Two weeks ago, we experienced a stellar Giving Tuesday, bringing in over $9,000 on a day when World Bicycle Relief raised over $150,000 funding 1,087 bicycles into the field in 24hrs, shattering last year's mark. Through the match that goes through the end of this year (and the end of this fundraiser), every dollar donated is doubled, making the impact even greater. Since that big day, donations have continued to trickle in, but I'm hoping with the announcement of some more special donations, we can turn the giving tap back on full blast.

There is still a chance to be one of the first 100 donors, meaning that you'll get one of the awesome limited edition beanies from BOCO I talked about in the first announcement. But we've got another special giveaway for the first 100 thanks to Chipotle. They have chipped in 100 gift cards each of which is good for one free entree at a Chipotle of your choice. These will be mailed out with the hats in early January to the first 100 donors. As of this writing, we're sitting at about 90 donors, so get your contribution in pronto! If you want to show your love, Chipotle is especially fond of Twitter, and you can shout out to them @ChipotleTweets.

To enter the challenge, you can donate online at the URL below. Like last year, the Ironman Foundation has been very generous in hosting and handling the donation site for us (Thanks IMF!). Link:
https://www.crowdrise.com/rappstarcharitychall/fundraiser/theironmanfoundation

As in past years, you can donate ANY amount, but ONLY donations of $147 or more (the cost of one bicycle) will make you eligible for prizes. For every multiple of $147 that you donate, you get another entry. $294 earns you double eligibility, $441 earns triple, etc. Donations of 7 bikes ($1,029) get you an extra spot. For more details, read the first article at the link below. Award drawing tickets will be assigned automatically from the donations, so please make sure to give us an email or phone number (or both) where we can reach you.

As a reminder, 100% of your contributions are tax deductible and will be directed back to World Bicycle Relief. For those interested, you can also submit donations via traditional mail at this address:
World Bicycle Relief
Attn: Development
1000 W Fulton Market
4th Floor
Chicago, IL 60607

Thanks for your support and commitment to WBR! And now onto the good stuff. The first three of these donations come from folks that have supported me since year one. Their perfect track record of seven years of support is amazing. And I cannot thank them enough. It's great to have them back for another year.



The new NormaTec PULSE system (MSRP $1595) brings everything you love about NormaTec and packs it down into a 3lb unit that includes a built in battery pack for extreme portability. Recover faster. Recover better. Recover anywhere. The PULSE was introduced to the world at the Ironman World Championships in Kona this year, though after getting a sneak peak earlier in the year, I was almost as excited to get my own unit as I was to get one to give away here. I've been working with NormaTec since 2009, and it's been a real privilege to see the evolution of the product and the company first hand. The original NormaTec system was like a monster lunchbox, but it was so impactful, I figured out ways to get it to my races. Since then, NormaTec has constantly been by my side. The new unit means I no longer have to compromise in order to bring my NormaTec to races with me. It packs so small - and is perfectly acceptable in your carry-on luggage - that you can't not bring it. As NormaTec describes the system, "The PULSE Leg Recovery System is our most popular and most essential package for athletes at all levels. It comes with everything you need to get started. No matter what your sport, your power probably comes from your legs, so keeping them fresh is essential for victory. Having a total package weight of just 11.5 lbs means that you can take this package with you and recover anywhere." And let me reiterate, that tiny package includes a built in battery that powers the unit for well over an hour, giving you plenty of time for recovery wherever you choose. You can shout out to NormaTec on twitter at @NTRecovery



First Endurance has been fueling me since 2008, and they also fuel many of the top pros in the sport. Now is your change to get access to that same complete system thanks to a donation of 2x$567 First Endurance gift certificates (MSRP $1,134. Two separate prizes), enough to fuel you like a pro in the lead up to your biggest race of the season. In the past year, First Endurance has overhauled two of their most important products with the introduction of the new Multi-V PRO and EFS PRO. EFS PRO takes First Endurance's class-leading Electrolyte Fuel System and revamps it with a new carbohydrate blend allowing for significantly lower osmolality, giving you more calories in an easier to digest package. It's a double win. "The new EFS-PRO drink mix is an ultra low osmolality, state-of-the-art endurance and hydration formulation that’s engineered with the latest innovations and technology to meet the unparalleled requirements of professional athletes. EFS-PRO delivers higher levels of calories, electrolytes and other essential nutrients than other drinks without causing GI distress, even in the most extreme conditions. Plus, it’s designed to taste like flavored water so multiple bottles can be consumed easily without the dreaded ‘sweetness fatique.’ EFS-PRO features a proprietary blend of carbohydrates that has unique benefits for endurance. The primary carbohydrate is a low osmolality amylopectin multi-branched cyclic dextrin that’s 100% soluble in water. This means EFS-PRO can be mixed at stronger concentrations than other drinks and still be absorbed quickly and easily." The new Multi-V PRO takes the best athlete's daily multivitamin and makes it even better with the inclusion of a prebiotic BetaGlucan complex and complete vitamin and mineral support, including iron in an amino acid chelate. MultiV-PRO is a comprehensive multivitamin that’s designed to meet the unique requirements of professional endurance athletes, delivering the power of 4 products in one bottle. (1) Provides clinically effective doses of vitamins, minerals and key endurance specific nutrients designed to enhance overall wellness. (2) Features our exclusive Beta Glucan complex with Wellmune®, which has been clinically proven to reduce upper respiratory tract infection symptoms associated with hard training, improve recovery times, and offer unparalleled immune support. (3) Utilizes a proprietary prebiotic/enzyme blend to enhance macro and micronutrient absorption. (4) Includes a clinically effective dose of iron amino acid chelate to maximize aerobic capacity and ensure peak performance. For additional information go to firstendurance.com." These products keep me at my best on and off the race course, and I'm excited to have the chance to share them with you. Tweet at First Endurance to thank them for their support @FirstEndurance.



Olympic silver medalist and Ironman World Champion Michellie Jones is widely regarded as the greatest female triathlete of all time, and considered the greatest overall triathlete of all time by many. With countless wins across all distances and disciplines, Michellie had an incomparable career of success and longevity. And she brings that same passion and expertise to her coaching. We are proud to once again offer a 3 month one-on-one coaching package with Michellie via Giddy Up Multisports (MSRP $1200). Michellie founded Giddy Up Multisports to help athletes of all abilities chase and realize their dreams. "Whether your goal is to race, build strength, increase flexibility, or lose a few unwanted pounds, it begins with the decision to change your lifestyle, and it should begin today. Make the commitment to be the best you can be by following a specific training plan. We’ll be your partner every step (or swim, bike and run) of the way by helping you set your goals and target workouts to achieve your dreams." Michellie is also a tireless advocate for women around the globe, and with many of the students who receive bikes in Africa being young girls, WBR is a charity that is near and dear to Michellie's heart. We are truly honored to have her support for the 7th year in a row! You can tweet at Michellie at @GoMichellie.



Industry maverick ROKA Sports launched with a splash and has taken the tri world by storm with their incredible wetsuits and swimskins. They've since expanded into cycling apparel, and we are proud to have two donations from them. A swim package featuring: a maverick pro wetsuit, viper pro swimskin, sim pro training short, and their new R1 goggle (launching in a month) as well as a cycling package featuring: a cycling top and cycling bottom of your choice and a wind jacket (MSRP $2000ish. Two separate prizes). ROKA's self-appointed mission to help athletes #FindFaster has led them to rethink the way in which every product they approach is made. Their flagship Maverick Pro wetsuit is an amazing suit that is truly a pleasure to swim in. "We put everything we know and love into the Maverick Pro - no compromises. We built the suit from the ground up, focusing first on panel construction and materials that truly would make you faster. We leveraged physics, the world's fastest materials, 30+ years of elite swimming experience, and common sense. There's nothing like it on the market. The Maverick is an easy speed machine in a sea of flotation devices. The patent pending design will get you to T1 faster and fresher than the competition. We won't line up without one. Once you try it, neither will you." Their swimskins have been at or near the front in Kona since they were first introduced and have helped numerous athletes to PRs in the water. They bring that same passion to their recently launched cycling apparel, all of which is designed to look good, fit great, and keep you comfortable. Show some social media love to ROKA at @ROKASports.



Josh Poertner was the technical director at Zipp for many years before leaving to revive and reimagine venerable Italian inflation company Silca. Silca is a small company, but one with incredible values. Ultimately, they believe that perfection can be found (and sometimes created) in the details of everything that any of us do. They support their products with spares and replacement parts for as long as possible, because they know that the perfect pump is yours. It's the one you've had as long as you can remember. The one that's never let you down, the one that's dirty and battered, the one that appears on so many of your great stories, from so many great trips, and so many great rides with so many great friends. Perfection. Silca has donated: 1x SuperPista pump & HX-One tool kit (MSRP $575). Reimagining the iconic SILCA SuperPista was a transformative experience a small company like Silca. But they have enjoyed untold enthusiasm and support from SILCA fans worldwide through this process as they designed and developed. Hundreds of thoughts and opinions were solicited through their website as well as their Facebook page as they worked. What became clear through the process was that to SILCA users, the floor pump is not just another tool in the garage, it represents an important cycling ritual in their lives. For the HX-One, Silca had to start with the finest S-2 Tool Steel, a shock resistant steel which has been refined by Swiss and German toolmakers for the optimal balance of strength, hardness, shock resistance and dimensional control. S-2 yields stronger tools with much harder surfaces for prolonged tool AND fastener life. The keys are then coated with thin-dense Chrome, a process generally reserved for mold tool components or optical grade surfaces inside molding tools. This coating provides the hardest, most dimensionally stable finish possible on each hex key. Finally, each tool is spray coated with a high-grip, high-visibility textured polymer finish for maximum grip and control. No more dropping your tools with greasy fingers or losing them on your workbench! You can find the Silca team on Twitter at @SilcaVelo.



Louis Garneau makes the fastest, most comfortable, and best looking trisuit on the market. While I may be biased in my love their COURSE M-2 Tri-Skin, it's hard for me not to be. This was the suit - in a fully custom design done in-house by Louis Garneau - that I wore en-route to a bike-course-record and career-reviving win at Ironman Mont-Tremblant this summer. Every suit is made in Canada from top shelf materials with an eye towards fit, comfort, and - critically - aerodynamics. Save watts while looking good and feeling great. Thanks to Louis Garneau, two folks will have the chance to match me at the races with LG's donation of two (*2*) COURSE M-2 kits (MSRP $600. Two separate prizes). Every aspect of the Course M-2 triathlon skin is designed to provide maximum aerodynamic efficiency and optimal performances from start to finish. The body is made with CB Speedtech which, as its name implies, is designed for speed, with a dimpled mesh construction that improves aerodynamics for speeds from 25 to 70 km/h. The ultra texturized construction of the CB M-2 sleeves allows better laminar airflow, reducing the rider's drag factor, and the skin’s full-length zip can be completely opened for maximum ventilation without flapping. Two inner pockets are designed close to the body, allowing you to carry and easily access your gels or bars without affecting aerodynamics on the bike or comfort while running. The mid-sleeve design pulls on easily thanks to a full-front zipper that disconnects, making it easy to tuck into a wetsuit or swimskin during the swim and pull up in transition. On the bike, it offers outstanding aerodynamics, and on the run, you get the benefit of significant sun protection. I've tried a lot of sleeved suits, and the Garneau one really is the best I've used. You can find LG on Twitter to give a shout out at @Louis_Garneau.

Thank you all for your outstanding support of World Bicycle Relief. As I write this, we're at $54,610 raised or 371 bicycles. Let's see if we can't change some more lives! Thank you again for believing in the power of bicycles!