ElliptiGO enthusiasts from far and wide gathered at ElliptiGO Headquarters in Solana Beach, California for the 8th Annual ElliptiGO Rally Weekend, held October 20-22. Guests enjoyed three days of fun activities centered around the activity they love most, ElliptiGO bike riding! For many attendees, Rally Weekend is also the one time each year they meet and ride with friends made from previous Rally Weekends or through Facebook connections, making it a particularly memorable occasion.
The excitement kicked off with a fun happy hour at Bottlecraft in Solana Beach on Friday night. The casual and friendly vibe was perfect for those just getting in from long flights or drives or those racing early the next morning at the Elliptical Cycling World Championships.
Saturday morning came quickly and racers for the Elliptical Cycling World Championships found their way to Palomar Mountain, just outside of San Diego, for a grueling 11.69 mile, 4,209-foot climb that boasts an average grade of 7%. The competition was fierce, and the reigning World Champ took the men’s race, while a rookie took the women’s.
ElliptiGO Headquarters was buzzing on Saturday afternoon in anticipation of the popular Rally Rides. Featuring three different distances, the “no drop” rides traveled along the beautiful California coast and charming surrounding neighborhoods. After the rides, guests enjoyed the fun Rally Reception, complete with delicious tacos and ice-cold beverages.
Bryan Pate, ElliptiGO CEO and co-founder, handed out awards to the World Champions and gave a first-time award, the Eagle Award, which was given to the winner of the Global Team Challenge, the AmiGOs. For many of the AmiGOs team members, gathering to accept the award was the first time they met each other, showing how the Global Elliptical Riders Club connects ElliptiGO riders in friendly competition and camaraderie, no matter where they live.
The highlight of the ceremony was bestowing the Authentic & Inspiring Awards to two deserving riders, Lyn Huston and Jim Cremer. Lyn committed to riding her ElliptiGO bike every day for one year as she undertook an incredible weight loss journey. As of the Rally, she lost 83 pounds, had a riding streak of 337 days, rode 6,441 miles and climbed 68,953 feet. She has inspired those who have been following her with her positivity and tenacity.
Jim was awarded for his jaw-dropping performances on the ElliptiGO bike over the past year. He was the top individual performer in the Global Team Challenge with an age graded 98.89 score, among other accomplishments achieved. He also made the first attempt riding Mauna Kea on an ElliptiGO bike, getting within 1,000 feet of summiting, and rode from San Diego to Phoenix on his way to the Winter Classic, for a total of 420.9 miles and 13,325 feet elevation.
Rally Weekend wrapped up with Sunday morning rides throughout beautiful Solana Beach and surrounding coastal towns, and a festive post-ride Mexican brunch. We hope everyone enjoyed Rally Weekend and we look forward to seeing you next year!
Be sure to watch the Award Ceremony in the video above and check out more pictures of the event.