VIRTUAL PARTICIPANT GUIDE

Thank you for being a part of this year’s Cycle of Hope!

We’ve been hard at work putting together an incredible event to connect our Cycle of Hope community both virtually and in-person this October. So, while we’ll miss seeing you in person, our Virtual DIY athletes are a critical part of our community, and we’re here to support you with EVERYTHING you’ll need to know for a great experience!

IMPORTANT DATES

Packet Shipping
The cost of mailing your packet and any prizes you’ve earned is included in your Virtual DIY ticket! Here are the shipping dates:

Tuesday, September 26th, 2023
Wednesday, October 11th, 2023

October 1st: Ride Period Begins

It’s time to get moving! You’ve got just over three weeks to log your activity (or activities!) for the Virtual DIY.

October 22nd: Ride Period Ends

This is it! At 11:59pm, the ride period closes. So, be sure to log your participation and share your photos before the end of the day (read on for the details on how!). Plus, it’s time to celebrate everything we’ve accomplished! We’ll be celebrating the WHOLE Cycle of Hope community, and that includes YOU! There are two ways to be a part of the fun:

Hop on over to our Facebook page for live updates from Cycle of Hope on October 22nd, and at 12:30pm PT you can tune in virtually to the livestreamed awards ceremony.
Join us in person in Dublin! Even if you’re riding at a distance, you can still party in person! You’re welcome to attend the Finish Line Festival, food and beverage will be available for purchase as well as lots of activities at the Kids’ Bike Festival.

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING CYCLE OF HOPE!

The Virtual DIY is Cycle of Hope’s most flexible way to participate, so the sky is the limit as to where you complete Cycle of Hope! Maybe it’s your favorite local route. Maybe it’s in your living room on your stationary bike. Maybe you’re hiking your favorite trail or putting an oar in the water in the nearest waterway!

WHEN TO PARTICIPATE

You can participate anytime between October 1st and October 23rd. Not only that, you can participate as many times as you want! Say, for example, you set a 50-mile goal. Well, you could do that full trek in one go, or you could meet that goal over multiple sessions!

Planning on cycling? Here are a few things to think about when choosing a time to ride:

Weather and air conditions – Earlier rides allow for cooler temperatures, and be sure to check PurpleAir.com to be mindful of air quality.
Traffic – Choose a time of day when you can anticipate safe riding conditions.
Friends – If you’re riding with friends, make sure you coordinate a time when you can all safely ride. And, hey – it’s not too late to get those friends on board if they haven’t joined you already! Just send them your personal referral link and get them signed up (and get a referral credit toward prizes while you’re at it)!

WHERE TO PARTICIPATE

This is where the “DIY” comes in! The “where” could be your living room, your favorite yoga studio, that gorgeous hiking trail, or a cycling route of your own creation! We do, of course, have the official in-person cycling routes mapped out, and they’re available to you if you’d like to do one of them on your own time.

Official Cycle of Hope Courses

These are the same routes our in person riders will use on the official ride day, October 22, 2023. Take a look at those courses on Ridewithgps.com here:

Things to keep in mind when riding an official Cycle of Hope course as a Virtual DIY-er:

No roads will be closed.
No signage will be on the road directing riders, so keep that route map handy in order to stay on course!
Aid stations will not be available along the course – so, please be sure to prepare yourself with hydration, provisions for bicycle maintenance and repair, and planned places to take breaks.
No on-site medical support will be provided. Please call 9-1-1 if you experience an emergency.

JOIN THE COMMUNITY… VIRTUALLY!

Cycle of Hope – and Habitat for Humanity – are all about community. We want to be sure that you’re tied in with your fellow Cycle of Hopers as we move us all closer to that ultimate finish line: a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Here are some ways to keep that connection strong:

MUSIC FOR YOUR RIDE

There's nothing like a good beat to motivate you through a ride. Cycle of Hope's Media Sponsor, iHeart Radio, is here to get you in the mood to make a difference! Just download the iHeartRadio app and choose a playlist that fits your mood. Download the app at https://news.iheart.com/apps/

GET SOCIAL

Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram, and share photos and highlights from your ride using the hashtag #TogetherWeRide. Make sure to tag us @HabitatCycleOfHope! Sharing photos is a fantastic way to celebrate all that we’ve achieved together!

CELEBRATE!

Speaking of celebration… Join us on Facebook on October 22nd as we provide live updates throughout ride day and honor our community with a livestreamed awards ceremony at 12:30pm PT!

Participating virtually but interested in joining us in person for the celebration on October 22nd? Join us at the Cycle of Hope Finish Line Celebration from 11am - 3pm to meet other riders, sponsors, community vendors, and enjoy our Kids Bike Festival. Food and drinks will be available for purchase.

FUNDRAISING AND REFERRALS

We know you’re not just participating in Cycle of Hope because you love a good athletic event. You’re with us because you know that Habitat for Humanity’s work matters. Like never before, stable, decent housing is foundational to healthy, thriving families and communities. When you raise funds to support our work, or bring more people to our mission through referrals, you offer a hand up to thousands of families.

Of course, a world where everyone has a decent place to live – the vision of Habitat for Humanity – is its own reward. But, we’re happy to sweeten the pot a bit for those who go the extra mile in fundraising or referring more Cycle of Hope participants! Even right up to the end of the virtual ride period on October 22, you can keep on fundraising and friend-raising for Habitat – and continue being eligible for some terrific prizes!

Need a little extra incentive? How about going double the distance? For a limited time, anyone who donates to your Cycle of Hope fundraiser can make 2x the impact for families looking to build better futures through affordable housing. Thanks to the generosity of Bob and Barbara Frick and Friends of Cycle of Hope, donations will be matched dollar for dollar up to $50,000! Don’t miss this opportunity to raise even more for Bay Area families and help Cycle of Hope meet our $300,000 goal!

Cycle of Hope