MassBike is pleased to announce that we have been chosen as a beneficiary for Ride Studio Cafe's Ride Conservation Fund during the Rapha Festive 500. Ride Studio Cafe (RSC) in Lexington, a cycling shop with a goal to get more people on bikes and to get cyclists out more, has been participating in the Festive 500 for four years.

Rapha's Festive 500 challenges participants to ride 500km or more between December 24 and December 31. Every year RSC offers gifts, prize drawings, and other motivators to get people riding in December - a month where too much pie and even a little snow can slow down your cycling.

This year RSC makes the Festive 500 part charity, part challenge by giving to MassBike, The New England Mountain Bike Association, and the Lexington Nature Trust. Patria Lanfranchi of Ride Studio Cafe told us "We are really excited to be including MassBike as one of the recipients of our RSC Ride Conservation fund because of all of the notable improvements MassBike makes to the riding that we value so much. Because of MassBike's advocacy, programs, education, training, and events, our roads are a better place to be on a bike, and more people than ever are enjoying time riding in our community."

Ride Studio Cafe will donate

1) 5 percent of all RSC sales of Rapha items throughout December

2) $20 per rider per Festive 500 ride

3) A minimum of $1,000 split between the three chosen beneficiaries no matter what, and possibly more depending on participation

The more you ride, the more you earn for these local bicyclist-friendly organizations, including us! Visit RSC's Festive 500 page to learn more about the rides, the prizes, and the causes they are supporting. You can register online and start earning money for MassBike while you log your December miles.

Keep riding and stay festive!