Bike-a-Thon Fundraiser Platform
Per-mile pledge tracking, personal donation pages, and automated collection — everything you need to run a bikeathon fundraiser that raises real money. Zero platform fees.
What is a bike-a-thon?
A bike-a-thon (also called a bikeathon) is a fundraising event where participants ride bikes and collect donations based on distance covered or as flat amounts. Riders sign up, get a personal donation page, and share it with family and friends. Sponsors pledge per mile or give a flat donation. On ride day, miles are tracked and per-mile pledges convert to real dollars.
Bike-a-thons work for schools, youth cycling teams, churches, nonprofits, and community organizations. A church group of 20 riders on a parking lot loop and a 200-rider charity ride on public roads both use the same pledge-and-ride model. The logistics change, but the fundraising mechanics stay the same.
Why bike-a-thons raise more
Miles add up fast
Even a casual rider covers 8-12 miles in an hour. At $3/mile with 6 sponsors, a rider who goes 15 miles generates $270 from one person on a bike. Per-rider averages sit around $100-250.
Already fun
Kids beg to ride bikes. Adults pay thousands for the privilege. Attaching pledges to something people already enjoy is the easiest fundraising pitch there is.
Visible and photogenic
A group of 40 riders in matching jerseys generates attention. Local news covers it. That visibility drives donations from people who were never even asked.
Broad age range
A 6-year-old on training wheels can ride a parking lot loop. A 60-year-old on a road bike can ride 30 miles. Structure a bike-a-thon for any fitness level.
Built for bike-a-thons
Everything your cycling club, school, church, or nonprofit needs to run a bikeathon fundraiser.
Per-mile pledge tracking
Sponsors pledge $2-10 per mile. After the ride, enter each rider's distance and per-mile donations convert to dollar amounts automatically. Per-mile pledges raise 2-3x more than flat donations alone.
Zero platform fees
Every dollar donated goes to your organization. The only cost is standard Stripe processing (2.9% + 30¢ per card transaction). Cash and check donations cost nothing.
Personal donation pages + QR codes
Every rider gets their own page with a shareable link and QR code. Text it to grandma, post it in the office Slack, or print it on a flyer. Sponsors donate in 30 seconds.
Flat + per-mile donations
Donors choose: pledge per mile ($3/mile) or give a flat amount ($50). Both options on every donation page. Flexible for every sponsor.
Live leaderboard
Riders and teams see where they stand in real time. Nothing motivates a cyclist like seeing their name climb the leaderboard.
Automated collection
After you enter miles, per-mile sponsors are charged automatically. Email reminders go out on schedule. Groups using online platforms collect 95%+ of pledges vs. 55-65% with paper.
How it works
From setup to collection in four steps.
Create your bike-a-thon
Name your event, set the ride date, and upload your rider list via CSV. Takes about 60 seconds.
Riders share donation pages
Every rider gets a unique donation page with a shareable link and QR code. Sponsors choose per-mile pledges or flat donations.
Ride day — track miles
Riders bike the route. Log miles from lap counters, GPS apps, or checkpoint cards. Per-mile pledges convert to dollar amounts automatically.
Collect automatically
Miles go in, charges go out. Per-mile sponsors are charged based on actual distance. Email reminders send automatically. You track everything from the dashboard.
What to expect on ride day
Set clear distance expectations so sponsors make informed pledges. A sponsor who knows their nephew will ride 10 miles is comfortable donating $3/mile. Without that context, they donate $1/mile thinking it's a 5-mile ride.
3-6 mi
Ages 6-9
Parking lot loop, 30-45 min
8-15 mi
Ages 10-13
Bike trail, 45-75 min
15-30 mi
Teens + Adults
Trail or road route, 1-2 hrs
Safety and planning checklist
Bike-a-thons involve wheels and speed. A well-organized event has zero incidents. Safety planning is not optional.
Helmets required for every rider — zero exceptions
Riders under 10 must have an adult riding with them
Walk or drive the route the day before to check for hazards
SAG vehicle on any route over 5 miles (stocked with pump, tubes, first aid, water)
No headphones or earbuds while riding
Water stations every 3-5 miles on longer routes
Collect emergency contacts and medical conditions at registration
First aid kit and trained volunteer at start/finish area
Route options for your first bike-a-thon
Closed loop on private property. A parking lot or school campus with a 0.25-0.5 mile loop. No traffic, no permits, easy lap counting. Best for younger kids and groups that want zero permitting hassle.
Bike trail or greenway. An out-and-back or loop route on an existing bike path. Safe from car traffic, longer distances possible. Best for community rides and mixed-age groups.
Road route with traffic control. A marked route on public roads with volunteer-managed intersections. Requires permits, insurance, and SAG vehicles. Best for large charity events with 100+ riders.
Per-mile pledges raise more
Flat donations only: $200 per rider
8 sponsors at $25 each. Decent — but you're leaving money on the table.
Per-mile pledges: $480 per rider
8 sponsors at $3/mile, rider goes 20 miles. Same number of sponsors, 2.4x the money. Per-mile pledging rewards effort and motivates riders to push further.
Groups using online donation platforms collect 95%+ of pledges. Paper-based collection? 55-65%. On a $10,000 bike-a-thon, that gap is $3,000-$4,000 in real money.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bike-a-thon fundraiser raise?
The typical range is $100-250 per rider. A cycling club with 40 riders can expect $4,000-$10,000. A community event with 100+ riders can hit $15,000-$25,000. The biggest factor is sponsors per rider — five sponsors averaging $40 each is $200 per rider, and most people can reach five sponsors with a few text messages.
What ages can participate in a bike-a-thon?
Any age that can ride a bike. Kids as young as 4-5 can ride a closed parking lot loop on training wheels. For trail routes, most kids are ready by age 8-9. For road routes, 13+ is a safe minimum. Always require an adult riding partner for kids under 10.
Do I need permits for a bike-a-thon?
It depends on your route. A closed loop on private property (parking lot, school campus) typically needs no permit. Public bike trails may require a special event permit ($50-200). Road routes almost always need a city permit plus police coordination. Start the process 8-10 weeks early.
How do we track miles during the ride?
For closed loops: lap counters or wristband exchanges. For trail or road routes: GPS apps like Strava (riders screenshot results), checkpoint stamp cards, or out-and-back routes with a turnaround volunteer. For younger kids on loops, physical lap counters are simplest.
How much does PledgeAthon cost?
Zero platform fees. The only cost is standard Stripe processing: 2.9% + $0.30 per card transaction. Cash and check donations have no fees at all. No monthly charges, no contracts, no setup fees.
Can we combine biking with other activities?
Yes. Some groups run a move-a-thon where participants can bike, walk, run, or scooter. PledgeAthon supports per-mile or flat pledges regardless of how participants cover the distance. Great for mixed-age family events.
Run your bike-a-thon with zero fees
Free to set up. Per-mile pledge tracking built in. Every rider gets their own donation page. Ready in 60 seconds.
No credit card required. No contracts.