What's ESAR7 all about?

The 2008 ride is a seven day, 560-mile ride from Niagara Falls, NY to Robert Wagner Park in lower Manhattan. The ride is limited to the first 100 riders who register. Riders pay a $100 registration fee and raise $3,500 to participate.

We're asking volunteers to either donate $100 to defray the costs for your meals or to raise $500 for our beneficiaries --- but both are voluntary. Some of our volunteers are students or have fixed incomes. All of you are terrific. If you can afford to pay a registration fee or have time to fundraise, we hope you will.

How tough is it?

This is a week you'll never forget. Our beautiful route takes us through miles of flat orchards, to the rolling vineyardsof the Finger Lakes, into the challenging foothills of the Catskills, and then along the Hudson for a memorable ride into Manhattan. This is a challenging route with some steep climbs and long distances. You must train if you want to get the most from your experience and avoid injuries. The youngest person to complete an ESAR so far was 16 and the oldest was 65.

Walk, stretch and cross train at a gym over the winter. Once the snow melts, plan on spending weekends on your bike. Start with easy 10-15 mile rides and add 5-percent to your distance each time you ride. Before you know it, you'll be in shape for ESAR6.

. The route ranges from 106 miles on the longest (and flattest) day to 62 miles on our hilliest day.

Are you a racer? Slow down! It's a gorgeous state with plenty to see, and if you go too fast you'll miss all the comeraderie on the road. (We've also found that riders who maintain a moderate pace are less likely to be injured.).

Are you new to cycling? Relax and take your time! This is a ride, not a race. If you can sustain an average speed of 9 miles an hour you can complete every day. Need to take a break or sag to the next rest stop? Our volunteers will ferry you and your bike and allow you to keep riding if you choose. That's one of the perks of a small ride.

Can I ride my old bike 560 miles?

That's a question for you & your local bike shop. If you're unsure of your bike's road worthiness, take it to a good bike shop for a tune-up. Make sure the brakes and tires are in good shape. Have your bike pro adjust the seat and handlebars to fit your body. Inflate the tires to the proper pressure. Never changed a flat before? Buy a pump, spare tube and patch kit and ask your bike pro to teach you how to use them.

Now put on your helmet and take your bike out for a spin. Can you ride 10 miles comfortably? 20? 50 with some training? Then your bike is fine. ESAR1 rider Eric "Three-Speed" Thomann rode across the state on an $85 three-speed he bought 30+ years ago. He was one of our strongest riders.

What about camping and meals?

Our campsites for 2008 have great vistas, hot showers, real bathrooms (no porta-potties for us!) And you have the option - at your own expense - of staying in motels near the campsites.We supply roomy 8 x 8 foot tents with a generous rain fly, big enough for two participants. Love to camp but don't want to share a tent or want to bring your own? For $100 surcharge you can have your own tent and camping site, just let us know before July 15th so we can reserve an extra campsite for you.

We feasted on local brook trout, slow-smoked b-b-q, grilled chicken and fresh local corn last year and have more fresh menus planned- including plenty of vegetarian & vegan choices - for 2008.

Can I really raise $3,500?

Sure. It's about as easy as riding your bike across 560 miles of New York State's hills and back roads. You can do it, but it takes persistence and planning. With help from those of us who have raised tens of thousands of dollars for AIDS causes, you can reach your $3,500 minimum and even double or triple it!

Here are a few rules we follow:

• Talk about your ride! Jenny Rosetti was the top fundraiser in 2004 and she got there by asking everyone to support her, even the mayor of her New Jersey town. He wrote a check and forwarded her story to two local newspapers. A local car dealership donated $1000 because of Jenny's persistence.

• Always carry donation forms! Everywhere! Bring them out to dinner. Keep a stack at your desk. Never go to the gym without one!

• If you ask for $25 you'll get $25. Don't! Ask your supporters to give as much as they can. Many of our 2005 riders asked friends to donate $1 a mile and they collected dozens of checks for $560. Two riders asked friends to contribute $3,200 --- and they did!

• ASK. Talking about your training is great. But don't forget to ask for support!

And, a few phrases to remember:

"Please, support my efforts." "I can take a check." "I'll help you fill out this form now". "That's okay, if you don't have a check, you can write down your credit card number." "Thank you! Your donation matters."

Don't forget to write

To help you get started, click here for a sample fundraising letter that you may personalize and send to your friends, family and co-workers. Do you have a letter that has been effective? Send it to us at day2inc@aol.com and we'll share it here.

As you customize your letter, tell your friends why you've decided to make this trip. Some of us are riding to honor the memory of lost friends or partners, some of us are living with HIV/AIDS, some love the opportunity to take on a physical challenge and do some good at the same time.

All of us are saying by our participation that we are committed to the fight against HIV/AIDS in New York State. Our five beneficiaries provide crucial services, treatment and intervention for thousands of clients from Buffalo to New York City. Our state has the dubious distinction in the US of having the most residents living with HIV/AIDS. We have the most AIDS orphans. And the numbers are creeping upwards. We're riding to break the cycle of AIDS in our communities.

Here are some tips for writing an effective letter:

• Make it personal. Make it interesting! You're doing something great!

• Keep your letter to a single page

• Check for typos!

• Print it out and have a friend read it before you mail it.

Send your personalized letter to everyone in your address book along with a donation form and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

When your donations arrive, and BEFORE you mail them to us, please go to your personal web page and enter them there. Make sure you include email addresses, particularly for donations of more than $250. We do NOT sell our mailing list, so your supporters don't have to worry about spam. Our system automatically generates an email receipt which is the only record your supporters will get for tax purposes. (And the only contact they'll have from us.) AFTER you enter your checks, mail them to the Empire State AIDS Ride, P.O. Box 26, Piermont, NY 10968.

Internet donations

You may also offer your supporters the option of contributing online.
We love the convenience of the internet. We've also heard from walkers and riders from around the country and they all agree, sending an e-mail on the Kintera system is easy and you'll get results. Many have told us they've increased the level of giving by more than 20-percent by using the internet. Click here for some quick tips on how to get the most out of your personal web page!

Start by writing a personal note to your friends. Here are some samples to get you started. You can send the same note to everyone from the Kintera site and your e-mail list will be blocked from your recipients. It's a more personal touch.

Follow the same rules for writing a regular letter.

• Make it personal! Make it interesting! You're doing something great!

• Keep your note brief. No more than four paragraphs.

• Check for typos!

• Print it out and have a friend read it first.

Donors who support you by e-mail will automatically receive a thank you generated by the website. That's a nice start, but they'll also appreciate a phone call or a good old-fashioned thank you note.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

We can't say it enough, and neither can you!

Your donors will appreciate a sincere thank you, and they'll remember your effort when you ask them to support you in the future.

Print a postcard using a picture of you and your bike and mail it with a note of thanks.

Send a note describing your training efforts.

Print out address labels or hand write address labels with the names and addresses of all your donors. Bring it with you to Niagara Falls along with a packet of stamps. Send your donors a postcard from the starting point and thank them for their part in helping you get there. Or send them a postcard from New York City of the Statue of Liberty, which you'll see at the end of our 560 mile journey, and tell them you made it!

Corporate fundraising

The Empire State AIDS Ride is dedicated to offering an event that is sustained by the generosity of our riders, whose entry fee covers aboutone-third the costs of food, road support, permit fees, and campground charges. We're grateful to the many small businesses and corporations who are donating goods and services to allow us to guarantee a minimum 82-percent return to our beneficiaries, among the highest for fundraising events.

Contact the ride office at day2inc@aol.com or by phone at (917) 817-5775 (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST, please!) for more information about sponsorship opportunities.

We'll thank our corporate sponsors by adding their names to our website and ride jersey!