Riders

Rider Information

Riders may participate for any length of time, from one day to the entire summer.   In all cases, the goal of $2 raised per mile and minimum of $1 raised per mile is applied.   For example, if a rider wanted to cycle for three days and those days covered 200 miles total, the rider would have a goal of raising $2/mile, or $400, with a minimum of $1/mile, or $200, to participate.  

Riders should be in good physical condition and have a road bicycle, not a mountain bike.   It is recommended that riders train before the event by cycling gradually more mileage a day until the rider can comfortably bike 70 miles a day.    The average biking day on the ride is 65 miles, and days can range from 25 to 110 miles a day.   Riders have a rest day about once a week.    Each route has a support van which carries rider belongings, food, water, first aid kit and spare parts, which is driven in turns by the riders. For example, if there are 15 riders on a route, each rider will be expected to drive the support van once every 15 days of cycling.  

All riders on Bike Aid are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and have an additional booster shot within 6 months of embarking on Bike Aid.

Mike Sallaberry

Seattle Route 1995

Bike Aid was truly one of the best experiences I’ve had for so many reasons! Not only did I share an incredible adventure with an amazing group of fellow riders , I also felt like I met the United States and experienced so many of the incredible landscapes and cultures I hope we can preserve within our sprawling and complex nation.  

Marcia Miquelon

Seattle Route 1989 and Seattle Route Leader 1991

Bike Aid certainly played a major role in making me want to pursue bicycle advocacy. The “community on wheels” aspect of Bike Aid certainly awakened in me a desire to live in a community that was informed, active, creative and compassionate.

Jason Sarafino

Seattle route 1995 and Route Leader, Montreal 2000

 I have been inspired by the way that our choices around how we travel on the road or how we relate to others can have huge implications for how we live, thrive, and create. Bike Aid reminds me I that I am one link in a long chain of people who care about taking thoughtful and decisive action.

Janet Gwilym

Route Leader, Portland 1987

Bike Aid taught me that imagination and belief in a bit of a wild idea can actually lead to accomplishing great things – memories that I remind myself when making major life decisions now. Much of my sense of the United States still comes from the experience of pedaling across the country and meeting amazing people along the way.

Bing Tso

Route Leader, Portland 1986

Bike Aid kindled my sense of adventure, expanded my world, and made me appreciate the universal wisdom and kindness that connects us all. And I’ve kept pedaling ever since

Reed Merrill

Montreal Route 1990 and Bike Aid Coordinator 1991

My involvement with Bike Aid reinforced my commitment to local solutions for global impact; building bridges among stakeholders especially at the grassroots level; and a love of bicycling.

Amy Trenkle

San Francisco Route 1997

Bike Aid influenced me as a person and teacher—I learned about the geography of our country and learned about sustainable transportation which I still promote in my teaching.  Talking with people from around the country,  seeing the land, and all of the experiences we had along the way continue to stick with me and inspire me.

Eugene Brownell

Los Angeles Route 1991

Meeting dozens of local community groups left me the impression that there are helpful people everywhere. The teamwork that formed from our rag-tag group of 10 riders, none of whom knew each other before the trip, told me nothing is impossible.

Mitch Teplitsky

San Francisco Route 1991

Bike Aid was the single coolest thing I have ever done

Stephen De Sena

Los Angeles Route 1986

Bike Aid was a life changing experience  

Routes for 2022Dates  Days   Miles    Goal Minimum
Seattle to Washington DCJune 14-Aug 10    56   3000   $6000    $3000
Portland OR to Washington DCJune 14-Aug 10    56   3000   $6000    $3000
San Francisco to Washington DCJune 14-Aug 10    56   3000   $6000    $3000
Los Angeles to Washington DCJune 14-Aug 10    56   3000   $6000    $3000
Austin TX to Washington DCJuly 6-Aug 10    34   1950   $3900    $1950
Montreal to Washington DCJuly 18-Aug 10    22     960    $1920    $960
Tallahassee FL to Washington DCJuly 20-Aug 10    20    1070    $2140    $1070
Hawaii IslandAug 6- Aug 10      4      220      $440    $220
Glenallen to Anchorage AlaskaAug 7-Aug 10      3      180      $360    $180

Summary of Each Route

Seattle

The Seattle route is the northernmost route of Bike Aid, taking you through the states of Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC.   You will climb the Rocky Mountains and Appalachian range, and pass through Glacier National Park and Native American reservations, as well as four state capitals:  Helena MT, Bismarck ND, St Paul MN and Madison WI, where you may meet the governor to discuss climate change solutions in their state.   You will also pass through the major cities of Minneapolis/St Paul, Milwaukee, Chicago, Pittsburgh and end in Washington DC, where you may meet the mayors to discuss climate change solutions in their city.    You will also participate in several community service projects during rest days.  The route has 47 cycling days and 7 rest days, 2 prep days in Seattle, and three days in Washington DC lobbying Congress to take action on climate change.


Portland, Oregon

The Portland route takes you through the states of Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC.   You will climb the Rocky Mountains and the Appalachian range, and pass through Grand Teton National Park and Native American reservations, as well as four state capitals:  Boise ID, Des Moines IA, Indianapolis IN, and Columbus OH, where you may meet the governor to discuss climate change solutions in their state.   You will also pass through the major cities of Omaha, Chicago, Dayton and end in Washington DC, where you may meet the mayors to discuss climate change solutions in their city.    You will also participate in several community service projects during rest days.  The route has 47 cycling days and 7 rest days, 2 prep days in Portland, and three days in Washington DC lobbying Congress to take action on climate change. 


San Francisco

The San Francisco route takes you through the states of California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia and Washington DC.   You will climb the Rocky Mountains and the Appalachian range, and pass through Tahoe National Forest, Medicine Bow Route National Forest, as well as four state capitals:  Sacramento CA, Salt Lake City UT, Denver CO and Topeka KS, where you may meet the governor to discuss climate change solutions in their state.   You will also pass through the major cities of Reno, Ft Collins, Kansas City, St Louis and Cincinnati and end in Washington DC, where you may meet the mayors to discuss climate change solutions in their city.    You will also participate in several community service projects during rest days.  The route has 47 cycling days and 7 rest days, 2 prep days in San Francisco, and three days in Washington DC lobbying Congress to take action on climate change. 


Los Angeles

The Los Angeles route takes you through the states of California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington DC.   You will cross the desert in the Southwest, pass through Petrified Forest National Park, climb the Appalachian mountain range, and visit three state capitals:  Oklahoma City OK, Little Rock AR and Nashville TN, where you may meet the governor to discuss climate change solutions in their state.   You will also pass through the major cities of Flagstaff, Albuquerque, Memphis, Knoxville, Roanoke and end in Washington DC, where you may meet the mayors to discuss climate change solutions in their city.    You will also participate in several community service projects during rest days.  The route has 47 cycling days and 7 rest days, 2 prep days in Los Angeles, and three days in Washington DC lobbying Congress to take action on climate change. 


Austin TX

The Austin route is the southernmost route and takes you through the states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Washington DC.   You will pass through six state capitals:  Austin TX, Baton Rouge LA, Montgomery AL, Atlanta GA, Raleigh NC and Richmond VA, where you may meet the governor to discuss climate change solutions in their state.   You will also pass through the major cities of Houston, New Orleans, Charlotte and Chapel Hill, and end in Washington DC, where you may meet the mayors to discuss climate change solutions in their city.    You will also participate in several community service projects during rest days.  The route has 27 cycling days and 4 rest days, 2 prep days in Austin, and three days in Washington DC lobbying Congress to take action on climate change. 


Montreal

The Montreal route starts in Canada and takes you through the states of Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Washington DC.   You will bike through the White mountains in New Hampshire, as well as six state capitals:  Montpelier VT, Boston MA, Providence RI, Hartford CT, Dover DE and Annapolis MD, where you may meet the governor to discuss climate change solutions in their state.   You will also pass through the major cities of Portland ME, New York City, Philadelphia and Wilmington, and end in Washington DC, where you may meet the mayors to discuss climate change solutions in their city.    You will also participate in several community service projects during rest days.  The route has 17 cycling days and 3 rest days, 2 prep days in Montreal, and three days in Washington DC lobbying Congress to take action on climate change. 


Tallahassee extension to Austin route

The Tallahassee extension is a three day trip from Tallahassee FL that joins the Austin TX route in Columbus GA and takes you through the states of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Washington DC.   You will pass through four state capitals:  Tallahassee FL, Atlanta GA, Raleigh NC and Richmond VA, where you may meet the governor to discuss climate change solutions in their state.   You will also pass through the major cities of Charlotte and Chapel Hill, and end in Washington DC, where you may meet the mayors to discuss climate change solutions in their city.    You will also participate in several community service projects during rest days.  The route has 16 cycling days and 2 rest days, 2 prep days in Tallahassee, and three days in Washington DC lobbying Congress to take action on climate change. 


Alaska

The Alaska route is a three day trip from Glennallen to Anchorage.  After the 3 day event you will travel to Juneau where you may meet the governor to discuss climate change solutions in Alaska.   The route has 3 cycling days, a day in Juneau, and an optional flight to Dulles airport, Virginia, where you will join a cross country route and bike one day into DC, and then spend three days in Washington DC lobbying Congress to take action on climate change. 


Hawaii Island

The Hawaii route is a four day trip circumnavigating the Big Hawaii island in a clockwise direction, starting and ending in Kona, the home of the Ironman triathlon.  The route continuously has the Pacific Ocean on one side and the towering volcanoes on the other, while requiring significant elevation gains and descents.  After the 4 day event you will travel to Honolulu where you may meet the governor to discuss climate change solutions in Hawaii.   The route has 4 cycling days, a day in Honolulu, and an optional flight to Dulles airport, Virginia, where you will join a cross country route and bike one day into DC, and then spend three days in Washington DC lobbying Congress to take action on climate change.


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