aaronadventure

Hello everyone,

I would like to ask you all for advise on my trans-america bike route.

Currently, I am starting from western massachusetts and getting onto the atlantic route in connecticut. I was then going to follow the route given to me by adventurecycling.org. I was then going to switch onto the Trans-america to oregon.

Has anyone done a similar type of route?

Help support my bicycle trip across country! I will be spreading awareness for genetic diseases and pushing my limits on the bicycle summer of 2017.

AARON'S ADVENTURE - Home

mantelclock

Yes. Check out the journals on crazyguyonabike.com.

Doug64

Check out this site: https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?doctype=journal

There are many options.

My wife and I did a tour from Oregon that ended in Boston. We simply rode US Highway 20 as much as possible. It is the longest contiguous, coast-to-coast highway in the U.S.

However, I really can't say that I'd support someone's gear and vacation regardless of their intent. If you are really that fired up, why don't you supply the gear and funds to complete the trip yourself?

Bicycle365

Use any combo of ACA routes to get there.
Links to donations page is frowned upon here generally. FYI

fietsbob

Thousands, including Many people that don't read this forum.

(+1) Read https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/ study the ACA bike maps https://www.adventurecycling.org/cyc...re/route-maps/



Local Writer for the Newspaper out here is so bored with press releases from 'doing this for Charity' riders .

they are more interested in stories about people doing the ride just for the Enjoyment..






Elite membership and you are paying this site, like a sponsor buying advertising

indyfabz

Yeah. This sounds like a pretext for fundraising efforts.

I have done a portion of the TransAm out west (Missoula, MT to Fairplay, CO). I have done the Atlantic Coast route from Bar Harbor, ME to Conshocken, PA, although a portion of it in New York state has changed since I did it.

What is it specifically that you would like advice about.

And if you are already in western Mass (I did a four-year stint at Deerfield Academy), there is always the option of heading west to pick up ACA's Northern Tier route and then Pacific Coast route to Seattle. Not as storied as the TransAm, but a nice ride that includes Glacier National Park and the North Cascades Highway.

alan s 

My suggestion for anyone doing a charity ride is to have all contributions go to a reputable charity, not to the individual doing the ride. If you want others to support your cause, put your money where your mouth is, and raise money for the trip from your own sources. When done funding your expenses, only then you should ask others to support your cause.

indyfabz

+1. I looked at the page. He's asking for donations to fund the trip, so no one should expect a tax deduction.

Interestingly, there was some discussion in another thread about the tax implications to the donee. Someone posted a link to a "white paper" that indicated the IRS might consider funds donated for purpose of defraying daily trip expenses as taxable income. To date, it doesn't seem the IRS has offered much guidance on the subject.

fietsbob

Buy your own stuff son. Get A JOB.

Only if the charity you are shilling for has a 501 c3 status and the donations Go directly to them, can the Donor hope to get a deduction.

But there are many "charities" that spend a lot of the money coming in on themselves and little if any actually goes to those in need


'They' spent donations for Haitian Earthquake relief to build A Hotel and still the population lives in Tents made of Plastic tarps.

mstateglfr 

1- Our son died from a recessive genetic disease shortly after birth. I mention this only because of anyone, I would be part of the target audience wanting you to accomplish this ride. And yet...
2- Use your own money to have an adventure after college. Dont disguise this as an effort to spread the word of genetic diseases.
a- Its 2016, people are aware of genetics and genetic diseases. I can confidently say that every adult I know has heard of Down Syndrome. Adding in commonly discussed diseases such as CF, Celiac, and Sickle Cell means a large number of adults and children are well aware of genetic disease.
b- If your goal is to inform as many people as possible, I would think spending 2 weeks in Boston handing out flyers would reach 900x more people than riding alone across the country over the span of a couple months.
3- If you want to make an impact and raise awareness for genetic diseases, find out how to work/volunteer with NORD or Global Genes. Find out how to involve your community in Rare Disease Day.



Why would someone who is not related to you donate money so you can ride a bike when that same money could be donated directly to an advocacy group for a specific disease or to one of the awareness non-profits listed above?
You should answer that question on your site since anyone with any sense will immediately ask themselves that when they see you are asking for them to fund your vacation.

indyfabz

Well put in every sense. The "raise awareness" angle made me go "Huh?" What, exactly, will the OP be doing to "raise awareness," especially when he will be riding his bike most of the day and often passing through smaller communities?

I used to do a lot of bike-related volunteer work for the National MS Society. One official from the local chapter told me that, good intentions aside, people biking to raise awareness about the disease were often a drain on the society's resources because they would do thing like request that the society set up press conferences or arrange for news coverage. As Bob notes, riding a bike for a cause is not as big a deal as it used to be.

fietsbob

Going to Haul a lap top computer a Projector and be ready to Give Lectures in every town you come to ?

mstateglfr 

Ive heard the same thing from our local MS office as well as the regional office in Minnesota. I work with both because my company is a sponsor for the local yearly MS ride so I get lumped into the committee due to knowing how to move my legs in a circle while balancing.
The MS group rides can be good to great ways to raise money, but individual accomplishment rides can consume more time and resources than they deem worthwhile when compared to the coverage/benefit.

mm718

You haven't asked a meaningful question. You're just posting a link to raise funds.

mstateglfr 

Ha ha ha- I just saw this on his site.

[h=2]Donate and receive a personal thank you from Aaron himself.[/h]

Well then, if I am going to get a personal 'thank you' from him, then its for sure worth giving him money for a vacation!

aaronadventure

Thank you everyone for your replies!
I was not expecting much of a response, so i am glad to have all your inputs.
I will check crazyguyonabike for trip experiences.

I needed funds for supplies, such as a bike for travel, camping supplies, bike gear, food, etc.
Since i am a degree in biology I have a good understanding of the genetics and a member of my family has MS, I decided to support genetic research.

Since I am certain that I will be riding across country, and I am certain that I want to support genetics research in some way,
Does any have any suggestions on better ways to support the research while also receiving funding for my trip.
Ill can ride with flyers, I could ride with a sign, I could stop and give speeches.

mm718

MS is not a genetic disorder so I don't know if that meets your criteria or not but since you have a relative with MS the organized fundraising ride across america may be of interest.

Bike the US for MS | Welcome!

Doug64

I'd suggest getting a job (you have over a year), take out a loan, or borrow the funds from your parents to pay for your trip. Expecting people to fund your gear and your "after graduation" vacation, seems a little questionable.

There would be more bang for the buck if donors just sent money to a reputable charity rather than buy your bike, food, and gear.

When I was in grad school, we were actually required to take an ethics course.

Jim from Boston

Nice replies, all you above curmudgeons. I posted to this thread on the General Cycling Forum, ”Little rant: I hate charity events...”

ironwood

I think the OP could do more for curing genetic diseases if he used his biology degree and worked for a research institution doing work in that field.

I've ridden portions of his proposed route and there aren't that many people along it, which is why it is pretty good route for cycling. So you aren't going to educate many people about your cause. Furthermore, most of the people along the route have seen lots of transcontinental cyclists, so it's no big deal for them.

I'm someone who never understood the concept of charity rides.

mstateglfr 

I do a couple of them each year and enjoy them. Its a social ride though and thats why I enjoy it. Getting together with a bunch of coworkers and spouses or with a group of friends to ride is the appealing part. Admittedly, I raise the bare minimum each year because I cant bring myself to spam facebook and elsewhere just to ask people to donate to a cause so I can ride 50mi in a day while stopping at a couple of bars along the way.

themp

I have an engineering degree, and as such am not the best in writing or grammar. So, I should not throw stones, but from reading Aaron's website, he needs to get an English major to help him re-work the site. Basically, it is poorly written in my opinion with many grammatical errors.

robow

Hey Aaron,
I was thinking of riding my bicycle across the country to raise awareness of....... bicycle touring and the health benefit (or at least that I might benefit anyway). I even have my own bike, tent, gear and accessories, I just need a few bucks for food, camping, the occasional hotel, a massage now and then, etc.
Anyone care to donate?
(I am counting on a few here that would be more than happy not to have to read my ridiculous posts for a couple months)

Machka 

Completely unrelated to this thread, and I will delete this message shortly, but @indyfabz, your presence is requested in Foo.

https://www.bikeforums.net/foo/104390...l#post18589746

Machka 

So you want people to pay for your holiday?

Crowdfunding should do it for you ... or you could do it the way the rest of us do and get a job.