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Frequently Asked Questions

Registration  |  Fundraising  |  Teams  |  Event Information  |  General

Registration 

 

HOW DO I REGISTER FOR BIKE MS? 
We encourage all participants to register online at www.bikeMSnyc.org. You can click on “Register” and join Bike MS NYC by starting a team, joining an already existing team, or participating as an individual. If you are unable to register online, please email us at bikeMS@msnyc.org or call 212-463-9791

IS THERE A REGISTRATION FEE? 
Yes. The current registration fee to register for Bike MS New York City is $50. The registration fee will increase to $75 on September 5, 2014.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN EVENT PARTICIPANT AND A VIRTUAL RIDER? 
An event participant is someone who is planning on participating in the event by riding during Bike MS NYC. A virtual rider is someone who cannot ride on the day of the event but wants to fundraise for the event. Both can be part of a team and are eligible for fundraising rankings and prizes. Virtual riders will receive all fundraising resources and communications but will not receive any rider materials for the event.

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Fundraising  

 

IS THERE A MINIMUM FUNDRAISING REQUIREMENT?
Yes. The fundraising minimum requirement for Bike MS New York City is $200. This is in addition to the registration fee. All riders are required to fulfill their $200 minimum prior to participating in Bike MS New York City. Pending matching gifts will not count towards the $200 fundraising minimum. If you are hoping to meet your minimum with a check donation please be sure to mail it by Friday, September 5 to ensure that we receive it before the packet mailing deadline (Friday, September 19) or packet pick-up date. Unconfirmed check donations are not counted toward your minimum. Team gifts are also not counted toward team member’s fundraising minimum.

WHERE DO I SEND MY DONATIONS? 
We encourage all participants to fundraise online using the tools in your Participant Center. If you wish to mail in donation checks, please do so at: 

National MS Society
Attn: Bike MS NYC 
PO Box 10123
Uniondale, NY 11555-0123

Keep in mind that it will take check donations can take anywhere between two to four weeks to be reflected onto the participant's page.

WHO SHOULD CHECKS BE MADE OUT TO? 
Checks should be made out to Bike MS New York City. Also, remember to put your name and account number in the memo section of each check so we know to credit your Bike MS account. Your account number is located on the mailing label of your participant guide and on the home page of your online Participant Center. 

WHERE DOES MY MONEY GO?  
For every dollar raised, more than 76 cents is spent on local programs and services for people living with MS and their families living in New York City, Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Orange and Sullivan counties, as well as funding critical local, national and international research into the cause and a cure for MS.

ARE DONATIONS TAX DEDUCTIBLE AND HOW DO I GET A RECEIPT?
Yes. All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. Your canceled check or credit card transaction confirmation serves as a receipt. Donors giving $250 or more will automatically receive an acknowledgment from the New York City – Southern New York Chapter of the National MS Society by the end of the calendar year in which the donation was made. Please note that donations are non-refundable and non-transferable.

WHAT IF MY COMPANY WANTS TO MATCH MY DONATION?
Contact your HR department to learn about your company’s matching gift policies and procedures. Check to see if your company has a matching gift program: www.nationalmssociety.org/employermatch

Follow the procedure outlined by your company’s matching gift program; printed materials may be mailed to:

National MS Society
Attn: Bike MS Matching Gifts
733 Third Ave., Third Floor
New York, NY 10017 

We will send a confirmation to your company, and, upon receipt of the donation check, we will credit your Bike MS NYC fundraising efforts. Until the process is complete, the matching gift donation will not appear in your fundraising total, and will not count toward your fundraising minimum.

WHAT IS THE TAX ID FOR THE NATIONAL MS SOCIETY, NYC - SOUTHERN NY CHAPTER?
The National MS Society Tax ID # is 13-2835721. Official 501(c)(3) letters and W-9 forms are available by request.

HOW LONG AFTER I SEND IN A CHECK DOES IT TAKE TO SHOW UP ON MY PERSONAL PAGE? 
Donations made online are immediately posted to your account and will appear on your web page at the time of the donation. Donations that are mailed prior to the event can take two to four weeks to appear on your web page. Donations submitted on the day of the event can take up to six weeks to appear on your web page. To avoid the wait, encourage your donors to sponsor you online; online donations are safe and easy.

WHAT IS A TOP FUNDRAISER? 
A Top Fundraiser is a participant who raises $1,000 or more. Participants who raise $1,000 or more by event day will receive day of perks and will be allowed inside our Top Fundraiser Lounge with a guest. A top fundraiser will also receive a commemorative jersey. Click here to learn more. 

CAN I STILL BECOME A TOP FUNDRAISER?
Yes – all individuals who raise $1,000 or more by the Fundraising Deadline (Friday, November 7) are Top Fundraisers and are eligible to receive a commemorative Top Fundraiser jersey.
 
HOW DO I CLAIM MY TOP FUNDRAISER JERSEY?
All individuals who raise $1,000 or more by the fundraising deadline (Friday, November 7) will receive an email in December with information on how to claim your jersey. Your jersey will be mailed to you in February.

WHAT IS THE ELITE 200 CLUB?

The Elite 200 Club is an honor awarded to our top 200 fundraisers from the previous year's Bike events. These 200 individuals have exhibited outstanding fundraising achievements that deserve to be recognized. The 2014 Elite 200 Club, made up of the top 200 individual fundraisers from Bike MS NYC 2013! The top 200 fundraisers from this year’s Bike MS event as of November 7, 2014 will make up the 2015 Elite 200 Club. Click here to learn more.

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Teams 

 

WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF STARTING A TEAM?
Participating in Bike MS NYC is more fun when you are part of a team, and it’s a fact that team members raise more than individual riders. Teams get a meeting area at the start line of the event and get the chance to participate in team contests with great prizes. Teams can also qualify for top fundraising honors and rewards.

HOW MANY PEOPLE DO I HAVE TO HAVE ON MY TEAM?
Teams must consist of three or more members (including the team captain) in order to receive any team recognition, awards, and prizes.

CAN DONATIONS BE MADE TO THE TEAM?
Yes, but we highly discourage team gifts. Donations that are made as a team gift will not count toward a team member's fundraising minimum or to individual rankings toward Top Fundraiser or Elite 200 Club. If you have a team gift that needs to be moved to an individual team member, please contact us at teams@msnyc.org. You must contact us by September 17 in order to apply a team gift toward a participant to qualify them for the September 19 $200 Packet Mailing Deadline. After September 17, all participants below the $200 will have to attend a Packet Pick-up and team gifts cannot be moved at Packet Pick-ups. 

CAN MY TEAM HAND IN OUR DONATIONS ALL TOGETHER WITH OUR TEAM CAPTAIN?
 
No. All donations must be handed in individually. Every participant is required to raise a minimum of $200 in order to be able to ride in Bike MS New York City. Fundraising prizes and incentives are based on individual fundraising success.

WHAT ARE TOP FUNDRAISING TEAM HONORS?
Elite Teams are teams that commit to raising $40,000 or more. They receive a private meeting area at the start and finish lines of Bike MS NYC. Teams are able to decorate their individual areas for the event.The Super Team area is located at the Bike MS NYC finish line. This area is for teams that commit to raising $15,000 - $39,999. Teams are able to decorate their Super Team area for the event.

WHAT IF I ALREADY REGISTERED AS AN INDIVIDUAL BUT WANT TO START/JOIN A TEAM?
We can make that change for you. Contact us at teams@msnyc.org or 212-463-9791, option 3. Let us know what you would like your team name and team goal to be.

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Event Information

 

WHAT IF IT RAINS?
Bike MS NYC takes place rain or shine. In the event of extreme weather conditions routes may be altered or canceled, but the Bike MS festival will always take place. These decisions are made on the day of the event. We encourage you to check our website the weekend of the ride for up to date information.

I DON'T HAVE A BIKE. CAN I RENT ONE?
Absolutely! We have partnered with several bike shops around the city. Click here for more details about renting a bike for Bike MS NYC through one of our partners.

ARE TANDEM BIKES ALLOWED?
Tandem bikes will be permitted as long as both riders are physically able to pedal the bike and both are registered, have met the fundraising minimum and each has a rider bib. Every rider, regardless of age, must meet the $200 fundraising minimum in order to ride.

CAN I BRING MY PET TO BIKE MS NYC?
No. While we love pets, we ask that you leave yours home for the safety and comfort of your fellow participants. Not everyone is comfortable with pets, many people are allergic, and many animals react differently in large crowds than they do at home. To ensure everyone’s comfort and safety, please do not bring your dog/pet with you to Bike MS NYC. Service dogs are allowed at the Bike MS NYC festival site, but not along the route.

WHAT DO I DO IF I GET A FLAT TIRE? 
We highly encourage all participants to know basic safety and repair skills, including fixing a flat tire. Be prepared and bring your own pump and extra tubes for your bike. However, if you are still unable to make the repair, marshals and SAG buses will accompany riders along all routes. Should you need assistance, just let one of the marshals know and, if a marshal is unable to assist you with the repair, a SAG bus will take you to a rest stop where mechanical support may be available, or to the finish line. Please note that the wait for assistance and/or a ride to the nearest rest stop can be long and by waiting, you run the risk of not being allowed to finish the route. Visit your local bike shop to learn how to handle basic repair needs.

WILL THERE BE REST STOPS ALONG THE ROUTE?
Rest stops will be provided every eight to 12 miles and will be supplied with restrooms, first aid, water and various fruit and snacks. Volunteer bike mechanics will be on site to assist with minor repairs. Lunch will be provided along the route for the 100-mile Century Challenge riders.

IS THERE A TIME LIMIT TO COMPLETE BIKE MS?
Yes, all routes will have time limits. If a participant is not able to keep up with the time limits they will be transported by a SAG bus to the finish line. Specific route closure times will be published as the routes for Bike MS NYC 2014 are finalized. Participants who choose to ride the 30-mile route must maintain a speed of 10 mph. 55 and 100-mile riders must maintain a speed of 12 mph. 


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General Questions 

 

IS THERE A MINIMUM AGE REQUIREMENT TO PARTICIPATE IN BIKE MS NYC? 
Yes. Participants must be at least 12 years of age in order to ride in any Bike MS NYC ride (see our full Policy for Minors here). Children under the age of 12 will not be permitted to ride in any portion of Bike MS NYC. If you are registering a minor, you will need to complete, notarize, and send the Bike MS Minor Waiver and Release Form to the National MS Society. 

NO tagalongs, trailers or carriers will be permitted. Tandem bikes will be permitted as long as both riders are physically able to pedal the bike and both are registered, have met the fundraising minimum and each has a rider bib. For more information on our policy for minors, please click here. Every rider, regardless of age, must meet the $200 fundraising minimum in order to ride.

WHAT DO I DO IF I EXPERIENCE ISSUES WITH MY PARTICIPANT CENTER?
If you are using Internet Explorer 11, some aspects of the Participant Center won’t function properly. Click here to see which version of Internet Explorer (IE) you have.

If you have IE 11, you will need to use a different browser to use the Participant Center. Mozilla FireFox and Google Chrome are two free, trusted browsers that fully support our software. To download, click the links below and follow the instructions:

Mozilla FireFox

Google Chrome

If you continue to experience issues, please contact us at 212-463-9791.

HOW CAN I CONTACT THE BIKE MS STAFF? 
You can contact us at bikeMS@msnyc.org or 212-463-9791.

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