Minneapolis to Chicago

...Bigger and Better than Ever

Mon., July 9 to Sat., July 14

Staff, Riders, Crew! Without any one of these components, no AIDS Ride, no money channeled to the AIDS beneficiaries we ride for.

But CREW, I'd like to talk a little about CREW! I'd like to tell you a little more about some of the crew assignments in the hope that perhaps you might see yourself taking on one of these tasks in the future!

• Okay, to begin with, if you must stay close to the Twin Cities, there are volunteers needed on Day Zero and Day One of the Ride at Concordia College in St. Paul. On Day Zero they need 250 volunteers and on Day One 150. Day Zero is the Sunday just proceeding the Monday when the ride begins. On that day a safety film is shown to all, pledges are secured, tent assignments are made, medical information is verified, registration is completed and bikes are checked in to bike parking. Volunteers are used in the coordination of each of those deeds.
• Believe it or not, there also is a Day Subzero! Day Subzero, (Saturday), involves 150 volunteers who set up Concordia for Day Zero! They insure the Crew trucks are ready for the week ahead, and set up the Concordia Gym and other buildings used for the AIDS Ride on Day Zero.
• On Day One, volunteers help with feeding breakfast to the bikers, passing out route booklets and tying up loose ends with riders and crew.

Well, if you need a change of scenery and don't mind spending a week away from home, there are the crew assignments on the ride itself. Many people volunteer and go along on the ride! What do they all do?

I'll start by identifying some crew shirt colors worn by crew. Yellow shirts are worn by crew in charge of camp security. Blue shirts are worn by crew administering chiropractic services. Orange is worn by those in charge of traffic monitoring. Red is worn by medical personnel, and Gray is worn by crew captains. Outfits at the "Pits" vary for fun, and are planned by pit crew in advance.

• Every "Pit Stop" has 12-15 Crew working it, with the Lunch Pit needing 25 people. Volunteers assigned a "Pit" work the same "Pit" the entire week. Riders come to know the volunteers at a given "Pit." These folks insure the food is replenished for the riders as they arrive. Typically a pit remains open for many hours to insure both the fastest and slowest riders needs are met. Those needs include hydration, elimination, nutrition, medical and last but not least entertainment! The Pit Crews use their imaginations to surprise us and keep us mentally engaged!
• Volunteer bike technicians typically number 2 at the pit stops, and 4-6 at the lunch pit. They assist with any bike repair or adjustment bikers may need.
• Medical volunteers include10 volunteers at lunch and 3-4 per pit. They do everything from hand out local ointments to monitor serious medical situations. Cots are available to bikers or crew needing them.

This motorcycle traffic couple and their motorcycles are familiar to 9 am mass goers.

• All roads need to be marked one day prior to the day riders take a given route. Ten people are assigned this task. Six folks are needed to remove signs once the ride has passed.
• There are 10 "Sweep" vehicles, with two volunteers per sweep. These folks work the roads between pit stops. Should a biker need assistance, they are there to provide water, Gatorade, snacks or a ride to the next pit to have bike repair done. A biker can even return to camp if necessary.
• When a pit closes, there are two crews that coordinate the clean up. There are two people per crew and the two crews alternate pit clean ups. They insure the site is returned to it’s before AIDS Ride state. So these folks clean about three sites each day.
• There is the "Caboose" which involves two people. This is the vehicle that follows the last rider to finish each night! Once the caboose is in, the traffic folks and sweeps also can return to camp, eat dinner and be done for the day.
• The traffic folks include 10 people at camp and 12-18 on the roads along the route. The 12-18 folks are on motorcycle with typically two per motorcycle.
• The water/ice assignment is given to four volunteers. Their job is to stock all the sweep vehicles and pit stops with ice and water. A huge job on hot days!
• There are drivers of flat bed trucks needed to transport bikes "sagged" from pit stops to camp. Also garbage needs to be transported away from the various pit stops.

• At the Camp Site many more volunteers find work! Ten folks in the kitchen to serve breakfast and dinner. Ten to fifteen are needed in the medical tent. Ten are employed in Chiropractic and one in Acupuncture. One to two folks work in the general store, (which sells toothpaste, chap stick, etc.). And twenty-five are involved in security, 15 people during the day and 10 at night.
• There are folks who load our tents and bags into trucks to transport them from campsite to campsite. And folks who set up and breakdown camp. A huge undertaking! Returning the campsite to pre-campsite condition involves many others.

I think you get the picture! There is much work to be done in moving over two thousand people each day to a new campsite! Not to mention servicing 1500+ vehicles and riders traveling close to 100 miles each day. The tasks are huge, but so too are the rewards. The intensity of the week is great, but one has only this to focus on. Most other cares in life are shelved! It's a great ride for all who dare, both as a crew member and as a rider. Experiences vary from person to person

Edie Kalweit has been a St. Joan of Arcer for 24 years now. Now that her children are grown, there is time to participate more fully in activities taking place at St. Joan's.

but wisdom is sure to be gained. Personal interactions, new connections made, new friends, and a revised outlook on life. Just a few of the benefits of this adventure. Consider joining us next year!