Crew members are essential to the success of the Hazon CA Ride.  They serve as the backbone of the event – bringing it to life, and providing a support system for the riders in every sense of the word.  Crew members join the Hazon community for the Shabbat retreat and are required to pay a minimal registration fee.  During the ride they help in a variety of ways- driving a support vehicle, cheering and setting-up rest stops along the route (see specifics below).  Families with children are encouraged to register for ‘Ruach Crew’ and will be tasked with cheering and celebrating the riders.

Being part of the Crew isn’t simply helping out. It is an opportunity to challenge your own conceptions, limits, and beliefs about what it means to work together with other people.

It is also demanding… expect long hours & hard work. It’s possible that you may find yourself working harder than those who are cycling. But, you can take the ultimate satisfaction of knowing that through your efforts, you’ve made our event possible and made a difference in furthering the Jewish environmental movement.

The cost of crew is highly subsidized.  In thanks for the indispensable work of Crew, we offer discounted registration of $199 for the whole weekend.  It costs Hazon $500 per participant.

Crew Opportunities:

Ruach ‘Spirit’ Crew

Ruach Crew is open for parents and children who are coming with a riding family member. Ruach Crew will assist our Avodah Crew but have reduced hours and responsibility. Parents will be able to focus on their children as their primary responsibility.

The main tasks will be to create signs, cheer riders, help riders navigate difficult intersections, decorate rest stops, and sort/distribute food and supplies. Ruach crew will not be asked to drive a car other than their own. Ruach crew will be able to take advantage of activities at Walker Creek Ranch and will be at the final rest stop in time to cheer in the riders as they arrive for the closing ceremony.

Avodah Crew

Avodah Crew members will have the opportunity to indicate their preferred crew responsibility on a logisitics form that will be sent in March. Avodah Crew is divided into the following catagories.

• SAG/Sweep Crew
• Rest Stop & Lunch Crew
• Gear & Site Services Crew
• Medical Crew
• Massage Crew
• Ruach Crew

SAG/Sweep Crew

The SAG (Support and Gear) Crews are responsible for keeping track of the cyclists while they’re out on the course. This includes helping cyclists make it through particularly challenging intersections, chasing down lost cyclists, helping with basic bicycle maintenance, giving out extra water and food, and providing transportation to injured or worn out cyclists and their bicycles. Each day, a couple SAG Crew vehicles will be designated as the sweep crew for each route. This crew vehicle is responsible for keeping in visual contact with the last cyclist or group of cyclists on the course.

Each SAG/Sweep Crew consists of two people. Basic bike maintenance knowledge and equipment are also desired, but not required.  Finally, and maybe most importantly, the SAG Crews get to be out on the road with the cyclists, to cheer and motivate throughout the ride.

Rest Stop & Lunch Crew

We will be offering a rest stop or lunch stop every 15 to 20 miles. The Rest Stop and Lunch Crews are responsible for setting up and taking down all of these stations and assisting the Cyclists as they arrive.

These Crews also perform the vital service of helping Cyclists keep track of time and making sure that all Cyclists stay on schedule to complete each day’s riding before the course closes down in the late-afternoon/evening. Each Crew will consist of at least 3 people and will be assigned to set up, staff, and take down one sight per day.

Gear & Site Services Crew

The Gear and Site Service folks are responsible for transporting everyone’s gear between overnight locations, making initial contact with our arrival destination, and supervising site clean up. These folks also work with Walker Creek Ranch to make sure that programming spaces are set-up and make sure everything is ready for when the first cyclists arrive. This Crew will be driving or riding in two rental trucks provided by Hazon. No special license is needed aside from a valid driver’s license and a clean driving record.

Medical Crew

Persons with medical training including EMTs, nurses, doctors and physical therapists are needed at rest stops and at the end of each day.

Massage Crew

Massage therapists are needed to give massages at the end of each riding day.