CowaLUNGa FAQ

Our health and safety policies below have changed based on improvements in COVID-19 positivity rates, increased vaccination rates, and decreases in hospitalizations. We prioritize the safety of all participants and will continue to monitor and follow guidance from Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), and Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH). This includes any restrictions on the size of in-person gatherings.

• Masks: RHA will follow any local, state, federal, or venue protocols required at the time of the event. There is currently no mask requirement for outdoor events, and they will not be required. Participants, volunteers, staff, and guests are encouraged to wear a mask in areas at the event where large numbers of people gather – such as the start line, dinner, etc.
• Social distancing: Social distancing guidelines will be encouraged throughout the event.
• Event participants, volunteers, and vendors who may be experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, or who have recently been in contact with a person experiencing symptoms, are asked not to attend the event.

We strongly urge all participants, volunteers, sponsors and staff to receive all of the available vaccinations against COVID-19.

Your nervousness is completely understandable! Respiratory Health Association (RHA) has hosted 26 successful bike tours and will be there to help you along the way. You’ll receive lots of support throughout the ride. Safety and Gear (SAG) drivers patrol the route in case you need a ride or other assistance. Mobile bike shops are available for on-the-road repairs. Medical volunteers keep an eye on our riders and remind everyone to stay hydrated. Veteran Cow riders will also support you every mile. As a new rider, your custom fanny flag (like a bike license plate) will identify you as a first time rider with one large Bessie Cow sticker.  Likewise, all fanny flags will be marked with Bessie Cow stickers to represent each year ridden. We supply food, arrange overnight accommodations, transport your gear, and get you and your bike back to the start line location. RHA even provides pre-ride training opportunities and fundraising coaching. We make available all the tools you need to have a successful and enjoyable experience.

No. It’s not important to own an expensive bike. What is important is your bike fits you, you are comfortable on it, and you have trained on it. Also, it’s important your bicycle is in good condition. We suggest a tune-up at one of our sponsoring bike shops, Never Ending Cycles or Wheel & Sprocket’s eleven locations. CowaLUNGa participants ride different types of bikes – road bikes, hybrid bikes, mountain bikes, recumbents and even tandems. Road bikes are suggested rather than mountain bikes.

Fundraising is required unless you are participating in the virtual ride only. Funds raised by CowaLUNGa riders support RHA’s mission to promote healthy lungs and clean air through education, research, and policy change. We’ve set reasonable minimums and have many past participants who’ve raised well above that amount. Review the requirements and deadlines and explore our fundraising support resources to help you reach your fundraising goals.

Please note: If you do not meet your fundraising minimum by the fundraising deadline, August 18, 2023, the credit card number provided at the time of registration will be charged the difference between the current amount raised and the minimum required.  If the credit card information is not current when we charge, you will be notified to provide a valid credit card number. You are not allowed to participate in this year’s ride if you have not fulfilled the minimum pledge requirement from a past event.

Yes! The CowaLUNGa Charity Bike Tour hosts families with their young children, groups who register together, and individuals who ride alone. No matter who you are, you will meet lots of people with similar interests and by the time the ride is over, you’ll have many new friends. Everyone becomes part of the CowaLUNGa family (CowaLUNGa can even take credit for a number of marriages!). If you think you’d feel more comfortable being part of a team, read more about joining Team CowaLUNGa here.

Yes! Email specialevents@resphealth.org with the name of the team you’d like to join and we’ll get you added.

There is no minimum age to participate in the CowaLUNGa Charity Bike Tour. Please read our Child Rider Policy for rules and requirements.

No! Online registration closes approximately 24 hours prior to event day. After that time, call (312) 628-0223 to check availability as last minute cancellations may create open spots to participate.

All CowaLUNGa fees and donations are non-refundable and non-transferable. Please let us know you will need to cancel your registration as soon as possible.

Although it’s not a race, there are hours in which you must finish the ride each day. These hours will be printed on your itinerary and your cue sheets, which are available at check-in on the first day of the ride. Ride hours are roughly from the opening time of breakfast until the middle of dinner hours. This is plenty of time to complete your daily ride in a leisurely fashion. If you leave before ride hours begin or finish after ride hours end, support services will not be available.

The event does go on, rain or shine. Though we generally experience great riding weather, it’s still summer in the Midwest. Be sure to bring rain gear just in case – check your list of things to pack for more information.  In cases of severe weather conditions (lightning, excessive heat) the event may be delayed and/or portions of the route may be closed. Potential weather issues will be communicated to all participants.

Our mobile volunteer medical team patrols the route and will be contacted in the event of an emergency. They will also be available before and after ride hours at our overnight sites. For non-medical emergencies, SAG vehicles are regularly patrolling the route as well and can provide help. If necessary, we will alert riders of information via text message, social media, email and on the ride at rest stops, sites and on the route.

All participants MUST carry a current driver’s license, state-issued ID, or student ID with them at all times. It’s important each rider can be easily identified if necessary. We also require each participant to submit emergency contact information upon registration. This information will be used only if necessary.

All participants are required to wear helmets at all times while on their bikes. Your safety is our number one concern so no helmet = no ride.

Yes. This is mandatory and VERY IMPORTANT. The check-in procedure is done for several reasons. First, this is how we know that you have made it safely to the end of the day and how we keep track of everyone. Second, you must check-in to receive your room assignments for the night. Third, you must check-in to receive the next day’s cue sheet. Although it’s tempting to relax after you’ve made it to the end of each day, you must check-in before you do so.

No. RHA provides a gear truck at start line check-in for 1, 2 and 3-day riders and transports your belongings along the route. You’ll be able to retrieve your gear when you arrive at each day’s final destination and check in. If you’re registered for the following day’s ride, you’ll drop your bag off with our staff the next morning.

Please, one bag per person. Campers are allowed a second bag for their camping gear.

With the growing popularity of electric bikes, we are happy to announce e-bikes are now allowed at CowaLUNGa.

E-bike riders will be responsible for locating powers sources along the route, at rest stops, chosen lunch locations, and overnight accommodations.

If you need e-bike or rider transport during the ride, event organizers should still be able to accommodate your request – depending on the size of your bike.

As we recommend for all riders, you should bring a reliable bike lock for times throughout the event you may need it.

Riders receive all-you-can-eat breakfast and dinner each day, except Saturday morning when snacks are provided at start line instead of breakfast. For 1 day riders joining us for the Century Ride on Sunday, snacks will also be available at the start line instead of breakfast.

You should also plan to visit the official rest stops along the route – a “morning” and an “afternoon” location are available each day. Our rest stops are loaded with an assortment of fuel-up foods and beverages with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free dietary restrictions in mind.

Although you are responsible for your own lunch (bring some cash), the route is planned so there are plenty of places along the route to stop and grab food, beverages, desserts and ice cream. Our highlighted locations have welcomed Cow riders for years and look forward to seeing you.

Accommodations are included in your CowaLUNGa registration fee, and you’ll choose “indoor” or “outdoor” when you register.

Indoor accommodations include dorm-like cabins at Conference Point Center and dorms at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Over the past few years, many improvements have been made to Conference Point Center including a majority of the cabins now providing air conditioning and new dorms added to UWW campus. Two people are assigned to a room (sometimes more if requested based on household or teams).

You will need to bring your own linens including sheets, pillow, blankets, and/or other items important to you for a good night of sleep. We’ll transport these items for you. Also remember to pack a shower towel to use for the weekend. A complete suggested pack list will follow.

If you’d prefer to sleep outdoors, space will be made available for you to set up your own camping equipment. RHA will transport camping gear but cannot assist with set up. Campers will have access to restrooms and showers.

A small number of single rooms will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis for an additional $25 fee. If you would like to reserve a single room, please contact specialevents@resphealth.org.

Riders are allowed to keep their bikes in their cabins at Conference Point Center. At University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, bikes will be locked up overnight at the university’s tennis courts. However, your own bike lock should be packed for stops and safety along the way.

Ride with GPS is the preferred Cow app/tool and can be downloaded for free. RHA will provide the route 2-3 days prior to the ride.

Route information and a weekend itinerary will be provided at the start line when you check in on event day. A “cue sheet” is provided for each day of the ride, offering turn-by-turn directions and mileage for the route.

Each night when you check in at the overnight location, you will receive a cue sheet for the next day’s route.

Along the route, green directional arrows are painted on the pavement and CowaLUNGa signs are placed for additional guidance. You will see an example of these arrows and signs at the start line check-in.

No. Volunteers patrol the route in safety and gear (SAG) vans during official ride hours. These volunteers are there to make sure everything is going well on the route. They can assist if you are in need of help. Use the “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” signal to let them know if they are needed.

In addition, there will be two mobile bike shops and a mobile volunteer medical team available.

You can flag down any CowaLUNGa vehicle if you are in need of services, because all official CowaLUNGa vehicles can communicate with each other and can call for the appropriate help.

One of the many services offered along the route is bicycle support. Our mobile bike shops, Never Ending Cycles and Wheel & Sprocket, are available to address any repair problems you may encounter. Should you require help while on the route, use a ‘thumbs down’ signal to let an approaching repair van know you need help. However, carrying spare tubes and a pump and knowing how to change a flat is recommended. Changing tires and simple repairs are complimentary. Parts and more complex repairs will be assessed by each bike shop and charged to the rider.

Lung Health Champions are a special group of riders who have committed and guaranteed to fundraise $1,000 each to support the CowaLUNGa Bike Tour and Respiratory Health Association. The deadline to fundraise $1,000 is three weeks after the Tour is over, August 18, 2023. Exclusive benefits are provided to Lung Health Champions.

Anyone can be a Lung Health Champion – all you have to do is sign up. Standard registration fees apply and are due at the time of registration.

By committing to fundraise $1,000 as a Lung Health Champion, your efforts will have a significant impact on RHA’s efforts to promote healthy lungs and clean air and improve the quality of life of those living with lung disease. To show our gratitude for your commitment, you receive exclusive participant benefits.

Of course! Lung Health Champions can be individual riders, team captains or team members. There can also be multiple people on one team who are Lung Health Champions.

As a Lung Health Champion, you have committed and guaranteed to fundraise $1,000 by the fundraising deadline. RHA provides a comprehensive fundraising toolkit and all kinds of fundraising support to help you achieve this goal.

If you haven’t raised the $1,000 commitment by the fundraising deadline, you will be responsible for paying the balance due.