Grand Valley Bike Month 2020

May is Grand Valley Bike Month in Mesa County and we’re celebrating bicycling activities for transportation, fun, and health. For the ninth year in a row, Mesa County joins the nationwide effort to encourage residents to ride their bikes as a viable alternative to driving their cars, which improves air quality, reduces traffic congestion, and leads to healthier lifestyles within our community. Grand Valley Bike Month provides activities for the entire family at all levels and abilities, ranging from leisure rides, commuter and business challenges, and bike celebrations that will stimulate our local economy.

Modifications due to COVID 19

Grand Valley Bike Month will continue this year, but things are going to look a little different in an effort to continue to encourage social distancing.  Mesa County wants to encourage people to bike for health and transportation throughout the month of May and support local businesses. See the tabs below for more details on how you can participate this year!

Bike to Work and School Day, September 22, 2020

September Ride Challenge

2020 September Ride Challenge

(aka Commuter Challenge 2020 Fall Edition)

How many miles can you ride? Challenge your friends and family to see who can accumulate the most mileage using your bike instead of your car to get from place to place, ride for fun and fitness, and/or get out with your kids! We’re doing things a little different this year by not only encouraging people to ride for transportation, but also with fun, fitness, and with your kids. Prizes will be given to the top three rides in each category. All participants be entered into a random drawing at the end of the month.

Instructions:

Register on Love to Ride here (see below for more information).

  • Create an account using Facebook, an email, or STRAVA
  • Be sure to sign up for the Mesa County Biking group

Track your rides for any or all of the following categories:

  • Commuting – Select the (Transport to) category
  • Fun or Fitness
  • Bike with Kids

Bonus – Love to Ride is also hosting a contest for September (Cycle September) with more opportunities to win prizes and compete at a national level. Riders must register separately for Cycle September here.

Why Love to Ride?

  • This is a free group platform.
  • By signing up for the Mesa County Biking group, riders can view leaderboards to see who holds the lead in Most Miles, Most Rides, Days Ridden, Most Miles Riding to Work, and Most Days Riding to Work.
  • Show off your rides and upload photos, invite new riders to join in the fun, and encourage other riders throughout the month. The platform also makes it easy to communicate with participants and send out reminders.
  • Mobile app available for added simplicity.
  • Links with STRAVA for ease of tracking trips.
  • View stories, photos, and bicycle inspiration from all over the world.

Bike to Work Day

Grand Valley Bike to Work – September 22, 2020

It is a day to leave your car at home and ride with your family, friends, and coworkers to school and work. Riders are encouraged to stop at one (or more) of the select coffee shops for a discount (Details TBD).

Riders are also invited to end the day by stopping by a local establishment (Details TBD).

Take photos and post them to the Mobile Mesa County Facebook event, on Love to Ride, or email to bikemonth@mesacounty.us for the chance to win a prize!

Business Challenge

Looking for a fun way to build team spirit? Engage in a friendly competition against other businesses in our community! The company or organization with the highest percentage of employees that bike to work at least one day September 21-25 gets to display the traveling trophy in their workplace for an entire year!

Categories:
  • 1 – 15 employees
  • 16 – 50 employees
  • 51 – 150 employees
  • 150+ employees
Instructions:
  1. Click here to sign-up.
  2. Encourage your employees to ride to work the week of September 21.
  3. Track the number who participate.
  4. Submit your numbers here by September 29.

Bike Month Selfie Contest

Selfie Contest – Fall Edition

The Selfie Contest was so much fun in May, we’re bringing it back for the Fall Edition of Grand Valley Bike Month. Beginning September 1, there will be three bike-themed weeks. Participants can complete a theme-related activity and submit the photo to the Love to Ride group page, on Facebook or Instagram by tagging @mobilemesacounty or by email for a chance to win.  Each week, two winners will be drawn at random to win a $20 gift card to a local business. Winners will be announced on social media and the individual will also be notified via email.

How to Participate

  • Complete a bike activity related to the theme of the week.
  • Take a selfie/picture.
  • Submit your photo to in one of three ways by the deadline (see below). Limit one photo per person per week.
    • Post to Love to Ride Mesa County Biking group page.
    • Post on Facebook or Instagram and tag @mobilemesacounty.
    • Email to bikemonth@mesacounty.us.

Weekly themes and deadlines:

  • September 1-7        Bike with Kids                   Deadline September 8        Sponsor: Monument Health
  • September 8-14      Bike for Fitness & Fun    Deadline September 15       Sponsor: DT Swiss
  • September 15-25    Bike for Transportation  Deadline September 28      Sponsor: St. Mary’s Medical Center
  • September 1-30      Creative Bike Route         Deadline October 1

Most Creative Bike Route – Using a mapping tool of your choice (e.g. STRAVA, Map My Ride, etc.), create a creative design with your route, snap a screen shot of the map and submit the image for the chance to win $50!

Tips for Commuting by Bike

Listen to Mobile Mesa County KAFM clip about bike commuting.

Know the Rules of the Road

  1.  Be courteous, share the road and obey all traffic laws, signs and signals.
  2. Ride on the shoulder (if one exists) or on the right side of the road.
  3. You may ride two abreast when doing so does not impede the flow of traffic. Ride single file to allow vehicles to pass.
  4. Signal turns for 100 feet in advance, unless you need both hands to brake or control your bicycle. (Hand signals handout).
  5. At night, ride with a white front light and a red rear light or reflector.
  6. Yield to pedestrians.
  7. Ditch the sidewalks when a bike lane or side road is available. Riding on the sidewalk can be hazardous for other pedestrians and puts you outside drivers’ field of view.

Check out Bicycle Colorado’s website for more information on safe riding. Click here to download Colorado rules for bicyclists and motorists.

Gather your Gear

  • Helmet – Protect yourself! A majority of bike fatalities involve riders without a helmet.
  • Lock
  • Lights – In case you stay lat, be prepared with a white front light and a red rear light or reflector.
  • Rack, basket or pannier for carrying your stuff.
  • ID and fully charged cell phone for safety.
  • Flat-changing supplies
  • Change of clothes, lunch and other supplies you will need for the day!

Prep your Office

  • Extra clothes – keep a pair of dress shoes and change of clothes at your desk.
  • Toiletries – Keep a “freshen-up” kit with extra deodorant, baby powder, dry shampoo, hair brush, etc.
  • Towel
  • Snacks

Click here for more detailed recommendations about commuting by bike.

Bike Maps

Find a safe route from your home to work or other destinations. Practice the route in the evening or weekend. Use the map below of recommended bike routes within the City of Grand Junction.

 

Grand Valley Bike Month provides activities for the entire family at all levels and abilities, ranging from leisure rides, commuter and business challenges, and bike celebrations that will stimulate our local economy. 

Your sponsorship helps offset the cost of 2020 Grand Valley Bike Month events. Click here to become a sponsor!

Title Sponsors

 

Supporting Sponsors

Contributors

 

Bike Month Planning Committee Members

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