Hello Sprocket Fuel MTB Challenge Rider,
Welcome to the first ever Sprocket Fuel Mountain Bike Challenge and thank you for signing up for this virtual event. We hope this experience motivates you to ride more and test your endurance over the next month. Get ready for some good fun. Let’s ride!
In this email, I am going to lay out all the info you might need to participate in this event. I will use headings and highlights so you can skim if you do not have time to read it all. Most of this info can also be found on the Sprocket Fuel Challenge website as well. And, don’t hesitate to call (571) 251-6034 or email me (jim@roadlessraces.com) if you have any questions.
The Scoop – Your goal over the next month, from July 15-August 15th is to ride and accumulate 100 or 200 TOTAL miles. That simple.
Daily Miles – While you can complete these miles in one long, gloriously painful day, this challenge is NOT meant to be completed in one ride, but rather over the entire monthlong period. Actually, there are 32 days between, and including, 7/15-8/15 so that averages 3.125 miles/day for the 100 miler and 6.25 miles/day for the 200 miler.
Do I have to ride the all the miles on the trails? We think trails are the ‘bees knees’, BUT, this is YOUR PERSONAL CHALLENGE. So, if you don’t have access to trails OR the trails are wet OR you’re out of town on vacation OR you just need an easy day of flat riding, etc, etc – ride on greenways or roads or gravel or grass or your stationary bike. This is NOT A RACE and there is no judgement here – you do you!
How It Works – Step by Step (ohhhhh, baby – NKOTB ref. – those under 40 might need to google it:)
- Ride and Track: Ride any open trail, at any time from July 15th to August 15th, with the goal of accumulating 100 or 200 total miles. For each ride, track your ride on your GPS device.
- Record: From your device or computer, log into your profile on bikesignup.com (same as runsignup.com) and click on the results tab (or on your profile) – detailed directions below in ‘Recording / Logging Your Rides’. After each ride, post your distance. You may also post your elapsed time, elevation gain, and comments about each ride. Results must be posted by August 15th @ 11:59pm.
- Follow Your Progress: Each ride’s progress is added to the totals of all earlier rides to make up your one-month total. Compare your miles completed with others and at the end of the event, download your digital finisher certificate with all your stats.
- Share (optional): Post photos, GPS tracks, thoughts from your rides, etc. on social media and use #sprocketfuelmtbchallenge so we can track your post. You may win a prize!
- Celebrate at the Virtual Awards Ceremony: On August 16th by 5pm, we will post a video on the Roadless Races Facebook page wrapping up the event, awarding prizes, drawing the winners of the giveaways, and announcing the donation totals for IMBA and NICA (see below). Giveaways include gift certificates, ride swag, and bike accessories. All participants will be automatically included in the giveaway drawings and all giveaways will be mailed to the winners.
Recording / Logging Your Rides – After each ride, log your miles and track your progress. It’s actually pretty darn cool and motivating to see the miles tick up and your goal getting closer after each ride. Follow these steps to log your rides:
- Log in to bikesignup.com (same as runsignup.com).
- Click on your profile in the upper right corner.
- In your upcoming event under Sprocket Fuel Mountain Bike Challenge, click on Submit Virtual Results.
- Input your distance and select submit activity. That simple! You may also input your elapsed time and elevation gain, but these data points are optional. The system will aggregate all this data after you input each activity and provide info such as total miles, average pace, and total elevation. Pretty sweet, eh! NOTE – after submitting your activity, the activity will show up immediately, but it takes a couple minutes for all the data to aggregate after inputting. So, only input once and then refresh after a few minutes to see all the totals.
- Also, feel free to add comments such as where you rode, how you felt, the weather, etc (you may like to see this info later on).
- If you have multiple rides in one day, click on ‘Add Another Activity’ button.
- If you ever make a mistake, no worries – you can edit details from any activity.
Charity Partners – We are collecting funds to support IMBA (International Mountain Bicycling Association) and NICA (National Interscholastic Cycling Association), two organizations that are doing great things for mountain biking and for our communities. Thank you to everyone that donated during registration. If you would still like to contribute, the donation option will be open until the last day of the ride, August 15th. We will announce all the totals at the virtual awards ceremony on Aug 16th.
Refer Your Friends and Earn Rewards – Invite friends to join in the fun. Registration closes on July 29th. Every person who signs up using your unique referral link will help you earn the following rewards. Your referral link was included on your confirmation email and we also sent you (or will send you two days after you register) a separate email that you can forward to your friends.
- Refer 5 riders and receive a $25 refund.
- Refer 10 riders and receive a $25 refund and a Roadless Races Trucker Hat.
Create a Team and Have Fun with Friends – Adventures are more fun with friends so create a team and invite your friends to join you in this challenge. Track the progress of your teammates and cheer them on! Creating or joining a team is simple during or after registration. NOTE: This is not a relay so all team members will still be shooting for their individual goal of 100 or 200 miles.
YOU’VE GOT QUESTIONS, WE’VE GOT ANSWERS
What happens if I don’t complete my miles? We don’t want to think that way right now – but if we must, here’s the answer. Nothing happens if you do not complete your miles. Remember, this is your PERSONAL CHALLENGE. Do your best and if you don’t succeed, hey, you gave it your best shot and that’s an accomplishment in itself.
I want to invite my friends to ride but the challenge has already started. Can they still sign up? Absolutely, they have until July 29th to sign up. But remember, those daily mileage goals only increase with the passage of each day.
Swag – when will I get me tee, head wrap, and magnet? We will place the tee order on July 30th, the day after registration closes. All swag will be shipped by Aug 7th and you should have in hand by the end of the challenge on August 15th.
OK, everyone. I’m excited and I hope you are as well. Good luck, ride hard, and have fun.
Jim Harman – Race Director for Roadless Races
