Fight Cancer, Win One of THREE Dream Bikes
A Note from Fatty: Some people have been asking how my Alpine Loop Summit TT went. Well, I got rained out on the day I was supposed to go, but I did it this morning with a group of fast friends. My finish time was 55:56. Slower than my best time last year, but not a bad early-season effort! And I am tired. Check out how my friends did on the newly-formed Alpine Loop Time Trial page, read Grizzly Adam’s report here, Mark’s report here, and Rick Sunderlage’s (not his real name) report here.
I know you don’t need me to give you any incentive at all to join Team Fatty in our 2010 LiveStrong Challenge. You don’t need a reason beyond the important one, after all: you’re making a difference in people’s lives as they fight cancer.
But you know what? Sometimes a little incentive doesn’t hurt. You know, just to nudge you off that fence you were going to get around to getting off any moment now anyways.
Well, I think you’re going to like the nudge I’ve got to announce today.
Team Fatty Is Shimano-Powered
It’s no secret that Shimano has had UBFOF (Ultra-Best Friend of Fatty) status for a long time. They set up the incredible Orbea with Di2 components giveaway. They set up additional team-centric giveaways. They provided components for the Ibis giveaways.
This year, Shimano is going one step further:
They are providing components, wheels, and more and orchestrating the frames from three manufacturers as incentives for Team Fatty to fight cancer with everything we’ve got.
Without going into details about a very private person, let me just say that part of why Shimano is going completely overboard in helping us is because someone there has a loved one who is engaged in a battle with cancer incredibly similar to Susan’s. He and I talk pretty often, and his — and her — courage are phenomenal, as is his ferocity in this fight.
You fight hardest when it’s personal. And for Shimano, this is very personal indeed. I’m proud to fight alongside them, honoring their efforts to turn something hellish into something good.
So this year, Team Fatty is Shimano-Powered.
(photo of San Jose Team Fatty Captain MattC’s banner from Amgen Tour of California. Obviously, he had a little insider info!)
Three Dream Bikes, Three Manufacturers, Three Different Dreams
Here’s the thing. Not all of us have the same dream for our dream bikes. Some of us love mountain biking. Some of us love touring. Some of us love cruising around in town. Some of us love racing.
Well, I’m going to guess that — whatever your favorite kind of riding — you’re going to be blown away by at least one of the bikes in the fundraising contests this year.
But I’m not going to tell you what the bikes are, yet.
I will, however, tell you that they are all very different frames. And they are all from incredible manufacturers. And they all — naturally — are outfitted with top-of-the-line Shimano wheels and components, and PRO parts.
So when will I tell you what the bikes are? As we get closer to the contests, which will coincide with the LiveStrong challenges.
Bonus Awesomeness About the Bikes
Oh, this is probably worth mentioning: all of the bikes will have some version of the much-coveted Exclusivity Factor. Meaning that each of the bikes will, in one way or another, let you be the first — or only — kid on your block to have such a bike.
Have I teased you enough yet?
The First Contest Starts Next Week
So when will you find out what the first bike will be? Next week. In fact, one week from today.
And the cool thing is, you can get a jump on winning this first bike — and I’m going to drop a hint here by saying that no matter what kind of rider you are, you will want this bike — by joining Team Fatty now and starting your fundraising.
Join Team Fatty, Win Awesome Ridonculous Prizes
I’m going to do prize giveaways a little different this year than last year, to encourage folks to join Team Fatty and get others to donate to their own LiveStrong Challenge accounts. The idea being that the more people we get off the fence and involved in this fight, the better.
Here’s how it works.
First, you need to join Team Fatty, in any of the four cities:
Which city should you pick? Well, if you’re close to one of the cities and think you can make it to the event, pick that one. Otherwise, it honestly doesn’t matter which city you pick, because you’re going to sign up as a “Virtual Participant.”
Let me make it clear: you don’t need to attend one of the events to be part of Team Fatty. When you sign up, just sign up as a Virtual Participant. And the cool thing about being a Virtual Participant is that It doesn’t cost anything to sign up as a virtual participant.
Second, you need to start raising money. Get your friends and family and coworkers to go to your fundraising page and start donating. Explain to them why the fight against cancer matters to you. Make it personal. Chances are, you won’t have to look very far to find someone who is either fighting or has fought cancer.
Third, cross your fingers and hope for the best. When I do the drawing for the bikes, I’ll assign a ticket number to you for each $5 you’ve raised. So if you raise $500 right now you’ll get 100 virtual tickets in the hat for each of the three bike drawings.
Can you see how it’s a good idea to sign up now and raise money early? Yeah, I thought so.
Q&A
If you’ve got questions about this, ask in comments. I’ll either answer inline, or if the question seems especially relevant or common, I’ll move it up into this post.
I can think of a few questions you might have, so I’ll get started.
Q. What if I’ve already joined Team Fatty and raised money? Does that count toward the Shimano giveaways?
A. It sure does. And thank you!
Q. What if I don’t want to join Team Fatty. Is there a way for me to still win the bikes?
A. Yes, you’ll also be able to enter the drawing by donating to my personal fundraising pages.
Q. Do I need to have a Team Fatty jersey to be in Team Fatty?
A. No, you don’t. The 2010 Team Fatty jersey’s are all sold out and have been for some time. There won’t be a new order coming in, either. The fact is, while it’s cool to have the jersey, being part of Team Fatty isn’t at all about the look. It’s about the fight.
The pre-order for 2011 jerseys will be sometime fairly soon, by the way.
Q. Which LiveStrong Challenge events are you going to, Fatty?
A. My day job has me crazy-busy right now, and I’m wanting to do more with my family with what vacation days I have, so I won’t be able to go to all four LiveStrong Challenges. My current plan — subject to change — is to go to the Philadelphia and Austin Challenges, as well as the NYC Marathon.
Q. I want to join Team Fatty and raise money toward attending the NYC Marathon. What do I need to do?
A. Just sign up with any of the four cities right now; we’ll get your fundraising applied to the NYC Marathon a little later, once we’ve got that set up. And meanwhile, your fundraising may net you the bike of your dreams!
Sign up now. Start fundraising now. At the very least, your work will have helped in the fight against cancer.
And it’s entirely possible you might win one of three dream bikes.
Comment by Jarrod | 06.3.2010 | 12:11 pm
I’m starting to think that I need a bike with airbags. Any of these bikes come with customized Shimano-powered airbags? :)
Awesome contest for an awesome cause.
Comment by NYCCarlos | 06.3.2010 | 12:17 pm
I want.
Also, good luck to the secret shimano guy who is being awesome and fighting hard!
Comment by KK | 06.3.2010 | 12:54 pm
This is a great way to kick off fund-raising. Look forward to seeing you in Philly.
Comment by Weiland | 06.3.2010 | 12:54 pm
Will the Gruber Assist be an option on the racing bike?
Comment by Bryan | 06.3.2010 | 1:10 pm
There really needs to be a 5th LiveStrong event in Northeast Florida in September. I think Jacksonville would make a great choice.
As always, great contest.
Comment by Clydesteve | 06.3.2010 | 1:11 pm
I want to dream…
Comment by don | 06.3.2010 | 1:13 pm
I signed up for SJ livestrong thru your portal, have my login, etc.
Will there be any connection/handshake with Team Fatty SJ?
Cheers
Comment by skippy | 06.3.2010 | 1:37 pm
Sent Lance this from “timesonline.com ” , today http://tinyurl.com/343b4yu !
Hope Livestrong can carry it through to other parts of the world.
Livestrong have labels to go on the bike “I am riding for_____! perhaps you can encourage your following to add this essential piece of equipment to their bikes but also to their helmets.
“I am a Fatty team member riding for ____!” would send a really strong message but will also fill in where those who do not have “Fatty Shirts”!
Comment by Eric | 06.3.2010 | 1:54 pm
I’m in for the Austin Challenge, I really hope it’s not as hot then as it is now! @Skippy the “I am riding for ___! is a good idea.
Comment by Grizzly Adam | 06.3.2010 | 2:22 pm
If I could manage to win one of those bikes, I could leave the cross bike at home for AF Canyon group TT’s. I like that idea.
It was good to ride with you this morning.
Comment by AngieG | 06.3.2010 | 2:46 pm
@don- Welcome to Team Fatty SJ. @MattC is our amazing co-captain and I’d imagine you will be getting an email official welcome from him in the next few days.
In the mean time if you have questions, please feel free to send me an email amg2@pge.com. I am MattC’s self appointed assistant/gohper at your service. :-)
Comment by Jenni | 06.3.2010 | 2:49 pm
I bet a bunch of us have Fat Cyclist jerseys we could probably sell/trade/whatever to new members who want one- I know I do.
Is there any way we could collectively offer jerseys to new members? I’ve got a woman’s jersey from last year that is too short in the torso for me- I’m wearing in the banner pic. If anyone is interested, let me know. Maybe I’ll put it on eBay?
Or, I could do a $5 raffle too…hmm…
Comment by Franky B | 06.3.2010 | 5:56 pm
I’m super interested in helping out kinda wish there was a even in the Los Angeles area.I actually helped set up a Race For the Cure in my hometown. So this should be pretty easy and fun to do. Oh yeah by the way I’m a newb to the site.
Comment by Erik | 06.3.2010 | 6:14 pm
I still need to get my picture with you this year in either Leadville or Austin. Just sayin’.
Comment by Jeremy | 06.3.2010 | 7:30 pm
Dang! I was really hoping to throw food at you during the awards dinner in Seattle, Fatty. Oh, well. It follows my own mantra: Family first.
Comment by Jeff L. | 06.3.2010 | 8:59 pm
Jenni, that’s a great idea…such a great idea that…
The next person that donates $40 to my Livestrong Challenge San Jose page will receive a black Sleeveless XL Team Fatty 2009 jersey that’s been worn exactly one time (I just can’t pull off the sleeveless thing).
http://sanjose2010.livestrong.org/jefflarock
I’ll pay for the shipping. I’ve raised $330 as of right now, so if you see the total at $370 that means someone beat you to it.
Comment by AK Chick | 06.3.2010 | 9:41 pm
Very cool! :) You always have the best contests!
On another note, I’ve been pondering how fellow Team Fatty members can assist each other with fundraising. One idea I’ve had is we could each donate $1 to each other’s Livestrong account (depending on how many members there are) or maybe those going to Austin could donate to those also going to Austin, those to Philly could donate to their teammates and so on. The dollar amount would depend on how many members there are and what people would be comfortable giving. That would be one way we could help each other out. :) Any thoughts? Good idea? Bad idea?
Comment by Philly Jen | 06.3.2010 | 10:43 pm
Um, it’s not that I don’t love all you peeps out there, but if you are going to join a Virtual Challenge at this point, it’s in your best interest to join Team Fatty Austin, not Philly.
Why?
Livestrong has some very nice additional Thank You gifts that they give to fundraisers who have reached certain levels — Livestrong caps made of wicking technical fabric, Livestrong jerseys, even iPods. The fundraising deadlines to earn those gifts fall shortly before the actual Livestrong Challenge dates for each city. If you sign up for Team Fatty Austin (the last of the four Livestrong Challenges in 2010), you will have the longest period of time to fundraise towards these goal amounts, on top of being eligible for all of Fatty’s giveaways.
If you are not planning to actively fundraise, but you are still interested in having a chance at winning one of the Shimano dream bikes, then donate directly to one of Fatty’s pages in the city of your choice. It helps improve our team standing when your individual donations aggregate in our captain’s account, and your odds in the dream bike draw will NOT improve if you join a team and then fail to solicit donations.
(What’s more, if you sign up in Philly and don’t fundraise, you’ll get a long series of nagging, guilt-inducing emails from me all the way from now until the end of August. And who wants that?)
Let’s review:
Fundraising for Virtual Challenge = Austin
Donating early and often = Fatty’s account
Allez-allez!
Comment by Brad | 06.3.2010 | 10:46 pm
Not related to the super awesome competition, but can you give some detail on the TT – distance, elevation, etc? Good work on the comp too!
Comment by Kamala | 06.4.2010 | 2:48 am
Can I reserve the right to run a quasi-sneaky sub-contest? I may want the bike if I win, but I might not and may prefer the chance to get sent to Ride for the Roses.
Basically, my super-studly ability to bribe people with cookies has given me a whole pile of dream bike entries. All those entries would be good incentive for people to donate to my challenge specifically. They get the benefit of way more entries and than a smaller drawing from among my donors if I win the bike, basically buying a higher chance of winning the bike with a smaller donation. Or you can make a big donation, get the better odds, and get a box of homemade cookies.
Bad juju? Fair game fundraising tactic? Offsetting karma points for donating my extra fundraising dinner tickets to the team when I cross $7500?
Comment by Doug (WAY upstate NY) | 06.4.2010 | 5:23 am
Hum. If I win a bike do I get in trouble because I have ANOTHER bike in the garage or do I not get in trouble because I “won” it and did not “buy” it? Not sure. But willing to find out :)
Comment by Jenni | 06.4.2010 | 5:42 am
Philly Jen,
How could you do us like that?!
If you join Philly, you get to ride with me and my pink tires. If you’re lucky, I will paint your fingernails pink. Ladies, you too.
Comment by Mike Roadie | 06.4.2010 | 6:01 am
Face it, everyone wants to join the Austin Team Fatty….they have an awesome co-captain! Oh yeah, and we need more members…..
Whichever team you choose, Team Fatty rocks! Fatty rocks! This contest rocks!
Comment by Philly Jen | 06.4.2010 | 7:01 am
Don’t get me wrong — if you are planning to actually ride (or walk/run) at one of the Livestrong Challenges, you should come to Philly. We are, after all, the branch of Team Fatty with the pinkest nails, the greatest hills, the most Jens, and the best cake.
But if you are going to join as a Virtual Challenge participant, then Austin is still your best bet.
This message not paid for by Mike Roadie. (Yet.)
Comment by Paul Guyot | 06.4.2010 | 8:32 am
Questions for Fatus Rideymus…
If we join the team as a virtual (which I have for Philly), can we switch to an actual participant later?
I’m thinking that come August, I may have the guts (and lack of weight) to actually venture to Philly and ride.
Or would I have to re-register all over again, and if so, can I use the same name?
Let’s see, do I have any more questions for you… oh, what is the average gestation period of the pygmy hedgehog?
Comment by Philly Jen | 06.4.2010 | 8:51 am
@ Paul: Yes, you can switch later, without re-registering. You will need to cover the $50 ride registration fee, and you will need to have raised at least $250 on top of that, in order to roll out on ride day.
Don’t worry about being a superstar on the bike, just show up and have fun with the gang. It’s a blast — look at all those happy Fatties at the top of the page. That’s Philly!
Comment by Cyclin' Missy | 06.4.2010 | 11:24 am
AWESOME! I can’t wait to see what the Shimano-powered bikes are. And I’m excited about this year’s Team Fatty cancer fighting efforts.
Thank you, Shimano, for your super cool help in the fight!
Comment by Clydesteve | 06.4.2010 | 11:39 am
Kamala – Yes you can! And I hope you do!
Comment by MattC | 06.4.2010 | 12:35 pm
Hey Hey HEY! I get busy for a day or 2 and see I’ve been missing out on recruiting opportunities! Team San Jose is WHERE IT’S AT folks! I mean, who wouldn’t want to be a part of THIS!
http://www.fatcyclist.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/kreutz-teamfattysjc.jpg
Yep…that’s us at the starting line last year. We OWNED the place! The the rest of the 3000 or so riders were cordoned away and we roamed the start like our names were all Lance Armstrong! (besides, WE need help DESPERATLY!) As of this morning we are at 43 members. We had 80 last year, which was still the smallest Fatty team by FAR! And we’re barely half that right now.
Sure, we only have a month left to fundraise, so I grudgingly have to admit that PhillyJen is right…if you are going to be a virtual member and are in no big hurry to fundraise your behind off, you’d best join Austin to give you the most time. I’m just saying that any new members and funds raised on our team would GREATLY help! We are getting whipped in the Team Champion fundraising…we’re down by 10 grand and actually are in THIRD place (and you can bet the other 2 teams won’t be sitting on their laurels this last month just LETTING us catch them). Consider this a PLEA for help!
Comment by Paul | 06.4.2010 | 12:40 pm
Fatty
will the bikes include those internal frame electric motors ? I could really use one of those for our local club ride!
Comment by MattC | 06.4.2010 | 12:57 pm
Uhmmm….in the interests of full disclosure, I was just informed (by the guru of all LIVESTRONG knowledge…thanks PhillyJen) that they won’t be doing the ‘team’ group starts this year. Boo hoo…so we won’t be looking forward to that if we win. But we STILL need to win!
Comment by Heidi | 06.4.2010 | 8:06 pm
“you’ll also be able to enter the drawing by donating to my personal fundraising pages.”
Methinks you’ll get an even better response if you add a direct link.
Comment by Franky B | 06.4.2010 | 8:48 pm
Are there any southern california readers that would be interested in starting a so cal event/ Fat Cyclist/Livestrong team ;) why should nor cal have all the fun?
Email me and let me know
xFrankyBx@yaoo.com
Comment by Philly Jen | 06.5.2010 | 6:55 am
You can donate to Fatty in Philly at:
http://philly2010.livestrong.org/fatty/
Comment by Jeff L. | 06.5.2010 | 10:56 am
Franky,
I would love to see a So Cal event, but the Lance Armstrong Foundation determines where the events are held each year. I’m from So Cal and I’m on the Livestrong San Jose Team Fatty (I did Seattle last year). We wouldn’t want to start another team for So Cal and essentially split our fundraising efforts between two teams that are riding in the same event. The idea is to win the team fundraising award. Splitting our efforts would defeat that goal.
That said, I’d love to see all the So Cal folks caravan up to San Jose together, celebrating Team Fatty all the way. Might be fun. We could all meet somewhere on the 101 and begin the drive.
Comment by Kathleen@ForgingAhead | 06.5.2010 | 7:20 pm
Rocking contest and it just keeps getting better! Go Team Fatty!
Comment by Franky B | 06.6.2010 | 3:11 pm
Hmmm going to admit I didnt see it like that. You make a good point I might have to start planning for a san jose trip
Comment by Erik | 06.7.2010 | 12:57 am
Hey Mike Roadie!
You and I know Austin will have the best Fatty’s around, although I might be considered a
round Fatty. AHEM…
At any rate, if you need any help with the Austin side of things for Team Fatty let me know, I’ll do what I can.
Comment by Adrian | 06.9.2010 | 11:15 am
Do you choose to be a virtual participant after you agree to terms? I haven’t tried it yet cause I forgot my user name and the retrieval system is going awry for me.
Will be joining Team Austin though.
Might switch later to non virtual participant, getting married 6 days before the event.
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Fioricet….
Fioricet….