Change a Life, Get Your Money Doubled, and Win a Dream Bike
A Note from Fatty: If you want to skip the jibber-jabber and go enter the contest already, just click here.
I love seeing the incredible things that can happen when good people and companies combine their natural inclination to do the right thing into a collective uber-outrageous nexus of awesomeicity.
That’s what’s happening right here, right now, and I really hope you’ll be a part of it. Because if you do, you’ll for sure be drastically changing the lives of children in Zambia — you’ll be a part of why they’re able to stay in school longer, get more work done, get better jobs, make a difference in their families’ well-being, and in general have a better life.
And you’ll for sure be having every dollar you donate matched by Trek. Which means your generosity, right now, is twice as effective as usual.
And — finally — there’s a chance that by being part of this you’ll win a dream bike that is so dreamy that other dream bikes dream about growing up to become this dream bike.
Here. Let me show you.
What You Can Win
You might want to be comfortably seated for this. Not because I think you’re going to pass out, mind you, but because I’m very interested in your personal comfort. That said, the bike we’re going to give away is so incredible it may make you swoon. At retail, in fact, it would be about $15,000 of incredible, and would be a (much) nicer bike than most professionals ride.
One person who donates will be randomly drawn to win a Trek Madone 7 Series Frameset. This is there absolute top-of-the-line road racing frame, and it is incredible.
But you don’t just get the frame in whatever color Trek happens to have in inventory. No. Your bike will be styled with Trek’s Project One customizing program, letting you select from thousands of colors and design schemes, from boldly simple to outrageously cool. Here are just a few of the possibilities…to kinda get your imagination going:
I call this the “Johnny Cash”
Blue flames are scientifically proven to make you go 9% faster.
Candy-apple red: extra-delicious
Of course, a frame isn’t exactly a bike, is it? You’re going to need to get yourself some wheels and stuff to go with this super-zooty Madone frameset.
And as it turns out, the wheels, bar, and stem for this ultra-dream bike will be provided by ENVE Composites, a designer and manufacturer (right here in the USA, thank you very much) of parts so beautiful you can’t help but want to frame them…until you put them on your bike. At which point you’re really glad you didn’t go and put such incredible stuff on your wall.
ENVE is going to let you choose any wheelset from their collection to put on your bike. Personally, I would choose the SES 6.7 Clinchers:
And by “would choose” I mean “did choose.” These are the wheels I ride with on my own personal road bike. And they are amazing. They seriously, genuinely, and for reals make you a faster rider.
Of course, maybe you’d rather go with a deeper rim. Or a shallower one (I have to admit, I was very conflicted over whether to get the 6.7 or the award-winning 3.4). Or maybe you’re wanting to go tubular. Regardless, ENVE’s got you covered.
And then there’s the bar. I love ENVE’s road bars.
I personally went with their Compact Road Bar (42cm version), which fits better than any road bar I have ever ridden before. Plus the integrated bar end plugs (no more lost bar end plugs ever again) are a work of genius.
And then, of course is the ENVE Carbon Stem:
Yes, once again, that’s what I have on my personal road bike. 100mm version, in case you’re curious. ENVE says it wouldn’t be out of place in the Louvre. I say it’s far too sexy for the Louvre.
Even with all this Trek and ENVE goodness, though, you don’t have a complete bike. And that’s where SRAM comes in, with a full complement of SRAM RED – Black Edition components: Shifters, derailleurs, crankset, cassette, everything. It’s the first choice for riders and racers who won’t accept any compromise.
This is the pro-level stuff, folks. Maybe more pro than pro. It’s downright Pro, with caps and italics.
Basically, this bike is going to be so incredibly nice bike — such an incredibly fast bike — that you might find yourself accidentally winning races. Which would be a pleasant surprise.
And in short, you have no idea how much it pains me that, as the person who has put this contest together, I am ineligible to win it.
How the Contest Works and How To Enter
It’s very easy to enter the contest. Just go to this World Bicycle Relief fundraiser page and donate any multiple of $10.00. You know: $10.00, or $20.00, and so forth. For every $10.00 you donate, you get a chance at winning this bike. And since Trek is matching your donation, you’ll actually get double the chances of winning the bike (of course, everyone else does too, so I’ll leave it to the statisticians as to whether your chances actually improve).
But you know what? a World Bicycle Relief bike — the bikes we’re raising money to buy for kids in Zambia — cost $134. So if you donate $134 (or more), we’ll throw in three extra chances for your donation. And that goes for every $134 you donate, so $268 nets you an extra three chances.
You need to donate by the end of day, Wednesday July 31, to have Trek match your donation, and that’s when this contest ends, too.
Pretty easy, right? So go donate now.
What Your Donation Is Doing
Your donations (and Trek’s matching donations) go straight to World Bicycle Relief, which provides bicycles for people who need them in impoverished parts of the world, such as Zambia.
I’ve visited Zambia with World Bicycle Relief, and seen firsthand what a bicycle means there. It means a chance to move past barely surviving to making progress. To finishing school. To getting a better job. To getting to a medical clinic in time. Read my report on bikes to schoolchildren and my report on bikes to caregivers for more information.
Basically, your donation helps get a bombproof, purpose-built bike to someone who will be able to use it to have a better life, and to help others. You’ll be making an immediate, powerful, and permanent difference in someone’s life. And that is pretty amazing.
So really, whether you personally win this incredible bike is not very important. The fact that you’re doing something good is important.
So, again: let me ask you to donate.
Questions? Concerns?
If you’ve got questions or concerns, put them in the comments section. I’ll do my best to answer them, and Katie Bolling of World Bicycle Relief will too.
Here. I’ll get started with a few questions I think I can anticipate.
Q. Is my donation tax-deductible?
A. No. Since there is a possibility that your donation will get you a prize, your donation is not tax-deductible. I hope you’re OK with that. If, however, you’d prefer to donate, not be entered for the drawing (although Trek will still match your donation) and have your donation be tax-deductible, go to the main World Bicycle Relief page and click the Donate button there.
Q. Will the money I donate be safe?
A. Last year, a bunch of people wanting to do the right thing donated to the Paul Kimmage Defense Fund…and then the money disappeared. That can’t and won’t happen with this fundraiser, because I’m never even near the money. Your donations go straight to World Bicycle Relief, the charity your money is intended for. This is good for me personally, too, because it means next April I don’t have to deal with the tax implications of what would appear to the IRS as a big chunk of income.
Q. Do I have to do anything to have Trek match?
A. No, Trek makes the match automatically. You don’t have to do anything.
Q. Can I participate if I live outside the US?
A. Yes you can, but you are responsible for paying customs on the bike if you win, and that will be a considerable amount of money.
Q. I pre-ordered a FatCyclist.com jersey. Am I entered in this contest?
A. Yes. Your jersey purchased netted WBR $40 (half the cost of a short-sleeve jersey!) and netted you five chances at the bike. That pre-order is now ended, by the way.
Comment by MrFlux | 07.18.2013 | 11:55 am
Is this the 10 or 11 speed version of the SRAMs Red Black?
Whichever you prefer. We’re giving you the keys to the candy store. – FC
Comment by Clayton | 07.18.2013 | 12:07 pm
2 more bikes for World Bicycle Relief. Done and done.
Thanks tons, Clayton. – FC
Comment by T.J. Olaussen | 07.18.2013 | 12:22 pm
1 bike donated. Gonna start a little savings plan so that I’ll be able to donate at least 5 bikes next year.
Wow. Thank you! And remember, by donating one, you got Trek to donate another! – FC
Comment by Lucas | 07.18.2013 | 12:29 pm
done and done… wish I could do more but I did what I could!
I couldn’t ask for more. Thank you! – FC
Comment by Davidh-marin,ca | 07.18.2013 | 12:41 pm
Question: Can all my donations go in under the name MattC (’cause he could really use a new bike to keep up with his brother-who has a new bike)?
I still haven’t taken the cardboard wrapping off the tubes on our WBR Winning Bike, it’s just that precious. (Do get some odd looks on the local trails, but I think it’s just AWE…) I would recommend it to MattC but it does affect the aerodynamics, and he lives in a windy place. Still, you can’t be too good to your bike.
As for ‘paint schemes’ I think we need the Twin Six graphics guy to create the
Fatty Wins
paint scheme:
Black, orange, Brats, Pie, Horsey, Win (pink)
If you win, you can give the bike to anyone you want. And thank you! – FC
Comment by Brian | 07.18.2013 | 1:03 pm
Bought the long sleeve jersey as it seemed appropriate in the middle of our week long heat wave – hopefully that was also contest eligible? Only ask as the short sleeve jersey was mentioned
Yes, the long-sleeve version is definitely eligible. Thanks for asking! – FC
Comment by NYCCarlos | 07.18.2013 | 2:02 pm
any word on being able to do a fatty paint scheme like Davidh mentions above?
Comment by Jessy | 07.18.2013 | 2:04 pm
I donated $10. Not much, but hey, that’s something.
Comment by Heidi | 07.18.2013 | 2:13 pm
I’m in for one bike, hoping to add another one by the end of the month. Yay!
Comment by Nancy_in_MN | 07.18.2013 | 3:58 pm
I’m with @DavidH and @NYCCarlos: Twin Six generated, FC themed artwork for the “signature area” on the bike would be awesome! Or maybe Trek would even consent to a full-on FC custom paint job.
Yeah, that’s it! There will be so many jealous (note, I do not say “disappointed”) FC riders that didn’t win the dream bike, that Trek will be flooded with orders for look-alikes.
Oh wait! Did you say $15,000? With THREE zeros? Um, never mind about the flood of orders.
I’m in for 1 WBR bike now and hope to sneak in another for my birthday next week. I’m laying down heavy hints with the family.
Comment by Davidh-marin,ca | 07.18.2013 | 4:25 pm
Sorry. Another call out to the Twin Six Graphics department:
We’ll also need:
Fight Like Susan!
on there somewhere.
Comment by Wife#1 | 07.18.2013 | 5:17 pm
*whew* Glad we have until the end of this month to make some additional contest entries/donations. Need another paycheck to come in first as I *may* have gone a tad overboard on Fatty gear while it was offered.
The email yesterday (day before?) about the TwinSix moving sale didn’t help either! Those bastards, offering sweet deals on t-shirts! :-)
Comment by Mark in Bremerton | 07.18.2013 | 5:36 pm
Wow, only 25 (including me) people have donated so far (but multiple times, obviously). I like those odds better than the Publisher’s Clearing House. And even when I don’t win, I’ll feel good. Until then, the fantasy lives!
Comment by Dave T | 07.18.2013 | 5:57 pm
Donated a few bikes and will try and spread the word. Thank you for doing what you do so well fatty.
Dave, thanks so much for your generosity. I really appreciate it! – FC
Comment by Doug (Way upstate NY) | 07.18.2013 | 7:08 pm
This is a great fundraiser (and the only way I would ever get a bike of that caliber). It also made getting my jersey a little easier at home :)
Comment by Leanne | 07.19.2013 | 3:13 am
Great cause fatty. I hope everyone is doing their best and doubling that money.
Comment by Derek | 07.19.2013 | 9:27 am
Does the winner provide saddle, pedals, tires and tubes or will that be provided too?
Comment by Katie Bolling | 07.19.2013 | 9:44 am
Dear all and particularly for @Jessy:
All of us at World Bicycle Relief are blown away by your generosity to support our work and help us create long-term impact in the communities we serve in rural Africa. We value each and everyone of you and your willingness to provide a powerful tool to people on the other side of the planet whom you may never meet. We don’t value you based on the dollar amount of your donation. We value you based on the fact that you believe in the power of bicycles and, perhaps more importantly, you trust in our ability to fulfill our mission. We absolutely could not do our work without you! Thank you and keep dreaming of your winning paint scheme:)! Katie
Perfectly said, and exactly true. – FC
Comment by Wife#1 | 07.19.2013 | 9:59 am
Paycheck-schmaycheck…. American Express loves our callous disregard for actual funds at time of purchase.
More bikes purchased by the Houstons. More than planned actually since we knew Trek was matching. Thank you Trek! It was compelling when mulling that each 1 bike we bought became 2, two became four, and so on, and so on.
Good stuff. Happy Friday Team Fatty peeps!
Comment by fatty | 07.19.2013 | 10:14 am
I just thought I’d let those of you who pre-ordered a jersey know that together you raised $8780.
With Trek’s matching, that’s $17,560.
That’s 131 bikes.
Awesome.
Comment by Jerry Pringle | 07.19.2013 | 10:56 am
Ordered a jersey, will pay for a bike this weekend. Thanks Fatty for all you do, and I love being a small part of it! BTW, the Orange and Blue one is awesome (Go Gators!)
Comment by Davidh-marin,ca | 07.19.2013 | 11:01 am
That’s Phatt Fatty! (am I continuing to ‘date’ myself?)
If I can still do math, and if I can’t this thing has a calculator, that’s 439 jerseys! I need to check with Wife#1 and find out exactly how many she ordered? Anyone want to buy a bike?
There’s going to be a lot of stylin’ Fatties out there next year, hope we can see you at Davis. Imagine the Big Black Train…with a little orange.
Comment by Wife#1 | 07.19.2013 | 11:02 am
@thincyclist – AWESOME indeed!!! S0, 439 more FC jerseys will be in the world come September? Add that to prior years’ inventory and we’ve got more than enough gear to invade a small nation.
Let’s start with France!
Comment by Big G | 07.19.2013 | 11:26 am
All Harley-Davidson riders know that the black ones are the fastest. Maybe that is true of bicycles also.
Comment by Kukui | 07.19.2013 | 2:26 pm
I set a reminder to donate a bike or two on payday next week. =)
Now to go back and find the post that tells me what the color of my bike says about me! (I currently have a red roadie, a white MTB, and a black hybrid…)
Comment by RodNeeds2Ride | 07.19.2013 | 3:59 pm
2 bikes now equals 4 bikes. I wish the donations to my “Hawaii” jar doubled automatically like that… :)
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Comment by John H. | 07.19.2013 | 7:36 pm
Fatty, ..
I do not know which scientific source you were referencing…. But, RED ONES go faster;)
Comment by ScottR | 07.19.2013 | 10:55 pm
I’m glad I won’t win this bike with my tiny # of ‘tickets’, but that is probably for the best – the paralysis of choosing a paint job to round out such an amazing ride would probably be too much to bear.
Those donation $s from the jerseys alone are just amazing. Well done Fatty and Twin Six.
Comment by Pat in Westminster Co | 07.20.2013 | 12:06 am
In for 50.00, I wish I could do more. Thank you for taking the lead in this effort. A few great people from that part of the world work for me and they think it is a great thing to do. A few from the north think it should be camels………
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Comment by tommy 91 | 07.27.2013 | 8:29 pm
Happy to contribute what I can.
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