Ride Details

RV Load In Schedule

RV CAMP SITE RESERVATION FORM

Upon reserving your RV campsite, you will select an arrival time. To allow for easier access and set up, RVs are staggered for entry and should not arrive outside of your scheduled time. Arrival windows are as listed below:

Friday, September 8^th

• 9 AM – 12 PM
• 12 PM – 3 PM
• 3 PM – 6 PM
• 6 PM – 8 PM

Event Schedule

Please note that the locations for registration/packet pick up, vol. Check in, dinner and bike compound have moved! There is a new team village layout in 2023 as well. View specifics in the routes and maps section of our website.

Friday, September 8^th

• 9 AM: RVs begin load in, RVs will be assigned an arrival time
• 3 PM: Gates open. Team Tent Village load in begins. Bike MS indoor lodge and tent camping are open- first come, first serve basis. RVs, please arrive based on your assigned arrival time.
• 3 – 7 PM: Bike storage open for drop off near start/finish. On-site registration/packet pick up available in Trimpe Building, Classroom 156. 
• 5 – 8 PM: DJ Jazzy James & music entertainment in team village begin. VIP tent open for beer and games. 
• 6 – 8 PM: Shower trailer open 
• 9 PM: Team Tent Village closes & quiet hours begin
• 9 PM: Team village closes & quiet hours begin

*No dinner will be provided Friday night. Need ideas for team tent catering or restaurants to visit? Here’s some recommendations.

Saturday, September 9^th

• 5 AM: Shower trailer opens
• 5:30 AM: Gates open
• 6 AM: Bike storage unlocks for pick up (near start/finish line)
• 6 – 8 AM: On-site registration/packet pick up in Trimpe, Classroom 156. Breakfast is also served in Trimpe Building. Team photos taken at the Start Line.
• 6:45 AM: Express Scripts + 2022 Top 5 teams load in chute in the following order: 

1. Team Express Scripts/Accredo
2. Team Maritz
3. Team Hogan 
4. United by Design 
5. Schainker’s Crankers
6. Team Kaldi’s

• 7 AM: Opening Ceremony at Start Line
• 7:30: 50-, 75- & 100-mile routes open
• 8 AM: On-site packet pick up closes for the day and breakfast ends
• 8:15 AM:  All cyclists for 50-, 75- & 100-mile route MUST be on route
• 8:30 AM: Opening remarks for 25 milers & 25-mile route opens
• 9:30 AM: Start Line closes- ALL RIDERS MUST BE ON ROUTE
• 9:30 AM: Vendor row and bike storage opens for drop off
• 10 AM – 3 PM: Lunch on LCCC campus opens
• 12 PM: DJ entertainment & beer service begin
• 1 PM: Century Route Closes at Bethalto Road & Culp Ln (approx. 64.5 miles in) – any cyclists who did not make the cut off will be re-directed to the 75-mile route
• 3 PM: Mission Moment and I Ride with MS Champion’s Finish at Finish Line
• 3:30 PM: Vendor row closes 
• 3:30 PM – 5 PM: Social Hour in the VIP Tent with cocktails and appetizers. 
• 5 PM: Finish line closes – ALL CYCLISTS MUST BE OFF ROUTE
• 5 PM – 8 PM: Dinner provided by Bella Milano in Trimpe Building
• 8 PM: Beer service ends & DJ entertainment concludes
• 10 PM: Shower trailer & team village close. Quiet hours begin.

Sunday, September 10^th

• 5 AM: Shower trailer opens for overnight campers
• 5:30 AM: Gates open and bike storage unlocks at start/finish line.
• 6 AM: Breakfast and on-site registration/packet pick up begin in Trimpe Building
• 7 AM: Opening remarks at the Start Line
• 7:15 AM: All routes open (25, 50, 75 & 100) rolling start
• 8 AM: On-site registration/packet pick up and breakfast close
• 8:15 AM: Start Line closes- ALL RIDERS MUST BE ON ROUTE
• 10 AM: Finish Line opens and beer service begins – let’s celebrate! 
• 12 PM – 5 PM: DJ entertainment from DJ Jazzy James in Team Tent Village. Post ride meal by Bella Milano in Trimpe Building. 
• 1 PM: Century Route Closes at Bunker Hill High School (lunch stop approx. 55 miles in) – any cyclists who do not LEAVE LUNCH before cut off time will be re-directed to the 75-mile route
• 5 PM: Finish Line closes – ALL CYCLISTS MUST BE OFF ROUTE. Bike MS concludes – thank you for riding!

---

Thanks to our generous MS/Bike MS local presenting sponsor, Express Scripts, who shares our commitment to creating a world free of MS.

Routes

The Bike MS: Gateway Getaway offers four great route distances each day! Each route starts and finishes at the beautiful Lewis & Clark Community College campus in Godfrey, IL. Whether you’re a novice or experienced cyclist, we are sure to have a route for you!

Your safety is our #1 priority, so each day will be equipped with full route support volunteers should you need assistance throughout event weekend on the route.

Day 1 – Ride with GPS Links

• 25-mile route
• 50-mile route
• 75-mile route
• 100-mile route
  • Plan to complete a century ride? The century loop closes at 1 PM on Saturday @ Intersection of Culp Ln & Bethalto Rd approx. 64.5 miles in. Make sure you’re accounting for rest stop time when calculating the average pace you’ll need to make it. If you miss the cut off, you’ll be redirected to the 75-mile route!

Day 2 – Ride with GPS Links

• 25-mile route
• 50-mile route
• 75-mile route
• 100-mile route
  • Plan to complete a century ride? The century loop closes at 1 PM on Saturday @ Bunker Hill High School approx. 55 miles in. You must have left lunch by 1 PM to complete this route. Make sure you’re accounting for rest stop time when calculating the average pace you’ll need to make it. If you miss the cut off, you’ll be redirected to the 75-mile route!

As a reminder: All routes and rest stops are subject to change. Download the final route versions on Friday, September 8^th.

Start/Finish Site Maps

Please note, we’ve updated our Start/Finish Site layout and Team Village set up. Make sure to note the new locations for general parking, registration/packet pick up, vol. check in, indoor meals & bike storage.

Overview of Lewis & Clark Layout: view the start/finish site map here.

Team Village Layout: view the team village layout here.

Upcoming Events

I Ride with MS Social

People with MS are the reason we ride, and we want to celebrate you! All I Ride with MS cyclists and their families are invited to a VIP packet pick up and social event (sponsored by Biogen).

• Date/Time: Thursday, August 17th from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM
• Location: Beer + Sauce Creve Coeur - 10453 Olive Blvd, Creve Coeur, MO 63141

RSVP Now

Ride Logistics Chat, Safety Check + Packet Pick Up

Join us for an informal Bike MS logistics Q&A open house and packet pick up event. BRING YOUR BIKE! Our friends from Trek Ballwin will be conducting pre-ride safety checks for any Bike MS participants who swing by!

If you plan to pick up packets for a group larger than 5, please notify Bike MS staff in advance: marisa.hacker@nmss.org or mo.breece@nmss.org.

• Date/Time: Thursday, August 24th from 4:00 PM – 7:30 PM
• Location: Trek Bicycle – Ballwin, 13922 Manchester Rd, Ballwin MO 63011

Past Events

Kick-off Party

• Date/Time: Thursday, March 2nd from 5 – 7 PM 
• Details: Open house - Sip, shop, socialize & sign up for the 2023 Gateway Getaway! Drinks provided.
• Location: Trek Bicycle – Ballwin, 13922 Manchester Rd, Ballwin MO 63011

I Ride with MS Virtual Coffee Chat

• Date/Time: Tuesday, April 11 from 11:00-11:30 am
• Details: Learn about your local I Ride with MS program and  meet/ share stories with other cyclists living with MS. 
• Location: Click here to join the meeting on Teams  *this event will NOT be recorded for privacy reasons

Bike MS Kick Off Ride hosted by Granada

• Date/Time: Saturday, May 13th from 7:30 AM to 11:30 AM
• Details: Kick off the Bike MS training season right! 15, 25 and 35 mile routes. SAG & mechanic support, hydration station on route and breakfast provided by Bike MS. 
• Location: Granada Cyclery – 235 Mid Rivers Mall Dr., St. Peters MO 63376

Team Captain Meet Up

• Date/Time: Thursday, June 29th from 5:30 PM to 7 PM
• Location: Woodard Cleaning and Restoration – 9490 Watson Rd, St. Louis MO 63126

Past Challenges

Fundraising Challenges

Bike MS Fundraising Weeks are proudly sponsored by Point B, an organization who shares our commitment to creating a world free of MS. Elevate your fundraising and win prizes along the way.

Fundraising Week #1

• Dates: July 3rd – July 9th  
• Goal: $60,000 Final: $53,000
• How to Win:
  • Teams - bring in the most fundraising dollars during challenge week to win an experience upgrade of your choice
  • Individuals - bring in the most fundraising dollars during challenge week to win a Bike MS swag pack + $100 gift card to the bike shop of your choice
• Winner(s):
  • Individual – John Morgenthaler - $2,500
  • Team (15+ riders) – Schainker’s Crankers - $11,562
  • Team (<15 riders) – Brendan’s Back Road Riders - $1,955

Fundraising Week #2

• Dates: July 31st – August 6th   
• Goal: $80,000 Final: $85,536
• How to Win: 
  • Teams - bring in the most fundraising dollars during challenge week to win an experience upgrade of your choice
  • Individuals - bring in the most fundraising dollars during challenge week to win a Bike MS swag pack + $100 gift card to Union Loafers
• Winner(s):
  • Individual – Todd Dillon - $4,750
  • Team (15+ riders) – United by Design - $9,108
  • Team (<15 riders) – ThrottleNet Cybersecurity Pedal Squad - $2,670

Recruitment Challenges

Recruitment Challenge #1

• Dates: February 20th – 26th 
• How to Win: 
  • Captains – sign up and set up your team page to be entered for a $50 Granada Cyclery gift card
  • Teams – earn 1 entry per registration this week to win a stocked cooler at the Bike MS finish line
• Winner(s):
  • Team Captain – Andy Held (Team Mercy)
  • Team – Jeremy’s Juggernauts

Recruitment Challenge #2

• Dates: April 24th – May 7th 
• How to Win: 
  • Participate in 1 or more of the 6 mini challenges – view full details here. 
• Winner(s):
  • Make Your Mark Monday – David Herholz
  • We are the Champions Wednesday – Jeremy’s Juggernauts
  • Set the Pace Sunday – M.A.D. Riders
  • Treadsetter Tuesday – Mike Quinn
  • Flush Friday – VU Loan Riders
  • Sign Up Superstar Sunday – Jessica Patterson

Recruitment Challenge # 3

• Dates: July 1st – July 31st  
• How to Win: 
  • Individual – register in the month of July and enter to win a Garmin Edge 130 Plus
  • Team – each cyclist that joins your roster in July earns you 1 entry to win a team experience upgrade of your choice (i.e. porta potty, team tent upgrade, golf cart)
• Winner(s):
  • Individual – Rebecca Sloan 
  • Team – South Side Cyclery

PRE-RIDE PACKET PICK UPS

THESE TIMES ARE OPEN TO ALL CYCLISTS. If you plan to pick up packets for a group larger than 5, please notify Bike MS staff in advance: marisa.hacker@nmss.org or mo.breece@nmss.org. 

PACKET PICK UPS IN THE COMMUNITY

• Thursday, August 24th 
  • Time: 4 PM– 7:30 PM
  • Location: Trek Ballwin (13922 Manchester Rd, Ballwin MO 63011) 
• Friday, August 25th 
  • Time: from 11 AM – 1 PM 
  • Location: Trek O’Fallon (8640 Mexico Rd., O’Fallon MO 63366)

OPEN PICK UP HOURS AT GATEWAY OFFICE

Office Address: 10420 Old Olive Street Road, Suite 300, Creve Coeur MO 63141

• Tuesday, August 29th from 11:30 AM – 5  PM
• Wednesday, August 30th from 8 AM – 5 PM
• Tuesday, September 5th from 8 AM – 12 PM

Can’t attend any pre-event packet pick up events and don’t have a teammate who can pick it up for you? No worries! You can pick yours up at Lewis & Clark Community College in our NEW packet pick up location Trimpe, Classroom 156 during the time windows below:

• Friday, September 8th from 3 PM – 7 PM
• Saturday, September 9th from 6 AM – 8 AM
• Sunday, September 10th from 6 AM – 8 AM

PACKET PICK UP FAQS

All participants who fundraise $300 or more are eligible to pick up their rider packet.

To best prepare for your ride, we recommend that you pick up your packet prior to event weekend – this allows you to review materials in advance, ask Bike MS staff your questions before the event, and drop off any last-minute donations.

The Bike MS: Gateway Getaway will host multiple packet pick up opportunities prior to ride weekend. Each packet pick up will be allow riders to pick up the following items:

• Rider Number (Bib, helmet tag, bike tag)
• Rider Wristband (Equipped with our rider support phone number!)
• Participant T-Shirt
• Updated Event Weekend Information
• Club K Jersey – when you reach $1,000 in fundraising

I have an outstanding corporate match that will push me past the $300 minimum, but it’s not yet reflected in my account. Can I still pick up my packet? If you have a corporate matching donation in the works, be sure to bring your company’s match confirmation receipt with you to ensure a speedy check out.

Can I have my team captain or a fellow teammate pick up my items for me? Yes, you can send someone to pick up your packet for you as long as you’ve already surpassed the $300 fundraising minimum.

I am a team captain who wishes to pick up packets for multiple team members. What do I need to do to make this happen? Any captain wishing to pick up items for their entire team needs to notify MS Society staff via email at least 1 business day in advance within the hours of 8-4 PM in order to give adequate time to collect and organize items. This email must include: the names of individuals you’re picking up for, their t-shirt size and preferred unisex jersey size (if living with MS or raised $1000+). Staff will only release packets for team members who have surpassed the $300 fundraising minimum.

Transportation

Because the Gateway Getaway has the same Start/Finish locations, all riders are responsible for getting themselves to and from the start/finish line each day. There is plenty of parking for you at Lewis & Clark Community College!

Bike MS Indoor Lodge, RVs & Tent Camping

• BIKE MS INDOOR LODGE: Complimentary and air-conditioned space is available provided on campus. Cots will not be provided. Participants must bring their own sleeping gear for accommodations; air mattress, sleeping bags, etc. Restrooms and showers are available nearby. First come - first served basis once campus opens at 3pm on Friday, September 8^th.
• ON SITE RV CAMPING: To reserve space in our RV camping lot, please fill out the online form and submit your payment. RV load in timing/details are located in the event schedule.
• RV CAMPING RESERVATION FORM
• ON SITE TENT CAMPING: Complimentary outdoor tent camping is available and within walking distance to team village, Start/Finish Line, dining area, restrooms and showers. First come - first served basis once campus opens at 3pm on Friday, September 8^th.

Hotels

Alton, IL

• Best Western Plus Parkway Hotel
  1900 Homer M. Adams Parkway
  Alton, IL 62002
  (618) 433-9900
• Best Western Premier Alton-St. Louis Area Hotel  (room block available by using code MSRI23)
  3559 College Ave.
  Alton, IL 62002
  (618) 462-1220
• Comfort Inn
  11 Crossroads Court
  Alton, IL 62002
  (618) 465-9999
• Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton
  1904 Homer M. Adams Parkway
  Alton, IL 62002
  (618) 433-8999

Jerseyville, IL

• Super 8 Jerseyville — 618-498-7888
  • Call for reservations. Rate depends on one or two beds

Elsah, IL

• Green Tree Inn — 618-374-2821

Edwardsville, IL

• Comfort Inn — 618-656-4900
• Hampton Inn & Suites St. Louis-Glen Carbon — 618-589-5000
• Country Hearth Inn Edwardsville — 618-656-7829
• Holiday Inn Express & Suites Edwardsville — 800-315-2605 (reservations); 618-692-7255 (front desk)
• TownePlace Suites & Suites Edwardsville — 618-655-3001

Granite City, IL

• Econo Lodge Inn & Suites — 618-797-9865

Parking

VIP Parking

Our 2022 Top 150 fundraisers, 2022 Club K cyclists, I Ride with MS participants and anyone who won VIP during a challenge week will receive VIP parking passes.

Parking for Campers

A lot near the campgrounds is reserved for all folks wishing to tent/RV camp throughout the weekend. This will give you easy access to your car when loading in/out.

General Parking

Anyone who didn’t receive VIP parking and isn’t camping, can utilize general parking on campus. You should not have a hard time finding a spot, as Bike MS is the only event on site all weekend.

View the Bike MS Start/Finish site map here to view your specific parking locations.

Bike MS is an extraordinary ride no matter where you are! Whether you have a flat tire or need a snack to help get you across the finish line, we’ve got you covered…  

Each route includes fully-stocked rest stops every 10 to 12 miles with some of the best snacks and volunteers around. Relax, hydrate, use the restroom, re-apply sunscreen and enjoy the volunteers. Bike mechanics and support and gear (SAG) vehicles will also be on the route to assist you.  

After the ride, stick around in team village for plenty of food/drink at the finish line! We will have a common tent for teams/individuals who did not reserve a space to hang out as well.

Weekend Menu

Below is the menu you can expect ride weekend. Gluten free and veggie options will be available upon request at all meals.

Friday

• Load in day – no meals provided.

Saturday

• Breakfast (on campus in Trimpe Building): Pancakes, sausage, tang and coffee by Chris Cakes
• Lunch (on route for 75+ mile routes; at finish line for 25-50 mile routes): Hot Dog OR Hamburger with Chips by Homestyle Grill
• Dinner (on campus in Trimpe Building): Blackened chicken, pasta, salad, butter rolls & assorted cheesecake by Bella Milano

Sunday

• Breakfast (on campus in Trimpe Building): Pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs, OJ and coffee by Chris Cakes
• Lunch (on route for 50+ mile routes): Tacos, chips and cookies by Takozz
  • 25-mile route will eat lunch by Bella Milano on campus
• Post Ride Meal (on campus in Trimpe Building): Pulled pork sandwiches, black bean wraps, pasta salad, garden salad & cookies by Bella Milano

Have a cheerleader visiting you at Bike MS that’s looking to eat/drink on campus?
Meal wristbands can be purchased for $20 at the registration table or Bike MS sales tent in team village for $20.

Looking for last year’s event photos as you eagerly await the 2023 ride?

• 2022 Training Ride Photos – kick off ride at Granada Cyclery
• 2022 Volunteer Photos – ride weekend
• 2022 Professional Photos – ride weekend

Photos from the 2023 Bike MS: Gateway Getaway will be posted on our Bike MS Flickr page 2-3 weeks after the ride. We will share the link here when the photos are ready!

I Ride with MS is a Bike MS program recognizing cyclists who live with multiple sclerosis. Anyone living with MS who participates in a Bike MS event can join the program. Visit our I Ride with MS page to learn more.

Here are some the special features of our local Gateway Getaway I Ride with MS Program:

• VIP parking ride weekend
• Invitation to the Saturday afternoon VIP tent in Team Village
• Access to the I Ride with MS tent in Team Village with complimentary post-ride massages
• Virtual coffee chat(s) with other riders in the program
• Invitation to a VIP I Ride with MS happy hour social and packet pick up in August

Are you interested in joining our local program but have questions? Get connected with a current member ready to answer your questions! Click here to request for someone to reach out to you.