Our 20th Annual Gulf Coast Cyclefest was held on Sunday November 6th.  We congratulate those who initiated the event and all those who have built up a great tradition.  There was a choice of 100, 62, 35 and 15 mile routes through beautiful Florida.  The entrance fee gave participants full SAG support, free breakfast and lunch, and 4 well-stocked rest stops, with performance Tee shirts for the first 500 registrants.

The start and finish was in Main Street, Lakewood Ranch.  We are grateful to Lakewood Ranch Commercial Realty for allowing us to use such an ideal facility and loaning us a shop unit for registration.  Main Street features some superb restaurants and shops – well worth a visit!

In addition to the main event, our main sponsor, Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. organized a dinner at the Polo Grill & Bar just off Main Street, Lakewood Ranch.  The guest speaker at the Dinner was Spencer Smith, who entertained us with lively and frank insights into his career and the triathlon and cycle racing worlds.  It was a good dinner in good company.

Gulf Coast Cyclefest was universally claimed as a great event.  We received many verbal and written compliments. A happy team of coordinators planned the day and willing volunteers turned plans into reality.  Here’s what some riders had to say:

“I just wanted to thank you and your team for putting on another fantastic bike ride.  Everything was perfect...well except for the head-wind ! Very well organized!  Exceptional Route.  Fantastic Lunch (food supplied by Polo Grill). Really just a great time...this is my 4th ride with you all and certainly not the last.”

“Many, many thanks to you and the club members who put on Cyclefest. Our family had an outstanding time! Other than great weather, good company, excellent food, and an overall fun atmosphere, I observed many SMBC members cheerfully serving others. We appreciated everything and please pass that along to the Club. I promise to get my application form (to join the club) off in the mail as soon as possible.

“Thanks for putting on an excellent event. We had a great time and look forward to doing it again.”

“I completed the century yesterday. Had a great ride. Food before and after and at the rest stops was excellent -  best ever! thanks.  Plenty of quality pot-a-potties, well appreciated as well.”

“Just wanted you to know we had a very enjoyable ride at Cyclefest. I'm with the "Village Idiots" that ride out of village bikes right there on main street, and we love it that there's such a great ride in our back yard! The routes were very clearly marked, the SAG stops were great, and everyone was in a great mood.”

The stall holders also had good things to say:
" Thank you so much for letting us volunteer and participate in the event. We had a blast! Please let us know for next year; we'd be happy to come again. My boss is even thinking about doing one of the shorter trips next year! (He used to be into cycling and is thinking about getting back to it.)”

The club members’ invaluable contribution was summed up by one of the coordinators:
“Thanks to you, Cyclefest was a smashing success!  The camaraderie and teamwork were a wonder to behold and the efficiency was very impressive.
We enjoyed the many positive comments about the Volunteer Staff and hope you will consider joining us again next year for another superlative event.”

Next year’s Gulf Coast Cyclefest will be on the first Sunday in November 2012.  Put this date in your schedule NOW.

Here’s some statistics about this year’s Cyclefest:
There were 478 registered riders, 152 female & 326 male.
100 riders were SMBC members - 21% of total registered (also about 21% of our membership).  Riders choose the following lengths of route: 45 rode 15 miles (10%), 127 rode 35 miles (27%), 206 rode 62 miles (44%) & 89 rode 100 miles (19%).
Six people were under 20 (7,9,10,11,14,16) and the oldest rider was 86 (SMBC member Pete Withers).

Main sponsor: Ameriprise Financial
Hillerich, Grogan & Associates
5551 Marquesas Circle, Sarasota FL 34233,
Tel: 941-923-3663                 www.amerpriseadvisors.com/brent.2.hillerich 

David Hodgkinson (Event Organizer)