National Bike Challenge Encourages Cycling for Fun and Fitness

Utah State University is competing once again to become the university cycling national champion.

The university is participating for the fifth year in the National Bike Challenge (NBC), a free nationwide competition from May to September aimed at encouraging people to ride more often.

Cyclists in the annual challenge compete on a local, state or national level by logging the miles they ride online. Last year USU won the competition in the university category with more than 200 participants cycling more than 78,000 miles.

To help promote NBC, the university is encouraging participation in Bike to School and Work Week May 15-19.

“The weeklong event encourages students and employees to commute by bicycle as a healthy, low-carbon transportation option,” said Alexi Lamm, USU sustainability coordinator.

Cycling stations will be set up at the Cache Valley Transit District and local businesses where cyclists can grab breakfast treats and tune-ups from Aggie Blue Bikes, Trails Cache and Sunrise Cyclery. Friday of Bike Week features a ride with Logan Mayor Craig Petersen and a celebration at Stokes Nature Center.

Lee Harris, USU Bike Challenge competitor said, “It gets me out on the bike on those days when the body doesn’t want to go. Being on a team gives me an extra push to ride, because I don’t want to let my team down. And because I’m competitive, it keeps me focused on my personal goals because I want to be one of the top riders.”

Lamm said the challenge promotes friendly rivalry, but the goal is to get more people to try riding a bike over the summer.

“Summers in Cache Valley are a beautiful time to ride,” Lamm said. “The Challenge provides an incentive to cycle a few miles, and if your bike needs a quick tune-up, bring it to Bike Week. Grab breakfast while you’re there. We hope to inspire anyone to break out their bike and just ride.”

Participants can join the challenge free online at https://nationalbikechallenge.org. Each month there will be drawings for prizes, Lamm said. For more information on bike events throughout the summer, visit http://trails.cachecounty.org/#news.

About the USU Sustainability Council

The Utah State University Sustainability Council formed in 2007 after the university became a signatory to the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). The Council seeks to reduce carbon emissions as well as conserve resources and enhance quality of life by promoting sustainability in USU’s academic and service missions.

About USU Aggie Blue Bikes

Aggie Blue Bikes (ABB) mission is to get more people on more bikes, more often. This is achieved through bicycle lending, education and advocacy. The organization believes that cycling promotes healthy and sustainable communities, better air quality in Cache Valley, and a reduction of on-campus congestion and motor accidents.

About USU Employee Wellness Program

The goal of the Be Well Program is to support and enhance the health and wellness of employees and their families by building partnerships, programs and policies for the community.

Contact: Alexi Lamm Sustainability Coordinator, Utah State University, alexi.lamm@usu.edu, 435.797.9299