Bike Florida - Florida bicycle tourism

Volunteer

As a nonprofit organization, volunteers are essential in fulfilling Bike Florida’s mission of helping Florida communities improve their economic health, bicycle infrastructure, and cycling safety through events and tourism.

As a Bike Florida tour volunteer, you will receive:

  • Training
  • Double-occupancy hotel room shared with another volunteer
  • Breakfast every day, lunch every day, and one dinner
  • Transportation
  • Text and phone support

Please read the descriptions for each volunteer position:

It is not required that you be a Certified Florida Bicycle Association Ride Leader or Marshall, but if you are, please submit your certification information.

We ride on hot days. If riding in the heat is a problem for you, then you could pick only the tours that are in the cooler months. Generally, we ride from 8:30 am until around 2:00 pm, and sometimes 3:00 or 4:00 pm if you are riding sweep or have to take time to help with a mechanical situation.

  • Must be familiar with the RideWithGPS app. You will need to download it onto your phone, know how to use it, and be able to help other riders load their routes and use the app.
  • Must be able to keep a pace of a minimum of 12-14 mph for a minimum of 20 miles at a time and a minimum of 50 miles a day.
  • Must be able to ride the entire tour, whatever the number of days. Most are four-day tours, but pay attention when signing up.
  • Must know how to change a bicycle tire.
  • As a ride guide, you are not only guiding, but you are also helping riders when needed and riding with riders during the entire route. You should not show up at a Sag stop by yourself.  You are volunteering to guide riders. That means stay with the riders, not ride the ride by yourself.
  • Get to know the riders, look for problem areas like health, riding stamina, etc., and let the Ride Leader or Ride Director know about it.
  • Be able to handle emergency situations such as a fall, a traffic accident, a health problem, etc., and know who to call and when. (If you are chosen as a ride guide, you will get instructions on what to do in all these situations)
  • As a ride guide, you should be pushing hydration every time you stop, not only at the sag stops, but every time you stop at a light or any other time you are not moving.
  • You should obey all traffic rules, know bike safety, and know bike signals for stopping, slowing, right, and left turns.
  • Must be willing to share a room with another volunteer.
  • Must load the RideWithGPS app onto your phone and know how to use it to follow our maps.
  • You will leave from the start each day approximately 2 hours (depending on your average ride speed ) before the riders depart and mark the trail at specific turns along the trail.
  • You will be riding by yourself from start to finish.
  • You must have a bicycle that is regularly maintained, serviced, and in working order to ride multiple days without a problem. You must have working headlights and taillights in case you need to leave before sunrise.
  • You must know how to change your own flat and carry the appropriate tools and tubes that you would need.
  • You must be able to ride 50 to 60 miles a day for four days in a row. You can stop and rest wherever you want, but there will not be sag stops on the route when you are riding. So you have to take water and snacks with you on the rides.
  • When you get to the hotel, you have the rest of the day as free time until you can check into your room. You will share a room with another volunteer.
  • Must have a vehicle that will carry: 8-foot tables (4-foot when folded), 2 bins with supplies, 2 water coolers, 2 bike pumps
  • Set up tables for food and water. Fill water jugs with water and ice. Place food on and in serving dishes and trays. Keep special diet foods separate if necessary, for instance, if they are gluten-free. May be required to make PB&J sandwiches. Make individual portion cups of nuts and fruits.
  • Monitor levels of items on hand at the end of each day and make a list for restocking.
  • Checking in riders by their number to monitor if everyone has come through the sag and is accounted for.
  • Making sure riders use hand sanitizer.
  • Talking to the riders and making sure everyone has enough of what they need.
  • Answering any questions riders may have about the trails, like how far to the next SAG, and how far to the end.
  • Packing up all perishables and snacks for use the following day.
  • Taking down tables, emptying water jugs,
  • Cleaning up trash from SAG stop
  • You will share a room with another volunteer.

Route developers are only needed occasionally to help plot out and ride a new route or detour. It involves looking at maps online and also checking out the real-world conditions on a bike.

Must be comfortable driving a full-size, extended-length, 15-passenger van.

If you are interested in learning more about these specific volunteer roles and how you can get involved, please fill out the form below.

The Bike Florida team looks forward to hearing from you!

Name(Required)
Email(Required)
Are you available on weekends?(Required)
How would you be willing to help? (Check all that apply)(Required)
See volunteer job descriptions above
This field is hidden when viewing the form
What is your fitness level?(Required)
Include the upcoming tours at which you're interested in volunteering
Volunteer Participation Agreement(Required)
I have read and agree to the terms stated in the Volunteer Participation Agreement.
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