As of 15 February 2021 the event is virtual only. We are in the process of converting all registrants to the virtual event at this time so until we have the opportunity to remove the on-site registration options, bear in mind all participants will be transferred to the virtual regardless the event you choose.
2020 has pretty much been awful in terms of events. As much as we would like to host our annual Gimme3 Gran Fondo this November to raise funds for the Laurens Police Department Bike Unit and help fulfill it’s mission of “Encouraging and Improving Cycling”, it's just not going to be possible.
So we came up with what we think is a viable alternative in which we are able to offer the ability to participate in two events for only $10 more than we normally charge for our on-site event. The 2020/21 Gimme3 Gran Fondo will be a unique two event, two year affair with only one entry fee! All participants who register in any category for the March 20th event before Sunday, November 15th will also be invited to participate in, and win prizes through, our virtual autumn event!
Register for any of the 5 categories for the March 20th event and you will be invited to participate in our bonus autumn virtual event which will have a set of prizes all its own for those who complete the virtual requirements.
Once you have registered for the onsite ride of your choice, all you have to do to qualify for the virtual event prizes is join the Gimme3SC Strava Club and then complete at one, or more, ride(s) of any length, in any format (virtual or real world) and upload it to Strava between Monday, November 9th through Sunday, November 15th. You will need to ensure you are a member of the Gimme3SC Club on Strava as we will be looking at the club's weekly leaderboard to confirm who completed at least one ride.
Anyone registering prior to November 14th will receive an invitation to participate in a virtual race using RGT Cycling which will be hosted Saturday, November 14th at 9:00 am. The race will be a 6-lap, 35 mile virtual re-creation of the 5.9 mile course ridden at the Michelin Proving Grounds.
We will be introducing our new "Beat the Heat" challenge virtually and will be awarding one person who "beats the heat" with a prize pack containing members of our bike unit's favorite cycling gear. To beat the heat you must outperform one of our officers in one of two ways during the virtual event. The first is to be higher in accumulated weekly mileage on the Strava leaderboard than one of our officers (who we will select and announce the name of by November 8th). The second way in which you can qualify for the Beat the Heat award is to participate in the RGT Cycling virtual race on November 14th and place higher than the same officer, who should be pretty tired and slow by Saturday after trying to jack mileage up over the preceding week.
Anyone who has more mileage or outperforms than our officer in the virtual race will be entered into the prize drawings for the virtual event and the Beat the Heat Challenge prize pack.
Anyone who completes at least one ride, which will be confirmed via our Strava Club page, will be entered into drawings for raffle prizes which will be shipped to the winners if they are unable to pick them up from the Laurens Police Department.
The Spring 2021 event scheduled for March 20, 2021 will offer 5 registration options/distances:
To participate in the first responder division you must be actively employed, or retired in good standing, in the role of law enforcement, firefighter, or EMT, and email proof of your status to us prior to the event date. The highest placing male and female employed by an agency in South Carolina will be crowned the State Champion and receive a custom Hincapie sportswear state champion jersey.
We decided to created a virtual only category because some folks want to support the unit but know they won't be able to participate for whatever reason (and some folks just want the swag we give away). Due this, and several other considerations, we decided to try a virtual option this year and see how it pans out. The virtual only option will provide registrants who know at the time of registration they won't be able to come to the Michelin Proving Grounds to ride the ability to still sign up and receive almost all of the same benefits as those who ride with us on-site.
Virtual riders will have a Beat the Heat Challenge as well in which they too may earn the special "I Beat the Heat" commemorative item. We will post the details of the virtual only challenge on our social media challenges and email all virtual only participants closer to the event date, so be sure to read our emails and follow our social media sites.
Virtual only packets will be mailed at the completion of the challenge. Those who earn the "I Beat the Heat" item will receive their packets later as they will not be ordered until after the event. If you are local, and would like to pick up your swag, we will gladly try to make arrangements with you, just shoot us an email after you register.
If you register for the virtual only category and find out you will be able to attend, you must let us know NO LATER THAN FRIDAY, MARCH 12TH so we can ensure your packet is with us and you can be added to the headcount for aid station and post-ride food preparations. If you show up at the Proving Grounds on March 20th and have not notified us of your desire to switch to an on-site event by the 12th, you will be required to register for one of the other categories and pay the on-site registration fee of $60.
All riders who complete 35 miles faster than the officer representing the LPD Bike Unit in the first responder division this year will be entered to win a package comprised of gear from our unit sponsors as well as other odds and ends we just think are pretty cool both relevant to cycling and from local businesses.
For participants registered for the Century or Metric Century distance events, their time completing the first 6 laps will be used for qualification in the Beat the Heat challenge.
The Michelin Laurens Proving Grounds course offers riders the unique opportunity to ride on a course closed to all traffic, with the exception of support vehicles when needed, and less than 1,500 feet of total elevation gain for 100 miles on arguably the smoothest, flattest 5.9 miles in upstate South Carolina.
To ensure a memorable experience for all participants, we are again limiting the event to 300 participants across all divisions.
Registration rates are the same for all distances/categories as shown below. Registration includes:
Awards will be presented to the top three male and female finishers in the Century, Metric Century, 35-mile, and First responder categories.
Make sure you train because our winner's cowbell (that is a different design every year) is returning in 2021.
Friday, March 19th, 2021
4-7 pm: Packet pickup/onsite registration (Location TBD)
Saturday, March 20th, 2021
The personnel of the Michelin Laurens Proving Grounds have graciously allowed us to tentatively schedule our onsite event for Saturday, March 20, 2021. With the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, the on-site event may have to be converted to a second virtual event. Communication with Proving Grounds personnel will be continuous with an assessment made two weeks before the event to determine the feasibility of moving forward with the event at the proving grounds. Even though we will make every effort to host a safe, enjoyable on-site event, there is the possibility we may have to cancel an on-site event for COVID-19 reasons within that two-week window or for any other unforeseen, uncontrollable reason as late as the morning of the event. If we have to cancel the on-site event for any reason we are forced to have a second virtual only event, we will ship rider packets and raffle prizes to those who aren't local and able to pick them up. We will not automatically ship rider packets to participants who do not attend packet pickup March 19th or the event on March 20th if the event is not forced to be converted to virtual only.
If you have any questions about this race, click the button below.
Please complete the following survey to help us better understand your race experience.
We use cookies to offer you a better browsing experience. Read how we use cookies and how you can control them by visiting our Privacy Policy. If you continue to use this site, you consent to use all cookies.
Thank you! Your message was posted to Facebook.