More Photos of RFTF 2011!

Check out this assortment of photos taken by Jules Jung of the Ride Committee. More photo albums to follow in the next few days! 

Click below to view the album.

Why I Don't Ride

From the owner of Joe's Bike Shop, whom many of you saw on the roads and at the pit stops, assisting Riders with their bicycle issues. 

A quick message to everyone who rode; who helped; who donated,

Why don't I ride? In short, because it looks really hard! And yet, as I drive by you all, as you all ride by me, as I fix countless flats, all I see are smiles. Everyone relishing in the endeavor and all that it means, and knowing that for a cause this profound, it should be hard.

So if I don't ride, why do I spend my weekend driving back and forth along twisty roads getting lost, pumping enough air to make my arms hurt, fixing bikes that are often far less ready for such a challenge than the riders? Simple, because you let me. After five years, you couldn't keep me away now if you tried. I tell my staff, watching the shop while I'm away, that I'm off to work, but that couldn't be further from the truth. I have an absolute blast! You guys are the best.

But this speaks to a deeper question; why is it so much fun? We do a fair amount of support for a lot of charity rides, good causes all, but none compare. Why? Because it seems every single one of you realizes this ride is not for you. This ride is for the people you help. This is a charity ride and you guys get that. You may have, and do, have fun doing it. You may have personal challenges that a 140 miles provides, and you meet them. But you never seem to lose sight of the people you are riding for. I don't know if the organizers simply do a good job of not letting you forget what it's really all about, or that they do such a great job organizing and supporting the ride that there's nothing to complain about, or that it's a culture you've created that won't tolerate any degree of selfishness, or most likely, that you only invite good people to do the ride, but whatever the reason, you all make it so much fun to help you all. It is such a treat to support you all as you do so much to help so many people that need so much help so badly.

So, in short; thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you for letting us feel a part of it, thank you for inspiring us, and thank you for all the help you provide so many.

Sincerely,

joe

PS. This is what charity rides are supposed to be. You get it like no other group. Thank you.

PPS. If anyone feels compelled to pay for the tubes, tires, or work provided, and you needn't as we are more than happy to provide them (some did ask), please make a donation to Moveable Feast. We will not accept any payment.

RFTF 2011: Pre-Ride Festivities

Friday, May 13th, 2011 marked the beginning of Ride for the Feast 2011, an incredible journey of more than 200 Riders and Crew.

In the early afternoon, participants began gathering at the Atlantic United Methodist Church in Ocean City for registration. Crew received their valuable volunteering information and t-shirt, while Riders received their goodie bag of supplies for the weekend.

A quick dinner of pizza and pasta was served, and then we jumped straight in to the pre-ride ceremony and speeches.

View these pictures in Picasa Web Albums: "RFTF 2011: Pre-Ride - Friday May 13th" - click here

2011 Pit Stops

SATURDAY MAY 14

Pit Stop 1

• Location: Adkins Mill Park, Intersection of Powellville Road & Purnell Crossing Road, Powellville, MD
• Hours Open: 8:30am to 11:30am

Pit Stop 2

• Location: Asbury Methodist Church, 1401 Camden Avenue, Salisbury, MD (BACK PARKING LOT)
• Hours Open: 9am to noon

Pit Stop 3- LUNCH

• Location: Mardela Springs Middle/High School, 24940 Delmar Road, Mardela Springs, MD
• Hours Open: 10:30am to 2:00pm

Pit Stop 4

• Location: Moxley’s Corner Market, Corner of MD 313/Sharptown Rd and El Dorado Road, El Dorado, MD
• Hours Open: 12Pm to 3:30pm

Pit Stop 5

• Location: Chance’s Corner Market, 21195 Dover Bridge Rd Preston, MD
• Hours Open: 1pm to 5:30pm 
•  

SUNDAY MAY 15

RIDE START

• Location: Broadneck Park, 618 Broadneck Road, Arnold, MD
• Ride starts at: 9AM

Pit Stop 1

• Location: Ranger Station on the B&A Trail, 51 West Earliegh Hieghts Road, Severna Park, MD
• Hours Open: Open 10AM – until last rider leaves

Pit Stop 2

• Location: Lindale Middle School, Corner of Andover Road and Ferry Road, Andover, MD
• Hours Open: Open 10AM – until last rider leaves

Pit Stop 3

• Location: American Visonary Art Museum, 800 Key Hwy, Baltimore, MD
• Hours Open: 11am until 1am

IMPORTANT Things to Know About This Year's Ride

Hey veteran riders,

Because you've done this ride before, you may think you know everything you need to have a great ride weekend. If you know how to have fun, you know the most important thing. But you also need to know about...

• New ride start location! If you've made a hotel reservation in Rehoboth, change it now! This year we're starting in Ocean City, MD.
  
• No bike pick up at the Orleans Street Garage: If you are riding the bus to Ocean City, you need to make sure you drop off your bike at the offices of Moveable Feast before noon on Friday. DO NOT go to the garage with your bike as you will be told to take it to the offices of Moveable Feast and you could potentially miss the bus, which leaves promptly at 12:30. More details can be found in April 27th's Rider email. Direct link here.
  
• No bike storage at ride start. In the past, we've been able to store your bike for you on Friday night. At this year's new start location, we don't have room. Make sure you can store your bike wherever you're staying Friday night.
  
• New route! Ok, this one should be obvious now. Since we're starting in a new location, the route will be very different from years past. Possibly even without chicken farms! But like always, it will be well marked and patrolled by our loyal SAG vehicles.
  
• You must carry a cell phone during the ride. With this year’s ride, we are requiring all riders to carry their cell phone with them in case for any reason we need to track you down.
  
• Must bring your own Cue Sheet Holder. Unless you purchased one when registering online, you will not receive a cue sheet holder in your rider goodie bag.
  
• Riders must use official SAGs only. If you need to stop early or skip ahead a few pits, you must do so in an official, marked SAG vehicle. If you wish to leave with a friend or family member, they can pick you up at the pit stop to which the SAG takes you.
  
• Staying at a hotel Saturday night? Then plan on having breakfast at the hotel Sunday morning. In order to allow our riders to have more time to sleep on Sunday morning, this year we will NOT be picking riders up from the hotel and taking them to Chesapeake College. We will instead transport riders directly over the Chesapeake Bridge to Broadneck Park where our Sunday portion of the ride will begin. So make sure you leave breakfast and fill up your water bottles before you leave the hotel.
  
• Riders MUST check-in at AVAM, which is the final pit stop before we arrive at Moveable Feast. Usually at pit stops, our volunteers record your arrival as you breeze into our out of the pits. However, at AVAM, you must stop at the check-in table and give your name to the volunteer who will then give you your ride shirt. Your shirt will be the size you requested during registration.

We hope these changes help you have a positive, efficient, and fun weekend. If you have any questions, please contact Ted at tblankenship@mfeast.org or 410.327.3420 x33.

Thanks for being a part of Ride for the Feast again this year!

Important Information for SAG Drivers

Greetings SAG Drivers!

SAG is a key component to the success of our weekend. Here we will review a few important details.  Please carefully read the information below, taking special note of the SAG requirements, car kits, and orientation times/locations.

 

SAG Requirements

• Attend SAG orientation on Saturday, May 14 and Sunday, May 15
• Provide own vehicle
• Provide own cell phone
• Attend an outdoor training ride (for new SAG drivers)
• Bike rack (or car big enough for a bike and rider) - contact Assistant Volunteer Manager, Elana Kanter if you need a bike rack.

You are encouraged to bring…

• GPS or road maps of the area
• Blue tooth

SAG Car Kits
Each SAG driver will be given a SAG car kit, which will include two magnets for your car, first aid kit, directions, contact numbers, water and snacks. The SAG car kit will need to be returned in a timely matter; preferably, at Sunday’s Closing Ceremony. Expect to share your credit card information upon checking in.  If SAG car kits are not returned, you will be charged.

ALL SAG drivers must attend BOTH SAG orientations:

• Saturday, May 14 at 7:00 AM, at Atlantic United Methodist Church (105 4th Street, Ocean City, MD)
• We are offering breakfast at the Church starting at 6:00AM - please join us, as you will not have time to eat breakfast following the SAG orientation!
• Sunday, May 15 at 8:15 AM, at Broadneck Park (618 Broadneck Road, Arnold, MD)

"RFTF: Just Days Away"

Hey Riders!

You should have received the latest News Bites, Ride Edition last Wednesday, May 4th, 2011. 

The newsletter contained some important last-minute information. It gave instructions to Riders who are now planning to not ride at all or ride only one day. For those of you that are planning to ride, the newsletter also gave a handy check-list of items to pack for this weekend.

Click HERE to visit the eNewsletters section of our website to view the May 4th News Bites, Ride Edition and previous ones in the archive.