Event FAQ

When and where is the Tour de Pier?

The 5th Annual event is on Sunday, May 21, 2017 on the Manhattan Beach Strand.

Who does the Tour De Pier benefit?

The event benefits 3 charities: The Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research, The Uncle Kory Foundation and Cancer Support Community Redondo Beach.

What is the Schedule for the Tour de Pier?

Please click here for the complete Event Day Schedule.

Do I need to know how to ride a stationary bike?

No, it's easy. We will have people on hand to help get you setup.

Do I have to ride all 5 hours?

No, you are welcome to ride as many of the five hours as you wish.

What are the times of the five sessions?

The event consists of five 50-minute sessions, with a 10 minute transition period in between each session. Session 1 is 8:30 to 9:20; Session 2 is 9:30 to 10:20; Session 3 is 10:30 to 11:20; Session 4 is 11:30 to 12:20; Session 5 is 12:30 to 1:20.

Is this a competitive event?

No, it's just for fun and to raise money for several worthwhile charities.

How old do you have to be to ride?

All riders must be at least 4'11 in height and 10 years old.

Can I bring young children? Strollers?

Yes, children of all ages are welcome to watch the event and enjoy the Kids Zone. In order to participate, registered riders must be 4'11 in height and 10 years old.

What do I need to bring on the day of the ride?

We recommend that you bring a water bottle, snacks or energy bars for energy, towel and cycling shoes if you prefer. Also, since we are completely outdoors, a hat and sunscreen are also recommended.

What types of cycling shoes are supported on the bikes?

The bikes will be equipped only to accommodate tennis shoes or cycling shoes with SPD clips only. Look pedals are not supported.

Will there be refreshments?

There will be a huge expo, with food and beverage samples from our sponsors.

What is there to do in Manhattan Beach after or during the event?

There is so much to do in beautiful Manhattan Beach, including shopping, dining, and of course, hitting the beach. Visit the Downtown Business District website for great ideas on how to make the most of your stay in Manhattan Beach.

Where do I park for the event?

General Parking: In addition to metered street parking, there are many public parking lots in the Downtown Manhattan Beach area. The closest public lots are along Bayview Drive and 12th Street. Metlox Plaza also has ample parking in an underground garage off of Morningside Drive. Most parking spaces have two-hour metered parking from 9 am to 8 pm seven days a week. Meter prices range from $0.50 an hour to $1.00 an hour. Be sure to read all posted signs and bring lots of change for the meters.

Volunteer, Sponsor & Exhibitor Parking: Information will be emailed in advance of the event.

Can I ride my bike or skateboard to the event?

Yes, we encourage you to ride your bike and will have a Complimentary Bike Valet. Leave your strollers and bikes in our complimentary Bike Valet adjacent to the Expo. The Bike Valet will open at 8:00 am and all bikes need to be claimed by 2:00 p.m.

How can I honor a loved one at the event?

By creating a team in honor or memory of someone, you have taken the first and biggest step! There are other ways that you can continue to recognize a loved one at Tour de Pier.

  • Contribute to our Pinwheels Project: Please visit our Pinwheels Booth where you can decorate a pinwheel with your loved one's name or a short special message. All pinwheels will be displayed on event morning for all to enjoy and will be stored to use at future Tour de Pier events. Suggested donation is $5.00 each, cash only.

Registration

How much is the registration fee and what is included?

Registration: $150.00
Includes: Bike, event shirt, and participant gift bag.
Online Registration closes on Sunday, May 1 at midnight or as space permits. Last year we sold out in early April.

VIP Registration: $150.00
Individual Registration, VIP bike placement (20 bikes only), event shirt and participant gift bag.
Minumum Fundraising Goal: $5,000

When is the registration deadline? Can I register team members on event day?

All team members should be registered by Sunday, May 1, 2017.

Can we request or reserve a bike location so that we can ride alongside our friends?

At this time, we are not able to accommodate requests for bike placement. We encourage you to raise the most funds possible and earn a spot in the VIP section, which is front and center of the stage.

What is a Bike Family?

Bike Families are groups of two or more bikes (i.e. AT&T, Team Kory). During the registration process, when you “Start a New Bike” or “Start a Solo Bike” you have the option to add your bike to an existing “Bike Family” or name a new “Bike Family”. We will attempt to place all bikes in the same Bike Family adjacent to each other.

If I want to ride, but don't have a team, what do I do?

You can register for the bike for $150 and ride solo and raise the remaining $600. Or you can recruit other potential team members.

If someone registered for the Tour de Pier as an individual, can they still join our team?

Yes, participants that have already registered can join your team. Simply email info@pancreatic.org with the participant's name and email address (if available) and we will transfer them to your team.

I am injured and/or cannot participate in the event (family commitment, work obligation, etc.). Can I get a refund, or transfer my entry to someone else?

No. All entry fees are non-refundable, non-transferrable and cannot be deferred toward a future event. Registration fees will be considered a donation to the event.

Team FAQ

What is a team captain?

The person who Starts a Team becomes the team captain and is responsible for raising $750 or recruiting up to three other team members to join the event.

What constitutes a team?

A team is a group of up to 5 co-workers, neighbors, friends, family, or fellow students who each register and take turns riding one stationary bike over the 5 hour session. Teams raise money together, as the minimum per bike is $750. Each team member's $150 registration fee counts towards your $750 minimum.

I am a registered team captain and have met the $750 fundraising minimum by myself. Do my other team members still need to register?

Yes, every team member must be registered in the system in advance, sign the waiver and pay the registration fee. Your team should be filled by May 1st when registration closes.

Who decides which session each team member rides?

It is up to the Team Captain to coordinate with his or her team members to determine which of the five sessions each participant will ride.

Does my entire team need to be present for all five hours of the event?

While we encourage everyone to stay and enjoy the expo, team members are welcome to leave after their individual 50 minute session. Each team member must check in individually at registration upon arriving at the event.

What do I do if my team all wants to ride together / at the same time?

If you want to ride together with your friends, you should each reserve your own bike and not join the same team. As a team, each member will ride the same bike during different sessions. During registration you should indicate that you are all a part of the same Bike Family.

What if there are more than 5 people who want to be on my team?

Only 5 people can be registered to ride on one bike, so if you have additional team members, you will need to assign a second team captain and reserve a second bike. You will need to join the same “Bike Family” during the registration process. We will attempt to place all bikes in the same Bike Family adjacent to each other.

What is the Company Team Challenge?

Boost team spirit at work by reserving a bike and recruiting your most energetic coworkers to form a corporate Tour de Pier team. Whether it's from the board room to the break room, build a strong sense of community spirit by rallying your coworkers, employees or even your boss in the fight against cancer. This year we'll have 2 prizes:

    1) Most # of Bikes: Be the company that secures the most number of bikes (5 riders per bike) and win this award!
    2) Highest FUNDriding Team: The company whose employees / riders raise the most funds by May 14, 2017 win this award!

Both teams will receive an award, premium bike placement, on-stage recognition and, most importantly, a full year of bragging rights.

Fundraising

Can I raise more than the minimum $750 per bike?

Of course! This is a fundraising event so the more you raise, the better. We have incredible fundraising prizes to help incentivize you to keep on fundraising.

Will there be any individual fundraising prizes for members of a team?

All participants, whether running as an individual or as a part of a team, are eligible to receive the fundraising prizes. Click here to view fundraising incentives and prizes

Where do I login to fundraise?

Click here to login to fundraise.

How do I raise those funds?

Fundraising is actually a lot easier than you might think. Click here for great fundraising resources.

What do I do with check donations that I receive?

If you receive check donations, please have donors make checks payable to the Hirshberg Foundation and mail to our office at Tour de Pier, c/o Hirshberg Foundation, 2990 S. Sepulveda Blvd, Suite 300C, Los Angeles, CA 90064. Be sure to clearly mark your name on the donation and include a donation form to assure accurate fundraising and donor credit.

What if I don't reach my goal?

On May 5, 2017 if your goal is not met, we ask that you provide payment for the remaining amount to get you to $750.

Will there be awards?

In addition to all of the incredible fundraising prizes we have available for everyone, we are also going to present awards for the following:

  • Most Creative Team: Create a team t-shirt, pick a team color, wear costumes or show you team or school pride.
  • Most Inspired Outfit: To the individual who shows the most creativity and originality.