Welcome to the ride of a lifetime, Rookie! If you’re looking for an opportunity to drive lasting, life-changing breakthroughs, you’ve come to the right place. We couldn’t be happier to have you here.
Thank YOU for Riding!
– Jon Franko, I Ride with MS Cyclist |
First-time Rider Call
Thank you to all who attended the First-time rider call on April 12! Click here to view the presentation.
What to Expect at the MS 150
A ride like this can be overwhelming if you’ve never done it before. You can find more details on all these steps on the Ride Details page. Here’s a walkthrough of what you can expect on event weekend:
Friday
If you’re starting from the Twin Cities, you’ll want to head to Century College in White Bear Lake on Friday afternoon. From 1-6 p.m., you can park for the weekend, pick up your Rider Packet, drop off your bike (with tag attached) for transportation to Proctor, and catch a free shuttle with your luggage.
The shuttle will drop you off at Proctor High School, where you can enjoy a Spaghetti Dinner supporting the local soccer team ($15, cash only). If you’re camping, you can set up your tent or your spot in the school. If you’re staying at a supported hotel, you can catch another shuttle from the high school.
Your bike will be stored in a secured corral overnight, so no need to worry about it after you drop it off at Century College.
Saturday
On Saturday morning, everyone gathers at Proctor High School. Participants based in the Duluth area can park for the weekend at the high school, and pick up their Rider Packet. Riders at supported hotels can catch another shuttle back. A free pancake breakfast is provided for all participants.
Cyclists will then pick up their bikes, drop off their luggage for transportation, and get on the road between 6:30-8:00 a.m. You’ll traverse 75 miles with 5 rest stops and plenty of support.
At the finish line in Hinckley, you’ll find a festive village full of tents, food, live entertainment, and more. Once again you’ll be able to camp or catch shuttles to supported lodging, and drop your bike off at a secured corral. Shower Trucks are available for you to wash down and change out of your cycling gear.
Participants only riding on Saturday can catch a shuttle back to Century College at 7 p.m. Saturday or 8:15 a.m. Sunday.
Sunday
Sunday continues much like Saturday, with riders waking up, gathering for a pancake breakfast, and hitting the road. Once again, you’ll have 75 miles of rest stops and support, before rolling in to the festive finish line at Century College. When you arrive, you’ll receive a finisher medal and a celebratory meal.
Participants who started in the Twin Cities are able to pick up their luggage and go right to their vehicles when they’re ready to head home. Those from Duluth can catch a shuttle at either 2:30 or 4:30 p.m. to take them and their gear back to Proctor High School.
Things I Wish I Knew My First Year at Bike MS
(Tips from our Veteran Riders)
- Attend the Rookie Rider Meet Up — It sets you up for success your first season with everything you need to know leading up to ride weekend including fundraising tips and training tips. Plus, it’s virtual! Check out the Ride Details page for meeting info.
- Bike MS is not just one event weekend! It’s a welcoming community with season-round opportunities to connect. Attend in-person events to meet AWESOME Bike MS staff and fellow riders and your ride weekend will feel like a family reunion — minus the drama! Visit the Ride Details page for upcoming pre-ride events.
- Fundraising doesn’t have to be overwhelming—there are so many resources like the Bike MS App and Facebook Fundraising to make our lives easy! We promise, the Fundraising Toolkit page of the website will be your new best friend.
- Did we mention the swag?! The more you raise, the more lives you change and the more prizes you can earn! PLUS, if you’re one of our top fundraisers this season, you can flaunt the most coveted item of all: a local Club K prize jersey! Check out the Clubs & Incentives page for the fundraising levels and prizes.
- Start training now. Whether you’re a seasoned cyclist or new to the sport, VeloPro, the official training partner of Bike MS will get you ready to tackle your ride like a champ. VeloPro learns about you, your goals and schedule and then creates a training plan that continuously adapts to your performance.
- Padded shorts are NOT overrated—your butt will thank you later!
- Make sure you check out the Ride Details page where you’ll find info like the event schedule and routes and maps. Or better yet, bookmark that page and check back often! All key event day info lives there.