Gear Up New York 2025

Orientation and Kick-Off Events

Orientation offers a chance for team members to get acquainted, learn about people with disabilities and participate in skills assessments, training rides and safety training to prepare them for the life-changing events ahead.

Family and friends are welcomed and encouraged to attend the kick-off; however, it is important that any family or friends planning on coming to Buffalo understand that Orientation is for the team to prepare as a group for their time on the road. Time with family during this time will be very limited. Most family and friends take this time to see some of the different sites around the area. In fact, some team members and their families arrive early to sight-see.

TRAVEL DETAILS

Crew Travel Information

We are finalizing details for Crew Training. It will be held July 28-30 in western New York. All crew members must arrive at tbd Airport for Crew Training no later than 2:00 p.m. Eastern on Monday, July 28. Transportation from the Airport to the training location will be provided.

Cyclist Travel Information

Cyclists must arrive at Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF) for the Team Orientation no later than 2:00 p.m. EST on Thursday, July 31. Anyone driving or arriving prior to July 31 can report directly to the team hotel by 3 p.m.

Once your flight is booked, all cyclists must complete this Travel Confirmation Form.

Getting Your Bike To Orientation

All cyclists should bring their bikes on the plane as a checked bag. Check with the airline when booking your flight to confirm fees, but most major airlines charge a standard checked bag fee for bike boxes.

Bikes should be packed in a cardboard bike box. Any team members using a hard-case bike box will be required to ship it home. Contact your local bike shop for help packing your bike. They should be able to provide you with a box for free or pack it for a small cost. Here is a video of how to pack a cardboard bike box yourself. Write your name on the outside of the box to be able to identify it at orientation.

 

EVENT DETAILS

Gear Up New York Kick-Off Dinner

The Ability Experience will host the 2025 Gear Up New York Kick-Off Dinner on Saturday, August 2. The dinner location is still being finalized. The Ability Experience will cover dinner for team members; all guests will be required to register in advance.

Check back later to Register for Kickoff Dinner

Gear Up New York Send-Off

The 2025 Gear Up New York team will depart from the location tbd for their first day of cycling on Sunday, August 3. The team will be departing at 7:30 a.m. Please arrive at 7:00 a.m. to allow plenty of time for photos prior to the team’s Circle-Up and departure. No registration is necessary for the send-off.

Hotel Accommodations

Family and friends are responsible for booking their own accommodations while in Buffalo. The Ability Experience will provide team member accommodations.

Team members will be staying at the tbd hotel. Family and friends are welcome to book a room at this hotel using our discounted group rate or any other hotel in the area.
The cut-off date for the room block is tbd.

If you have any questions about the kick-off events in Buffalo, please contact Andrew Matznick at amatznick@abilityexperience.org.


Sites to See

Buffalo is a wonderful place full of history and things to do. Remember, if you want to explore these sights with your team members, it must be done before Orientation; there will not be time during Orientation. Below are some local attractions in Buffalo and surrounding areas:

Niagara Falls
The Buffalo Zoo
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
Museums
Buffalo Bisons Minor League Baseball