Fight Cancer, Win a “Dream” Trip . . . And Something Else I Will Reveal Tomorrow
A Note from Fatty: If you’ve already read (or are not currently in the mood to read) all the hoopla around this contest and are now in the mood to just get on with the entering of said contest already, click here to donate (in multiples of $5, please) to my LiveStrong Challenge page. Thanks!
I am a deliberate and thoughtful person. For example, it is no accident that I live where I live — I picked this place because it is an unbelievably wonderful spot to go bike riding — whether you like road or mountain biking.
Furthermore — and your mind may reel at this — it is no coincidence that I ride bicycles a lot. I do this because I like riding bicycles. And, believe it or not, I write a blog about biking because I like sharing stories and talking with people about bikes!
Your head is spinning right now, I know. But I’ve got one more for you. I spend quite a bit of time and effort putting together contests to raise money for the fight against cancer because I hate cancer.
Whoah.
And today I’m excited to tell you about a new contest. One that takes all these very subtle and complex nuances of my very deliberate, thoughtful self, and combines them into something so spectacularly awesome that it’s going to take a couple days to describe.
That’s right, this contest has two grand prizes, but I’m only going to tell you about one of them today.
Fight Cancer, Ride in Utah With Fatty
Hey, I’m not interested in starting any fights here, but I think I could make a pretty good case for Utah being the most awesome place in the world for cycling.
And if you win this contest, I’ll do my level best to prove it to you.
We’ll get on the phone and talk. I’ll find out what kind of riding you like to do — road or mountain biking. We’ll talk about what level of riding you like to do. And how long you like to ride.
And then I’ll start telling you about some ideas for rides you might enjoy.
For example, maybe you’d want to ride The Alpine Loop:
Or maybe you’d want to go mountain biking at what I’ve called the best place in the world, Tibble Fork, which includes the unbelievable Joy Descent:
Or if you’re feeling like doing an epic all-day road ride, we could head out and ride Mt. Nebo.
Or maybe you would rather go see a different part of Utah than my hometown. In that case, we could go to Moab.
Or we could go to Saint George and ride Gooseberry and / or Little Creek:
Or the Guacamole Trail:
Or we could go to Moab. I hear there’s some good biking there.
But Wait, That’s Not All
Once we’ve figured out where and what you want to ride, we’ll figure out a time that will work for both of us (frankly, this will probably be the most difficult part of the whole shebang, but we’re smart people and will find a way, somehow).
Then I’ll fly you down / up here, and take you to SLC Bicycle Company, where you’ll get professionally fitted on the bike you’ll be using for this trip.
Yep, a professional fitting, on a top-flight bike. So the bike you’ll be riding on this trip will be the most awesome-fitting ride you’ve ever had.
Which also means you won’t need to bother bringing a bike with you.
Then we’ll head out riding. I’ll bring The Hammer along if you’re a woman, so it won’t feel like you’re on some weird creepy date with a married guy.
And if you’re a guy, I’ll see if some of the Core Team can come along for the ride, because they’re a lot more interesting than I am in person.
And then, after we ride, we’ll have brats. Unless you’re a vegetarian or something, in which case I’ll make my vegetarian burritos, which are almost as good as brats.
And I’ll put you up in a hotel so you don’t have to sleep on my couch.
And then, the next day, we’ll ride some more.
And afterward, you and I will agree that this has been the single most awesome vacation, ever.
There are a lot of cycling meccas in the world, OK? But Utah is my cycling mecca. And if you win this contest, it will be your mecca too.
Seriously, That’s Not All. In Fact, It’s Not Even Close To All.
I believe I mentioned at the beginning of this post that I was only describing the first half of the prize for this contest today.
Tomorrow, I will describe the second half. And I believe that at that point you will like this contest even more, and the idea of winning it will make you lose sleep at night.
I apologize in advance for your upcoming sleepless nights.
Why This Is Important
I believe very strongly in the good work LiveStrong does. I’ve said — many times before — that I received help and inspiration from them, firsthand, when Susan was starting her second big fight with cancer.
And more recently, I got to see up close — during the LiveStrong Assembly — some of the great ways LiveStrong puts our fundraising dollars to use.
People who are fighting cancer need help, in a variety of ways. And LiveStrong does an amazing job of providing that help.
So for this contest, I wanted to show that I am not just an observer and facilitator in my support of LiveStrong. I wanted to show that I’m willing to spend my own money and time to help LiveStrong in its mission.
So yeah, this contest is gonna cost me. Airfare, hotel, etc. won’t be cheap. But it’s totally worth it.
And not just because we’re going to get some awesome riding in, either.
How the Contest Works, And to How to Enter
For every $5.00 you donate at my LiveStrong Davis Challenge page, you’ll get a row on my magically deluxe spreadsheet, which I have affectionately and cleverly named FriendsOfFatty.XLS.
The more you donate, the more rows you get
Once the contest ends (on June 22 at midnight, MST), I’ll randomly (using random.org, natch) choose a row on that spreadsheet. Then I’ll contact you, and you’ll start yelling and stuff (which will be totally OK, because I’ll be contacting you by email) and we’ll get this ball rolling.
[A note for my international friends: I only have so much money. If you win the contest, it's your responsibility to get to the U.S., and I'll fly you the rest of the way, OK?]
And what if you’re already a member of Team Fatty and are raising money for your own LiveStrong Challenge? Well, just keep on raising money — and maybe donate some more into your own account — because the money you’ve raised as part of Team Fatty counts toward your entry in this contest, too.
Yep, that’s right, you can join Team Fatty and get other people to donate on your challenge page, and you might win this prize. In other words, keep up the good work you’ve already started.
So, please donate. You might just win an awesome trip to ride with . . . me.
Not to mention the second half of the prize, which will make it really spectacular.
More on that tomorrow.
Comment by Daniel Simon | 05.15.2012 | 11:38 am
Podium?
(I’d surf a couch to $ave money for brats, or burritos.)
Comment by AKChick55 | 05.15.2012 | 11:52 am
Fatty, you just gave me chills. I’m SO excited!!!! Thank you for allowing us to fundraise for our own LIVESTRONG Davis Challenge accounts and still get entries into this contest. I think this is the best prize you’ve had yet (or maybe I’m the only one who prefers people over bikes, though bikes aren’t bad). Woo hoo! Thank you for investing of your time and money to make this happen. This is the first contest that I’ve REALLY wanted to win. So I’m going to donate to you and also see if I can get people to donate to me to help me win! :) And if I’m not selected (I will cry and you don’t want to see me cry right? So pick me! ;-) then I’ll still win cause a lot of people will have provided much needed funding to LIVESTRONG! A win! :)
Comment by davidh,marin | 05.15.2012 | 12:01 pm
I’m in!!! Save your money Fatty I’ll park in the driveway, and you probably have a hose I can use.
Comment by Susie H | 05.15.2012 | 12:33 pm
Oh, wow! This all sounds so fabulous, and we’ve not even heard the second part! So, if I’ve already raised $250, does that mean I already have 50 LINES on your spreadsheet??? I am so excited I can hardly fathom it. Yep!
That’s exactly right. You’ve got a good head start! – FC
Comment by Liz | 05.15.2012 | 12:41 pm
Best prize ever! I’ve always wanted to go to Utah to bike. I’m a sea level girl, so you and the Hammer would have to turn around periodically to make sure I haven’t keeled over from the effects of altitude.
Seriously, Fatty is so convincing about the wonder of cycling in Utah, it is a mystery to me why the Utah Tourist Board doesn’t advertise on his site.
Comment by Doug (Way upstate NY) | 05.15.2012 | 12:44 pm
Hey Elden,
What if you are signed up for Team Fatty at LS Philadelphia or Austin?
Those count too. – FC
Comment by Roses | 05.15.2012 | 1:17 pm
Can I just run with The Hammer instead?
Yes. As long as you’re not a dude. – FC
Comment by Christina | 05.15.2012 | 1:20 pm
Is it allowable to sign up for Team Fatty and fundraise there, but not be AT Davis?
Absolutely. – FC
Comment by ScottR | 05.15.2012 | 2:01 pm
Sounds like a fantastic prize, even if it stops with what you already have in today’s post.
I’m going for shock and awe. – FC
Comment by NYCCarlos | 05.15.2012 | 2:11 pm
I am officially EVEN MORE pumped for Davis.
Awesome. Me too! – FC
Comment by DavidV | 05.15.2012 | 2:23 pm
Can we request riding with the Hammer regardless of our born gender? :-)
NO. – FC
Comment by Dave T | 05.15.2012 | 3:19 pm
Wow this is to cool. Raise more money on our Livestrong pages and be eligible for prizes. I would agree with NYCCarlos I’m officially pumped up for this! Davis here we come!
Comment by ScottR | 05.15.2012 | 3:36 pm
Well played, Fatty, well played.
Comment by leroy | 05.15.2012 | 3:44 pm
Looks like I owe my dog an apology.
I thought he wanted to borrow money to buy Cheetos for him and his riding buddies.
This is way cooler.
Comment by Sarah | 05.15.2012 | 8:50 pm
Okay, so I’m half writing this note and half bawling my bloody eyes out. Why? Because this is SO damned cool! If you follow my blog (www.thinfluenced.com), you know I’m a cancer mom of a FANTASTIC 12 year old son who has been battling relapsed leukemia since 2007. He has literally walked into the pits of hell and back again… We have brought him back from the edge of death three different times. Cole is our world…
In lieu of his battle, and because I LOVE to cycle, I decided to do something to honor my baby. This September I’m attempting my FIRST 100 mile ride to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society! (We also raise $10,000 for the ACS every year!) Did I mention, by the way, that we’re not overly athletic folks? But we’re DOING THIS! This experience, for us, has been amazing… And what’s even more amazing is witnessing people, like you, getting involved in the fight against cancer and making a difference the same way!
So, thank you! This is incredible! And I’m SO PROUD to have found your blog!
Sarah
http://www.thinfluenced.com
http://www.fightbackforcole.com
Comment by Redbird74 | 05.15.2012 | 9:01 pm
Good thing Buffalo is so close to Toronto. Easy to get across the border when I win. This is the push I needed to get the 100 MoNW fundraising rolling. Thanks Fatty!
Comment by Justin L | 05.15.2012 | 9:11 pm
Wow, I must have passed through the wrong part of Utah, because that video of the road riding is amazing. But the social distortion song on the mtb video makes me want to mtb.!!
Comment by jacked | 05.15.2012 | 9:53 pm
I’m in with the realization that the fight is so much more important than you waiting for me to crawl up some hill in UT while attempting to breath at altitude. Given the chance to experience that I would, but helping in the fight I definitely will!
Thanks for all you do Fatty!
Comment by Jeremy | 05.15.2012 | 10:23 pm
Cancer sucks. Bikes rule. Fight cancer+bikes=awesome. Fight cancer+bikes+Fatty’s home turf=freaking sweet!
Comment by AKChick55 | 05.15.2012 | 11:41 pm
Fatty, is there a Team Fatty official hotel for Davis?
I was asked and I don’t know. I’m fortunate int hat I’m staying with a coworker, but if there is someplace where folks should stay, could you let us know in a future blog post? Pretty please? :) I can’t wait to meet everyone!! It will be epic!
Also, I started a page that is linked to my Facebook page for the LIVESTRONG Challenge Davis event for Team Fatty at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Team-Fatty-LIVESTRONG-Davis/271783436216181 The link may not work, so you may have to copy and paste into your browser. Unfortunately, you can’t post independently so I think I’m going to create a group page this week since we are getting so close to the actual day. Ideally, it would be a way for us to interact with each other without having to wait for me to post something. That way we can plan for various eating events, pie, chocolate cake, etc. :)
Comment by a chris | 05.15.2012 | 11:55 pm
Wow. That’s an awesome prize and I think it’s going to be a very successful contest. Go Team Fatty!
Comment by Graham | 05.16.2012 | 6:05 am
This is pretty amazing of you, Fatty. Great idea. Of course my favorite kind of riding is along the boardwalk chuckling at sunburned tourists and calling out greetings to friends and students. It’s just about a perfect afternoon if you can ignore the rollerbladers. ;-)
Seriously though. I think that if I won I’d have to hand my prize to someone else. I haven’t been mountain biking or on a group road ride in forever and the embarrassment of having you walk beside me while I attempt to bicycle up the hill would literally kill me.
Comment by Paul Guyot | 05.16.2012 | 10:15 am
If I win can we just sit around eating donuts and watching Quicksilver?
Comment by Lin | 05.16.2012 | 5:41 pm
So the one objection I have to this contest is that only men have the opportunity to ride with the core team??? What’s that about? ;) Because as we all know, the bigger the gruppo, the faster the speed!
Comment by MattC (yes, that one) | 05.16.2012 | 7:07 pm
@AKChick55, last year seems most of us Fatties stayed at the UC Davis Hyatt Place…it’s about a 3 minute bike ride from the LIVESTRONG happenings, or a 10 minute walk. Here’s the link if case you are interested:
http://ucdavis.place.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels-ucdavis-place/place/index.jsp
Also, last year if you made your reservation thru thru the LIVESTRONG link you got a discount (I don’t know if they (Hyatt) have that link this year…last year I made our reservations, this year my brother made them).
It was a great place (a bit pricey to my low-bucks lifestyle) but wouldn’t hesitate to stay there again. And make SURE you get into town Friday, so you can be at the TEAM FATTY Cycling Hall of Fame evening…it’s reserved for JUST US (thanks to my Sist’a AngieG…AGAIN!) Had a blast last year, it was a great way to kick off our Fatty-fest LS weekend!
Comment by Maggie | 05.16.2012 | 7:43 pm
Six months after spending a week biking in Utah, and I *still* wake up many mornings in a confused daze and start planning my morning bike ride, only to fully awaken and realize that the ride I’m planning is in Utah! And I live in Colorado, which arguably has its perks bike-wise!! Yet somehow Utah biking becomes a permanent tattoo on your brain. Fair warning!