3) Is my donation to HeartStone Foundation tax deductible?
Cash donations made to the HeartStone Foundation in conjunction with the HeartStone Tour are fully tax deductible.
For donations less than $250, and if you plan to declare the donation on your tax return, be sure to retain a copy of your credit card statement, bank record, or cancelled check showing the value of your contribution. For donations made in cash on the day of the ride, please request a donation receipt from the person helping you with registration.
Individuals who donate $250 or more will receive a written acknowledgment letter from the HeartStone Foundation for IRS documentation purposes.
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4) If I am pre-registered, do I need to stop by the registration area before my ride?
If you are pre-registered for the HeartStone Tour, we ask that you check in at the registration area before you start your ride.
A separate area will be provided for pre-registered riders, so you will not need to wait in line with everyone who is signing up that morning.
We will have a goody bag for you with a number of items, as well as your complementary HeartStone Tour t-shirt. The registration tables will open at 7 a.m.
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5) What time is the pancake breakfast being served?
The Original Pancake House is generously supporting the HeartStone Tour by providing a free pancake breakfast to tour riders from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. The pancake breakfast will be served on-site, at Montgomery Elementary School.
Before the ride we also will have coffee provided by Starbucks (Harper's Point store)... first come, first served!
Servatii's has also kindly donated a feast of their delicious pretzels!
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6) What kind of food and refreshments will be provided at the water stops?
Along with water and Infinit Nutrition sports drink, the water stops will have an assortment of fruit, bagels, trail mix, PB&J sandwiches, and cookies.
Our event sponsors have supplied this generous variety of food and snacks for the water stops, and also for the ride start/finish area.
The food donations for the water stops include PB&J sandwiches from Pierre Foods; oranges and apples from Pipkin's Market; bagels from Skip's Bagels and Bruegger’s; water and bananas from Kroger; sports drink from Infinit Nutrition; Clif bars from Clif & Co., and cookies and trail mix prepared by HeartStone Tour volunteers.
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7) How are the routes marked?
The routes for the HeartStone Tour are marked with a heart/red arrow for most of the course, with a few sections being marked with just the red arrow.
For the Family Ride, we also will post HeartStone Tour signs that will be very easy for everyone to spot and follow.
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8) How many water stops are on each route?
The Advanced Route includes two water stops, spaced approximately 32 miles apart.
The Intermediate Route includes two water stops, one just before Mile 14 and the other at Mile 30.
The Novice Route include one water stop, just past the halfway point of the ride, between Mile 13 and Mile 14.
The Family Ride has a water stop that you will pass twice during the ride, once at about Mile 2.5 and again at about Mile 4.5.
To see the exact locations of all the water stops, go to the About the Tour page, and click the link "Map of Route" underneath each route description.
Depending on the temperature, riders should expect to need 1-2 water bottles per hour. A water bottle will not be necessary for the Family Ride, but for the longer routes, please plan accordingly so you can bring enough fluid with you on your bike. It is better to err on the side of caution and bring two water bottles on your bike instead of one if you are not sure how much you will need.
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9) What time does registration open?
Registration for the HeartStone Tour opens at 7:00 a.m.
The morning of the HeartStone Tour, the Advanced (70 mile) route starts at 8:00, the Intermediate (35 mile) route departs at 9:00, the Novice (25 mile) Route begins at 9:30, and the Family Ride sets forth at 10:00.
To ensure a low-stress parking and registration process, we recommend you arrive 45-60 minutes before your route’s scheduled departure time. And, of course, everyone is welcome to arrive any time after 7 a.m., if you would like to include extra time to enjoy the pancake breakfast.
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10) Is there SAG support for the ride?
SAG support will be provided for all the routes.
The SAG support team can help you with mechanical issues, navigation, urgent hydration or fueling needs, and transport in case of unbearable fatigue or illness. If you experience a medical emergency, contact 911.
The phone numbers for the SAG support vehicles will be published on the cue sheets for each route. Be sure to bring the cue sheet with you on the ride in case you end up needing to request a SAG.
It is highly recommended to bring a cell phone with you for the ride.
If you do not have a cell phone with you, or if you do not have reception at your location, please ask another rider to call in for you, or at the very least to inform volunteers at the next water stop of your SAG request.
SAG support vehicles will be sweeping the course throughout the ride, but a direct phone call will be the quickest way to get the support you need.
SAG support will be provided through 1 p.m. If you are doing one of the longer routes, and are not beginning at the official start time for your route, please plan your start time accordingly.
If you are riding one of the longer routes and find that you may not be able to get back to Montgomery Elementary before 1 p.m., we would greatly appreciate if you call SAG support and proactively inform us of your situation. Depending where you are at on the course at that point, the SAG support crew can help you decide whether it is best for you to continue the ride to the finish, or whether it would be advisable for SAG to pick you up and provide transport back to Montgomery Elementary.
In the event of a medical emergency, call 911 immediately. After you have called 911, please contact the SAG support crew so we are aware of your situation, and are able to provide whatever non-medical backup support may be needed (e.g. bike transport).
If for some reason you decide to leave the official HeartStone Tour route and not return to Montgomery Elementary, please contact SAG support so we know you are okay.
If you get lost, please contact SAG support so we can help you get back onto the course.
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11) How should I plan for hydration and fuel needs?
Depending on the temperature, riders should expect to need 1-2 water bottles per hour. A water bottle will not be necessary for the Family Ride, but for the longer routes, please plan accordingly so you can bring enough fluid with you on your bike. It is better to err on the side of caution and bring two water bottles on your bike instead of one if you are not sure how much you will need.
If you are riding for more than 1-2 hours, be sure you are taking in electrolytes (e.g. in a sports drink), and not only plain water.
For rides longer than one hour, most cyclists do well taking in 240-280 calories per hour. The harder you are riding, the more you will want to steer toward easily digestible foods like gel, sport drinks, and bananas. If you are riding at an endurance pace, then you should do fine taking in appropriate quantities of the additional foods provided at the water stops, such as PB&J sandwiches, bagels, and a variety of fruit. If you are consuming a sport drink, be sure to include the calories in the drink as part of your hourly total.
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12) Are helmets required?
A safety-certified bicycle helmet must be worn at all times you are on your bike.
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13) Does a single registration cover everyone in my immediate family for the Family Ride?
A single registration fee covers all members of your immediate family for the Family Ride.
This single registration fee includes one goody bag per family. For families who pre-registered, one free HeartStone Tour t-shirt also will be included per family. A limited quantity of t-shirts will be available for purchase for $10 each on the day of the ride for families who did not pre-register, or for those who would like more than one t-shirt.
Please be aware that this special registration rate is for the Family Ride only.
If a member of the family wishes to do a route other than the Family Ride, then a separate registration and payment needs to be completed for this person.
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14) If my family is registered for the Family Ride, can I also do one of the regular routes?
Registration for the Family Ride includes the Family Ride only. If one or more family members wish to do one of the longer routes, then a separate registration form and fee must be completed for each person doing the longer route.
For example, if one parent wishes to do the Family Ride with all the children, while the other parent wishes to do the Novice/Intermediate/Advanced Route, then two registration fees would need to be paid, one for the Family Ride and one for the individual doing the longer route.
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15) Can I purchase a HeartStone Tour t-shirt on the day of the ride?
Yes! We will have a limited supply of HeartStone Tour t-shirts in a variety of sizes available for $10 each on the day of the ride.
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