About the Ride

The spirit of the Hill Country Ride is that it's a Ride, not a race. Everyone is welcome.

There us a route for everyone on the Hill Country Ride. The main route is ~ 45 miles, with the choice of the Olympic Extension, which adds an additional ~ 20 miles, and a century Ride ~100 miles for our most experienced cyclists.  You also have the choice of a shorter 10 mile route, with a seven mile mountain bike course addition for a total of 17 miles. These routes let you choose how far you want to ride. The route is fully supported, with Pit Stops every 15 to 20 miles, and SAG support all along the route. All levels, from very beginners to serious cyclists, have fun on the Hill Country Ride for AIDS.

In eleven years, the Ride has raised over $4 million to provide life saving care for thousands of people living with HIV and AIDS. We need you to make our goal. Make a donation today!

Ten AIDS service organizations came together in 1999 to create a cycling event to raise money to support people living with AIDS. In the Spring of 2000, the first Hill Country Ride for AIDS was a success, not only for the money it raised, but also for the community spirit that quickly made it a favorite event in Central Texas. View our beneficiaries.

Many of these AIDS service organizations had been involved with the nationally produced Texas AIDS Ride in 1997. While it was a logistical success, the Austin agencies were disappointed that only 15% of the money raised was returned by the Ride organizers to the service organizations. The Austin agencies knew that they could create an event that raises money, captures our incredible community spirit, is fun, safe, and still return the money to support people living with AIDS.

By word of mouth, our riders have more than quintupled from our first year. The Wise Giving Alliance, a program of the Better Business Bureau states that events should “return at least 60% of money raised for program activities.” The Hill Country Ride for AIDS returns an average of 76%. With your support, we hope to return even more in 2010.

The Hill Country Ride for AIDS has quickly grown to be one of the most loved events of the year. A Hill Country Rider summed it up for many when he said “The fellowship and commitment to the cause is so strong on this Ride, and the money goes where it belongs. I am so proud! I’ll be back.” The Hill Country Ride for AIDS is for all levels.The spirit permeating the event is that it’s a ride, not a race. Everyone is welcome, and when asked why they ride, some will say it’s about riding to honor a loved one, some will say it’s about a physical challenge and achieving more than they ever thought they could, for some it’s about trying to do something really big to help people living with AIDS. Everyone will say it’s an incredible weekend of a community coming together to show that when we care, nothing can stand in our way.

There are more people than ever living with AIDS. They all need our love and support. By being a part of the Hill Country Ride for AIDS, we not only show our neighbors living with AIDS that we are with them, we are also doing something big to provide critical services for our neighbors and friends who need us.