FAQ’s

Q:	How many riders and volunteers join the Buddhist Bicycle Pilgrimage (BBP)?
A:	We are limited to 100 riders. When we reach that number, rider registration automatically closes but will open up again if someone un-registers. The number of volunteers needed to host the ride and to have it be successful is 30 or more…the more the merrier.
Q:	What is the cost of registering for the Buddhist Bicycle Pilgrimage (BBP)?
A:	The Buddhist Bicycle Pilgrimage is made possible entirely through volunteer effort and dana. The Buddha’s teachings are given freely and are supported by “dana” or generosity. This ride is developed in the same spirit. There are no registration fees. Support is requested as dana, organized completely by volunteers who are all working hard to find donations and other support to pull off the event. Any financial donations will go to logistical support of the ride and to our hosts. To know more about Dana, click here. To donate now please click here.
Q:	What do we do with the remaining funds after the BBP?
A:	When the event is over, all funds remaining after meeting our costs will be donated to our host centers that accompanied us during the pilgrimage. These may include: Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Sae Taw Win Dhamma Center, City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, Abhayagiri Monastery, American Buddhist Seminary, Aloka Vihara and other centers.
Q:	What is the daily BBP schedule like?
A:	The BBP is a two day event starting at 6:00am on Saturday morning and ending at 4:00pm on Sunday afternoon. For the complete daily schedule please click here.
Q:	How are the Volunteer teams set up and organized?
A:	During registration each volunteer selects the team(s) they would be willing to join. The Volunteer Coordinator along with the other team coordinators assign each volunteer to a team as needed. Each coordinator has documentation on how the team is to function. Each team coordinator then gathers their volunteers and meets (or teleconferences) with them to discuss their roles and activities. Teams usually travel in cars to their daily destinations and support the pilgrims who are more than grateful for their volunteer efforts.
Q:	What will our “accommodations” be like?
A:	On Saturday night, we will be staying at the a suitable campground. It is a very comfortable campground with amenities. You will need to bring a tent, sleeping bag, and a sleeping pad.
Q:	Do I have to carry my own gear?
A:	No. We transport all your gear in our large truck.
Q:	What if I can’t complete the ride?
A:	If for any reason you can’t complete the ride, whether illness, accident, or just ran out of energy, don’t worry. You’ll be able to hitch a ride with one of the support vehicles and accompany the pilgrimage that way.
Q:	What food will be provided?
A:	There will be plenty of healthy (and not-so-healthy) biking food. We will list a complete menu on the website closer to the event. Meals will include vegetarian options, but we have a limited capability to accommodate other dietary restrictions. Please feel free to bring additional food if your diet requires. Please arrive at the starting point on Saturday morning with a full stomach, as breakfast will not be provided. On both days there will be Rest Stop Teams approximately every 15-20 miles along the route with water, energy bars, sports drinks, fruit, cookies, etc. There will be simple lunch foods during our Day One lunch stop on Saturday and at another lunch on Sunday. At the campground, we will serve a dinner on Saturday night and a breakfast on Sunday morning. Rest Stop snacks will be available at the last stop at ride’s end.
Q:	How do I get home from the end of the ride?
A:	We do have bus transportation back to our starting point on which you can reserve a seat by contacting the Bus Coordinator. Additionally, riders and volunteers cooperate to form carpools to get home. Friends and family are also invited to join us at the closing ceremony at the last stop on Sunday afternoon in order to offer rides. Click here for more information.
Q:	How can I fix my flat tire?
A:	Click here for the instructions.
Q:	How can I help?
A:	We are asking that all riders participate in the spirit of community by donating something: time, a bag of oranges, a cooler on loan, an available vehicle, a ride home for someone along with acts of kindness. On our Item Donation web page, we will assemble a list of items that the kitchen staff and Rest Stop Teams will need to serve you. If you would like to donate, please register for the pilgrimage to find out what you can do! We are also looking for volunteers to help support the ride. Please take a look at our Registration Page and consider signing up as a volunteer. —-A synopsis of the Buddhist Bicycle Pilgrimage—- Our annual pilgrimage starts on Saturday check-in, meditation and a talk. We ride from rest stop to rest stop, and then stop for lunch and a talk. We continue on to our campground for dinner and a meditation, with rest stops in between. We sleep overnight at the campground. (1st day: around 80 miles). On Sunday, we wake up for a early morning mediation, a hearty breakfast and continue on to visit the rest stops along the way, and then stop for lunch and a talk. At our final destination, we will sit for the ending ceremony and afterward get on our bus to be taken back to our starting point. (2nd day: 40 to 50 plus miles) Along the way, there are rest stops for liquids and sustenance every 10 to 15 miles. A gear truck hauls your tent and luggage and brings your bike back to the starting point, unless you have a ride back. There are other teams that help the BBP function throughout the two days. It’s all very well planned and organized by the Board, Coordinators and Volunteers of the Dharmawheels Foundation. This is a Dana event which is based on your generosity. Please join us if you’re inclined. The Dharmawheels Foundation