FAQ-Frequently Asked Questions

What is ACT?
AIDS Network and Williamson Bikes & Fitness proudly present the sixth annual AIDS NETWORK CYCLES TOGETHER or ACT 6, a 300 mile bike ride through southwestern Wisconsin from August 7-10, 2008, to raise awareness and funds for AIDS Network.

ACT 6 has three primary goals:

• Provide a ride that is a substantial challenge for riders, but at the same time is fun and safe.
• Educate the community, raise awareness, and teach tolerance.
• Raise significant funds for the benefiting agency, ensuring as high a return as possible.

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Who is creating and producing the ride?
The ride is being created and produced by AIDS Network. There is an ACT steering committee and several subcommittees. The committees are composed of three AIDS Network staff members and more than 20 volunteers. Each member of the steering committee has participated in at least one AIDS Ride and, collectively, the members have participated as riders and/or crew on over 40 rides.

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How do I register?
There are three ways to register.

1. You can click here to go to our online registration website serviced by Active.com. There, you will conveniently pay the registration fee with a credit card. Be aware that there is a service fee to pay for handling this transaction and normal credit card processing fees. If you were to ask AIDS Network to run your credit card, the agency would be paying those fees, so we would encourage you to use the online registration website. This is the most convenient way to register because it saves staff time that reduces overhead expenses from entering your registration manually.
2. You can download the registration form, fill it out and return it to AIDS Network via mail or in person with a check, cash, or money order. We will enter in your registration and you will receive email confirmation when your registration has been completed and your online fundraising page set up.
3. You can just stop by AIDS Network's office at 600 Williamson St. to grab a form in the lobby area, fill it out, and leave it with the appropriate payment.

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When do I get my rider/crew number?
Because of the new registration and online donation system this year, it is not necessary to assign rider/crew numbers upon registration. So, numbers will not be assigned until just before Day Zero of the ride. If you would like to request a specific number (either because of historical or other significance), please call or email the Events Specialist at AIDS Network to be added to the list. We will accommodate all requests unless the number has already been reserved.

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How much money do I need to raise? How much will be returned to the agency?
It costs $55 to register for ACT 6, and there is a minimum $1,200 fundraising requirement for riders. With the ride being primarily volunteer-driven, we are striving to return a maximum amount of funds to the direct services provided by AIDS Network (keeping administrative and overhead costs as low as possible). While our hope is to return as much money as possible, there are many factors that will affect that total, such as number of riders and crew and the amount of money that they raise. Consequently, there are no guarantees on the amount returned to AIDS Network. However, returning as high a percentage as possible is one of our highest priorities. In the first fiveACT rides, we returned an average 87%.

Additionally, it is difficult to put a dollar value on all of the other benefits the ACT ride generates. Because riders take on such a large commitment (raising $1,200, training, and then riding over 300 miles in four days), the event generates a great deal of public awareness. As the ride ventures through small cities and towns throughout southwest and south central Wisconsin, riders will help educate the community, put a human face on this disease, spread the word that AIDS has no barriers, and remind people, in the words of Margaret Mead, "..that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

Until ACT 5, crewmembers have not been asked to raise a specific pledge amount. ACT 5 crew raised over $19,000, so we challenge crewmembers to raise at least $200. This is not a requirement to participate on crew, but we would love for you to try to reach that individual goal. Your crew captain will tell you more about this and how to get started.

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How do I handle and track my donations?
This year's new online donation system is intended to reduce the effort and cost of having AIDS Network staff enter and track your pledges, and put the participant in charge of tracking their own donations. Previous participants will remember how long it took to get donations processed and your pledge report sent out.

With Active.com, you have your own personal online fundraising webpage. Once you register, a page will be created for you. You can personalize the page with your own wording, photos, and your personal fundraising goal "thermometer." Online fundraising is much simpler for many people in today's busy world. Simply send your donors this web link, http://www.active.com/donate/ACT6Ride and they can donate online with their credit card. Their cards are charged immediately and the donation is reflected on your account almost simultaneously (i.e., no waiting around for a third party human to enter the donation!).

Every participant will need internet access to manage their account. Should you choose to continue with mailed letters and donation forms, all donations should be returned to you (though checks should be made payable to AIDS Network), and you will manually enter in the donations you receive into your fundraising page as an "offline donation." You can choose to enter each donation individually (this way helps you keep track of all of your donors in an easily downloadable format) or enter the total amount in as a bulk deposit (saves time, but you should keep track of your individual donors in some other fashion).

After you've entered the donations into your fundraising page accounting system, you will print out an accounting report showing those donations have been accounted for in your name. Bring the checks and cash along with that printed accounting report to AIDS Network for deposit. You can mail them in or drop them off at the office. Don't hesitate to contact the Events Specialist or Active.com's help desk if you need assistance figuring out exactly how to enter your offline donations.

Ultimately, YOU are responsible for tracking your online and offline donations in order to reach your goals. If AIDS Network receives a donation without your name attached to it, the donation will be attributed to Rider Zero. There will be no transferring of donations from one participant to another. If you reach your goal - keep aiming higher!

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What are the incentives for raising lots of money?
We will keep incentive levels for riders similar to those of past rides, but have added some new and exciting prizes to entice you to go the extra mile!

$1250 - Victory Ride long-sleeved t-shirt, given out at Holding on Day Four
$1400 – Super cool ACT 6 hat (+Victory T)
$1600 – Commemorative biking jersey (+hat +Victory T)

So, if you reach for the jersey, you’ll know that as a rider, that brings your goal to $1,600.

For those of you who really reach for the stars and try to be one of the top three fundraisers for ACT 6, know that the prizes are being beefed up this year and you will really want to set your sights high! Prizes will be announced early in the summer.

For crew members, there will also be special incentives for outstanding fund raising efforts:

$50 - Victory Ride long-sleeved t-shirt, given out at Holding on Day Four
$200 - Assorted incentives
$400 - ACT 6 commemorative sweatshirt

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How do I account for pledges mailed directly to AIDS Network?
Occasionally your donors may send their check or cash donation directly to AIDS Network. When we receive those donations, AIDS Network staff or volunteers will enter it for you as an offline donation and credit it to your fundraising account, so long as the donation includes your name somewhere either on the check "Notes" line or on a pledge form. The next time you log into your account,, you will be able to see the offline donation (it will be added to your total) and the donor's contact information, unless they requested that the donation be kept anonymous.

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What is the route? What is it like?
After the opening ceremony on August 7, 2008 in Madison, Wisconsin, ACT 6 will begin its four-day tour. The exact route is not yet finalized and is subject to change due to road construction or other issues. The route will be fully planned and marked, will be on bicycle-friendly roads, and will have full safety support.

The scenery is absolutely breathtaking! ACT 6 days will be roughly 70 miles Day 1, 100 miles Day 2, 85 miles Day 3 and 45 miles on Day 4. The total mileage will be somewhere between 300 and 350 miles. The route will be mostly flat or rolling, with some hills to keep it interesting.

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Will the ride be supported? What about food?
Yes, absolutely! We will be providing food for breakfasts, lunches and dinners (including vegetarian options). We will also be providing full bicycle technical support on the ride. Pit stops (or rest stops) will be available at least every 15 miles or so on the route. All gear (up to 75lbs) will be carried for riders by our volunteer crew. We also have arrangements for sleeping and shower facilities and on site medical services.

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What will pit (or rest) stops be like?
The ACT rides provide the best pit stops possible. At the same time, we are cognizant of costs and are doing everything possible to find the appropriate balance. Water, sports drink, bathrooms, and snacks will be available at least every 15 miles. The actual look of pit stops depends on the number of crew, number of riders, resources available in the towns that we travel through, and the type of sponsorships that we receive.

New this year will be a roving pit crew that will be out in front of the main ride to provide services to our faster riders. They will accompany these riders and set up special pit stops for them prior to when the normal U-pits, AM pit and PM pit are scheduled to be open. They will bring along water, sports drink and snacks and provide music and cheering if requested.

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Where will we sleep?
ACT 6 nights will be spent in public schools along the route. Participants will have the choice of sleeping either in the gym or bringing their own tent to camp on the grounds. If participants want to bring their own tent, ACT 6 will transport it for them, along with one gear bag. Participants will be able to shower in the school locker rooms.

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Will I get help with training and fundraising?
Yes, absolutely. ACT 6 is committed to participant support and, once you register, you join a community of people who will work closely together to make sure this is a fun, safe, life-altering event for everyone involved. It is a ride, not a race, and we will not leave anyone behind. Our participant support committee will provide mentors, fundraising advice, house party speakers (to help with fundraising), training advice, and a series of training rides throughout the spring and early summer.

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Who is Rider Zero?
Rider Zero represents those lost to HIV/AIDS. At the end of the day's ride, a bike without a rider is led into camp by a small group of people, which usually changes from day to day. The tradition is for riders and crew, all of whom are already at camp, to come out to the driveway and form a line on either side while Rider Zero is led in. An announcement is made in the school to let people know the last riders are coming into camp. Whether you are eating dinner, setting up your bed for the night, or you are still in your riding gear, it is considered good form to drop what you are doing and join the tradition. It is a quiet moment when people reflect on the day and the people we're riding for.

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How do I form a team?
Because we are trying to adjust to the new registration system this year, we have decided not to enable team registration or team fundraising. However, that does not mean you can't form a team. You can form a team for any reason (church, office, friends, common purpose, etc.) and can affiliate yourselves with each other as a team; it will just not be recognized as a team on the online registration or donation pages. Fundraise together as a team and then split up the funds to enter into your individual accounts. Make t-shirts with the team motto or wear matching bandanas out on the ride.

Having a team is a built-in support group that helps you train, fundraise, and feel more comfortable (especially for newbies) with your fellow riders. Along the route, you will most likely get separated from your teammates due to different riding levels and recovery time, and this will help you to build community with the other participants. But, you can regroup at the end of the day and enjoy each other's company until the next day starts out.

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How do I stay in touch?
Each participant who requested a mentor can contact that person for help answering any questions. ACT 6 also has a manual, packed full of information and answers, that will be given to every participant, riders and crew. At least once a month, all participants will receive a newsletter, email contact, or some other form of communication to keep them in the loop, let them know how things are progressing, and give advice on everything from training to fundraising. Finally, anyone, at any time, can contact Events Specialist at AIDS Network (608/252-6540, ext 30) with any questions or concerns.