RIDERS FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
LOGISTICS (Times and Locations)
Q: Where are the start, overnight and finish locations?
A: Saturday: The ride begins at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Frisco, Texas, at 7 a.m. and ends at the Texas Motor Speedway (TMS) in Roanoke which also serves as the overnight location.
Sunday: The ride begins at the TMS and the finish line is located in Sundance Square in downtown Fort Worth. Check the Bike MS Tour Schedule for updates on start times.
Q: When and where will registration/packet pickup be held?
A: Packet pickups occur at different times and locations, including Houston. The last packet pickup is at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Frisco on the evening before the ride starts. To find pickup locations, dates and times click here.
Q: Is there a deadline for registrations?
A: The deadline for online registrations can be found by checking the online registration form on the Bike MS website. You can typically register up until the day of the ride but registration fees will increase as the day of the event approaches. There is no day of event registration at the last packet pickup the evening before the start of the ride.
Q: Where is event parking located and is there a cost?
A: Free parking for the duration of the ride is located at the Stonebriar Mall west parking lot just off Parkwood Blvd. and directly across the street from the Embassy Suites start line. After the end of the ride on Sunday, you may choose to pay a small fee to have you shuttled, along with your gear and bike, back to this parking lot to retrieve your car.
Q: Are non-riding family and friends encouraged to participate in the weekend's festivities?
A: OF COURSE! There are a number of opportunities for you and your family/friends to enjoy the ride together. As you know, volunteers are an integral part of the success of any event. So, if your family is willing, it’s a great way to get them involved in Bike MS and with the team. Please visit the volunteer section of our website for a description of volunteer opportunities and to sign up for CitiSlickers. Additionally, we invite your family and friends to join you at the team tent on the Saturday overnight stop at the TMS as well as cheer you on to the Sunday finish line in Sundance Square for the festivities. Parking maps for the Texas Motor Speedway and Sundance Square will be posted on the ride website.
RIDING
Q: Can I ride in the Frisco to Fort Worth Bike MS if I am under 18?
A: Yes, the minimum age requirement is 10 years old as of January 1, 2009. However, there are additional requirements for underage riders such as providing a notarized waiver prior to your participation in the bike event and completing an online safety quiz. Check the Tour Rules for more details.
Q: How long does it take a rider to finish in a day?
A: It all depends on the individual rider. The earliest riders finish each day’s ride in approximately 3.5-4 hours. The final riders end the day after 9-10 hours on their bikes. Remember, though, that the ride is not a race and everyone should ride at a pace that is best suited to their fitness level.
FUNDRAISING
Q: What is the minimum donation required?
A: All riders (including children) are required to raise a minimum of $300 in donations, exclusive of the registration fee. The average rider raises $700 so set your goals high! You have until the pledge deadline (approximately 30 days after the ride) listed on the ride website to turn in your donations to the National MS Society for tallying towards your pledge total for prize incentives. The pledge deadline is approximately 30 days after the event.
Q: Do matching gifts count?
A: Employer matching gifts are a great way to double your fundraising! For detailed information about matching gifts, please refer to the National MS Society Matching Gifts site.
Q: How do I turn in donations made by cash or check?
A: There are three ways to turn in your donations:Mail checks (not cash!) to: Sam’s Club Bike MS, National MS Society, P.O. Box 4125, Houston, TX 77210
OR
In person at any packet pickup location or to the NMSS Lone Star Chapter office nearest you.
Dallas: 2105 Luna Rd., Suite 390, Carrollton, TX 75006
The MS office for the North Texas Region is at 2105 Luna Rd., Suite 390, Carrollton, TX 75006. From downtown Dallas head north on 35E then exit to 635 west for about one mile before taking the Luna Road exit. Turn right headed north on Luna for about 1.5 miles to Champion Drive. The office is on the southeast corner of Luna and Champion.
Houston: 8111 North Stadium Drive, Suite 100, Houston, TX 77054
From the 610 Loop South, exit Kirby and take a left on Kirby under the freeway. Take Kirby past Reliant Stadium, and take a right at La Concha. The office is located at the corner of La Concha and North Stadium Drive, 8111 N. Stadium Drive, Suite 100.
Q: To whom should checks be made payable?
A: Checks should be made payable to the “National MS Society.” If a check is made out by a donor to the Bike MS ride or other related name, the bank should accept it. Be sure to put your full name on the memo line of the check.
Q: Where does the money go?
A: Your money helps fund national and local research for finding the cause and cure for multiple sclerosis, and supports programs and services offered to the 20,000 people in Texas living with the disease.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Q: We are coming in from out of town for the ride. Are there hotel blocks available to us for Friday and Saturday nights?
A: Riders are responsible for arranging their own accommodations during the Bike MS. However, the National MS Society has blocked off rooms at various host hotels for Friday and Saturday night, and will provide free transportation to and from the host hotels. The bus schedule to the hotels will be posted at the TMS when you arrive on Saturday.
Q: Does the team arrange sleeping/lodging options for the ride?
A: Our team does not handle any Friday accommodations but we offer members two lodging options for the Saturday overnight.
Hotel: We’ve reserved a block of hotel rooms for the Saturday overnight that are available to both Riders and Volunteers on a first come, first serve basis. Check the Members Only section on the team website for more information.
Camping: Adventurous souls are welcome to bring a sleeping bag and camp under the team tent after it has been shut down for the night, usually around 9 p.m. This option is free to all team members.
Q: What facilities will be made available to us when we arrive at the Texas Motor Speedway finish line?
A: There will be gym-type showers and port-o-potties available to all participants. You will pick up your luggage at the bag compound and should have your shower supplies with you to accommodate using these facilities.
Q: What is the "team tent"?
A: The team tent is part of what is known as “Tent Village” which is a group of large canvas tents at the Day 1 finish line at the Texas Motor Speedway. Various teams have their own tent under which team members gather to relax after the Day 1 ride. CitiSlickers is proud to have been the only team ever to have won the Best Team Tent award in the Frisco to Fort Worth Bike MS (three consecutive years!). Our team tent provides free food (lunch for riders arriving before 1 p.m. and barbecue/pasta/seafood dinner cooked on-site), beverages, chiropractic care, massage therapy, entertainment, and fun and camaraderie for all members and their families and friends.
Q: Will there be vegetarian options at the rest stops, lunch stops and dinners?
A: There will be plenty of food options for all participants. However, if you have very specific dietary requirements, we suggest that you bring supplemental food items with you to ensure you are properly fueled for the entire that weekend. Any team member who has a special dietary need for the team tent should contact the Team Lieutenant.
TRANSPORTATION
Q: What is the shuttling situation for the weekend?
A: There will be shuttles running from the Texas Motor Speedway to the host hotels all Saturday afternoon and evening. The same accommodations will be made Sunday morning to return you from your hotel to the TMS to begin Day 2 of the ride. You will need to leave your bike in the secure overnight bike corral at the TMS if taking the shuttles on Saturday night because the National MS Society will not shuttle bikes to the hotels. If you paid the extra transportation fee for Sunday there will be buses to shuttle you, your bike and your gear from Sundance Square back to Frisco. The Saturday bus schedule to and from the hotels will be posted at the TMS and the buses on Sunday run from Sundance Square to Frisco every 1/2 hour or so.
Q: I am only planning to ride on Saturday. Will there be shuttles available at the TMS to return me to my car in Frisco after I am done riding?
A: The Frisco to Fort Worth Bike MS is a 2-day ride. You are welcome to ride only one day, but will be responsible for your own transportation back to your car after you complete the ride on Saturday. The National MS Society also offers shuttle service from the TMS to Sundance Square on Sunday morning for a small fee.
Q: I am only planning to ride on Sunday. Can I still enjoy the amenities of the team tent on Saturday?
A: Absolutely! All team members who are registered riders of Bike MS or event volunteers can come to the team tent. However, you are responsible for getting yourself and your bike out to the TMS where the Day 2 ride begins.
ROUTE DETAILS
Q: Will there be shorter route options for participants?
A: There are no separate route options other than the 155+ mile route. However, you can ride as far as you want or are able, be it 10 or 155 miles, because the SAG wagons will pick you up anywhere along the ride route and transport you and your bike to the next rest stop.
Q: Will there be SAG support?
A: Yes. Bike MS is one of the best supported rides of the year. SAG (Support and Gear) vehicles patrol the entire route between rest stops and will pickup any riders and their bikes anywhere on the ride, whether at rest stops or between rest stops, and transport them to the next rest stop. There is also abundant bike maintenance support along the route and at every rest stop.
Q: What if I only want to ride the 40 miles or so to lunch each day?
A: Buses and vans will be available both days to take riders and their bikes directly from the lunch stops to the finish line at the Texas Motor Speedway on Day 1 and to Sundance Square on Day 2.
Q: How far apart are the rest stops?
A: The rest stops are usually 10-14 miles apart. The route maps state the distance from one stop to the next so that you can properly prepare for the road ahead.
GEAR AND PACKING SUGGESTIONS
Q: What do I need to bring with me to the Frisco to Fort Worth Bike MS?
A: Suggested Gear List:
- Riding Gear: Bike, helmet, extra tubes, tire pump/CO2 cartridges, bike shorts, jerseys, socks, etc. for both days
- Personal Fuel: Gels, bars, energy drinks.
- Lounging Gear: Comfy clothes and shoes, along with shower items (towel, soap, shampoo, etc) if you plan to camp overnight
- Camping Gear (if you choose this option): Tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, pillow, etc.
- Find a more detail check list of other suggested items to take with you on the ride.
Q: Do I need to do anything special to prepare my bike for this ride?
A: We suggest that you obtain a free “bike inspection sticker” prior to the ride. If you need mechanical assistance during the ride, the labor and some basic parts (such as tubes) are free if your bike has the sticker. Visit an Official Bike MS Store to have your bike inspected and obtain the sticker.
We also suggest a tune up just prior to the ride to make sure that everything is in good working order. While training for the ride, you will have put lots of miles on your bike, so it will deserve a little TLC to make sure it is ready for the ride.
Q: If I have a team jersey, do I need to wear it both days of the ride?
A: We hope that you like your jersey enough to wear it both days! The jerseys dry quickly so if you wash it out on Saturday night then it should be clean and ready to go Sunday morning. We do ask that you wear your jersey for the ride on Saturday. Sundays are generally days when top fundraisers wear their special jerseys from the National MS Society.
