Polar Bear 2009 Report: 

Sunday, January 11th, 2009; Forestview High School, Union Rd, Gastonia, NC.

Course Details: The Gaston County Cyclists sponsored its annual Polar Bear ride at 1:15 p.m. on Sunday, January 13, 2008. The skies were overcast, with a temperature of 49 deg F, and winds 2-4 mph. The start/finish area was Forestview High School in Gastonia. The course was 50 miles long, with 1900' feet of cumulative climbing. Two optional shortcuts were available which reduced the route by 7 & 4 miles, respectively.

Organizer: Thanks go to Jim Weant and Troy Bush for marking the course, Charlene Angel and Lisa Bush for registration and pre-ride snacks, Dean Bush and Troy Bush for sag support, Charlene Angel, Lisa Bush, and Margot Rott for manning the rest stop, and Margot Rott for ride coordination.

Participants: 146 riders registered, including 61 GCC members and 85 non-GCC members. 
* A special thanks and recognition goes to Tommie Brock, for bringing 15 members of Team Pfeiffer. *

New Members/Renewals:  Thirty people joined or renewed their memberships at the ride..

Hometowns: 
146 Total participants
15 from the Pfeiffer College Team
Longest distance travelled - Tuscaloosa, AL
Other than the immediate area participants came from:
Ball Ground, GA
Misenheimer, NC
Granite Falls,NC
Lawndale, NC
Spartanburg, SC
Moore, SC
Taylorsville, NC
Mooresboro, NC

Comment from the ride:

I rode your Polar Bear Bike Ride for the second year today ... but actually for the third time.

I had to come to town last year on business, so I brought my steed with me for Time In The Saddle. I was very impressed with how well marked the route was, so when the same business returned me this year, I decided to ride the route at 8 am. I noodled along, finishing around noon, and then went to have some lunch. I came back and did the second round in 2 hours, 51 minutes.

This is a great route. Not really hard, and the hills are not too steep. But, my God, they are long!!! I've already told my fixed gear friends to come up and do what I did this year.

Please do give a shout-out to Troy and Margot and tell them I am singing their praises. To be frank, the ride was actually better this year than last. The guy on the motorcycle who held traffic for us was a nice addition. Having the rest stop five miles sooner in the ride also helped.

I am the secretary of the Druid City Bicycle Club in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Please tell all your members that if business brings them our way, we also have a robust bike club and can help them get some [Time In The Saddle] in the deep south. Our web site is www.druidcity.org.

With kindest regards,
Carol Livingston
Secretary
Druid City Bicycle Club
--
Love Can Build A Bridge