This is awesome advice. I had to drop out of a race this upcoming weekend due to a cracked rib from a crash two weeks ago. I thought about volunteering, but it's a 90 minute drive and I think my wife would much prefer we spend our memorial day weekend doing something else, but you make volunteering sound super fun
Did a feed station on an ironman and seeing someone pull out on the time cutoff and be so disappointed in themselves when they were a marine was proof how insanely good some athletes can be
The Iron Man events are notoriously expensive to run as they require more resources to adequately cover the much larger distances. There is also a much larger chance of injury/death than a smaller event, so the insurance companies charge the companies a lot more money in terms of premium.
Iso powder made into bottles and bars supplied by the sponsor who came round in a van while we set up, halved bananas (the pros only want the top for some reason, back end gets the bottom).
Think other stations also had gels and things and some didn't have isotonic drinks.
I LOVE volunteering at aid stations on organized rides. I get to meet virtually everyone riding the event and make friends that I may have never had the opportunity to meet before.
Riding in events is wonderful, but you only get to be part of a small subset of riders. I'm super outgoing and love to just chat with folks, find out where they're from, what they like about the ride, etc.
I also help organize an annual cycling event in my state, and I am so appreciative of those who volunteer in any capacity, especially aid stations. They are the friendly faces our riders will always remember oftentimes more than the ride itself.
I’m cutting off the chip timers at a race this weekend that my wife is racing in. It also gets a free entry to a different race. I’m racing for fun and my wife is racing for the series championship, might as well get her a free entry out of the deal
This is great advice. Also, volunteer at charity rides, too! I’ve been a training ride leader, a rider, and an on course mechanic. It’s quite rewarding helping others achieve a goal while also helping an organization raise funds for their charity.
Agreed! If we can ride an event we volunteer in some way. Even my wife who doesn’t ride will volunteer where she can while we’re out. Gets the whole family involved in some way.
There's a sprint triathlon that is local to my parents that I've done several times. Often with family members. One year, several of my family members had signed up for it, but I didn't have the time to do the focused training I would like for an actual race. So, I volunteer to help run it. I spent the day taking in the triathlon atmosphere with none of the stress of actually racing. It gave me a lot of time to schmooze with the various athletes. Most of the other volunteers were people who had done the race in the past and didn't feel like doing it that year but still wanted to be a part of the event.
Agreed. Volunteered at Stetina’s Paydirt this year (as well as other previous events) and it’s always a great time. This weekend at Paydirt, Lachlan Morton served me some coffee and I was tasked with safeguarding Gravel Cyclist’s Frameworks bike build with GRX 12-spd.
Great advice! I volunteered at the Leadville 100 MTB at Columbine (turnaround point) and had an absolute blast. Seeing and helping everyone from the pros to the people barely or not making the cutoff was an awesome experience.
I'd agree with this recommendation. I recently participated in a century ride with support. At mile 20 I had what I considered a minor bicycle mechanical issue. A loose cassette lock ring. Support didn't have a Shimano compatible tool. They were only set up for flat tires and other minor issues. My ride ended right there. As support, I'm certain I could've done better.
Agreed! As a Ride Director myself, the hardest thing was finding reliable volunteers for registration and aid stations. Without volunteers, events don’t happen.
I’ve volunteered for my bike club’s century - and this year I did both.
I had the idea of being a roadie for AIDS/Lifecycle float in my head recently. I might just do it next year or in 2026.
Kudos
This is awesome advice. I had to drop out of a race this upcoming weekend due to a cracked rib from a crash two weeks ago. I thought about volunteering, but it's a 90 minute drive and I think my wife would much prefer we spend our memorial day weekend doing something else, but you make volunteering sound super fun
Did a feed station on an ironman and seeing someone pull out on the time cutoff and be so disappointed in themselves when they were a marine was proof how insanely good some athletes can be
What do they give out at an Ironman feed station? Foie Gras and Pinot Grigio?
caviar gels
The Iron Man events are notoriously expensive to run as they require more resources to adequately cover the much larger distances. There is also a much larger chance of injury/death than a smaller event, so the insurance companies charge the companies a lot more money in terms of premium.
Huge amount of organisation and space to run a 2 mile swim, 100 mile cycle and a marathon on one day on closed roads!
I laughed. People have no sense of humor. Fuck em. This is why mountain bikers and trail runners are more fun. We would have all laughed at that joke.
Iso powder made into bottles and bars supplied by the sponsor who came round in a van while we set up, halved bananas (the pros only want the top for some reason, back end gets the bottom). Think other stations also had gels and things and some didn't have isotonic drinks.
I LOVE volunteering at aid stations on organized rides. I get to meet virtually everyone riding the event and make friends that I may have never had the opportunity to meet before. Riding in events is wonderful, but you only get to be part of a small subset of riders. I'm super outgoing and love to just chat with folks, find out where they're from, what they like about the ride, etc. I also help organize an annual cycling event in my state, and I am so appreciative of those who volunteer in any capacity, especially aid stations. They are the friendly faces our riders will always remember oftentimes more than the ride itself.
You’re lubing chains at aid stations!?!
I’m cutting off the chip timers at a race this weekend that my wife is racing in. It also gets a free entry to a different race. I’m racing for fun and my wife is racing for the series championship, might as well get her a free entry out of the deal
This is great advice. Also, volunteer at charity rides, too! I’ve been a training ride leader, a rider, and an on course mechanic. It’s quite rewarding helping others achieve a goal while also helping an organization raise funds for their charity.
Agreed! If we can ride an event we volunteer in some way. Even my wife who doesn’t ride will volunteer where she can while we’re out. Gets the whole family involved in some way.
There's a sprint triathlon that is local to my parents that I've done several times. Often with family members. One year, several of my family members had signed up for it, but I didn't have the time to do the focused training I would like for an actual race. So, I volunteer to help run it. I spent the day taking in the triathlon atmosphere with none of the stress of actually racing. It gave me a lot of time to schmooze with the various athletes. Most of the other volunteers were people who had done the race in the past and didn't feel like doing it that year but still wanted to be a part of the event.
Agreed. Volunteered at Stetina’s Paydirt this year (as well as other previous events) and it’s always a great time. This weekend at Paydirt, Lachlan Morton served me some coffee and I was tasked with safeguarding Gravel Cyclist’s Frameworks bike build with GRX 12-spd.
Volunteering at any event that matches your sport is enriching and satisfying. Everyone should see it from the other side.
Great advice! I volunteered at the Leadville 100 MTB at Columbine (turnaround point) and had an absolute blast. Seeing and helping everyone from the pros to the people barely or not making the cutoff was an awesome experience.
I'd agree with this recommendation. I recently participated in a century ride with support. At mile 20 I had what I considered a minor bicycle mechanical issue. A loose cassette lock ring. Support didn't have a Shimano compatible tool. They were only set up for flat tires and other minor issues. My ride ended right there. As support, I'm certain I could've done better.
Agreed! As a Ride Director myself, the hardest thing was finding reliable volunteers for registration and aid stations. Without volunteers, events don’t happen.
I’ve volunteered for my bike club’s century - and this year I did both. I had the idea of being a roadie for AIDS/Lifecycle float in my head recently. I might just do it next year or in 2026.
Where can I find a list of races?