FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

About Registration / Fundraising  |  About the Ride  |  About Online Fundraising  |  About My Participant Center

Bike MS: Cruisin’ the Crossroads is Saturday, September 8 & Sunday, September 9, 2012.  The start and finish for both days of this year’s ride is at University High School in Carmel, Indiana.

ABOUT REGISTRATION / FUNDRAISING

What if I’m not a professional cyclist?
Bike MS is for cyclist of all abilities.  It is NOT a race!  We hope you’ll come out and participate in our event as a personal challenge to yourself—and have a great time moving toward a world free of multiple sclerosis.

What type of bike do I need?
All roads are paved and any type of road or hybrid bike is fine.

How old must I be to participate?
The minimum age to participate in Bike MS: Cruisin’ the Crossroads is 12 years of age.  All riders between the ages of 12-17 must be accompanied at all times, on and off the route, by a participating parent or guardian.  If an underage rider is picked up by one of our SAG vehicles, the participating parent or guardian must accompany the rider.  Additionally, all participants 17 and under must have a notarized waiver form submitted to the Indiana State Chapter.

How do I to register?
You can register online by clicking the “Register” button at the top left sidebar on this page.  If you are uncomfortable registering online, please call the Indiana State Chapter at 1-800-FIGHT-MS (344-4867) option 2, and we can get you registered over the phone.

If I'm on a team, do I register differently?
Team captains must register first. Even if you're on a team, you must register individually. Your donations are calculated separately.  A team total is calculated automatically.

What are the registration fees?
Registration fees vary by date and are nonrefundable and nontransferable.  Full-price registration is $50, but there are a variety of discounts and promotions at which discounted registration rates will be offered.  Please call the Indiana State Chapter at 1-800-FIGHT-MS (344-4867) option 2 to find out the current registration fee.

Participants riding on a tandem are considered two individuals on one bicycle and each individual is required to register.

Is there a fundraising requirement?
Yes, to continue our efforts to find a cure for MS, every rider is required to raise a minimum of $150, even tandem riders (registration fees are also still applicable).

The funds raised by participants in Bike MS: Cruisin’ the Crossroads support research and provide programs and services to individuals with MS and their families.  While we want this ride to be an amazing event for all our participants, we must remember that we are here for one purpose:  to move toward a world free of MS.  You can help us do just that.

Click the “Fundraising” button on the sidebar on the left side this page for fundraising tips.

Can people who haven’t registered show up and ride on the morning of Bike MS: Cruisin’ the Crossroads?
Absolutely!  All riders who register the morning of the event will be required to provide a registration fee and commit to raising the $150 minimum within 30 days of the event.

What if I only want to ride one day?  Do I still need to raise $150?
All riders, regardless of when or how far they ride, are required to raise the minimum pledge of $150.  And you don’t have to stop there!  We encourage you to take up the challenge and raise as much money as you can to join us in the movement to create a world free of MS.

Do I have to raise all of the money before the ride?
No, many participants actually continue to fundraise after the ride as well.  All donations are due 30 days following the ride.

Are donations to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society through Bike MS tax deductible?
Donations to the National MS Society – Indiana State Chapter through Bike MS are tax deductible.  Donors giving gifts of $75 or more will automatically receive a letter of acknowledgement from the Indiana State Chapter.  For donations under this amount, riders can issue receipts (available in participant packets or see the Resources page for a materials order form).  Tax receipts from the Indiana State Chapter can also be sent upon request by calling 1-800-FIGHT-MS (344-4867) option 2.

How do I turn in donations?
The Indiana State Chapter recommends turning in donations right away. The faster you turn in your donations, the faster the MS Society can begin putting them to good work. Don’t hold on to checks! Make sure that the memo line is marked with your name / team name and send to:

National Multiple Sclerosis Society – Indiana State Chapter
3500 DePauw Boulevard, Suite 1040
Indianapolis, Indiana 46268
ATTN: Bike MS 2012

Online donations are automatically credited to your account. Include remaining money in your participant envelope and bring the envelope with you when you register on event day.

Who do I make a check donation out to?
Please make all check donations out to the “National MS Society” or “NMSS.”  Also, please be sure to include the name of the participant or team in the memo line so the donation can be credited appropriately.

Do I raise money based on how far I ride?
No. Ask your donors for a flat donation.  Ask BIG. You'll be surprised how much you'll raise simply by asking.

ABOUT THE RIDE

How long is the ride?
A variety of route length options are provided to meet the needs of everyone from the beginning cyclist to the most experienced rider.  Each day participants will have the choice of 30-, 50-, 75- and 100-mile routes.

Do I have to choose my distance before the day of the ride?
It is best if you have an idea of what route(s) you want to participate in when you register for personnel / event planning purposes.  However, you are welcome to change your mind the day of the event, and even during the ride, in some cases.

What type of support can I expect on the ride?
Safety is our number one priority for our riders!  Support and gear (SAG) vehicles monitor the entire route to help the weary rider or offer assistance to those riders who experience mechanical problems.  Medical personnel are station at the start / finish site (and rest stops) should medical attention be needed.  We also have a safety crew made up of experience riders, police officers, EMTs, firefighters and other law enforcement individuals who ride the routes with you.  Their riding expertise and authority will be a valuable asset to novice riders and to remind all participants to follow all the rules of the road.

Will I need to carry identification or medical information?
All participants MUST carry a current driver’s license, state-issued identification card or student ID card with them at all times.  It is important that each rider is easily identified should an accident occur.  We also require each participant to submit emergency contact information upon registration.  This information will only be used if an accident occurs during the event.

Will food be provided?
We provide food throughout the weekend.  Each rest stop is well stocked with snacks and fluids.  However, if you would like extra snacks along the way (power bars, etc.) you may want to bring a supply with you.

Do I have to wear a helmet?
All cyclists are required to wear helmets.  It is a Bike MS: Cruisin’ the Crossroads requirement.  Your safety is of the utmost importance to us.  Thus, you will not be permitted to participate without a helmet.

Can I use my…?
For safety purposes, we cannot allow headphones, child seats, bike trailers or rollerblades on the ride.

Is this a race?
No, this is a fun ride for all skill levels and it is not timed.  Form a team with friends, family or co-workers and enjoy an unforgettable day!

What if there is inclement weather?
We hope that the weather will be mild, sunny and dry, but we know weather can affect the event.  Safety is always the number one priority for the weekend.  Extreme weather conditions (such as lightning, heaving rain and /or winds and excessive heat) are a threat to the health and safety of ALL participants.  In the event of extreme conditions, the event may be delayed or suspended or portions of the route may be closed.  We will, of course, make every effort to communicate potential weather issues to all participants.  Keep your fingers crossed!  Lacking any extreme weather issues the event WILL take palce.

ABOUT ONLINE FUNDRAISING

How will the MS Society know how much I have in online donations?
Online donations are credited to your account automatically. However, we will not have access to that information on the day of the event, so make sure to check your online total before the event and include the total on your participant envelope. 

I forgot my username and password.
Your username and password are case sensitive. If you have forgotten your username and / or password, you can retrieve them by clicking on the Login link in the upper right corner and following the instructions. If you still have problems, contact us.

How do I change my username / password?
First, login to the site using your username and password.  Once logged in you will see a link at the top of the page called “Update My Profile.”  Once in your profile, you will be able to change your contact information, email address, username and password.  All changes will be made to your account immediately.  There is no need to sign in again.

ABOUT MY PARTICIPANT CENTER

Are my participant center and personal page the same thing?
No, they aren't. The difference is explained below.  

What is the participant center?
The participant center is your password-protected Bike MS fundraising hub for managing your online fundraising efforts. From your participant center you can edit your personal page, send e-mail to donors, manage your campaign and follow your team’s progress.

What is a personal page?
A personal page is your public Bike MS page – give your personal page URL to friends and family when asking them to sponsor you by making a donation or to join your team. Once you sign up for an event online, by default, a personal page is created for you. You can manage and personalize your personal page by logging in to your participant center. There you will be able to customize images, text, and the style/color layout of the page. 

By default I have a personal page.  Do I have to change it?
Once you sign up for an event online, a default personal page is created for you. A compelling personal page attracts and engages supporters. While you can spread the word using customized e-mail solicitations, your personal campaign page can be your own creative expression of your commitment to the cause. Customize your page by selecting the layout and style that work best for you. Utilize the elements of text, photo and status indicators to their fullest advantage.

How do I change my personal fundraising goal?
First, you will need to login to your participant center. On the bottom right side of the Participant Center home page is the location to modify your personal fundraising goal. Enter your new goal and submit the changes.

How do I change my team name, team type or team goal?
Only the team captain has the ability to change the team name or team type. The team captain will need to login to his or her participant center and click the "My Team Progress" button on the top right. On the Team Progress page, team captains will have the ability to update the team name, type and goal.

How can I see who has made a donation to my account?
Login to the site using your username and password.  Go to your participant center and click the "My Progress" tab.  This will allow you to view your donor list and any amounts that were donated.

How can I see who is on my team?
Log in to the site using your username and password.  Go to your participant center and click the "Team Progress" tab.  This will allow you to view your team roster and the amounts raised by each team member.

How do I change a team message?
Simply go to your participant center and click the "Update Message to Team" button. This will allow you to make all necessary changes to your team message. What is the difference between making my personal page private or public?

What is an unconfirmed gift?
One exciting feature of your participant center allows you to record cash or checks that someone has given or promised you. The system adds these offline gifts to fundraising amounts that display on your personal page, My Progress page and team page, if you are a member of a team.  All cash, check and pay-later gifts that you enter are unconfirmed until the MS Society receives payment and marks them confirmed.  Credit card gifts are confirmed immediately. To make sure we accurately confirm offline gifts, it’s extremely important that you follow the provided instructions when entering cash, checks or pay-later gifts into your gift summary.