MS Bike – Niagara a success!

This past Sunday, 515 cyclists came out to support those living with MS! MS Bike – Niagara participants raised an amazing $333,680 which will go towards funding innovative research and help living with MS. 

We’d like to thank those who participated, volunteered or supported MS Bike, we couldn’t have done this without you! 

Today’s the big day, MSBike – Niagara is here!!

 

MS Bike – Niagara is finally here! Today, hundreds of riders will be riding in support of people affected by MS. We wish all participants, volunteers and staff good luck today! Share your MS Bike – Niagara experience with us by posting on our Facebook wall or sending us a tweet @MSBikeTour.

We would love to hear from all our amazing cyclists! 

Countdown to MS Bike – Niagara! 1 day away!

MS Bike – Niagara is only 1 day away! We hope you’re all packed and ready to gear up for Sunday!
If you’re unsure of what to bring with you, we’ve got a list of suggestions for you!

Riding Gear:

·         Helmet (required)
·         Spare tubes for your bike
·         Water bottles
·         Rain gear (we ride rain or shine)
·         Comfortable cycling clothes
·         Sunglasses and sunscreen

Registration Supplies:

·         Completed pledge submission form with monies collected to date
·         Pledge slips/sheets completely filled out
·         Rider Bib - sent to you prior to your tour if you have submitted the $300 fundraising minimum one month prior.

Personal Items:

·         ID (including your Health Card)
·         Pocket money
·         Any needed medications
·         Sun and lip protection
·         Change of clothes for evening ceremonies (if applicable)

Photo Credit: Highways Agency’s 

 

Countdown to MS Bike – Niagara! 2 days away!

There’s 2 days left until MS Bike – Niagara!! Have your fundraising efforts already qualified you for the 2014 Tour of Champions?

Raise $10,000+ and you will qualify to join a group of top fundraisers from across the country at the 2014 MS Tour of Champions in San Diego, California. Check out this video from last year’s Tour of Champions, in Florida, for an idea of what it’s all about!

For more information on the 2014 Tour of Champions, please contact Lori Anne McNulty at lorianne.mcnulty@mssociety.ca.

Countdown to MS Bike – Niagara! 3 days away!

MS Bike – Niagara is only 3 days away, are you prepped and ready?

We recommend you have your bike tuned up before the tour so you can ensure yourself a smooth and safe ride. If you’re doing some tune ups yourself, here’s a handy video on how to change and maintain your bike chain! http://bit.ly/16eyW2T via Global Cycling Network

Countdown to MS Bike – Niagara! 4 days away!

Get out and enjoy some of the best bike trails Southern Ontario has to offer! With MS Bike – Niagara only 4 days away, check out this list of some great bike trails (both on and off road) for some last minute training.

Off road

1) Waterfront Trail (Niagara-on-the-Lake)

Distance: 780 km of beautiful nature and culture.
You’ll love this trail for: The beautiful Canadian Shores of Lake Ontario and the Ontario Shores of the St Lawrence River.

2) Short Hills Trail (St. Catharines)

Distance: 735 Hectares of excellent cycling and hiking.
You’ll love this trail for: Its hilly multi-use trails that wind through forest and meadow.

3) Black Walnut Trail (Power Glen)   

Distance: 735 Hectare day-use park with six side trails that contain two magnificent waterfalls.
You’ll love this trail for: Its relatively easy terrains with a few inclines and of course the two waterfalls!!

On Road

1) Terry Fox Trail (St. Catharines)

Distance: 1.5km path in central St. Catharines that extends from Carlton Street to Geneva Street.
You’ll love this trail for: Its six interspersed exercise stations with posted instructions included at each station.

2) Greater Niagara Circle Route (Niagara-on-the-Lake)

Distance: 140km of mostly off-road and paved trails suitable for walking, cycling or rollerblading.
You’ll love this trail for: Its 3 m wide paved trail that passes through urban centres, the Niagara Escarpment, waterfronts and rural/agricultural areas.

3) Steve Bauer Trail (Pelham)

Distance: 6km multi-use trail stretches from Fonthill to Welland.
You’ll love this trail for: Its stone chip rail bed, roads and stone chip path through several developments that ends at the Welland River.

 

For more information on these biking trails and others visit: http://www.ontariotrails.on.ca/trail-regions/niagara/

 

Countdown to MS Bike – Niagara! 5 days away!

MS Bike – Niagara is in 5 days! Join us at the Niagara awards night and pasta dinner to enjoy delicious food and good company before you gear up!

This is a great opportunity to bring your team together before the ride and meet fellow participants. RSVP and help us celebrate your success on Saturday August 24th at 6pm.  Tickets are $10/person.

For more info or to RSVP please contact Jennifer Roberge at Jennifer.roberge@mssociety.ca or call 1-877-937-7772 ext. 26

Photo credit: SXC.hu

Today’s the big day, MSBike – Acton is here!!

Today, hundreds of people will be gearing up in Acton for a great cause as part of MS Bike – Acton! Thank you to everyone participating this year. Make sure you share your Acton experience with us by posting on our Facebook wall or sending us a tweet @MSBikeTour. But remember, no texting while riding J

Now who is planning to challenge themselves with the 160km challenge?

Countdown to MS Bike – Acton! 1 day away!!

IT’S THE FINAL COUNTDOWN!

We are now 1 day away from MS Bike – Acton! Remember to wear comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing tomorrow. For those bringing a backpack, we’ve got some tips on how to pack the perfect pack!

*Though there will be plenty of rest stops with food, water and bike repair assistance at MS Bike - Acton.

Energy Food - Bring one bar or gel for every hour you plan to be out--and one more for good measure. Keep food in the top pocket of your pack so you don't have to go digging for it.

Tools – Be prepared for the unexpected; carry a multi-tool equipped with hex wrenches, Phillips and flathead screwdrivers, a chain tool and a spoke wrench. Keep the multi-tool in your top pocket with your energy food so it's easy to grab for a quick fix.

Flat Repair - Check your spare tube before you ride. One that's been jostled around for months could have a tear or broken valve stem. Make sure you take a patch kit as backup when you ride. You'll have to remove your pack for repair jobs, so go ahead and store these items deep.

Safety Items - Carry your driver's license or make a laminated card that includes your name, address, phone number and emergency contact number. A photocopy of your health insurance card is also a good idea. Keep it all in a visible, easy-to-find spot, like the pack's outside pocket. Other wise choices: a few bucks, a cell phone and a light rain jacket, which you can bungee to the front of your pack.

For the complete list of packing suggestions visit Bicyling.com at http://bit.ly/YmWZIK

 

Countdown to MS Bike – Acton! 2 days away!!

MS Bike—Acton is just around the corner, there’s only two days left! With that in mind, we’d like to provide everyone with some need-to-know information for the tour.

·         This year MS Bike – Acton has new route options! You will have the choice of 75km or 160km century loop. 160km starts at 7:30-7:45am and 75km starts at 8:00-8:45am. 

·         For the safety of you and your fellow riders, iPods and MP3 players will NOT be permitted on either route.

·         Rest stops will be located every 15km (or so) along the route. There you will have access port-a-potties, water, beverages and snacks.

·         Don’t forget you need to raise a minimum of $300 to ride. Set your goal high & help us end MS!

For more event day information DOWNLOAD the Acton Pre-event Newsletter http://bit.ly/17zLLCB.

 

Countdown to MS Bike – Acton! 3 days away!!

MS Bike – Acton is only 3 days away and some of our riders are already geared up and ready to go!

Top fundraiser Scott Davis, has been hard at work training for MS Bike - Acton. Since the start of the year, Scott has already participated in two #MSBike events —Grand Bend to London and the 2013 Tour of Champions in Florida. Find out more about the Acton rider’s mission to end MS one pedal at a time via the Waterloo Region Record http://bit.ly/18Zo9ur

 

Countdown to MS Bike – Acton! 4 days away!!

Have you reached your individual or team fundraising goal yet? There’s still time to reach or surpass your goal! With four days left, you could raise $1000 to receive an MS Bike 1000 club jersey, a $75 gift card and an event t-shirt. But the fundraising rewards don’t stop there. When you raise $2000, you’ll not only receive the 1000 club jersey, but the 2000 club cycling shorts to match!

For more information on fundraising rewards, DOWNLOAD the 2013 Cyclist Handbook http://bit.ly/13CwzFO. 
 

Countdown to MS Bike – Acton! 5 days away!!

With MS Bike – Acton 5 days away, we want to take a look back at last year’s event.

Over 300 cyclists participated in 2012 MS Bike – Acton to Waterloo and raised an amazing $216,000! This year, let’s see if we can top those numbers! The MS Bike – Acton riders are a spirited bunch so we know 2013 will definitely be a success.

We’ve got 5 days of counting down to do and we hope you’ll help us. MS Bike – Acton is going to be unlike before, so let us know what you’re most excited for at this year’s event!

Easy and effective fundraising on Facebook

The new era of fundraising is here. Thanks to the social web, websites like Facebook and Twitter are changing the way fundraisers reach their donors. Asking for donations in person is no longer the only way to campaign for your cause.

Rob, an MS Bike participant, uses Facebook to raise awareness and encourage his friends and family to sponsor him for the MS Bike. Here are some of the tips Rob shared with us,

 

Highlight your MS Bike tour and why it matters

Update your Facebook status describing which MS Bike you are participating in and why it is an important event to you.

Highlight your training

Start sharing regular updates on how you are preparing for the event. Demonstrating your enthusiasm and eagerness to be prepared will show that you’re passionate about the event and cause.

Always remember to link to your personal fundraising page

Be sure to include the link to your personal event page when posting anything about your ride on Facebook.*

*To link your personal fundraising page on Facebook, first log into your Participant Centre via msbike.ca. Once there, click on the ‘Personal Page’ tab in the menu along the top and then click on the ‘View my personal page’ hyperlink beside the ‘Personal Fundraising Page’ title. Once you’re on your public ‘Personal Page,’ copy the link in the browser and paste it into the status box on your Facebook wall.

Thank your donors

A simple but important action you can take on Facebook is to publically thank your donors by tagging them. Tagging your donors in a status update along with a thank you message will highlight their names to the rest of your network and act as a reminder for others who have not yet supported you.

 

For more of Rob’s tips and to stay connected with MS Bike news, DOWNLOAD the latest issue of Gearing Up http://bit.ly/1351RCQ