|
Volunteer
Descriptions:
Hospitality:
This is communications central and the home for the Bike
Virginia Store. Hospitality is the place where cyclists
come to get answers to questions, check for messages, search
lost and found or buy Bike Virginia merchandise. Hospitality
is open at Tent City from 6:00 am - 8:30 am and then again
in the afternoon from 12 Noon - 6:00 pm. You can ride in
the morning and help sell Bike Virginia jerseys, bike shorts,
rain jackets and much more merchandise from the Bike Virginia
Store in the afternoon. Are you a people person and want
to be where the action is? Hospitality might be just the
ticket.
Parking:
Want to help the tour start off well? Help us direct traffic
as the cyclists check in for registration and get settled
in their first tent city. Can you point? Ever wanted to
tell a car where to go? Do you enjoy the outdoors? If you
answered "Yes" to any of these questions, then the Parking
Team is for you. Let us know what time you can help, anytime
from noon-8:00 p.m. on Friday, or 6:00-9:00 a.m on Saturday.
Registration:
We know everyone is eager to get settled and prepare for
a fun week of biking. We need you and many other volunteers
to help make registration as efficient as possible. Registration
volunteers typically work a 3-4 hour shift from 2:00 - 8:00
p.m. on Friday and 6:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. on Saturday. Let
us know when you are arriving and when you are available
and we'll get you scheduled. Registration is a fun way to
greet old friends and make new ones.
Safety Monitors:
Safety is priority # 1 at Bike Virginia . Over the years,
our Safety monitor program has been one of our most successful
efforts at promoting safety. Obviously, VDOT, the state
police, and local sheriffs will help us through major intersections.
It's the intersections that don't appear dangerous that
have the potential for serious accidents. It's the blind
curve on a steep downhill. It's cyclists drafting each other
or following too close. It's a sharp left turn on a country
road with blind oncoming traffic. These are the situations
that our monitors cover to insure everyone's safety. They
are there for the cyclists, not the motorists. They warn
you to be cautious about various route conditions. With
their help, Bike Virginia cyclists enjoy a safe ride each
day.
The monitors generally cover an assigned place for 1 ½-2
hours. Out of the five cycling days, they work three days
and are off the other two. Monitors usually bike the entire
route each day. There is a need for non-biking monitors
as well.
Sag Support:
No matter how experienced a cyclist might be, Sag Support
may be needed to rescue someone if they have a mechanical
failure, or just hit the wall. If you are going to have
your vehicle on Bike Virginia during the week, then this
might be the position for you. You'll need some way of carrying
a couple bikes and you're now part of the Sag Support team.
You can work a morning, an afternoon, one day, or the entire
week. Remember, we're flexible. Simply work out your schedule
with the Sag Team Captain. The only vehicles allowed on
the route are official Bike Virginia Sag vehicles. Other
non-riders must drive alternative routes given to them when
they register.
Signage:
Are you an early riser or a late sleeper? Then we have the
job for you! Bike Virginia is noted for its excellent signage
along the route; not only the directions arrows, but also
the safety cones and other precautions taken to make the
route as safe as possible. Be a part of this award-winning
team if you are a non-cyclist accompanying a spouse or friend,
or if you're a cyclist wanting to take a day off the bike.
You can simply drive the 15 ft Penske truck or actually
help place the signs. We have two Signage teams each day
- Placement and Clean up. The Placement team leaves about
5:00 am each morning and finishes about 10:30 in the next
town. The Clean-up team leaves about 10:00 am and ends up
about 5:00 in the next town. Again, you pick your days.
We're appreciative of all volunteer effort, if only for
a day.
Tent City :
Bike Virginia is similar to any small city with one major
difference - it moves each day! You can imagine the logistics
of setting up a Tent City , tearing it down, and then setting
it up again the next day. Layover Day is our Sabbath - we
rest! Generally, non-cyclists assist us with this operation,
but our goal is to have each volunteer bike if they want.
Schedules can be arranged whereby you can help with Tent
City and still bike in the morning or afternoon. Or the
Tent City volunteers can alternate days.
Bike Smart Virginia :
Our cyclists range from Category 5 racers to beginning novices.
A part of our mission is to teach safe and effective cycling
skills to cyclists, young and old, experienced or inexperienced.
Bike Smart , Virginia trainers often are Effective Cycling
instructors certified by the League of American Bicyclists,
but many are not. Different cycling skill and safety tips
are taught at the Rest Stops on the first three days of
Bike Virginia . A workshop might cover proper helmet fitting,
repairing a flat tire, proper gear selection, cadence, or
dodging rocks and potholes. We always need more instructors
to serve the cyclist wanting to learn new techniques and
improve their existing skills. We provide the training for
the instructors - a great opportunity for you to learn.
We know that well-trained,
well-equipped, happy volunteers are the bedrock of Bike
Virginia . The Director and the Team Captains have formed
bonds over the years that go beyond merely volunteering
one week out of the year to help put on an event. We care
about each other and our 2,000 member cycling family. Won't
you join us this year?
|
