By accepting the challenge of a summer event you will gain unparalleled leadership, teamwork, and
service experiences that set you apart from your peers and make lifelong friendships. But don’t just take our word for it, read what a number of successful Pi Alphas say about their experience…

“I have my jersey hanging on the wall of my office. Anyone who comes in asks about it. No one asks about your internship history after age 22. The story of serving others and the impact it had on me personally is life long.”
Mike Davis | Psi (Cornell)

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FAQs

What does a typical day look like? 

Cycling days change, but follow the general schedule

• Early morning wake-up
• Breakfast and morning circle-up
• Cycling
• Lunch on the road
• Arrive at lodging
• Free time and squad duties
• Dinner/Friendship Visit
• Free time/team meeting

Non-cycling days include team meals, Friendship Visits and free time.

What is a Friendship Visit? 

Friendship Visits are at the core of the mission for our summer events. Teams visit a variety of local organizations that support people of all abilities. Typical activities include dance parties, shared meals, games and water balloon fights.

What are the training expectations?  

Every cyclist is expected to log 1,000 miles of training before the trip. To meet this requirement, expect a weekly five- to 10-hour time commitment that ramps up in the final few months before the event.

What can I expect to spend out of pocket during the trip? 

The main costs of food and lodging are covered throughout the trip. However, you are responsible for all souvenirs, sightseeing, bike repairs, travel to and from the event and individual gear. These will vary widely based on your mode of transport, need for bike repair, existing equipment and individual preferences for additional expenses outside of team programming.

What happens if I am not at my fundraising goal at the start of the event? 

For Journey of Hope, upon arrival at orientation, you will be charged 50 percent of the difference between your current fundraising amount and your minimum fundraising commitment. Upon arrival in Denver, you will be charged for the remainder of your fundraising commitment. You’re encouraged to fundraise throughout the remainder of the trip; any money fundraised after being charged will be reimbursed up to the amount you were charged.

For Gear Up cycling events, upon arrival at orientation, you will be charged the entire difference between your current fundraising amount and your minimum fundraising commitment.

What kind of bike should I get? 

We recommend an “endurance road bike” built for distance, comfort and a variety of roads. Tires between 28 and 32mm in width are optimal.

For an additional $1,000 fundraising commitment, we offer a bike incentive, which will be shipped to you before your event.

What are the policies on drugs and alcohol? 

The Ability Experience adheres to Federal law, regardless of which state an event is taking place in. Any team member under the age of 21 is prohibited from drinking at any point during a summer event. Additionally, all team members are prohibited from using federally illegal drugs. Team members violating these policies will be immediately dismissed from the team.

Can I stay with my family if they visit? 

All team members must spend the night at the provided lodging. Family and friends are welcome to join the team at the morning circle-up or any Friendship Visits.

Can I choose the route? 

Routes cannot be promised in advance. However, each team member will have the opportunity to express their preference. Priority will be given to team members who have shown strong communication, training and fundraising.

How do I prepare?

“Raising money is all about sales. Whether you want to go into business or nonprofit, the experience of raising money is invaluable. An interviewer is much more interested in talking about Journey of Hope than an internship. Everyone has internships but very few people have an experience like Journey of Hope. It will make you stand out amidst all the resumes.”
Howard Goldsmith | Psi (Cornell)

Here you’ll find a few resources that may answer questions like: “How do I get a bike?”, “How can I plan out my fundraising”, or “Is it possible to study, work, and train at once?”

Doing a summer event is no small feat, so it may seem like a daunting task. Fear not, most Pi Alphas that have completed these events came in with little to no past fundraising or cycling experience, and 90% end up surpassing their goals! Everyone should have their own Ability Experience, and we give you all of the tools and support to make it possible.

For all of our team members, you’ll receive access to a library of resources that will tell you everything you’ll need to know about fundraising, preparation, training, and safety on the road. You’ll also have monthly coaching calls to walk you through whatever you need. Cyclists have professional cycling coaches hand-tailoring them just the right workouts they need to get in shape, and crew members receive position-specific training from our staff to set them up for success.