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Need a bike for Tour de Scottsdale? Uphill into the Wind has you covered
What would a bicycle ride – an important and impactful one – be without Uphill into the Wind?
We don’t want to know. Uphill into the Wind helps with the success of an event and delight of the participants.
They’ll be part of the Tour de Scottsdale on April 13.
“We are thrilled to be participating in another El Tour event, and especially excited to help a great cause like the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy,” said Kathy Griffiths, president of Uphill into the Wind.
The McDowell Sonoran Conservancy is a partner of El Tour’s for Tour de Scottsdale.
For more than a decade, Uphill into the Wind has helped El Tour-led events by helping cyclists find a bike so they can be part of the event.
To that, Uphill into the Wind's mission “is to put more bodies on bikes in support of charity cycling and triathlon events.”
The organization offers loaner bikes to individuals who are registered in a qualified 501(c)3 charity ride and cannot afford to purchase a bicycle. Loaner bicycles are issued to the individual at the start of training through the completion of the assigned event. After the ride, the bicycle is returned so it can be loaned to someone else who wants to make a difference.
What a mission and idea. It’s a win-win for the event and the cyclists looking to get out and ride.
According to Griffiths, Uphill has loaned nearly 170 bicycles for El Tour events, including Tucson and Mesa.
“The total number of bicycles loaned to all charities (31 to date) is 424,” Griffiths said. “So, you can see that El Tour events have benefited from a considerable portion of our free bicycle loans.”
They are gearing up and will be ready for those looking to get a loaner in Scottsdale. As of Feb. 1, nearly 1,700 cyclists have registered. Anyone needing a bike can visit Apply for a Loaner Bicycle – Uphill Into The Wind.
“We are prepared to help as many people as possible experience the joy of riding in beautiful Scottsdale and fundraising for the charity of their choice,” Griffiths said. “We strongly encourage them to apply soon so they have plenty of time to train for the ride.”
The deadline to apply is March 9.
El Tour vouches for the program given its long-standing success. Anything to help raise money for their respective charities.
“We would love to help even more charities,” Griffiths said. “If there is an opportunity to educate them on our program and how easy it is to fundraise by recruiting more riders to their teams, we would be happy to meet with them either in person or virtually.”
Here are some key components of the program:
1) Approved applicants are eligible to borrow the bicycle for a maximum of 14 weeks and a minimum of 4 weeks prior to an event.
2) Approved applicants must agree to raise a minimum of $250, or the charity’s minimum, whichever is greater.
3) Approved applicants agree to wear cycling shorts, shoes, eye protection and helmet while riding the bicycle.
4) Approved applicants agree to obey all traffic laws and observe safe cycling procedures while riding the bicycle.
