Beginning Saturday, December 29th and finishing Saturday, January 5th the first annual Chris Webber Memorial ride will will depart from beautiful Orlando, FL and head to sunny Ft. Lauderdale. The ride is broken into two parts: the first 4 days will be on the bike, averaging about 60-70 miles. The final 3 days will be build days with the Ft Lauderdale Habitat for Humanity. There is absolutely no better way to spend you New Year than doing a mini Bike & Build!

More details (including overnights and fundraising) will be posted soon, but the dates are set. This ride is ONLY open to alumni of Bike & Build. Money raised will be go towards the Chris Webber Memorial fund. Spots are extremely limited so e-mail now if you're interested or have any questions.

As you would expect, the CWM Ride will be very much like your regular B&B trip in many regards.  On that same token, due to the nature of the trip some things will be inherently different.  Hopefully this FAQ will help clarify things.

Why is the trip only open to alumni?
There are two main reasons.  First, JanPlan is traditionally a time for alumni to reunite and work together towards a common goal while reminiscing about their B&B experiences.  Additionally, due to the shortened nature of the trip it is simply impossible to dedicate the same amount of time to orientation and pre-trip training.  By offering spots only to past participants, people come in with experience both on the bike as well as on a Bike & Build trip in general.

Who drives the van?
To be technical, nobody.  In order to save costs, B&B will not be driving a van and trailer to Florida.  Instead, we will be renting a U-Haul moving truck that will act as the SAG wagon from Tampa to Ft Lauderdale.  Driving duties will be split between trip coordinators and staff.

How do I get my bike there?
The best way is to fly with it or to ship it to Florida (we are currently in the process of finding a suitable host/shipping destination for Tampa).  DHL is an excellent and inexpensive option for shipping bikes, as is UPS Ground.  Unlike summer trips, we will not be in charge of securing bike boxes after the trip is over.  All boxes that bikes are shipped to FL in will be broken down and travel in the truck the duration of the trip.

 How do I get to and from the airport?
Since there will NOT be a van to run shuttle service, each participant is on their own for transportation to and from the ride.  It is strongly encouraged that everyone makes use of the forthcoming Listserv to help coordinate rides.  Also, both Tampa & Ft Lauderdale were picked in large part because of their proximity to high traffic airports, which means that finding an inexpensive flight shouldn’t be too much of a problem.

 Are there rules or policies that I need to follow during the ride?
All rules and policies that currently exist for summer long trips will be in place for the ride.  A list of these will be sent to you prior to your arrival.

 Does that mean I need to wear my Bike & Build jersey?
Of course!  Is your jersey MIA?  Simply want a very stylish new one?  Discounted 2007 season jerseys will be on sale for anybody who needs one.  Please let the office know ahead of time if you need/want to purchase a new jersey. 

Will Bike & Build supply me with a Thermarest?
No, we will not be supplying Thermarests.  You will either need to bring your own or rough it for a few days.  Alternatively, we do have some in storage that we can send you before the trip begins for a nominal fee.

What if I can only do a few days?
Unfortunately due to build site restrictions we are only able to have 25 people on the Habitat build site, so we are unable to have people just come and build.  If you want to just come ride for a few days you are more than welcome to, but you are still required to fundraise the full amount and register to secure your spot.

How do I register?
(Contact Brendan first to check availability)  Please send a check for $50 to the Bike & Build office by Monday, November 5th.  This money will be put towards your fundraising account and is simply used to secure your spot. 

This ride will take the place of JanPlan.