I've ridden Pelotonia in 2010, 2011, and 2012. Each year the event gets bigger, better, and the community gets more thoroughly behind it. I moved to Columbus in 2009, and Pelotonia has helped form my opinion of Columbus. Local companies underwrite the expense of the event so 100% of donations go to The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Center at the Wexner Medical Center at Ohio State University. And local companies encourage participation in the form of organizations (creating pelotons), matching donations to rider profiles, and so on. In my mind, Columbus has a direct role in the fight against cancer - The James is located here, the Speilman Fund has an obvious connection to Columbus, there is a large Susan G. Komen event here, and there is Pelotonia. In 4 short years, I believe Pelotonia has helped focus that singularity of purpose in the minds of others in the Columbus area as well. And I think it has helped create a cycling ethos in Columbus.
As for the ride itself, as I mentioned I've ridden for three years and I've seen the ride get bigger and better organized. 2012 saw a move of the event start to Columbus Commons (from Chemical Abstracts' campus) which improved accessibility to the event and put the event downtown, where I think it belongs.
2012 also saw a change in destination, to Kenyon College in Gambier from OU in Athens, and an increase in route offerings, both in terms of distance and challenge (2012 was the first year they offered "hilly" and "less hilly" routes for the 100 mile distance). While I missed the scenery of Hocking County this year, the new route was a win. More choices caters to more participants, and splitting the route cut down on rider density.
Rider support has always been awesome. Pelotonia recruits volunteers for a variety of unskilled (passing out water, etc) and skilled (medical, mechanical, etc) roles. All volunteers are enthusiastic, friendly, and can't do enough to help you. And most importantly, they are where they're needed and there are enough of them. 2012 was the first year I had occasion to utilize the first aid services of Pelotonia, and they were terrific; I had a minor issue but was seen by a paramedic, a nurse, and two OSU doctors. They got me back on the road where I belonged.
Pelotonia is a fun event, but it is not a casual affair. It has a serious mission and demands a fundraising commitment from its riders. When you sign up, you commit to a fundraising minimum, for which you pledge to pay the difference. This intimidates many (it isn't a small amount!) but it shouldn't. I was reluctant to take the plunge myself in 2010, but found fundraising to be far easier than I'd anticipated. In fact, I don't think I've met anyone who failed to meet their fundraising goal, and Pelotonia gives you some options with regards to shortening the distance you will ride (which lowers your fundraising commitment), allowing you to transfer funds across peloton members to help others meet their minimums, and giving you until mid-October to hit your commitment.
Pelotonia has other good tools to support you. Their website is well put-together and reliable, and helps you solicit donations and processes them on the site. And they leave your donators alone after they've donated; in other words they won't be pestered all year long for more money.
This is a top notch event, is a ton of fun, and is well supported. It will also make you feel like $100. You can get fit, have fun, and help others all with one activity. And there are different ways to participate to suit your preferences - ride, donate, volunteer. read more