The Ride for Mental Health

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The Ride for Mental Health

in the annual Ride for Mental Health June 21 - 22, 2025 in New Paltz, NY. The promotion of this ride is a start.

The Cause

The Ride for Mental Health is one of the first rides in the country to benefit mental health. The proceeds raised will be donated to McLean Hospital, a Harvard Medical School affiliate, for the education, research and treatment of mental illness including anxiety, borderline personality disorder, depression, eating disorders and substance abuse. Our mission is to raise funds for McLean

so that we can help accelerate the progress being made to help others who suffer from mental illness. THE Ride for Mental Health is dedicated to the memory of a wonderful young man named Eric who died at 21 from mental illness. We also hope to end the stigma surrounding mental illness through education and awareness. Many if not most of us are touched by close friends and relatives who have suffered with one type or another of mental illness. The Facts

The facts are staggering: 40 million adults are affected by anxiety in the U.S. 14 million Americans are affected by borderline personality disorders at some time in their life. Psychiatric disorders are the leading cause of disability in the U.S., followed by cardiovascular and circulatory diseases, and cancer. Approximately 1 in 5 adults in the U.S.—43.8 million—experience mental health issues in a given year. 355 million people are affected by depression, making it one of the most common disorders in the world. 50% of students with a mental illness drop out of high school. Each year over 44,000 lives are lost to su***de—with su***de being the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S., the second leading cause of death for people aged 15-24. More than 90% of children who die by su***de have a mental health condition.

About McLean

Located just eight miles from downtown Boston, McLean Hospital is an international center for psychiatric treatment, education, and research. Founded in 1811, McLean is the largest psychiatric teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. McLean is dedicated to delivering specialized and individualized care provided by expert, compassionate members of its team. In addition to offering state-of- the-art diagnosis and treatment for a wide range of behavioral and psychiatric illnesses, McLean also offers an expansive array of specialized academic and clinical programs for children and adolescents as well as dedicated services for older adults. Treatment spans a full continuum including inpatient and acute longer-term residential care, partial hospitalization, outpatient services, and therapeutic and specialized schools. Services are offered at a number of McLean Hospital sites throughout Massachusetts, including the main campus in
Belmont. McLean Hospital is dedicated to improving the lives of people and families affected by psychiatric illness. McLean pursues this mission by:
-Providing the highest quality compassionate, specialized and effective clinical care, in partnership with those whom we serve

-Conducting state-of- the-art scientific investigation to maximize discovery and accelerate translation of findings towards achieving prevention and cures

-Training the next generation of leaders in psychiatry, mental health and neuroscience

-Providing public education to facilitate enlightened policy and eliminate stigma

For more information: mcleanhospital.org

© 2022 www.rideformentalhealth.org/ - THE Ride For Mental Health.

05/06/2026

The Ride for Mental Health has always been built through personal connection.

Most riders join because someone they know invited them, encouraged them, or simply shared what the experience meant to them. A friend from a local ride group. A family member. A coworker looking for a challenge with purpose behind it.

This year, we’re aiming to bring 500 riders together, and we need your help to make that happen.

If you know someone who has been considering the Ride, this is a good year to bring them into it. Friends and family can use discount code FR2026 to save $40 off registration.

In addition, every registered rider this year will be entered to win a two-night stay for two people at Mohonk Mountain House, generously donated to the Ride community and valued at more than $2,000.

One invitation can go a long way: https://bit.ly/Ride2026

05/03/2026

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. It brings important visibility to mental health, but awareness on its own is only the starting point.

What makes a difference is what gets supported, consistently, over time.

Through the Ride for Mental Health, that support is directed to defined programs at McLean Hospital, including the Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder Program, the Deconstructing Stigma initiative, the Family Services Program, and the McLean Institute for Technology in Psychiatry. A portion of funds also supports local youth mental health programming in the Hudson Valley.

For those looking to move beyond awareness this month, the shift is usually less about doing more and more about choosing something specific and following through on it. That might be committing to ride, supporting someone who is already participating, or setting a fundraising goal that feels realistic and clearly explained.

And for participants, it often comes down to structure. When rides are scheduled in advance and your reason for participating is clearly defined, both training and outreach become more consistent and easier to sustain.

Awareness creates visibility. Action is what supports the work behind it.

04/30/2026

What a good training week actually looks like....

A productive training week is less about volume and more about structure you can maintain over time.

For most riders, that means two to three rides spaced across the week. One ride becomes your longer effort, gradually extending in duration so you can build endurance without forcing large increases in distance. Adding 10–15 minutes each week is often enough to create steady progress.

A second ride should remain controlled and consistent. This is not about speed, but about holding a steady effort and becoming comfortable spending time on the bike.

If a third ride fits into your schedule, it should stay shorter and lighter. The goal is to add frequency without creating fatigue that disrupts the rest of your week.

What matters most is how the week holds together. Consistency, manageable progression, and the ability to repeat the structure week after week are what lead to meaningful improvement.

04/27/2026

Once you sign up, the goal is simple: give your weeks direction.

That usually starts with a consistent riding schedule. Instead of fitting rides in when you can, you begin to plan them, often two to three per week, with one ride gradually extending so you can build endurance without forcing it.

From there, choosing your route early helps everything else fall into place. Knowing whether you’re riding the North 50, South 50, or 100 allows you to align your distance, terrain, and pacing with what you’re actually preparing for.

And when it comes to fundraising, clarity makes a difference. Writing a short, specific reason on your fundraising page, whether that’s tied to a person, an experience, or why this cause matters to you, gives people something they can understand and respond to. Starting by sharing that page with a small group you know, rather than posting it broadly right away, is usually what builds early momentum.

That’s where the shift happens. It stops being something you signed up for and becomes something you’re actively building toward.

If you haven’t signed up to ride, it’s not too late: https://bit.ly/Ride2026

04/23/2026

The official 2026 Ride for Mental Health kit is now available.

Developed in partnership with Hincapie Sportswear, this year’s collection brings together the jersey, Windtex vest, velocity bib, thermal knee warmers, arm warmers, leg warmers and gloves into a complete system designed to handle a range of conditions and longer days on the bike. Each piece is built to work together, whether you’re riding early mornings, layering through changing weather, or settling into longer efforts.

For those planning their season, this is the full kit.

Ordering is open through May 3 at 11:59 PM: https://bit.ly/2026RideKit

04/20/2026

Since 2017, the Ride for Mental Health community has raised more than $1.6 million to support work focused on serious mental illness.

That funding is directed to specific programs at McLean Hospital, including the Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder Program, the Deconstructing Stigma initiative, the Family Services Program, and the McLean Institute for Technology in Psychiatry. These programs advance treatment, research, clinician training, and support for families navigating complex, long-term mental health conditions.

A portion of funds also supports local youth mental health programming in the Hudson Valley, extending the impact into the community where the Ride takes place.

04/15/2026

There are moments during Ride weekend that shape the experience in ways riders often remember long after the event.

Arriving at a rest stop at the right time. Seeing someone at a key turn on the route. Having a brief moment to reset before continuing on.

These moments are made possible by volunteers.

For those riding this year, inviting a friend, family member, or colleague to volunteer provides a meaningful way for them to be part of the weekend. For those who have participated in the past and are not riding this year, volunteering offers a way to remain connected while supporting others.

Each role contributes to a well-supported and organized Ride experience.

Volunteer registration is open: https://bit.ly/3PlhDg7

04/13/2026

As Ride weekend approaches, preparation typically comes down to a few important decisions that help ensure the experience feels organized and manageable.

✔ Book your lodging early. New Paltz fills quickly, and staying nearby simplifies the morning of the Ride. Lodging options are listed in the notes on BikeReg: https://bit.ly/Ride2026

✔ Choose your route in advance. Deciding between the North 50, South 50, 100, or Rail Trail allows your training to align with your goal and removes last-minute uncertainty. Route details here: https://bit.ly/4mrE283

✔ Ensure your training reflects the distance you selected. Building endurance progressively is key, and riders planning to participate across multiple days should be prepared for cumulative effort.

✔ Address any bike maintenance ahead of the weekend. Taking care of adjustments in advance helps reduce the likelihood of issues. Mechanics will be available on course if needed.

✔ Review your start time and plan your arrival accordingly. All start times are listed on BikeReg, making it easy to plan your morning in advance.

Focusing on these areas ahead of time helps create a more structured and predictable Ride experience.

04/10/2026

Am I ready for a 50-mile ride?

It’s one of the most common questions we hear, and in most cases, people are closer than they think.

You don’t need to already be riding long distances. If you can comfortably ride 15 to 20 miles, you have a strong enough foundation to begin building toward 50. The key is progression, not jumping straight to longer rides. Adding time gradually to one ride each week allows your body to adapt without unnecessary fatigue.

Consistency matters more than intensity. Riding a few times each week at a steady pace is far more effective than pushing too hard too soon or riding inconsistently.

It’s also important to factor in the structure of the Ride itself. The course is fully supported, with clearly marked routes, rest stops, and assistance available along the way. You’re not doing this in isolation.

For most riders, the challenge isn’t whether they can do it. It’s whether they give themselves enough time to build into it.

04/08/2026

Who are you riding for this year?

When you register, you receive a personal fundraising page where you can share your reason for participating. For many riders, that page becomes the starting point for how they talk about the Ride with others.

What tends to resonate most is something specific. A person, an experience, or a moment that shaped why this matters to you. That level of clarity helps people understand your connection to the cause and makes it easier for them to support you.

For those riding this year, this is often where the experience begins, not just on the bike, but in how you share why you’re there.

Address

New Paltz, NY
12561

Website

https://www.rideformentalhealth.org/

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