Incentives FAQ
Have questions about using your incentive credits? Take a look at the answers below! If you don't find the answer that you're looking for or are ready to use your incentive credits, contact us!
- Ride Leaders can now redeem credits independently, without needing to email Cascade!
- When logged in to our website (www.cascade.org), click your name in the top right, and then "Account Dashboard." On that page, you'll see a link that says "Volunteer" on the left-hand column. That will take you to a page where you can view your current volunteer/ride leader credits, along with several options to redeem credits for rides and memberships.
- For one day events (except Flying Wheels), it “costs” just six incentive credits to register; Flying Wheels is 21; Cascade Tours are 21, STP, RSVP, and CTS as a participant are 24 incentive credits.
- You may also use your incentive credits for annual membership, 12 for an individual, and 20 for a household per year.
- New Ride Leaders are awarded their first official Ride Leader jersey when they complete the following:
- Serve as a Ride Leader for at least three months and;
- Post and lead three Free Group Rides or;
- Lead or sweep nine rides (FGR, OTS)
- Ride Leaders should complete either #2. or #3. above during their first six months in order to receive their initial jersey. Additionally, newly-certified Ride Leaders should commit to completing an equal number of rides in the subsequent six months, once they have received their initial RL jersey.
- Once you have completed the requirements above, email maxa@cascade.org so he can provide you the garment.
Yes! But please, as an unassigned Ride Leader, ensure you are not acting in any way as to be interpreted as one of the “on-duty” RLs. All “off-duty” RLs participating in a Free Group Ride should act in any way as not to be confusing to other participants, such as riding off the front, or taking alternate routing from the prescribed course.
Pink Ride Leader garments are not incentive awards, but only Ride Leaders can purchase them. About once a year, the Ride Leader garment store opens for online orders, and pink garments can be ordered with a personal credit card. This normally happens in the fall, and is announced in the RL Newsletter.
Yellow garments are longevity incentive awards. About once a year, the Ride Leader garment store opens for online orders. Ride leader incentive points are used to purchase the garments. After you have served as a RL for 12 months, you may acquire one garment per year with incentive points. Garments “cost” between 22 and 28 incentive points, depending on the type. The orders are normally taken in the fall, and the ordering process is announced in the RL Newsletter.
Ride Leaders earn two credits for leading a ride. Sweeping a ride also earns you two credits. RLs earn two credits for posting a stand-alone Free Group Ride. (So if you post and lead the same ride, you earn four credits.)
For virtual rides, Ride Leaders earn one credit for posting a ride and one credit for leading a ride.
- For any Free Group Ride, one leader and one sweep can earn incentive credits.
- For larger Free Group Rides, a third RL can earn incentive credits if there are 15 total participants. If there are 25 participants, a fourth leader may also earn credits, and so on.
Ride Leaders earn one incentive credit for rides that are listed which are canceled due to weather or unforeseen circumstances.
Incentive credits last until the end of September for the calendar year AFTER the year they were earned. So for example all your credits earned in 2025 remain in your account until 9/30/2026, at which point only those 2025 credits expire. Credits earned during 2026 would remain in your account until 9/30/2027.
Yes, by mentoring a RL candidate, serving on the Rides Committee or CTS Steering Committee, or by having a RL candidate (who successfully certifies) identify you as the person who prompted them to become a Ride Leader. Serving as an Other Training Series Director or Ride Director earns credits, too. Additionally, serving as a CTS start admin helper earns you one incentive credit for each ride day.
To remain a certified, active ride leader, you need to earn eight incentive credits each rolling 12-month period. Ride Leaders must also maintain an up-to-date Cascade Bicycle Club paid membership.
Please don’t sell your Ride Leader garment or donate it to Goodwill. Ask the RL Facebook group if anyone wants it (if it’s still serviceable). Or return it to the Club headquarters.
If you find that you are unable to attend an event that you redeemed your credits for, you may request a refund by emailing volunteer@cascade.org.
- Single-Day Events: A full refund will be granted if requested at least 72 hours before the day of the event.
- Multi-Day Events: A full refund will be granted if requested at least 30 days before the day of the event.
No partial refunds will be given. Add-on purchases made during registration follow the standard add-on Refund Policy. Medical deferrals and registration transfers are not eligible for registrations made using volunteer credits.