News & Observer | newsobserver.com | 2008 NCAA Men's Bracket

That David Cole thinks of everything when he puts on a benefit ride — namely, his Raven Rock Ramble, which has raised more than $61,000 for the National Kidney Foundation and the U.S. Transplant Games. He knows you have to have good food for a good ride, so he manages to get his May ride catered. He knows you need a good T-shirt, so he he shops the design out to a professional. He also knows that you need good weather, but there's not a whole lot he can do about that the first week of May.

David Cole: Pick a distance, any distance.

For the 2009 RRR, which is May 3, he realized two more things. One, that toward the end of a long ride, people really like to know how many miles they have left. Not that they're counting — well, actually they are (especially if it's pouring rain or it's really hot and cramping is an issue). So this year, on the "confirmation arrows," which show the route on the road, he'll be including the number of miles remaining. (At least on the arrows toward the end of the ride, when you might start counting.)

And two, he's opened up registration early — now, in fact — so that you can apply the deductable $30 fee (feel free to pay more; it is deductable) toward your 2008 taxes.

Again, this year's Ramble is May 3 out of Harris Lake County Park. Routes are 10, 31, 42, 62, 86 and 100 miles. And there's good food and a swell T-shirt. Be advised that the ride is capped at 450 riders and does sell out before the event.

More info here.