Polar Bear 2004 Report: 
Sunday, January 11th, 2004; Forestview High School

Course Details: The Gaston County Cyclists sponsored its annual Polar Bear ride on Sunday, January 11, 2004. The weather was good, with a temperature of about 42 deg F, little wind, & sunny skies. The start/finish area was Forestview High School in Gastonia. The course was 50 miles long, with 1900' feet of cumulative climbing. Two optional shortcuts were available which reduced the route by 7 & 4 miles, respectively.

Organizer: Thanks go to club president, & Gaston Bicycle Shop co-manager, Jack Moore, for organizing the event. Thanks also go to Margot Rott, & Charlene Angel for helping with registration. Big thanks, too, for Nancy Dartnall & Roy Peche who gave up a chance to ride in order to man the SAG stop.

Results: While the ride was not a race, a front pack of about twenty formed up & finished with an average speed of about 21 mph. Several riders actually finished ahead of this pack.

Participants: 40 club members & 48 non-members registered for the event, from the following towns:
NC: Gastonia, Shelby, Mount Holly, Charlotte, Cherryville, Harrisburg, Belmont, Lincolnton, Vale, Iron Station, Concord, Matthews, Waxhaw, Dallas.

SC: Gaffney, Lake Wylie, Rock Hill, Fort Mill, Tega Cay, Spartanburg, Sharon, Clover, Greer,Woodruff, Cowpens.