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Upstate Peloton

Cycling Club

2027 Participant Information

The Tour de Cure, organized by the American Diabetes Association (ADA), is a major community cycling event that raises funds for diabetes research, education, and advocacy.

2027 Event

When:	Saturday, June 12, 2027 Add to your calendar (iCal) \| (Google) Staggered starts begin at 8AM with check-in at 7AM
Where:	Ellms Family Farm 448 Charlton Rd Ballston Spa, NY 12020
Fundraising Minimums:	Adults (18+): $250 Youth (17 and under): $50 Champion Level: Raising $1,000 or more unlocks extra perks, medals, and special event recognitions.
Route Options: (more details)	10 mile, family friendly 31 mile for casual cyclists 62 mile metric century for experienced Riders
Support:	Minimum fundraising covers fully stocked rest stops along the routes, route markers, SAG (support and gear) vehicles, medical personnel, bike mechanic support, an event t-shirt, a post-ride meal and other activities.
Bring your own:	Bicycle Helmet Water bottle(s) with enough to get you to the first rest stop

Key Dates

8/26/2026	Registration for 2026 opens! Early bird registration fee is $10
9/15/2026	Best day to register! Join our team!
11/16/2026	Registration fee increases to $30
2/1/2027	Watch for scheduling of the Tour de Cure Kickoff evening in March/April
5/12/2027 *	Raise enough to hit a fundraising threshold to receive recognition apparel by event day
6/4/2027 *	Last day to register for the event?
6/10/2027 *	Champion recognition dinner for those who raised $1000+
6/12/2027	Event Day!
7/11/2027 *	Last chance to earn recognition gifts for fundraising

* Dates are approximate and based on previous years.

Event organizers often add fundraising incentives during fundraising season for T-Shirts, socks, etc. Follow the Upstate NY Facebook Page or Instagram Page to follow. More dates will be added as they're announced.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I join & raise money?
What if I don't meet the minimum fundraising?
Do I need to join a team?
How is Upstate Peloton participating?
How do I participate?
Which route should I choose?
How long will it take?
How do I train for event day?
What is virtual?
Is my bicycle OK to use?
What if I don't own a bicycle?
Fundraising tips
How do pledges work?
Event Info:

Why should I join & raise money?

In one day over 4,000 Americans will be diagnosed with diabetes, adding to the 40 million Americans living with this terrible disease. (Source: ADA) By raising money for the American Diabetes Association, You:

Spread awareness of the devastating effects of diabetes.
Advocate for a child with diabetes to have the same learning opportunities at school.
Fund life-saving research.
Provide access to community programs and free resources that help those living with diabetes.

If you're seeking a ride to complete the Scouting America Cycling Merit Badge requirements, there is an unofficial 50 mile route. Active scouts (or anyone under 18) have a smaller minimum fundraising level. See the event FAQ.

What if I don't meet the minimum fundraising?

The minimum amount of money adults need to raise is fairly low compared to other fundraising events. It's not that difficult to meet the minimum fundraising levels, but you will have to ask people for money. Check out the Fundraising tips for more information. If you still cannot raise the minimum amount, you can either participate virtually, or volunteer at the event.

Do I need to join a team?

You don't need to join a team, but joining a team provides a sense of camaraderie. Joining an established team means you can ask the team captain any additional questions you may have about the event.

You do NOT need to be a regular member of the Upstate Peloton cycling club to join on our team!

How is Upstate Peloton Cycling Club participating?

Upstate Peloton Cycling Club will be participating in-person on event day. Different team members may be riding different routes. The team captain will be riding the metric century route this year. We may have team members who participate virtually.

How do I participate?

You need to register by joining our team or register as an individual on the event home page
Raise as much money as you can! (Read the Fundraising tips) If you do not raise the minimum amount by event day, you can ride virtually when/where you want. Alternatively, you can volunteer at the event.
You must process all funds raised in person
- Checks: log donations in your participant page (requires login) and follow directions to ensure you get credit. Don't wait too long to mail in checks so they clear your donor's account.
- Cash: Do not send cash through the mail. The easiest thing to do is donate money to yourself with your credit Card/PayPal in the amount of the cash received, but give your cash donor proper recognition.
Optionally recruit friends/family to participate too! There are special rules for kids, please see the FAQ.
You participate in your activity!
More questions? See the event FAQ or ask the team captain.

Which route do I choose?

You choose the route that works best for you! You don't need to ride the same route as other team members.

Different team members can ride different routes. You can change your chosen route as late as registration day. If no one from our team is riding the same route that you want to ride, someone may be willing to switch. Alternatively, feel free to recruit someone else to the team!

Tour de Cure routes are not typically finalized until a couple of weeks before the event due to permits, road construction, etc. Routes have remained largely unchanged since 2023. Previously, there have been 10, 32, and 62 miles. There shortcuts available on the 62 mile route to trim 10 miles off the total distance.

How long will the ride take?

If you don't know your average speed, I suggest adults assuming 10-12mph for cycling. (hours = miles / mph) so the 10.1 mile ride at 12mph would take 49 minutes plus whatever time you spend stopped.
You really need to train prior to event day so that you can ride the full distance and so you will know what your average speed is. Tips for how to ride faster

Hang around after the ride for lunch and more! The event runs until at least mid-afternoon.

How should I train for event day?

In addition to what the cycling guide (PDF) suggests for training basics and training plans, I suggest:

Be sure to consult a physician before embarking on a difficult training plan
Plan your routes on a computer / record your rides using phone GPS to plan/track distance & elevation, track time, and calculate average speed.
Check our how to ride faster page for other training ideas.

What is virtual?

A virtual participant is someone who is raising money for the event, but is not participating in-person at the live event. There can be many reasons to participate virtually:

You didn't reach the minimum fundraising amount.
You're unable to travel to the event site.
You're unable to ride on event day to to illness, scheduling conflict, etc.
You don't like the route options.
You prefer riding by yourself.
You really want to participate as part of our team, but you would prefer to run/walk instead.

Virtual riders are not eligible for the ride T-shirt, refreshments at rest stops, or the free lunch at the event.

Is my bicycle OK to use?

Pedal powered bicycles are permissible. This includes Class I pedal-assist e-bikes, which stop assisting at 20MPH.

If you haven't used your old bicycle in a while, have someone experienced check it out such as a Local Bike Shop to tell you if the bike is safe/reliable to use, and/or provide a tune-up. Here are a few things to check yourself.

What if I don't own a bicycle?

If you don't own a bicycle, maybe you can borrow someone else's bike.

If you want to buy a bicycle anyway and are relatively new to cycling and don't know what to get, check out our new cyclist FAQ.

Fundraising tips

Read the participant guide in the Participant Portal Resources
Make a large donation to yourself on the ADA web site to set the tone
Set a high but attainable goal. You can adjust later. There are recognition gifts if that will help incentivize you. $1000 is the "Champion" level. In the past, reaching the Champion level has meant VIP parking availability, among other things.
Edit your personal page in the TdC portal. If you have a personal reason for participating, state that. i.e. do you or a loved one have diabetes?
When you ask people to donate, mention your reason why you are participating. If you or a loved one has diabetes, people will be more likely to donate more than otherwise.
Link to your Facebook account. Note as soon as you link it, people will see it! Instructions:
1. Edit your personal page in the TdC portal. (this will become visible on Facebook)
2. Go to your TdC portal and scroll down to the "Create a Facebook fundraiser" button and follow the steps.
3. Simply linking the fundraiser should be enough to trigger some donations. After the initial activity slows down, you can:
  1. Post regular updates to the Fundraiser page. This will appear in your friends' news feed. Be sure to reiterate your personal reason for participating.
  2. Posting within two weeks of event day, as you arrive the morning of the event, and after the ride will yield more donations
  3. Once you have a few sizable donations, make "micro" donations to your Facebook fundraiser. Your friends will see that you've made a donation, but not the amount.
Join the TdC Upstate NY Community Facebook group for more ideas sharing, etc.
Share a personal story about why you are raising funds for ADA. Are you raising funds in honor of a friend or family member with diabetes? Yourself?
Do you or a friend have a special skill you can donate your time for monetary donations? e.g.
1. Bake sale
2. Garage sale
3. Bike maintenance
4. Yard work
5. Raffle
6. Bottle Drive (tip: use clynk)
Print out materials to share or post, i.e. Banners or Business Cards (docx) or Poster (docx) / Example Poster (docx) / more to come
You may see regular posts on Facebook for Upstate Peloton and TdC Upstate. Share those posts to your Facebook fundraiser with an additional brief comment.
Donor Receipts
More Info

After signing up, you may receive a welcome package in the mail from TdC with some other fundraising information.

What else?

Be sure to check the cycling guide (PDF) for tips.
Have fun!

How do pledges work?

Pledges are new to 2027. Supporters can sponsor your movement by pledging a dollar amount per mile you complete-turning every step, ride, or workout into greater impact. Your activity can now inspire giving.

Pledges are based on the full number of miles that you ride leading up to the event. You need to enable activity tracking via Strava or other supported apps. It is important to note that the minimum per mile amount is $1 and donors have the OPTION to enter a maximum donation amount. As of 9/4/27, if donors do NOT enter a maximum amount, all pledges exceeding $500 will be flagged and NOT automatically charged.

Miles	Elev. Gain	Steepest Grade	Remarks
10.1 (16km)	276 feet	2.4%	Family Friendly. Hills look harder than they are. Minimal traffic except for Lake Hill Road (southernmost 0.6 miles). One rest stop at 4.3 miles.
32.3 (52km)	1371 feet	5.6%	Easy hills. Minimal Traffic or wide shoulders. Crosses over Route 67 twice. Three rest stops.
52.2 (84km)	2949 feet	7.8%	* Unofficial Route * perfect for Scouting America's cycling merit badge. This is the same route as the 62 mile route with the Southernmost and Northeastern-most segments cut off. Mostly minimal traffic or wide shoulders. Sacandaga road into Galway can be busy, and then a left turn at a traffic light. Crosses over busy routes 67 & 29 twice each. Should be an easy navigable route if you're used to 50 mile rides. Four rest stops available.
61.6 (99km)	3317 feet	7.9%	Mostly minimal traffic or wide shoulders. Sacandaga road into Galway can be busy, and then a left turn at a traffic light. Crosses over busy routes 67 & 29 twice each. Should be an easy navigable route if you're used to metric century rides. Six rest stops available.