March Madness
- Rain doesn't stop us in March (John Whitehead, Bill, Anne Huber)
March Madness means it’s time to forget the winter weather and ride your bike. Choose your mileage goal and challenge yourself to ride your bike more than you thought possible – around town, around the county, around the world, for commuting, pleasure or any purpose. It's up to you! And know that all of the proceeds go to purchasing cycling helmets for school aged children.
What is March Madness and how does it work?
- Lee Mitchell fits a student's new helmet
- Riders then ride as much as they can during the month of March and keep track of all their bicycle miles either online (at this website) or by hand.
- The club donates one penny per mile ridden by each participant.
- The club then takes the entry fees and penny-per-mile amount and applies all the proceeds to purchase cycling helmets for school aged children.
- Club volunteers travel (by bike!) to schools around Yolo County to hand out and fit the helmets to kids who have been nominated by each school's staff.
- The rider who puts in the most miles earns the awe and respect of their fellow riders.
- You do not need to be a Davis Bike Club member to participate, however, if you would like to become a member....Learn about membership here.
- One of Ken Johnson's 4000-something March miles
Are there any rules?
- Mileage tracking is based on the honor system - on your honor you track and record the miles you ride
- Indoor riding is limited to a total of 1000 miles, so spin classes, stationary bicycles, etc....
- Indoor riding is also limited to 15 miles per hour on spin bikes, stationary bikes, etc...unless your stationary bike has an odometer that tracks actual miles per hour.
In addition to the opportunity to ride a lot of miles, March Madness offers participants more:
- March Madness Custom Jersey - There is a unique March Madness jersey available for purchase every year which has your mileage printed on the sleeve. Click here to see image of 2011 March Madness Jersey.
- Enter your March Madness pics in the photo contest
- March Madness Banquet - In June the club holds the annual March Madness banquet. The banquet is free to all March Madness paid participants. March Madness Awards are given to top riders and photo contest winners. The annual March Madness banquet this year will be held at the Bistro 33 restaurant, 3rd and F streets, in downtown Davis, California, from 6pm to 9pm on Sunday, June 5th, 2011.
- 2011! March Madness Bike Safety Clinics - Set up at schools and local bike shops there will be a bike clinic in the afternoon every Wednesday and Saturday in March. Believe it or not, there are Davis residents and school aged children that don't know many safety rules about bikes. Also, several Davis residents who would love to ride their bikes simply don't know how to check them to make sure they are okay to ride. These bike clinics will provide information to attendees on simple safety facts, bike checks, how to fix a flat, how to hydrate while riding a bike and other great information. More details coming soon!
Get out and ride!
- Get out and ride
The full amount of your entry fee goes towards bike helmets and safety programs for kids. It’s a win/win situation. You gain fitness, adventure, camaraderie and you save fuel. Kids get free helmets, delivered and fitted by the March Madness Committee members and DBC volunteers, and we support bicycle safety.
Registration is online only through Eventbrite.
March 1 is the deadline if you want a unique, souvenir jersey. (March 15, if you can stand to be without the jersey.)
Any ride qualifies and there is at least one brevet in the month of March and several special March Madness rides. So ride with the club, your family, your neighbors, alone, to shop, to church or for a haircut. Give the car a rest. You could even bike to school with the kids. However, be sure to wear your helmet. You don't even have to go outside - trainers and spinning classes qualify.
Questions?
Contact the 2012 March Madness Co-Chairs - Mary James and Gabrielle Morris
