Specialized Blows Away Giving Tuesday for World Bicycle Relief

December 1, 2014

So far, we're at just over $45,000, but the goal is to break through the $50,000 mark today, on Giving Tuesday (December 2)! Many thanks to those who have already made generous donations. We hope to keep the donations rolling in to reach our goal of $100,000 (746 WBR bicycles)! We have something super special from Specializedlined up to give Giving Tuesday some extra punch, and the goal is to see if we can't break $10,000 on this special day intended to honor the charitable spirit of the holiday season.

To enter the challenge, you can donate online at the URL below. Like last year, the Ironman Foundation has been very generous in hosting and handling the donation site for us (Thanks, IMF!!!).

Link: crowdrise.com/RappstarCharityChallenge

As in past years, you can donate ANY amount, but ONLY donations of $134 or more (the cost of one bicycle) will make you eligible for prizes. For every multiple of $134 that you donate, you get another entry. $268 earns you double eligibility, $402 earns triple, etc. Donations of 5 bikes ($670) get you an extra spot. And donations of 10 bikes ($1340) get you an extra three spots. For more details, read the first article at the link below. Award drawing tickets will be assigned automatically from the donations, so please make sure to give us an email or phone number (or both) where we can reach you.

And now, onto the incredible offering from Specialized, a pro athlete experience session in the Specialized Win Tunnel wind tunnel. MSRP – Priceless (roughly $3000+).

AERO IS EVERYTHING is the mantra that informs a major part of Specialized's product development of not only the bikes they make, but also helmets, wheels, and even shoes. Drag is the single biggest force affecting a cyclist, and since the only way to turn it off is to stop moving completely, eliminating every bit of it is critically important. Specialized's team of aerodynamic experts wield the tools of their trade—Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), on-bike Data Acquisition (DAQ), and wind tunnel testing—with authority. Best of all, with the addition of the Specialized Wind Tunnel, these tools are all here in Morgan Hill, right at their fingertips. Now aerodynamic innovation can happen at greater speed, making riders faster than ever.

THE TEAM driving Specialized to "Innovate or Die" is even more impressive than the facilities that they have supporting them. The tools and science behind aerodynamics is only as good as the people who interpret and apply it. Specialized's aero team is a true aerodynamic tour-de-force. Between them, Chris Yu, Mark Cote, Chris D’Aluisio, and Chuck Teixeira have 50 years of aero experience, with over 20,000 hours in wind tunnels. Their expertise and presence at Specialized is unique, and a key component in continuing to move the science forward for us in new ways. The right team, given convenient access to all the tools—CFD, DAQ, and wind tunnel testing—is a recipe for innovation.

THE WIND TUNNEL Specialized designed and built the Specialized Win Tunnel wind tunnel as they dreamed it—to be the perfect, cycling-specific wind tunnel. It’s optimized for real bike speeds and is large enough to allow them to test multiple riders at once, simulating group riding situations. Its proximity to the team enables them to conveniently test things without concern to cost or time, and also gives them the freedom to test everything they make—from a commuting helmet, to apparel, and everything in between. Since it will also be used as an educational facility, there’s room for their SBCU classes to observe testing in progress and learn.

And, in a rare and special opportunity, one lucky person will have the chance to work with Specialized's aero team in Specialized's tunnel in Morgan Hill to receive the full professional treatment. Tweak your position, test your equipment, or whatever else you desire. The facilities and – most importantly – the expertise are yours for a full, professional athlete experience. Travel to/from Morgan Hill is *NOT* included; you've got to get yourself to there. But once you're there, you will be blown away – both literally and figuratively – with the opportunity in front of you.