4 October, 2008: Join Rick's Ride 2009!

For anyone who has ever dreamt of witnessing the excitement of the Tour in person, this is your chance. Most tour companies charge several thousand dollars (plus a plane ticket) for a week of riding in France. Here is an opportunity to have the same experience for much less, and to support fellow athletes while embarking on the trip of a lifetime.

I pitched the idea of a 2009 Tour de France relay team to some of my fellow riders at the BORP Revolution today. The response was favorable, and we are moving forward.

The idea is to recruit a group of riders (and non-riders), and to split the stages amongst ourselves. We will all chip in to rent a van or two, and riders will be given their choice of stages (or partial stages) on a first-come, first-served basis (so if you want to climb the Alps, sign up now!) We will each pay our own way (but a few experienced hands will be there to assist with logistics--finding lodging, plane tickets, bike transport, etc.) and each individual will meet a minimum fundraising target. You can come to France for the whole Tour, or just a few days; you can ride the entire course, just part of a stage, or simply enjoy driving through the French countryside in the broom wagon--it's up to you. The goal will be to complete the entire course as a team and to raise a substantial sum for disabled athletes.

(And remember--Lance is back! This TDF may be your last chance to see "Le Texan" in action.)

More details to follow. We don't expect a firm commitment yet, but the earlier you express an interest, the better your chances of laying claim to the stage or stages of your choice. If you are interested in joining the 2009 Rick's Ride Team as a rider or as a volunteer, please click here.