KOTO MOUNTAIN BIKE CHALLENGE

Hanoi business backs KOTO

Le Pub; the Alfresco group, Intrepid and Unis are just some of the Hanoian companies that have signed up corporate teams to enter the KOTO bike ride 2007. The challenge to raise the most money for KOTO is fierce. Don't miss out on this great team building and branding opportunity. Contact Dao on 04 847 3492/3 for further information.

KOTO Ba Vi bike ride 2007

Saddle up for the Ba Vi ride 2007

This year's ride takes place on Saturday 1st December. Email kotobikeride@gmail.com for an application form or call (84-4) 847 3492. Bike ride updates, news and further information to follow. Watch this space...

2006 KOTO Bike Ride - The Best Yet!

News of money raised will be added soon.  In the meantime photos taken on the day are available to share and download.  Just click here.

If you want to add your own Bike Ride pics then drop them off to 72 Thuy Khue on disc or email them to kotobikeride@gmail.com

Check back later for more announcements.

KOTO BIKE RIDE 2006

This year's annual KOTO Mountain Bike Challenge will take place on Saturday, November 25^th.

Taking in a beautiful route at just under 80kms it starts from Hanoi and finishes at the foot of the mountains in Ba Vi. In between it follows dyke roads, skirts around rice fields and sweeps by lakes.

Each year more people have signed up to the challenge and it has become a major event on the Hanoi calendar. In return for raising sponsorship for KOTO, riders receive breakfast, morning tea, a picnic lunch on arrival at their destination and an evening party back in Hanoi. Oh and that much sought after bike ride t-shirt too.

To take part, simply follow the instructions on the left. Download and send off your registration details and print out the additional forms for more information.

Last years event was generally regarded as the best yet. Detailed ride notes ensure you don’t get lost, stewards are there to ensure there are no problems and both mechanical and medical experts are at hand to look after you and your bike.

For a taster of previous years’ events, feel free to look at the pictures also linked on the left and if you have any further questions feel free to email me here.

As we approach ride day you can expect more details, including start location and time (it’ll be from Hanoi and it will be early).

I look forward to seeing you all on November 25^th. Please, if you’d like to take part then register as soon as possible, it makes it much easier for the organisers if we know ASAP the numbers we are working with.

Please send this website to your friends and bully them into taking part too. And if they don’t fancy their chances of pedalling all that way, remember we do need motorbike stewards – we’d love to have you along for the ride.

For the rest of you…bike training starts here.

UPDATE: A big thank you to our friends in the Al Fresco's Group and Intrepid Indochina who've helped us put together a "Team Challenge" for the first time.  Does your employer, club, bar etc, want to join in?  if so then check out the link on the right hand side.  We'd love to have you a along.  Also a big thank-you here to the young people at UNIS who have again taken the KOTO Bike Ride to the hearts - this year they'll be completing a Junion Bike Ride.  It's getting pretty big.  Get your registration in NOW!

Nearly forgot... you can sponsor Team Al Frescos at any of their outlets (listed right) or you can support Team Intrepid Indochina by donating via KOTO Restaurant.

Enjoy

Steve Jackson
Ride Organiser

* Thanks to Michael and Phong (pictured with me below) of Bike Ride sponsors Handspan for helping us launch the event with the KOTO kids at the KOTO training centre.  We rely so much on our sponsors to help provide bikes, ride support, prizes and much needed additional funds for KOTO.  If you would like to become an official bike ride sponsor then contact me here.

KOTO Bike Ride 2005 - A Big Success

All the pictures from the bike ride can be seen and downloaded by clicking here.

Saturday 26th November 2005 - Ba Vi Bike Ride day - was just beautiful.

The weather was faultless and under clear blue skies a record 60 riders took off from Hanoi - eventually making the finish line without either dropouts or injury.

KOTO would like to say a massive thank-you to all that were involved.  We rely, as always, on the generosity of our supporters.  But in, addition the bike ride is about more than just fundraising, it's also a tremendous community event for all involved.

There will certainly be a Ba Vi 2006 and we hope to see many of this year's riders again.  We also hope to continue to build on our successes. Watch this space for the final details of money raised.  But an initial $10,0000 was taken at registration alone - we believe we should sail past last year's sum of $13,000 in total.  Please could everyone deliver any outstanding sponsorship amounts before the Christmas break.

This website will remain in place and will kick start again before next year's ride.  We aim to announce the date for next year as soon as possible.  Once the date is made public  then feel free to register early and forward details to a friends and colleagues.

In the meantime we hope everyone out there has a fantastic Christmas and an amazing 2006 and Year of the Dog.

With the on-going uncertainty over the "New KOTO" restaurant, 2005 has been a challenging year for everyone who works for this amazing organisation.  But as Jimmy commented in his speech - there is some very good news in the pipeline and you'll be the first to know.

The success of this year's Mountain Bike Challenge sees us end this year on a real high.  We are also well placed to ensure that 2006 is a very happy year for everyone involved with KOTO and we can continue to do what we are best at...namely providing a real chance for street and disadvantaged youth to break free from poverty and enjoy a fulfilling career and a rewarding life.

Thank-you once again

Steve Jackson,
KOTO

The 2005 Bike Ride Launch

Last year's riders at the start

The KOTO Mountain Bike Challenge has become a fixture in the Hanoi calendar.

Each year cyclist raise money for KOTO by cycling through some of the most beautiful parts of the countryside between Hanoi and Ba Vi.

There are a few changes to this year's event.  This year the aim is to have the bike ride and welcome home on the same evening.

You'll reach Ba Vi mid to late afternoon, be transported back to Hanoi by bus - then you'll have a vital couple of hours to wash and rest then we'll celebrate together. We'll also announce exactly how much has been raised.

For those of you who have taken part before then the website is new.  The aim is to cut down on admin and hassle for KOTO, the riders and our organising committee. So if you want to take part simply follow steps one to three on the right hand side.  Scroll down a little further and there's more information that will be of use to you as the big day approaches. 

But remember, you do have to register. Scroll down on the left and you'll find pics of the previous Ba Vi bike rides that will give you a flavour of the event. 

Finally the website is designed to be interactive.  If you have any questions then feel free to leave them in the comments box and we'll endeavour to answer them.  The website will continue to update too - so keep checking back for more information. We look forward to seeing you all on the big day. Cheers Steve Jackson KOTO Fundraiser