GCC Members,

GCC is # 1, but for how long?

Our nearest competitors are apparently not happy that we are now wiping the pavement with them, and they seem intent on retaking the #1 position. Here's what they (AEP/American Electric Power) are saying about GCC on their internal message board:

"Day 13. Our national lead was short-lived. I know I sound like a broken record, but I'm going to say it again this year anyway; If our 135 riders had each ridden only one mile a day for those 13 days, we would be way ahead of the Gainesville Team, with 36,855 points.

The strategy to winning this challenge is to ensure you ride every single day, and never give up those minimum 21 pts per day. A one-mile-every-day rider contributes more to this team's standing than the Saturday-only-hundred-miler." Do not underestimate the importance of riding EVERY DAY and logging every ride that you do, no matter how few miles you put in on a particular day. That's what the competition are going to do, to try to knock GCC off the Leader Board!"

This is a team with 135 riders. 135! But, they are focused, and have clearly have a plan to take the lead away from our 1,100-member Club, the majority of whom still have not joined the Challenge. Are we going to allow AEP to reclaim #1?

As AEP is telling their own team, the key to our Club winning the 2013 National Bike Challenge is getting as many cyclists as possible registered as participants, and then having every single one commit to consistent, daily mileage accumulation, even if it's just 21 points per day (the minimum number of points you will earn for cycling just one mile). You do not have to be a century rider. You do not have to like group rides. Your average speed is irrelevant. Commute miles, family rides around the neighborhood with the kids, rides on the local rail trails, quick trips to the grocery store....all COUNT! If you ride a bike anywhere, for recreation or transport, your participation and your points are needed. You will immediately become eligible to win FREE prizes in monthly drawings, the first time you ride as part of the Challenge. You just need to:

1) Register (it's asy, and FREE)

2) Ride (you're doing it, anyway; why not make it count?)

3) Log your miles (it's also easy, and the more points you accumulate, the better the prizes)

It's so simple. It's FREE. More to the point, if you have ridden your bike even once since May 1st, and you haven't joined the Challenge, your cycling miles have not helped GCC one bit. Why not?

Come on, GCC!!

Feel free to contact Jayson or me privately, if you are unclear how to get registered and get started.

Competitively,

Ally Gill

On Mon, May 13, 2013 at 11:26 AM, Jayson O'Mahoney <jomahone@gmail.com> wrote:

Good morning everyone,

Since my last email update, GCC's team of riders has now moved to FIRST PLACE NATIONALLY! Yes, Numeruno Uno.

92 members of the Gainesville cycling community have signed up and are logging miles in The Challenge. As a reminder, this challenge is open to ALL cyclists - Commuters, High Bees, Lo Bees, Leisure Riders, A Riders, Gliders, Sliders, B-17's, B-25's, B-29's, Pedalers, Strays, Hokey Pokeys, Hand Cyclists, Slackers, Used To Bees, Wanna Bees, Posers, etc. The challenge is about consistent participation from ALL cyclists, no matter how many or few miles you are doing. This challenge is not just for A riders types!!!

As Rob Robins said last week; "A potential added benefit to GCC’s participation in the challenge is that these accumulated, quantifiable data could go a long way towards demonstrating the use of bicycle infrastructure in Gainesville, especially to those who doubt its value to the community." Bravo.

For more details about The Challenge, please visit - http://www.endomondo.com/campaign/nbc2013

We need MORE participation from our club members! Please consider signing up for The Challenge, and begin logging miles for GCC's team. Every mile counts, whether it be for commuting, riding for fun, training for a triathlon, road racing, etc. SPREAD THE WORD!

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT EARNING POINTS

Challenge Points accumulate based on miles ridden plus 20 Challenge points for each day that you ride at least 1 mile.

Scoring:
1 mile = 1 Challenge point
20 Challenge points for each day that you ride at least 1 mile.

Example:
A rider who commutes 10 miles round-trip would earn 30 points. 20 points for riding, plus 10 points for the 10 miles (1 mile = 1 point). If this person was to ride again later the same day, they would receive X points for X miles ridden.

If you have any questions, please drop me a line. Thanks for reading.

Jayson (JOM)
GCC Team Captain for the Bike League Mileage Challenge

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