What type of Rides do Bike for Bibles organise?
What Training should I do prior to a ride?
What type of bike do I need?
What sort of clothing will I need?
What Training should I do prior to a ride?
In the Marathon Rides, do we ride by ourselves or in groups?
What happens every day in the life of a Bike For Bibles Ride?
How do I make my fundraising target?

What type of Rides do Bike for Bibles organise?

Day, Half-Day and Weekend Rides
Every year, rides are organised by Bike For Bibles office, and there is also a number of Churches, schools and individuals who organise day, half day rides and weekend rides. These rides cater for beginner to experienced cyclists and vary in length from around 5 kilometres to well over 100 kilometres in distance. People from all walks of life and all ages are invited to participate in these events as it allows them to become involved in raising funds for the various Bible Society life changing projects.

Marathon Rides
These are typically of 5 to 10 days duration. They are just an absolutely GREAT way of having a holiday. You will enjoy riding with lots of other people. The ride will be Challenging, Exciting, Adventurous and Fun! Additionally, you will ride with the Purpose of providing God’s Word to many thousands of children and adults around the world.

Bike For Bibles Marathon rides vary in length from around 500 kilometres to well over 1000 kilometres. You will possibly do something that most others can only dream about – riding your bicycle almost 1000 kilometres in a week! You will be part of a big happy, fun family for the whole week. And you will return home from a Bike For Bibles Marathon Ride with great memories, new friends and looking forward with enthusiasm to the next ride.

Like everything in life, the more you put into something the more you will get out of it – that’s the same for a Bike For Bibles Marathon Ride… If you put a good amount of time and effort into your training beforehand, your ride will be so much more comfortable and enjoyable, and you will really enjoy the time on your bike and being a part of the Bike For Bibles team.

Likewise…if you put time and effort into your fundraising program, you will have a great sense of achievement and purpose in helping someone, somewhere, learn to read and write. This can help them to read and understand Gods Word for themselves, and may bring about their Salvation in Christ. What a great privilege we have!

What Training should I do prior to a ride?

For the 5 to 10 day Marathon Rides

Most of these style of rides will average out at about 100km to 120km per day (occasionally, even more).

Obviously you will need to do some reasonably serious training in the months leading up to the start of the ride. Amongst this training you will also need to include some 100 kilometre rides (or even more) to reflect the rides daily average distances. The more training you do the more comfortable and enjoyable the ride will be for you. Get together with your other bike riding friends – training is a lot easier and more enjoyable if you are in a position to ride with others. And to make Bike For Bibles rides easy and safer for everyone, our Road Crew will transport all your luggage, so all that you have to do is just get on your bike, ride and enjoy yourself. How easy is that!

Our Road Crew are also able to assist you to the next overnight stop if you are struggling on any day (everybody feels a bit off on some days) or having difficulty keeping up with your riding group. The minimum average speed for most Bike For Bibles marathon rides for the easy going riders would be around 20 to 25 kph and for the quicker riders, their average speeds would vary from around 25 to 35 kph. Most regular riders would be able to ride within these speeds. It is in the interest of safety, comfort and enjoyment for yourself and the whole team that everybody rides in groups on Bike For Bibles Marathon Rides. It is unwise to join a Bike For Bibles marathon ride if you are unable to manage the minimum average speeds or have not done sufficient training to keep up with your riding group. (Refer to Conditions Of Entry). There are some Bike For Bibles rides that cater for the beginner and for riders who enjoy lesser distances and a lesser pace.

For the 1 or 2 day Shorter Rides

These rides will vary from 5 kilometres to around 100 kilometres.
The training does not need to be as intense as for the Marathon length Rides, but if you know you have a ride coming up, then it will be to your advantage if you can get out in the weeks ahead and become accustomed to handling your bike and get some kilometres into your legs. It will make it just that little bit easier on the day.

What type of bike do I need?

Marathon Rides…most people will ride a “Road Racer” style of bike.
Mountain Bike rides…a Mountain Bike.
Shorter weekend rides…whatever style happens to suit you for the day.

What sort of clothing will I need?

For the Marathon Rides

• lycra knicks
• riding jerseys with rear pockets (you can purchase Bike For Bibles riding jerseys from Bible Society)
• cycling shoes with Look or SPD cleats and pedals
• cycling gloves
• full fingered gloves, arm and leg warmers for colder climates
• helmet
• Sunglasses or other eye protection against dust and flying insects
• waterproof riding jacket (preferably in bright yellow or bright orange – other colours including blues, reds and dark colours, are not nearly as visible in rain, fog & misty conditions)

For Mountain Bike Rides, you may prefer some happy pants and maybe some elbow and knee guards.

For the shorter weekend rides it would be whatever you are comfortable wearing.

Your Ride Leader will advise you of any special requirements

In the Marathon Rides, do we ride by ourselves or in groups?

We ride in groups – as it is safer, a lot easier and more enjoyable to cycle as a team when you are covering long distances than to ride by yourself.

Depending on the size of the team, there could be 1, 2, 3, or 4 riding groups of around 6 to 15 in each riding group. Each group will have a Leader (who is a rider), and usually 2 support vehicles (back and front). The Group Leader will be in contact with the 2 support vehicles with a small handheld CB radio for whenever any decisions or communications need to be made. Any rider may change from one group to another at any food stop, but it is that rider’s responsibility before making the change, to advise both Ride Group Leaders and the 4 Road Support Crew involved in the change

Approximate Group Speeds for most Rides –some rides will be slower.
These speeds are based on previous rides and are guidelines only.
These averages are fully dependent on terrain, road & weather conditions.
“A” Team Averages between 20 to 25k per hour
“B” Team Averages between 22 to 27k per hour
“C” Team Averages between 23 to 31 ks per hour
“D” Team Averages between 25 to 35 ks per hour (and sometimes more)

What happens every day in the life of a Bike For Bibles Ride?

Loads of Fun, Heaps of Food and a Really Great Time!

Most nights we sleep on airbeds in a church, school or other halls. We usually rise around 6.30 am, pack up all of our gear, load the support vehicles and clean up the hall before breakfast. After fuelling up, we saddle up and ride for about 2 hours or around 40 to 50 km for a morning tea stop, and then the same to lunch. When we arrive at our destination town, it’s usually head for the showers, followed by some time to check out the local Coffee Shops or Milk bars. If you have bike repairs, these would also be done in the afternoon. Dinner is usually around 6 to 6.30 pm and around 7.00 or 7.30 pm we have a team Fellowship Sharing and Praise time for about 30 minutes. We’re usually in bed by around 9.30 p.m. after another great day!

You’ll have such a great time on a Bike For Bibles Ride, that you’ll be asking about the next ride before you’ve even finished the ride you’re on.

How do I make my fundraising target?

Does it seem daunting task to reach your fundraising target in just a few months? Do you have a hard time recruiting new riders because people seem intimidated by the fundraising?

Follow these simple steps to see how easy it is to raise above and beyond in just one week.

Don’t waste energy worrying about fundraising, just do it, and save your energy for the ride!

How to raise $1,000 in donations in one week:

Day One – Sponsor yourself: $100.00
Day Two – Ask your immediate relatives including your spouse, parents, and children, grandparents for their support in your endeavor: $50 each: $200
Day Three – Have your five closest friends sponsor you for $100 each: $500
Day Four – Ask for donations from your coworkers & boss, consider having a dress down day or putting a change jar in your office: $100 Apply for matching gifts from your employer: $100 combined: $200
Day Five – Tell members of your church, club or sports team about Ride 2012 and ask for contributions to meet your fundraising target: $200
Day Six – Ask ten neighbors to sponsor you for $20 each: $200
Day Seven – Relax – if you followed the plan you have tried to raise $1400, and should easily make your target of $1,000!