Grand Slam for Zambia: More Prizes, More Awesomeness
A Note from Fatty: If you’re just looking for the rules and where to donate, I can help you out. Click here for the rules, and click here to go to the donation page. Thanks!
On July 20, Johan Bruyneel challenged us to a tiny little contest. A “no-big-deal, we’ll take care of it before lunch” kinda thing: Raise enough money for World Bicycle Relief to buy 1000 bikes for kids in Zambia.
Wow.
The thing is, I was happy to take on this challenge, because it’s a pretty amazing thing to consider: every bike we raise money for changes a life. It gives a kid in Zambia a way to make the commute to school, to get educated, and to get a big boost on the trail toward a better life.
If we raise $134,000, we’ll drastically improve the lives of a thousand people. And that’s how Grand Slam for Zambia: 1000 Bikes. 1000 Lives Changed was born. Check out the awesome sticker we’ll be putting on those bikes:
And if you donate at least $134, we’ll send you a sticker to put on your bike, too.
Johan didn’t leave us with just a challenge, though. He put out a few pretty nice incentives, with new incentives coming available as we hit fundraising milestones. We’ve already hit the first two milestones, which means that somebody’s gonna win a SRAM Red Pro Gruppo, and someone’s going to win a race-ridden Team RadioShack bike.
And with more than $50,000 raised in the first ten days or so, we’re in spitting distance of the halfway-point incentive, at which time a yellow jersey worn on a Tour de France podium and then signed by Lance Armstrong.
And those are some very cool incentives. But I’ve been busy, using my superpower of asking companies for stuff, and now I’ve got more prizes to add to the pot. Quite a few more, in fact. Enough more that if you haven’t donated yet, I’m hoping you’ll do the math and get out your credit card.
How These Prizes Work
All the prizes I’m listing below will definitely be given away as part of the random drawing — these are not “milestone” prizes. So, if you’ve donated already, you’re entered for these prizes. If you haven’t, well, you aren’t. So you should probably go donate now, eh?
Specialized BG S-Works Road Shoes, donated by Boa Technology
These shoes are almost too beautiful to wear, and it’s lucky they’re only almost too beautiful, because you’ll definitely want to wear them. I have a pair of these shoes, and the Boa Closure System takes what is already a near-perfect road shoe and finishes the job. Twist one dial to cinch — smoothly and evenly — the front of the shoe. Twist another dial to cinch the top. Twist the other way to loosen.
These shoes retail for about $350, and some lucky winner will get them as part of the drawing. I hope it’s you, because you would love them. And you will also love the Boa jersey that comes with this prize as an awesome bonus.
An Entry Into the 2012 Breckenridge Epic Stage Race
Six days — or three days, your choice — of mountain bike racing in beautiful Breckenridge, Colorado. It’s The Breckenridge Epic, and it’s going to be an incredible race. A tough race. A race you will be so glad you’ve done, once you’ve done it.
So it’s a good thing you’ve got a year to train for it.
This race is on my bucket list. I want to do it next year. So it’d be kinda cool if we were both racing it, wouldn’t it?
Yes, it would.
This prize has a retail value of $995, and includes everything that normally comes with a solo racer entry, which is actually makes it an astounding bargain. If you want to get a team together, they’ll need to pay for their registration, which seems only fair, since it was you — not them — who won the prize, right?
Smartwool: Socks, Armwarmers, or Kneewarmers
This isn’t really just a prize. It’s 30 prizes. Specifically, 30 people will get to choose which of these awesome Smartwool products they would like:
- PhD Cycling Ultra Light Mini Socks: Featuring WOW™ technology in high density impact zones, shock and abrasion are reduced. The 4-Degree Fit System keeps the sock in place.
- Arm Warmers: Thanks to seamless construction, you’ll stay comfortable and warm, and have maximum freedom of movement. A non-binding welt at the wrist and bicep openings will keep warmers in place.
- Knee Warmers: Seamless construction allows freedom of movement, while a mesh knit ventilation zone at the back of the knee permits airflow. A non-binding welt at the thigh opening keeps warmers in place.
I’ve mentioned before how much I love Smartwool stuff. You’re going to love it too.
Honey Stinger Smorgasbord
Have I mentioned that I’m a big fan of Honey Stinger? I have? Possibly even recently? Well, that’s something you’ll probably see as a theme in prizes I wrangle: they tend to be products that I happen to love.
Two people will win what I call a “Honey Stinger Smorgasbord:” A box-sized sampling of each of the awesome energy food Honey Stinger has to offer.
- 1 box of Waffles, winner chooses flavor
- 1 box of energy bars, winner chooses flavor
- 1 box of gels, winner chooses flavor
- 1 box energy chews, winner chooses flavor
- 1 box 10g or 20g protein bars, winner chooses flavor
That’s enough Honey Stinger stuff to get you hooked, I think. Mmmm. Sweet, sweet addiction.
Hey, is that guy going bowling? No, biking. It’s a full-on technical cycling jersey, but with a different cut and look. Club Ride has got a unique look that allows you to feel comfortable both during and after the ride.
Club Ride is providing two prizes: one mens’ shorts and jersey kit (your choice of each), and one womens’ shorts and jersey kit.
For myself, I’d go with the Half Rack shorts, maybe matched with the mens’ Bowler shirt.
But that’s just me.
The Real Reason We’re Doing This
Of course, prizes are fun, and I like to give them out. But — we both know it — the real reason you’re donating is not in the hope you’re going to win something. It’s because by doing so, you are, in a very simple and practical way, making a life better. You’re giving a chance to a kid who otherwise isn’t getting a lot of chances.
And I think you are awesome for that.
Thank you for donating, and I hope you win.
Comment by KM | 08.1.2011 | 12:20 pm
Ohhhh, I thought I had given my donation amount for the year…….I feel an impulse donation brewing….
Comment by nh_joe | 08.1.2011 | 12:45 pm
I’m planning to do Breck Epic next year, too! How will you manage missing Leadville, though???
Maybe I’ll do both! It’s possible, you know. Just not smart. – FC
Comment by Jenn | 08.1.2011 | 1:01 pm
Awesome additions! Hey, Fatty…you meant July 20, not August, in that second line, right?
Yep, fixed! – FC
Comment by jasper9 | 08.1.2011 | 1:16 pm
Tim Johnson (and a few others) are doing the Leadville + Breck Epic double up! Not sure about every year, but this year Leadville is on a Saturday, BrEpic Stage 1 is the very next day. Huphup buttercups. – @jasper9
Comment by nh_joe | 08.1.2011 | 1:20 pm
@Fatty – I suppose it is possible! Next week is my first LT100. I’ll see how I feel the next day. Something tells me it *won’t* be “I’d like to start a 6 day stage race this morning.”
Comment by Mayhemnsuz | 08.1.2011 | 1:50 pm
When I went to make my donation, Fatty, your contributions were up over 68K. Way to go!
Comment by Mayhemnsuz | 08.1.2011 | 1:53 pm
But now I’m not sure about that as I went to double check and on a different screen it was scrolling 50,336… still great, really.
Comment by NYCCarlos | 08.1.2011 | 3:11 pm
I was thinking about the BC Bike Race one day… the Breck Epic would be a suitable substitute. Hope I win! :)
Comment by Darren | 08.1.2011 | 5:06 pm
@NYCCarlos Breck Epic would be a close substitute, but not sure if it would be quite as nice. It isn’t in Canada after all :-)
Comment by Darren | 08.1.2011 | 5:07 pm
Donation done…. Let’s get after our friends, families and companies for this one folks!!!! Let’s show them what Team Fatty can do!!!!
Comment by Justin L | 08.1.2011 | 5:17 pm
Done, Both my wife and I have now bought strangers bicycles, kinda weird. But good knowing where it goes. Come on everyone………….
Comment by Justin L | 08.1.2011 | 5:19 pm
By the way fatty, Holy crap there are alot of killer prizes. I might have to work another overtime day, just to make another contribution.
Comment by MellowJonny | 08.1.2011 | 7:32 pm
Is fatty riding in this years Leadville?
Comment by Heather | 08.1.2011 | 7:35 pm
Total awesomeness!
Comment by eclecticdeb | 08.1.2011 | 7:41 pm
Down for (almost) 1/2 of a bike. Great job!
Comment by Wife#1 | 08.1.2011 | 9:55 pm
But do we have the Chris Horner socks yet? You know, something so epic that it will sway all those on the fence to jump up and say “By god, I must donate $134 for a bike immediately… Chris Horner’s socks!”
It could happen.
Comment by davidh-marin,ca | 08.1.2011 | 10:27 pm
Apparent;y I have big shoes to fill. Wife #1(my better half) is coveting Chris Horner and his socks. Oh! she tells me it’s just the socks, whew!
On another topic:
Is the GSfoZ Sticker ‘artwork’ available to be used as a header for a poster? I would like to make up a flyer to put in my local bike shop(s) here in Marin. I have 6 shops in a one mile radius, and I think I could rally up some additional donations the old fashion way.
From Wife #1:
I’m told the “Noodlelator” http://www.fatcyclist.com/2010/10/18/ride-across-america-report-from-janeen-noodle-mccrae/ is coming to the Levis Gran Fondo (recent Fatty tweet response) Angie, you’re in charge of a venue, I’ll bring pie, Does Bike Monkey have a outdoor space? Pie goes with beer, doesn’t it? Let’s get a group, a plan, a place, and let’s go meet Precious. http://yesiamprecious.com/
Lastly: Knee warmers? Really? What was that blog? Oh Yeah…
http://www.fatcyclist.com/2007/05/16/knee-warmers-are-stupid/
I’ll still wear them though…I’m old, and garters on a bike kit is definitely a Northern California “look’.
Comment by Wife#1 | 08.1.2011 | 10:36 pm
Okay I just caught up with the news about Horner, had no clue about the blood clot until after I posted my earlier comment. Boy do I feel tacky.
Best wishes for him to heal quickly and completely!
Comment by 3d brian | 08.1.2011 | 10:45 pm
Fatty,
So what’s with leading the charge on Plus 3 Network and then not updating anything for almost a month now?
It’s a “Once you haven’t cleaned your room for a week, it gets harder to clean your room” problem. I keep collecting more and more stuff on my GPSs, and it means it’s gonna take more and more time to upload them, and I’m going to need a bigger and bigger block of time to do it. But I will. Soon. I swear! And thanks for the call-out; I needed it! – FC
Comment by davidh-marin,ca | 08.1.2011 | 10:45 pm
Thar’s Team Fatty pictures galore from Davis Livestrong Challenge ride. For those not there scroll through the assortment:
http://www.KreutzPhotography.com/default.asp?LOC=%2FKPhoto%2FPhoto%5FViewListSub%2Easp%3FGID%3D1513%26TYP%3DPUB
We’ll have to get people to identify their handle to their pics. In the meantime enjoy!
Comment by davidh-marin,ca | 08.1.2011 | 11:08 pm
The Boss:
http://www.KreutzPhotography.com/default.asp?LOC=%2FKPhoto%2FPhoto%5FViewListSub%2Easp%3FGID%3D1513%26TYP%3DPUB
(He photographs taller)
Kinda of reminds me of JonLuc from the cyborg episode…with smile…and a helmet.
Comment by Christina | 08.2.2011 | 3:45 pm
I left my 100MoN number on my bike for RAGBRAI and a guy from the USAF team rode up, saw it, and said, “AWESOME! What division did you win?” It was a hilarious and amazing conversation to have.
I’ll be buying a bike tonight. I hope the universe has a sense of humor and lets me win something fantastic. I personally want to test the “Any fool can ride it” aspect of the race.
Comment by jielg97 | 08.3.2011 | 12:49 am
In computer popular today, believe that daily life can’t computer, natural cannot leave Keyboard.
Pingback by Fat Cyclist » Blog Archive » Grand Slam for Zambia Update: Chris Horner, iPhone, GPS Prizes Edition | 08.18.2011 | 10:04 am
[...] the Grand Slam for Zambia contest. For details, you should read my original post on the contest my first follow-up post on the contest, and Johan Bruyneel’s description of the contest, but here’s a quick [...]