The Challenge - GCC Close to Winning

48 DAYS TO GO - NEED EVERYONE'S HELP

Greetings GCC'ers,

Firstly, thank you to those members who are participating in the National Bike Challenge - the Gainesville Cycling Club has taken the lead again, but only after I made a concerted effort to recruit more participants. YOU CAN DO THE SAME.

The GCC can win the challenge three years in a row - then leave on a high note! I implore every member to sign up at the http://nationalbikechallenge.org website. It doesn't matter if you commute, ride for fun, ride hard, or race, every single contribution counts. Mileage can be retro'd back to May 1. If you're on Strava, it is a piece of cake to sync your account to the NBC site.

For additional motivation, I thought I'd share with you some of the real quotes the Washington team has been making about our club and city, on their Facebook page and forum website:
"The Washington Area All-Stars eased ahead of the crackers this weekend for the month of July" <-- Crackers? Really???
"It does look like we've kinda burst their bubble."
"Given the weight of dasgeh's bike and its contents, I'm strongly suspecting that the amount of energy she has to put into pedaling, even with e-assist, is greater than most of us do with a normal bike without e-assist." Reply comment - "Especially more than those flat landers from Gainesville, Florida"
"Perhaps laurels grow in Gainesville? If those guys have nice comfy laurels to rest on when they get tired, perhaps that explains why we are beating them?"

As GCC El Presidente, I am not going to sit here, and watch people diss my USA home city and the people of the GCC. If these stupid comments aren't enough to motivate you, then I really don't know what is.

Please consider joining the Gainesville Cycling Club's challenge team. If you have any questions about sign up, you can contact me directly over email at elpresidente@gccfla.org

Come on members, let's knock out the win for 2015!!!  If we win, there will be a celebratory party happening...
Jayson - GCC El Presidente

Festival Volunteering

This year's Gainesville Cycling Festival, incorporating the Santa Fe Century and Horse Farm Hundred, is scheduled for October 24 and 25, 2015.

We're now signing up volunteers to make the Festival happen. You can see the available slots here. There are instructions on that page for signing up. The prime slots fill quickly, so don't delay.

All volunteers get a complimentary event t-shirt of your choice (there are 16 different versions available!), and most get a free ride in one of the events. You can sign up for more slots to get an additional shirt and ride (details on the page). Do not register for the Festival until your volunteer positions are listed on your Members Area News page.

Big News!

We have two new ride options this year for the Orthopaedic Institute Santa Fe Century.

For those of you who have come to enjoy the gravel road experience, we have the Santa Fe Gravel Challenge, a metric century that will take you over plenty of limerock roads, with some sand thrown in for good measure.

Our more casual riders will have a new option that will allow them to experience the most scenic roads of the Santa Fe Century. With a start in Providence, you'll ride up the Feagle roads to the century lunch stop in Watermelon Park on an 18.5 mile ride.

Horse Farm Hundred

We have a new start location this year at the First Magnitude Brewery just off of South Main Street. The ride will wind its way up to University Avenue to join our traditional route. We'll have a new rest stop in Evinston for those who cannot make it to Flemington without respite. The brewery is conveniently located just off of the Trail at the end of the ride.

When you finish your ride, you'll get a free draft craft beer. There will be live music and food trucks!

Sign Up

We encourage everyone to volunteer and get a free ride and t-shirt. Make sure your volunteer assignment is displayed on the News page in the Members Area before entering the Festival.

Use the expedited sign up button in the Members Area to ensure you get the GCC Member Discount ($5 per ride) when registering for the Festival. Let your out-of-town friends know that registration is open and there is a link to the Festival page on our web site (gccfla.org).

T-shirt Design Contest

Design a T-Shirt for the Santa Fe Century and win two of the shirts and free entry to the Festival.

Designs must fit within an 11-inch square box, and must be original work. The design should be submitted in a vector format file (ai or cdr), but we can work with other formats if necessary.  All submissions become the property of the Gainesville Cycling Club.

The design must identify the event, The Orthopaedic Institute Santa Fe Century, and the year (2015). Other words that may be used are "Millhopper Ramble", "Gravel Challenge", and "Ride for Kids" (which uses the quotes). You may incorporate the Santa Fe Rider, but since he will be on the back, he is not mandatory. You can download a copy of the rider graphic at:   https://gccfla.org/gcf/gcfgif/sferider.gif

A good t-shirt will avoid designs that incorporate large areas that are completely covered as this reduces the breathability of the shirt.

Call Roger Pierce at 378-7063 for more information, and for instructions on how to submit your design.

Jersey Order Closes Sunday

The last day to order a GCC jersey is Sunday (Aug 16). The Voler jersey order link is on the News page in the Members Area.

We have a fit kit at Gator Cycle with club and race cut jerseys, club cut long sleeve jerseys, men's and women's shorts, and arm warmers. You can also order vests, jackets, bibs, knickers, gloves, booties, and hats when you place your order at the Voler web site.

Our 2015 jersey sponsors are:
* Davis Monk Financial Group
* Gator Cycle
* Specialty Machining
* Fine, Farkash, & Parlapiano, LLC
* Ryan Saylor - Cyclists Realtor
* Michelob Ultra - Burkhardt Sales and Service
* Salty Dog Saloon

Reminders

August 15 - Cyclist First Aid Class (see article in Members Area)

September 7 - Labor Day Picnic (save the date)

September 13 - Endless Summer Watermelon Ride (discount code in Members Area)

September 19 - Biking Thru Addiction

September 26 - Swampman 100

October 4 - Rails To Trails of the Withlacoochee Bike Ride

October 10 - Pink Pumpkin Pedal-Off

October 24 - Orthopaedic Institute Santa Fe Century

October 25 - Horse Farm Hundred at First Magnitude Brewery

November 7 - Spaghetti 100

November 15 - Horrible Hundred