The Closer to Free Ride cannot happen without the dedication and support of hundreds of Volunteers. If you’re not into pedaling, join us as a volunteer and share your energy and enthusiasm with our community.
2024 CLOSER TO FREE RIDE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Volunteer opportunities are available to support the Pre-Ride check in, at our Start/Finish Line and on the Ride route (Road Crew). See below for a complete list of roles and if you’re under the age of 16, please contact us at 203-200-RIDE or [email protected] to discuss volunteer opportunities.
VOLUNTEER ROLE DESCRIPTIONS
Click on each link below to expand and view all available Volunteer roles and details.
Pre-Ride Volunteers support our Rider check-in day on Friday, September 6th.
Check-In/Registration Team
Responsibilities: Check-in and register Riders for the event. Collect donations. Distribute wristbands and bike frame labels. Must be computer and tablet savvy.
Volunteer Check-In Team
Responsibilities: Check in all registered volunteers. Provide any event supplies before deploying volunteers to their assignment. Hand out schedules/answer any questions pertaining to Ride Day. Manage lost and found items. Must be comfortable standing for long periods of time.
Merchandise Team
Responsibilities: Supports the merchandise store. Loads and unloads merchandise. Sets up and breaks down display materials and equipment. Restocks merchandise. Interacts with participants and the public. Must be comfortable standing for long periods of time. Must be computer and tablet savvy.
Jersey Distribution Team
Responsibilities: Distribute Rider jerseys to participants displaying official event wristbands. Reference Rider Report for requested jersey size and check off names when distributed. Keep area stocked, neat and organized.
Rewards Distribution Team
Responsibilities: Distribute Rider rewards to participants. Reference Rider Report for earned rewards and check off names when distributed. Keep area stocked, neat and organized.
Photo Op Team
Responsibilities: Assist participants in the photo op area. Must be comfortable taking photos on smartphones.
CTF Spirit Team
Responsibilities: Hand out I Ride For Bibs, My Ride Buttons and My Town Stickers to Riders. Keep the area neat and stocked.
Overnight Bike Parking Team
Responsibilities: Assist with directing traffic to the bike parking racks. Ensure Riders have attended Pre-Ride and received their bike frame label. Assist Riders with placing their bike on the bike parking rack. Must be able to lift up to 30lbs.
Traffic & Safety
Responsibilities: Maintains safe traffic flow at the Yale Bowl during Pre-Ride. Manage vehicle parking area and help Riders cross the driveway safely. Requires standing for extended periods of time.
Start/Finish Line volunteers commit to work various shifts between during the event day, September 7th, at the Start/Finish Line.
Bike Parking Team
Responsibilities: Maintain bike parking racks at the start/finish site. Set up & maintain water and sports drinks for Riders to fill their water bottles prior to ride out and during the finish line festival. Provide security over bikes while participants are registering or enjoying the finish line festival. Counts Riders as they return from the route. Works closely with dispatch to report total numbers. Serve as cheerleaders, welcoming Riders in from the route. Must be able to lift up to 30lbs.
Break Down Team
Responsibilities: Assist in the breakdown of all event elements and assist with the closing of the finish line festival. Ensures that the site is left cleaner than when the Ride arrived on site. Must be able to lift 20-30lbs.
Check-In/Registration Team
Responsibilities: Check in and register Riders for the event. Collect donations. Distribute wristbands and bike frame labels. Must be computer and tablet savvy.
Food & Beverage Team
Responsibilities: Maintain the food & beverage tent area at the finish line festival. Hands out food tickets to Riders and Volunteers and restocks beverages in coolers. No cooking or prep is required. Must be able to lift up to 25lbs.
Beer & Wine Garden Team
Responsibilities: Check IDs to verify 21+, administer wristbands and help pour beer and wine at the finish line festival. No cooking or prep is required. Must be 21+.
Gear Check Team
Responsibilities: Manage the collection and distribution of Rider and Volunteer personal items at the start/finish site. Provides security at Gear Check Tent, however not personally responsible for items lost or missing.
Jersey Distribution Team
Responsibilities: Distribute Rider jerseys to participants displaying official event wristbands. Reference Rider Report for requested jersey size and check off names when distributed. Keep the area stocked, neat and organized.
Rewards Distribution Team
Responsibilities: Distribute Rider rewards to participants. Reference Rider Report for earned rewards and check off name when distributed. Keep area stocked, neat and organized.
Medical Team
Responsibilities: Made up of a variety of medical professionals, including RNs, MDs, EMTs and paramedics. Supports our on-site ambulance and EMT team to provide First Aid medical support at the start/finish site. Will assist in managing emergency situations that arise until local emergency medical services arrive on the scene. Must provide license/certification and proof of insurance.
Merchandise Team
Responsibilities: Supports the merchandise store. Loads and unloads merchandise. Sets up and breaks down display materials and equipment. Restocks merchandise. Interacts with participants and the public. Must be computer and tablet savvy.
CTF Spirit Team
Responsibilities: Hand out I Ride For Bibs, My Ride Buttons and My Town Stickers to Riders. Keep the area neat and stocked. Oversee the signing of the Closer to Free Ride Bike by handing out markers to Riders to sign free space on the bike.
Set-Up Team
Responsibilities: Assist in the set up of registration, opening ceremony and finish line festival. Distribute tables, chairs, and table covers. Distribute trash & recycling bins and liners. Must be able to lift 20-30lbs.
Smilow Salute Cheer Team
Responsibilities: Cheer on the Riders as they pass by Smilow Cancer Hospital. *This position is located along the route; must provide own transportation.
Finish Line Cheer Team
Responsibilities: Cheer the Riders at the Finish Line. Should be comfortable standing and cheering for long periods of time. The Riders count on your support!
Traffic & Safety
Responsibilities: Maintains safe traffic flow at the start/finish location. Manages vehicle parking area and directs vehicles to designated parking areas. Checks in vehicles, allowing only those that are permitted to be on-site with the event. Requires standing for extended periods of time.
Volunteer Check-in
Responsibilities: Check in all registered volunteers. Provide any event supplies before deploying volunteers to their assignment. Hand out schedules/answer any questions pertaining to Ride Day.
Kid Zone Team
Responsibilities: Advise and assist with the activities in the kid zone area.
If you’re able to commit to the entire Ride Day and are 18 or older, you are welcome to register as a Road Crew Volunteer. Start/Finish Line Volunteers commit to shorter shifts during Ride Day. Please note Road Crew Volunteers MUST ATTEND a virtual training meeting before the Ride. We will send details closer to the Ride.
Bike Marshal Team
Responsibilities: Rides along one of five routes ensuring cyclist safety and providing cautionary information. Provides general inspiration to help riders achieve their goal distance. Must be experienced in leading groups and must have basic knowledge of road bike fixes. Optionally available to assist throughout the season with training rides. Must ride their own bike and wear an ANSI or SNELL-certified helmet.
Bus Liaison Team
Responsibilities: Will ride on one of our support buses along the route. Buses transport Riders from rest stops to the start/finish site, once the Rider has determined they cannot complete the day’s route. Assist bus driver hired to transport participants by acting as navigator and communications assistant. Provide moral support for Riders who may be disheartened by their inability to complete the route.
Caboose Assistant
Responsibilities: Drive Ride Staff and follow the last Rider on each route and offer assistance where needed. Always remain behind the last Rider on each route. Must be 25+ years old and have a valid U.S. driver’s license. Drive an official event vehicle (no personal vehicles allowed).
Motorcycle Safety Team
Responsibilities: Works with staff and local law enforcement to guarantee safe passage for riders during the event. Assists at difficult intersections and other locations as requested.Team members direct riders only and in no way direct vehicle traffic. Team members must provide their own motorcycle and helmet and have a valid motorcycle license and insurance.
Route Safety Team
Responsibilities: Works with staff and local law enforcement to guarantee safe passage for riders during the event. Assists at difficult intersections and other locations as requested.Team members direct riders only and in no way direct vehicle traffic. Team members must provide their own transportation to specified locations.
Rest Stop Teams
Responsibilities: Manage set up, food distribution and traffic control at a designated rest stop location along the ride route. Clean up and pack up supplies once rest stop closes.
Route Closure Assistant
Responsibilities: Drive with Route Closure Staff and work with Rest Stop teams to close rest stops according to schedule. Must be 25+ years old and have a valid U.S. driver’s license. Drive an official event vehicle (no personal vehicles allowed).
Rest Stop Medical Team
Responsibilities: Made up of a variety of medical professionals, including RNs, MDs, EMTs and paramedics. Will work as a general rest stop Volunteer at the site unless our on-site ambulance and EMT team need additional hands to provide First Aid medical support at each of the rest stops. Will assist in managing emergency situations that arise until local emergency medical services arrive on the scene. Must provide license/certification and proof of insurance.
Sweep Team
Responsibilities: Drives official event SUVs and picks up riders and their bikes with fatigue, medical or mechanical problems and transports them to the next rest stop along the route. Secure bike to bike rack for transport on the road and remove bike at next rest stop so that rider may continue riding after they’ve had a rest or had a technical issue resolved. Drive official event vehicles (no personal vehicles allowed). Must be 25+ years old and have a valid U.S. driver’s license. Must be able to lift 20-30lbs.