This ride couldn’t happen without the superb volunteers who make it go.

Some people volunteer because they dig this work.


Others volunteer because they want to pedal and would rather pay with their talent instead of cash.


And some volunteer because even though they don’t pedal, they have a friend or sweetie who does.  (They volunteer and their friend gets to ride for free!)


Here’s everything you need to know about joining the best bike event crew anywhere:


* How to Sign Up As a Volunteer

  1. *Which Volunteer Jobs are Available

  2. *What Goodies Do I Get?

  3. *Contacting Our Volunteer Office

  4. *The Fine Print

  5. *OUCH! (What to do if you want to ride but you’re temporarily broke)


How Do I Sign Up As a Volunteer?


It’s easy!


  1. •Read this page.


  1. •Email us the info we ask you for. We’ll explain all of that below.


  1. •We’ll get back to you with some options for volunteer jobs -- pick the one that’s right for you. We will never assign you to a job without your OK.


  1. •Once we both agree on the right assignment for you, we’ll send you a password you use to register on-line using our special Volunteers Only category.


  1. •ALL volunteers pay for the ride in full in advance. (This evil plan has changed our day-of volunteer absentee rate from 50 percent to zero percent!) After the ride we will refund you ALL of your ride fee, AND the on-line service fees, so you pay absolutely nothing.


  1. If money is tight and you don’t feel that you can pay in advance, drop me a personal note and we’ll figure something out.


  1. If you have already registered as a paying customer and now want to volunteer that’s FINE -- we can refund you whatever you paid.


This is all MUCH easier than it sounds -- we want you!



What Volunteer Jobs Are Available?


We have volunteer slots that allow you to pedal and some that don’t -- you get to pick. There are lots of choices here, so read on!


Please note that we have ZERO volunteer slots for people who act ONLY as pedaling marshals. ALL of our volunteers perform another vital task AND act as marshals all day on ride day.


Here’s where we need your help:


  1. •Drivers of vans, small trucks (the same size as the vans, but with a truck body on the back), and larger trucks (the famous big yellow Penske).


  1. You will need a U.S. drivers license, a minimum of felony convictions, and you must be at least 21 years old.


  1. You do NOT need a special truck-driver’s license, a credit card, or insurance. (We handle the billing and insurance for you.)


  3. Because drivers are such a valuable part of this ride, we have two special offers ONLY for them:


  1. ★If you volunteer to drive on Montauk day, you can pedal our July 19th Hudson River Ride for free OR our August 29th North Fork Century for free AND we’ll toss in one of our extra-cool custom-made cycling jerseys (subject to your size being available).


  1. ★If you have a friend/mother-in-law/sweetie/cousin who doesn’t pedal who will offer to drive on Montauk day, YOU can pedal the Ride to Montauk, July 19th Hudson River Ride,  or August 29th North Fork Century for free.  We’ll also toss in one of our extra-cool custom-made cycling jerseys. (You can wrassle to decide if you get the jersey or if it goes to your friend, the driver.)


  1. If you can drive (or know someone who can) be sure to mention that when you volunteer.


  1. •People to help us the day BEFORE the ride (Friday) to help load up the supply trucks, and drivers to get those trucks in to place. Help on Friday, you’re free to do the ride on Saturday.


  1. •  People to help with our day-before-the-ride bike loading and check in.


  1. • We need help the day AFTER the ride in Manhattan and Babylon for our new optional Sunday bike pick-up.


  1. •Rest stop crew


  1. •Morning check-in at the start lines


  1. •Escorts for our trains and charter buses to make sure that everyone gets on and off at the right location.


  1. •Strong yet gentle bike truck loaders and unloaders. We need help in the morning, after the ride on Saturday, and the day after the ride on Sunday -- your choice. To do this job you must be able to repeatedly lift a bicycle over your head.


  1. •Help at the finish line in Montauk


  1. •S.A.G. (bicycle rescue) team -- drivers and radio dispatchers


  1. •Leaders of the 30-mile,  66-mile, and 100-mile escorted rides -- experts only


  1. •Help pack up the supplies at the finish line AFTER the ride


  1. •Bike ride sweep cyclists who intentionally pedal at the very back of the pack to ensure that everyone is off the route -- experts only.


  1. •Bike repair -- experts only



What Do I Get?


Well, besides the love and admiration of your fellow cyclists and me, you ALSO get:


  1. *Free Ride to Montauk staff T-shirt

  2. *Free custom Ride to Montauk racing socks

  3. *Free custom racing jersey (all-day truck and van drivers only!)

  4. *Free Express Lane pre-mail for your ride registration materials

  5. *An invitation to our volunteers-only party, held a couple weeks after the ride



How Do I Contact the Volunteer Office?


Click here to send us an email.  Please be sure (SURE!) to tell us the info requested below, otherwise we can’t help you and you can’t help us!  (You’d be amazed at how many emails we get with no name, no contact info....)


  1. •Your name, email, and phone number


  1. •Which day do you want to help -- Friday (the day before the ride), Saturday (the day of the ride), or Sunday (the day after the ride).


  1. •Where do you want to start your day -- Manhattan, Babylon, or Montauk?


  3. •Where do you want to be at the end of the day -- Manhattan, Babylon, or Montauk? (We can not provide lodging for you in Montauk after the ride).


  5. •How far do you want to pedal on ride day: 0 miles, 30 miles, 66 miles, 100 miles, or 145 miles.


  7. •Do you feel comfortable driving a van, small truck, or larger truck? (No special license, credit card, or insurance required.  We DO need to see your regular drivers license on ride day). Good drivers are hard to find, and will get top priority in ALL matters!


We will not assign you to ANY volunteer slot without running it by you first to see if it’s OK with you. If a friend and you want to work together that’s fine -- just let us know.


(Continued below)



Photo by Lori Soldano


The Fine Print

ALL volunteers pay $100 for the ride in full in advance. Within 15 days after the ride we will refund you your entire ride fee AND your on-line registration fees, so the ride costs you nothing.


Why do you have to wait 15 days for your refund? Because immediately after the ride we’ll be enjoying our post-Montauk 36-hour nap -- THEN we’ll sent out all of those checks ASAP so you don’t have to wait.


This evil pre-pay system has cut our ride-day absentee rate from 50 percent to zero percent.


If we get a bad weather day (shh!) and you decide AFTER your volunteer shift that you’d rather just head home instead of riding, that’s fine -- you still get your volunteer refund. But if you don’t show up, or mysteriously vanish during your shift, FOR ANY REASON we can not refund your ride fee  OK?  OK!


A couple weeks after the ride we’ll have our annual volunteers-only post-ride party. I met my wife at one of these parties, so be careful!



Ouch! (What to Do if You are Temporarily Broke)

We have all been through tough financial stretches at one time or another, and we will never turn down anyone for this ride just because cash is temporarily tight. We will find a volunteer job for you, even if we have to create one! 


BUT...


  1. •You will have to help out and contribute your talent to the ride in some way. Every year we hear from someone who says, “I’m broke and I want to ride for free, but I don’t want to volunteer.” That doesn’t work for me. 


  3. •We plan this ride far, FAR in advance. (I’m writing this November ’09!) If you get in touch right before the ride it may be impossible to find a spot for you, no matter how deserving you may be. No harm in asking, even at the last minute, but please understand that even if you have the best credentials or need, you might get turned down.


Ready to join the best bike crew to be found anywhere?  Click here, or just send me an email to glen@bicycleshows.us.


Click here to go to the next page, or use the navigation menu at the top of your screen.


OK?  OK!


Glen

Your tour director and humble servant

glen @ ridetomontauk.com


Not ready to sign up yet, but want to be added to our bike ride mailing list? Just click here.


 

Volunteer and Ride Free!

Photo By Jan Opalach

Click here to join our free bike ride mailing list.