Thank you to everyone for all of your hard work and support for the MS-150 Cycle to the Shore, Team Gainesville! It was definitely a lot of fun and a great accomplishment. Some of us are already looking forwards to next year’s ride. This year’s 2012 Bike MS:PGA TOUR Cycle to the Shore’s goal was $1,550,000.00 it is not October 31^st yet but so far as a whole the event has raised $834,233.87 our team has raised $10,056.00 and that places us 3^rd in the Organizations (Clubs; Civic Groups; etc.) category. That’s pretty good for a 16 machine crew.

As far as the ride itself goes we had virtually no headwinds for the entire 150 miles, plenty of sunshine, no rain, an overabundance of pickles at the stops a couple of minor sunburns, a sweet little lady tin a wheelchair that handed us our ribbons for finishing at the end of the ride and Bubba Burgers at the finish – who could have asked for more!

Hill Bentley won the drawing for the cabin stay in the Smoke Mountains, he raised $1,300. We can't show our appriciation enough for making the cabin incentive available to us, Linda Ducharme! You are also our top fund raiser this year, thanks again! You are our amazing cycling motivation.

We have one first time century rider on the team this year that is Jeff Dofing. Congrats Jeff! Two riders from Bike Works joined us for the century on day one, Sherrie Galambos and Marcia Hodik, it was also one of their first centuries! Glad Bonnie was there to provide added support (and Gatorade) when we needed it! What a great day to do your first 100 mile ride.

I hope you are planning to participate in the 2012 Gainesville Cycling Festival this month! It will be a lot of fun, look for me I will have a Mohawk on my helmet made out of pink tulle. Yep, no tutu this year.

The team plans to take a make up team photo in our jerseys for this year’s sponsors, since we couldn’t have done it without them as well; Bikes & More, Tower Hill Insurance Group, Inc and Syzygy Graphics. And we can’t forget that little bicycling mental floss man on our right shoulder – what a great motivator he is.

The team will meet at the Horse Farm Hundred Century start at Loften High School on Sunday 10/28/2012 at 8 AM. I would like to invite everyone who purchased a team jersey (even if they didn’t ride) and everyone who rode on our team but did not purchase a jersey as well as our support crew to join us in the picture. Maybe those of you who don’t have a jersey from this year will have one from last year?

Below are the updated stats thus far for the top 5 teams by divisions. Again, the totals won't be complete until the end of the month. If you would still like to make a donation to MS in behalf of Team Gainesville, please let me know.