Feature Article

Mileage Challenge

by Jason O'Mahoney

 Dear GCC members,

The League of American Bicyclists, of which the Gainesville Cycling Club is an active member, is promoting a National Bike Challenge for Bike Clubs from May 1st to September 30, 2013.  The League of American Bicyclists is a non-profit membership organization which promotes cycling for fun, fitness and transportation through advocacy and education.

 You can read more about the League at their website - http://www.bikeleague.org/.

 Typically the month of May is associated with advocacy related to cycling (Bike Month, Bike to Work Week, Bike to School Day), and not mileage accumulation.  However, several of the club's board members feel there may be value if the club participates in this Challenge.  You can read more about the Challenge here - http://www.endomondo.com/campaign/national/ .

 Mileage can be recorded with the following options:

1. Smartphone with the appropriate app installed.

2. Garmin Navigation device, i.e. Garmin 200, Garmin 705, Garmin 800, etc

3. Manual entry to the website.

ALL rides count - commuting, errands, riding for fun, brevets, centuries, racing, etc.  The only exception is mountain biking; for some reason off road miles exempt from the Challenge.  Strange, but I do not make the rules regarding the Challenge.

How to join the challenge:

1. Visit http://www.endomondo.com/campaign/nbc2013

2. Click JOIN

3. Join the Challenge (I don't have an Endomondo Account) - if you haven an account already, choose the other option.

4. Enter your email address, a password, name (you don't need to use your full name), date of birth, gender, zip code.  Employer or College / University can be ignored.  If you commute, enter your mileage one way.

5. Accept the Term and Conditions for the Join page.

6. Check your email and Confirm your acceptance to the Endomondo website (who is hosting the Challenge).

7. Once accepted, you will return to the Endomondo Home Page - http://www.endomondo.com/home

8. To join the GCC Team, beneath the Highlights / My Ongoing Campaigns Banner (left side of the page), you will see National Bike Challenge 2013.  Click that or paste http://www.endomondo.com/campaign/national into your browser.

9. Click the JOIN A TEAM option, found below and right of the 2013 National Bike Challenge banner.

10. Click JOIN A TEAM.

11. GCC's Team name is Gainesville Cycling Club.  Type this into the Search box, and click JOIN once you've found it.

Please read the FAQ'S to answer all of your questions concerning how to log miles, etc.

Regards,

Jayson O'Mahoney
On behalf of the Gainesville Cycling Club