

Freakazoids, Please Report to the Skate Floor

Get your freak on this weekend! Here's your chance to bring out your 80s glam and have a totally rad time fundraising as well. Roll with Team BikeCurious and Fierce Chicks Rock this SUNDAY, March 27th at Dundalk Skateland (1113 North Point Rd.) to raise money for Ride for the Feast.

Grab your homeys, pull on those neon spandexy leggings and leotards, and come zoom around the skatepark with your posse from 7PM to 10PM. Skate to all your favorite 80s songs and don't kirk out if a skate betty flies past you! The night will feature music by DJ John Eaton. A fantabulous donation of $20 is also suggested. We aren't faking - this is gonna be outrageous!

You're going to be ready for the Ride in May, but is your bike?

Jim Ventosa is a three time participant in RFTF (this year being his fourth) and current employee of Proteus Bicycles. Jim knows first-hand how important it is for your bike to be in tip-top shape to ride 140 miles, as well as how to get it there. Jim has kindly shared his expertise below.

The weather is getting warmer so a lot of bike tires are hitting the pavement for the first time this year.  Spinning classes are fantastic, but it's definitely worth it to get your bike out sooner rather than later.  After you pull your bike down from that hook in the garage, give it a once-over to make sure it's ready to roll. 

1. Air up your tires. The PSI (pounds per square inch) is printed on the side of your tire.  Have a look at your tires - how badly are they worn?
    
2. Pick the front of the bike up, spin the front wheel. Look at the space between your brakes and your rim. Is the wheel spinning relatively straight? Repeat with the back wheel.
    
3. Grab the tire and try to wobble the wheel from side to side. It shouldn't wobble at all.  The axle should feel secure. Repeat with the rear wheel.
    
4. Turn your handlebars 90 degrees. Put on the front brake. Push the bike forward and backwards.  It shouldn't feel wobbly.
    
5. Both of your brakes should work without having to apply too much pressure to the levers.  Look at the brake pads - are they very worn? Is the side of the rim particularly dirty? Are your brake cables frayed?
    
6. Using a metric allen wrench (most bolts will be 4, 5, or 6mm), check to make sure that all the visible bolts are tight. No need to overdo it. You don't want to apply too much force and strip the bolts, but things should be tight.
    
7. Grab your crankarms (the things connected to the pedals) and try to wobble them side to side. They shouldn't. By this time it should be painfully apparent that wobbling is bad.
    
8. Hop on your bike and ride around. Shift through all of your gears with your right hand, then shift one gear with the left, then shift through all the gears with your right hand again.  Repeat until you have done all the different gear combinations. Don't be surprised if your bike doesn't like the extremes (big chainring in the front and big gear in the back or small chainring in the front and little gear in the back).  This is normal. The chain should roll smoothly, it shouldn't jump off the gears, it shouldn't skip (or wobble for that matter).
    
9. Look at your chain. Is it dirty? If you're feeling ambitious, hold a ruler up to it.  12 links should be 12 inches (from the center of pin to the center of pin).  If it's not, you may be due for a new chain.
    
10. Look at your cassette (gears in the back) and your chainrings (gears in the front).  They should not look like shark fins.  If they do, your drivetrain is probably worn.

If you're having problems with these things now, stop by one of the awesome Ride for the Feast sponsor bike shops and get your bike checked out...or check out a couple of the specials listed below:

• Joe’s Bike Shop will be hosting their annual bike tune-up event on April 28. Tune-ups will be offered for a discounted rate of $50 (normally $75) and all proceeds will benefit Moveable Feast.
• Baltimore Bicycle Works is also offering a $20 discount on tune-ups for Ride participants.  Stop in their Falls Road Shop (1813 Falls Road) and mention RFTF.

PLEASE NOTE:  We have been lucky enough to have fantastic bike techs with us each year. BUT, that's no excuse to show up to the ride without making sure your bike is in good working order. Bike techs are there to deal with quick and easy fixes to keep you rolling. "Keep you rolling" implies that your bike is already rolling quite well but may have had a minor problem. In previous years, a lot of what they have been asked to do the night before or during the Ride falls well outside of that realm. Moving forward, we're going to encourage our bike techs to give priority to quick easy fixes and adjustments, in order to make the best use of their time and not take advantage of them. If your bike needs fall outside that realm, you will be directed to the nearest bike shop.

Play for the Feast!

On Saturday, April 16th, join The Shirley Temples as they Play for the Feast at Silo Point. 

For a $15 entry fee, enjoy blackjack, a silent auction, a 50/50 raffle and more from 8:00PM to 11:00PM. The ticket price includes food, beverage, and one raffle ticket!

 

This event takes place at the Game Room at Silo Point, located at 1200 Steuart St, Baltimore MD 21230. For more information, please contact Tom Mayer. 

Add this event to your Google Calendar:

"Fundraising Strategies"

Hey Riders!

You should have received our latest News Bites, Ride Edition, which went out on Wednesday, March 16th. It contained useful information on internet fundraising - in particular, focusing on your personal Kintera fundraising pages and making your "quiet ask" using email.

Note that if you are making reservations for the Plim Plaza Hotel for Friday night in Ocean City, use this updated phone number: 410-289-6181.

Click here to visit the eNewsletters section of our website to view the March 16th News Bites, Ride Edition and previous ones in the archive.

"One Hundred & Forty Miles"

Hey Riders! You should have received our latest "News Bites, Ride Edition" which went out on Wednesday, March 9th.

This week, the News Bites enclosed a great guide on evaluating your training progress over the months before the Ride for the Feast. It also reviewed information on inviting family and friends to support and volunteer during the weekend of the Ride.

Remember that tomorrow is our Orientation Ride & Potluck Brunch, to be held at Jules Jung's house. This event officially kicks off the outdoor training season. Check out the full schedule for outdoor training rides by clicking here.

Topics Included:

1. Prepping for 140 Miles
2. Family & Friends
3. Correction: Plim Plaza Reservations 
4. RFTF T-Shirt Design Contest
5. 2011 Orientation Guides
6. Saturday's Orientation Ride
7. Coming Up This Week
8. Save the Date
9. Ride Stats

BY THE WAY >> Just because you receive News Bites, Ride Edition doesn't mean that you're signed up for our general eNewsletter, News Bites from Moveable Feast! Click here to enter your email address and check your subscription status. The next News Bites from Moveable Feast comes out next Tuesday, March 15th and contains videos, recipes, pictures, and great stories. As Riders and Crew, this is a great way to see how your fundraising efforts are put to use!

Click here to visit the eNewsletters section of our website to view this News Bites and previous ones in the archive.

2011 RFTF T-Shirt Design Contest

Last year’s t-shirt design contest was so well received that we are doing it again! Flaunt your creativity and help us design the 2011 Ride for the Feast t-shirt! The winning design will be worn by over 250 RFTF participants and the designer will receive a fantastic prize, to be announced at a later date.

We ask the designs to work within the color scheme of red, black, with and grey. The Moveable Feast staff has the right to change the winning design to a two-color version. Designs are only for the front of the t-shirt so please only submit one design. You also have the option of including the 2011 Ride for the Feast logo but it is not necessary.

2010 Riders wearing the official t-shirt!

Submission deadline has been extended to 5PM on Monday, March 28th, 2011. The judging committee will then narrow the field down to three finalists and allow RFTF participants to vote for the winner online. PDF and JPG are the only accepted files. Please send submissions to Amanda Fisher at afisher(at)mfeast.org.

The judging committee reserves the right to scale the drawing, alter it, add wording, or change the font you submit. You may include a tiny set of your initials with the drawing. Designs become the property of Moveable Feast, but if used, you will always be acknowledged.

Good Luck!

Saturday: DRINK for the FEAST

Night Riders at RFTF 2010.

Join Team Night Rider at No Idea Tavern in Federal Hill (1649 S. Hanover St.) this weekend for an evening of merry-making and fundraising.

The event kicks off on Saturday, March 5th beginning at 8:00PM. For $20, you'll receive unlimited Miller Lites, wine, and rails. Even better, shots will be $3. Half of your entry ticket - $10 - will be donated to Team Night Rider for the Ride for the Feast.

"Lodging & Training"

Hey Riders! You should have received our latest "News Bites, Ride Edition" which went out on Wednesday, March 1st.

At this time, you should be thinking about booking your hotel room(s) for the weekend of the Ride, as well as scoping out time in your busy schedule for indoor and outdoor training rides. The News Bites goes over pertinent information about lodging and training rides.

Remember, Teresa from Meadow Mill Athletic Club holds indoor training rides every Saturday and Sunday! Make it a point to try to attend.

Topics included:
1. Lodging
2. Outdoor Training Rides
3. RFTF T-Shirt Design Contest
4. 2011 Orientation Guides
5. Save the Date
6. Ride Stats

Click here to visit the eNewsletters section of our website to view this News Bites and previous ones in the archive.

While you're at it, don't forget to sign up for our general Moveable Feast eNewsletter, "News Bites from Moveable Feast" - the next one is coming to your email inbox on March 15th!

FRIDAY: Drink With A Purpose!

This Friday, join Team With A Purpose to....drink with a purpose. After all, according to their team page, their purpose for doing RFTF is...BEER (and more importantly, HELPING OTHERS).

Gather at Max's Taphouse beginning at 9:00PM to enjoy Max's 108 rotating drafts and over 800 bottled beers. Max's is the premier beer pub of Fells Point and of Baltimore and has a famously large beer selection.

While there is no cover charge, donations will be accepted at the door to benefit Team With A Purpose.