Polar Bear 2008 Report: 


Sunday, January 13th, 2008; Forestview High School, Union Rd, Gastonia, NC.

Course Details: The Gaston County Cyclists sponsored its annual Polar Bear ride at 1:15 p.m. on Sunday, January 13, 2008. The skies were overcast, with a temperature of 49 deg F, and winds 4-6 mph (NE). 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 Mike Harrison for organizing the event.  Charlene Angel and Margot Rott worked registration, and Chris Baucom served as starter.  The course was marked with a yellow arrow & letter "A."  

Participants: 126 riders registered, including 51 GCC members and 75 non-GCC members. 
* A special thanks and recognition goes to Tommie Brock, for bringing 16 members of Team Pfeiffer. *

New Members/Renewals:  Thirty people joined or renewed their memberships at the ride..

Hometowns:  Riders came from the following 36 towns:

    NC (24):  Albemarle Belmont Bessemer City Charlotte  Concord   Dallas Davidson  Gastonia Greensboro Harrisburg Huntersville         Kannapolis Kernersville Kings Mountain Lexington   Misenheimer  Morehead Morganton  Newport Shelby Stanley Statesville Waxhaw West Jefferson

    SC (10):  Chesnee Clover Florence Fort Mill Gaffney  Lake Wylie  Rock Hill Sharon Spartanburg   York

    AL (1):  Tuscaloosa

    UK (1):  Belfast