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Our Look Back at a Historic Tour de France

As we look back on the 2024 Tour de France, to call it historic may sound like a cliché, but it happens to be accurate.

The Tour made history before it began by announcing its first start in Italy, and its first end not in Paris.

By stage 3 more history was made. And the history just kept on coming.

Photo by Ashley Gruber / Jered Gruber

Biniam Girmay, with his stage 3 win, became the first Black rider to win a Tour de France stage. And he didn’t stop there, winning two more stages and standing on the podium after the final stage wearing the green jersey.

One stage after Girmay’s historic win, history was made again with Sir Mark Cavendish crossing the line first for his record-breaking 35th career Tour de France stage win.

Photo by Ashley Gruber / Jered Gruber

On stage 17 Richard Carapaz became the first Ecuadorian rider to win a stage, and continued the history-making by standing on the podium at the end of the Tour in the polka-dot jersey.

While Tadej Pogačar’s no mercy style of riding seemed to make the yellow jersey a foregone conclusion well before the final stage, it did solidify one of the greatest Tour rivalries in, well, history. Over the past four Tours, Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard have each won two yellow jerseys and are separated by a cumulative time of only 1 minute 25 seconds across all four Tours (it’s worth noting that Pogačar does have a third win in 2020, prior to Vingegaard’s Tour debut).

Photo by Ashley Gruber / Jered Gruber

Bikeflights Partnerships Director Michael Potter found that Girmay’s groundbreaking performance focused his attention on aspects of the Tour he might otherwise overlook.

“The green jersey competition was exceptional. Biniam Girmay's win is as historic as it was exciting. I enjoyed watching the sprint stages more this year because of him,” Michael said.

Customer Engagement Manager Gordon Wadsworth, perhaps channeling his event directing and racing experience, was taken by the Tour organization itself.

“I was really impressed with the route this year … Route finding can be such a challenge and the organizers did a great job in the context of the Paris insanity, keeping to areas of interest and creating incredible visuals,” Gordon said, continuing, “Bologna was a fabulous city for a start and I enjoyed the Italian countryside from some of my own racing there.”

Customer Experience Lead Lifan Irwin seemed to make a prediction about 2025 when we hope to see Vingegaard and Pogačar battle at full health.

“The tenacity of Jonas was hands down awe inspiring. I think given another month of training, things might have been different,” Lifan said.

And Customer Experience Associate Briana Valorosi, while enthralled by the Tour, reminds us that Tour de France racing is far from over in 2024.

“The Tour is always a special event to watch. And this year seemed record-breaking in many ways! Until next year… or, wait, until next month, when the Femmes take over for another go of Tour de France spectating!” Briana exclaimed.

We’ve been an official service of the Tour de France since 2019, and we’re proud to add Tour de France Femmes in 2024!

The Tour de France Femmes runs from Monday, August 12 to Sunday, August 18.

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2024 National Bike Summit Recap

Our Bikeflights event season shifted into high gear last week in Washington, DC at the 2024 National Bike Summit hosted by the League of American Bicyclists. Each spring, the Summit draws hundreds of bike advocates together from across the US to learn from and inspire each other to create more and safer opportunities for biking and walking.

Bikeflights was represented by four Ambassadors, including Tina Beecham, Jessica Brunson and Diana Hildebrand all in person and Kecia McCullough joining virtually. 

Vice President Sue George also made the trip to the nation’s capital.

Held over three days at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library and on Capitol Hill, the Summit’s energy was overwhelmingly positive. It turns out that now is a good time for bike advocacy. You can see it by simply riding around Washington, DC, where like many other parts of the country, there are increasingly more protected bike lanes, dedicated trails and paths and many other infrastructure improvements that have been proven to increase rider safety, like rumble strips and better lighting and signage.

And the momentum continues with recent infrastructure bills promising more funding to come to states and localities everywhere. Of course, there’s still plenty more work to be done. We were all reminded of a sobering statistic: there’s been a 55% increase in cycling fatalities in the US in the past 10 years.

On opening day, we especially enjoyed the presentation by Veronica O. Davis, author of “Inclusive Transportation: A Manifesto for Repairing Divided Communities.” Davis believes everyone should have access to safe, reliable and affordable transportation, and she shared some of her first-hand experiences creating more such opportunities while working for the City of Houston as the Director of Transportation & Drainage Operations. Davis painted a candid picture of what it’s really like to be on the administrative side of bike advocacy, something useful for bike advocates to better understand as they work with other administrators in similar situations.

Perhaps the most entertaining speaker was Shailen Bhatt, Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). With his witty sense of humor, Bhatt made us laugh, even while sharing info about The Active Transportation Infrastructure & Investment Program (ATIIP) and how the FHWA encourages the implementation of projects and programs to improve safety, equity and accessibility for all road users, especially through Complete Streets Planning.

Another big highlight was getting to see our very own Bikeflights Ambassador Diane Hildebrand receive an award upon being named “Educator of the Year” by the League of American Bicyclists. Congratulations to Diane!

The second – or middle day – of the Summit was what is called “Lobby Day.” That’s when Summit attendees swap out their bike shoes and helmets for business attire and meet with their respective Senators and Representatives or their staff to advocate for bills and initiatives that will create a more bicycling-friendly America. 

As we rode bikes and walked around Washington, we were treated to the sight of blooming cherry blossoms around the Tidal Basin and everywhere. Mother Nature may have brought peak bloom a week or two prematurely this year, but her timing worked out to be perfect for us to enjoy.

Our big takeaway from this year’s National Bike Summit is that the most important thing is to simply show up. Again and again. We were reminded by retiring Oregon Senator Earl Blumenauer and Washington Area Bicyclist Association Advocacy Director Jeremiah Lowery that nothing ever happens to make cycling better and safer if no one shows up. 

So while not everyone can take the time or afford the expense of traveling to Washington to lobby their members of Congress for bills that fund cycling infrastructure improvements, there’s a lot we can all do locally…  such as filling out surveys to give rider input about proposed local transportation projects, attending your city or county meetings and getting involved in your local advocacy group.

Bikeflights is proud to be a long-time sponsor of the League of American Bicyclists National Bike Summit.

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2024 Year-End Shipping Shipping Tips and Schedule

With the holiday season comes a lot of shipments and what is, in fact, the busiest time of year for carriers. Potentially wintery weather can also affect shipments. Thus, we’ve compiled some helpful holiday shipping tips for getting your bikes, wheels and gear safely and on-time with Bikeflights to wherever they need to go. Whether you’re shipping bike-related gifts to recipients or your own bike for holiday travel, we’re here for you.

Keep the following dates in mind when planning your bike, wheels and gear shipping for the rest of the year.

Friday, Dec. 20

Last day to ship 2nd Day Air® packages for scheduled delivery on Tuesday, Dec. 24.

Monday, Dec. 23

Last day to ship Next Day Air® packages scheduled for delivery on Tuesday, Dec. 24. Confirm drop-off deadlines with your preferred drop-off location.

Tuesday, Dec. 24 | Christmas Eve

No pickup service. Normal delivery service. Bikeflights Support is closed.*

Wednesday, Dec. 25 | Christmas Day

No pickup or delivery service. Bikeflights Support is closed.*

Tuesday, Dec. 31 | New Year’s Eve

No pickup service. Delivery of Air and International Air packages only.

Bikeflights Support is closed.*

Wednesday, Jan. 1 | New Year’s Day

No pickup or delivery service. Bikeflights Support is closed.*

*Our Virtual Assistant is available 24-7 to assist you.

Keep reading for our top 5 tips for shipping around the winter holidays.

Five Tips for Holiday Time Shipping

Tip #1: Allow Extra Shipping Time.

There will be no pickups or delivery service on December 24, 2024 (Christmas Eve) and December 25, 2023 (Christmas Day), and how fast your shipment will travel depends on what level of service you purchase. 

Our carrier UPS suggests the following ship-by dates by service level to help you make sure that your packages are delivered by Friday, December 22, 2023, the last business day day prior to the Christmas holiday.

3-Day: Tuesday, December 19, 2024

2-Day: Wednesday, December 20, 2024

Next Day: Thursday, December 21, 2024

UPS Store® locations may also have modified business hours over the holidays. We recommend checking with your local UPS Store® for specific hours of operation.

For all shipments via ground service, you can easily get estimated delivery dates at Bikeflights.com based on your ship-to and ship-from locations and your ship-on date, but remember that carriers always suspend their delivery guarantees during the holiday season, so the estimated delivery date you receive is just that: an estimate! Do yourself a favor and build in some extra shipping time to reduce potential delays due to high shipping volumes.

Tip #2: Account for Potential Weather Impacts.

Snow delays can and do happen. Throughout the northern hemisphere, it’s winter, and therefore it can snow or ice at any time in many places. Significant storms may slow or even halt package delivery, especially when the system is already strained due to the higher volume of shipments.

Even if you are shipping to or from a warm climate, your bikes, wheels and gear may have to travel through wintry climates en route, or their travel may be impacted as consequences of winter storms in other places propagate through the system. Potential weather delays are another good reason to ship earlier to give your shipments some extra time. 

Tip #3: Remove or Completely Cover All Previous Labels and Markings

After you receive all the items ordered during your Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping, it’s time to wrap and ship your gifts to recipients. Be sure to always remove or completely cover all previous labels and markings from any boxes that you’re reusing for subsequent shipments. This includes addresses, barcodes and hazmat and other warning stickers.

Automatic scanners will read old labels and markings, and your package could end up getting delivered to the address on a previous label. If the previous label’s address is yours, the package could come right back to you instead of going to your intended recipient, and then you’ll have to ship it again! 

Tip #4: Book Shipments With Accurate Dimensions and Weight.

When booking, be sure to enter accurate dimensions and weight. We’ve pre-loaded the dimensions of popular cases suitable for shipping that you can select when booking. For all boxes or cases not on our list, use a tape measure to determine the following dimensions for your shipment: Length, Width and Height. 

Length is the longest side of a box or case; Height is the second longest, and Width is the dimension that’s leftover - measure each at their widest parts to account for any bulges. Then use a scale to determine package weight. Always round up to the next unit. For example, enter 13 inches for a measurement of 12.25 inches, and enter 14 kg for a measurement of 13.7 kg. 

Shipments are audited multiple times during transit. If a package’s actual dimensions and weight do not match booked dimensions and weight, it may be delayed en route while the discrepancy is resolved, and you may be charged additional fees. Such shipments are also more susceptible to damage because they may end up getting incorrectly sorted by size.

Tip #5: Double Check Your Addresses.

You’ve gone to all the work to get the gifts you’ll be giving, and now you’re ready to send them. Remember to double check your address BEFORE shipping. Make sure you’ve got a complete street address, including the house, apartment or suite number so the delivery driver knows exactly where to go.

Prior to shipping, all address corrections are free, so just reach out to us with your corrected addresses, and we’ll update your shipping label at no charge. Once a shipment is underway, you can still contact us with any delivery address changes; however, standard change and re-route fees will apply, and your delivery date will likely be later than originally scheduled.

[weshipyourride]

VP Sue George Attends Ladies AllRide Signature Camp in Vermont

There’s an old adage that says that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Fortunately, it turns out not to be true as our very own Bikeflights Vice President Sue George found out firsthand last week in Lyndonville, Vermont, where she attended a Ladies AllRide MTB Skills Signature Camp.

“You’re doing what?” said some well-meaning friends when I told them I’d be going to a mountain bike skills camp. “Why? Don’t you already know how to mountain bike?”

While it’s true that I got my first taste of mountain biking while growing up in the late 1980s and early 1990s just as mountain biking was becoming popular, I never had any formal mountain bike instruction. Exploring deer trails through Pennsylvania State Game Llands in the Lehigh Valley with my little brother evolved into chasing Penn State Cycling teammates on fire roads and trails through Rothrock State Forest. As a long time track and road racer, I had great fitness, but I was a terrible mountain biker without many skills, especially on rocks. To be honest, there were times in those first few years that I kind of hated mountain biking, but I’ve always been up for a challenge, and I’m stubborn, so I just kept riding.

Fast forward several decades, and I love mountain biking. I can now do it well enough that there’s almost nothing I enjoy more than being out in the George Washington National Forest pedaling all day on singletrack and some fire roads with my partner and friends in Virginia and West Virginia. 

Bikes have changed a lot in the intervening decades, and I couldn’t begin to count how many different mountain bikes I’ve ridden over the years. Long gone are toe clips, rim brakes, tires with tubes, undroppable seatposts and barely functioning front shocks. Bike geometries are radically different. And we don’t just ride old deer or hiking trails; today’s riding also includes purpose-built mountain bike trails with all kinds of features.

Upon arriving in Lyndonville, Vermont, where Lindsey Richter and her Ladies AllRide Team were hosting a signature two-day MTB skills camp, we participants were introduced over a happy hour meet and repent and got a quick overview of what to expect. The Wildflower Inn played host to us with its location in the midst of the much beloved Kingdom Trails, and the weather couldn’t have been more beautiful: sunny and warm for most of what would be two beautiful September days.

One of the many things that makes a Ladies AllRide Signature Camp special is the expertise of its coaches. Together, they have a vast amount of experience riding and teaching. They’re also incredibly patient and encouraging for riders of all abilities, and they’ll meet you wherever you’re at skillswise.

First things first, we were broken up into groups based on our experience, abilities and what we hoped to learn. I joined five other women whom I’d get to know over the course of the next two days.

We were the most advanced group, which meant our teachers, Coach Lindsey and Coach Diana, could rapidly progress us through the most basic fundamentals so we could really get into working on the areas where we could benefit the most.

For me, that meant things like changing my position on my bike. I needed to let go of a long entrenched tendency to put my butt too far back, which unweights the front wheel, making me more vulnerable to things not going according to plan. I needed to learn to shift my body forward and be like a “curious turtle”, weighting my front suspension, so it can do its job better, and positioning my arms so that I can more actively respond to whatever the terrain may bring. 

It also meant learning things like how to better position my body on my bike so I can pedal around switchbacks, something with which I’ve always struggled.

Our group spent time working on cornering, including how to weight our bikes, where to look, where to point our knees, hips and belly buttons as we turn and how to most effectively brake in corners. 

Probably the most challenging skill for me was taking on some small drop-offs and a small jump. I’ve always been someone who likes to keep her wheels on the ground, so it was a big leap for me to trust my new forward body position enough to roll bigger drop-offs and briefly catch some air on a small jump. I didn’t get my wheels off the ground very much, but it was nonetheless an empowering feeling whenever I would get everything just right and float over something that I might not previously have ridden as confidently, or even at all.

Over our two days, we learned and practiced many different skills concepts, something that can be exhausting both mentally and physically and mentally, so it was especially nice to take a break on the second morning to relax our bodies and minds with some pre-ride yoga. As a yoga teacher for nearly two decades, I led our group of ladies through a gentle practice held outside in a grassy field just as the morning fog was beginning to lift over the mountains in the background.

So to those who question whether they’d benefit from a skills camp or other instruction, I say, “Yes, go for it!” No matter where we ride or how long we’ve been riding, there’s always something we can improve. And why not do things that can make mountain biking even more fun?

Ladies AllRide camps are for women, but men, don’t worry, you have options, too. Lindsey and her business partner Meredith Brandt also offer Grit Clinics, whose private, customized clinics are for men, women, kids of all ages and all levels.

Bikeflights is proud supporter of long-time Bikeflights Brand Ambassador Lindsey Richter and Ladies AllRide. Learn more about Ladies AllRide and their skills camps in locations like Grand Targhee, Wyoming; Bend, Oregon; Sedona, Arizona; Whitefish, Montana; Bentonville, Arkansas; and Lyndonville, Vermont.

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Attaching Your Shipping Label to a Bike Box

Putting a Bikeflights shipping label on a box may seem straightforward, but improper label placement and attachment can cause your label to become damaged or even fall off, and they are the leading causes of shipping delays.

Remove all labels and markings

If you are reusing a box, completely remove all previous shipping labels and barcodes from the outside your box or case. Even the tiny 1" x 3" ones. This will ensure that the carrier is always scanning the correct label for your shipment. 

No Bikeflights shipments require hazmat labels. Completely remove any hazmat stickers, even if you're shipping an e-bike.

Put the Sharpie down. Carrier scanners are often able to detect and read through marker ink. Completely remove or completely cover any markings.

Where do my labels go?

Attach the label to the outside end of your box or case (not the top or sides). This location is the most efficient for scanning and reduces opportunities for the label to fall off or become damaged.

We also recommend placing a second label inside your box or case. The label inside your box or case can be used to get your bike back on track to its destination in the unlikely event that the external label becomes unreadable or comes off.

How do I attach my labels?

The preferred method of attaching your label to your box is a self-adhesive thermal label. If you don't have access to a thermal printer a self-adhesive label pouch or clear packing tape are both effective.

If using clear packing tape be sure to cover the entire label and extend the tape several inches beyond the label.

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Why do we love the Tour de France?

Before even the first pedal stroke of stage 1, the 2024 edition of the Tour de France has already surprised us. The grandest of the Grand Tours is historically a July road classic. Its name, which literally means "tour of France," traditionally culminates in a largely ceremonial stage parading through Paris.

But this year the Tour de France will start in June. It will contain a “gravel stage.” It will spend the first two stages in Italy. And the final stage will be a potentially GC-determining individual time trial in Nice, France instead of a casual parade down the Champs-Élysées in Paris.

Photos by @ashleygruber @jeredgruber

Putting aside the fascinating structural changes that will make this Tour unique, the sheer competition from this extensive cast of talented riders and the story lines (that Netflix has so "eloquently" elevated) will undoubtedly make for 21 of the most riveting stages of bike racing, like only the Tour de France can provide. Will 2024 serve as the Pogačar-Vingegaard rubber match to break the 2-2 tie? Will Mark Cavendish sprint to his record-breaking 35th stage win in his last Tour?

The Tour chatter in the Bikeflights internal chat threads is heating up. Many of us have our Tour de France fantasy teams strategically set for stage 1. Because after all, we’re not just an official service of the Tour de France, we’re also big fans.

“I love the Tour, for it puts my daily drama into perspective," said Bikeflights President William Alcorn.

Customer Experience Lead Lifan Irwin finds watching the Tour to be an inspiration beyond simply being a cyclist, saying, “I’m not inspired specifically to ride to be honest, but more to strive for goals, and I find it a great motivator to keep rolling."

Some, like Customer Experience Associate Briana Valorosi use the Tour to indulge in a cycling discipline she otherwise doesn’t participate in, saying, "It's inspiring to see the superhuman strengths of these riders, and to spectate a sector of cycling that I don't personally engage in. I'm a mountain biker, but I have so much respect for these road riders and the way they continue to carry forth this historic event!"

Vice President Sue George similarly likes to view the Tour from the perspective of her preferred cycling discipline.

"My favorite riders are the mountain bikers! It's impressive how many of the current best riders have the skill sets and mindsets to race at the highest level on both dirt and pavement," she said.

Customer Engagement Manager Gordon Wadsworth relishes in the Tour’s ability to raise cycling to the consciousness of non-cyclists for at least one month per year.

“Most of all I love that cycling becomes a trending topic within more than just my small community. For the month of July everyone I know asks me about the Tour. And it’s delightful," he said.

But as a competitive cyclist himself, he can’t help viewing it through a competitive cyclist’s lens, saying, "As an athlete I love seeing my sport executed to perfection. I love the current phase of cycling being a confluence of heart and science," Gordon said.

Gordon summed up his feelings, saying, "To me it brings together incredible racing action, brilliant scenic beauty and true life stories like few other sports endeavors. When an entire country is the stadium the visuals never stop coming."

Customer Experience Associate Patricia Schwager can trace her pursuit of cycling to the Tour and quality time with her grandfather.

"I remember watching the Tour on TV as a kid with my grandfather. It definitely had an impact and is one of the things that inspired me to get a road bike and start racing bikes," she said.

And Customer Experience Associate Garrett Bonenberger, another Bikeflights Team member firmly in the mountain bike camp, couldn’t hide his bias when talking about watching the Tour, saying, "I always enjoy watching the different stages … seeing if someone will attempt to jump the peloton on a mountain bike again."

Regardless of the perspective on the Tour, the grandest and most exciting bike race in the world will no doubt give us plenty to talk about and be inspired by long after stage 21 ends.

[weshipyourride]

Five Key Takeaways from the NBDA Retailer Summit

The 2024 National Bicycle Dealers Association (NBDA) Retailer Summit wrapped up May 24 in Bentonville, Arkansas, leaving attendees with valuable insights and renewed optimism for the cycling industry. Retailers and industry leaders gathered to reflect on successes of the past and share insights into the future of bicycle retail. Among those in attendance was Bikeflights Partnership Director Michael Potter, who also sat on the Industry Outlook Panel.

Partnership Director Michael Potter sits on the Industry Outlook Panel with other industry leaders from BULLS Bikes, Saris and SRAM. Photo: Chad Pickard

The 2024 event featured two dynamic days of presentations, panel discussions and breakout sessions aimed to unite retailers and suppliers in face-to-face conversations focused on key areas impacting retailers today.

Here are five key takeaways from the Summit:

E-Power to the People: Micromobility trends like electric scooters, cargo and commuter e-bikes are creating a natural segue for riders into the world of e-bikes. This presents a massive opportunity for retailers to leverage the familiarity with electric power and convert curious customers into e-cycling enthusiasts.

Broadening the Bike Tribe: It's not just about cyclists anymore. The Summit emphasized the importance of attracting new riders who wouldn't traditionally consider themselves "cycling" enthusiasts. By focusing on the joy of riding, health benefits and environmental impact, retailers can tap into a much wider market.

Clicks to Cranks: The rise of online marketplaces is changing the game. The Summit highlighted how retailers can leverage these platforms to establish a direct-to-consumer (D2C) presence, complementing their brick-and-mortar stores and expanding their reach.

QBP Quiets the Rumors: There were whispers about the future of long-time industry giant Quality Bicycle Products (QBP) closing its doors or shifting its sales strategy to a D2C model. Thankfully, the QBP squashed those rumors. They remains a strong supporter of the cycling community and a valuable partner for retailers.

Resilience on Two Wheels: From the pandemic to recent tornadoes affecting partner event Bentonville Bike Fest, the cycling industry has faced challenges. However, the Summit showcased the incredible resilience of this community. With a focus on innovation, collaboration and a shared passion for cycling, the future looks bright.

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Meet Bikeflights Ambassador Starla Teddergreen

Starla Teddergreen was in the midst of a successful 15-year professional cycling career when a run-in with COVID-19 unveiled a new and unexpected path. What ultimately emerged was a life-altering diagnosis that would halt most people in their tracks, but Starla, like the competitor she’s been since childhood, saw it as just another challenge to overcome in her life as a professional athlete.

Starla grew up in the mountains of northeast Washington, finding inspiration that ultimately formed her competitive spirit in female athletes in the Olympics and in everyday sibling rivalries with her sister. She dreamed of becoming a professional athlete. Cycling wouldn’t enter the picture, however, until after high school.

Upon moving to Seattle after high school, Starla supported herself with a variety of jobs while pursuing an education. Unbeknownst to her, one of those jobs, working as a bike messenger, was the gateway to achieving her dream of becoming a professional athlete. Within the bike messenger world, she began competing in alley cats and the Cycle Messenger World Championships. A move to San Francisco introduced Starla to road racing, and a successful road racing career blossomed from there.

About a decade into her flourishing career, the world ground to a halt. The COVID-19 pandemic erased the 2020 racing calendar. For more than a year, Starla trained for the sake of training, without a specific event to prepare for.

In late summer of 2021, the world was taking steps toward finding normal, and racing was back on her calendar. During this time, Starla and her husband Gino launched the organization Distance to Empty, with the goal of supporting Colorado-based women who wish to pursue cycling in some capacity.

In early 2022, both Starla and Gino contracted COVID. While both eventually tested negative, Starla’s health began to decline in peculiar ways. Her heart rate became erratic, she experienced swelling, tingling, burning and muscle weakness. Breathing became difficult. And possibly worst of all, she had a neurologist who wanted to dismiss her symptoms as the self-induced mental stress of an athlete.

While it wasn’t her professional athlete mind causing her symptoms, it was her tenacious professional athletic approach that helped her pursue legitimate answers and landed her in Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. And she did get some answers.

An MRI showed that Starla had a lesion on her cervical spine on the C5 and C6 vertebrae and potential spots on her brain, pointing to a potential diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS). She was also diagnosed with acute transverse myelitis, leading to a total of nine days of treatments in the hospital.

Despite this life-altering health development and potential diagnosis, Starla returned to Colorado with the goal of getting back to racing her bike.

“My medical team made it clear I am not their typical patient; my drive to achieve and continue to push my body despite its limitations has them excited and curious to see what I can accomplish, as this seems to be uncharted territory for all of us,” she said.

Starla faced the challenge of a long recovery and accepting a new reality in all facets of her training and approach to competing. ​​Recovery required significant rehabilitation to regain mobility, strength, balance and coordination in her limbs.

“Initially, I had to learn to be compassionate towards myself as I mourned the loss of the athlete and person I once was. Coming to terms with my new reality meant acknowledging my limitations, reframing my mindset to avoid discouragement and listening to my body in a completely different way,” she said.

“Throughout my athletic career, I had been accustomed to pushing through discomfort, ignoring pain and pushing myself to the limit. However, since my diagnosis, I've had to redefine my limits, which seem to be ever-changing due to various factors. It was a gradual process of recalibrating my body and understanding the nuances of this new, unfamiliar body that I inhabit.”

By the time the 2023 season emerged, Starla felt ready to pursue a full calendar of gravel and off-road racing, notably the Life Time Grand Prix series.

“The Life Time Grand Prix marked the beginning of another pivotal chapter in my journey as an athlete with MS. It served as a poignant reminder of my capabilities and the unique hurdles I face. Heat intolerance emerged as the primary obstacle affecting my performance, with even slight increases in body temperature exacerbating neurological symptoms,” she said.

Starla’s first season back provided the insights she needed to develop a new approach to racing her bike, handpicking events that provide the most experiential impact as opposed to simply results.

“Recognizing the need to prioritize races that would provide meaningful experiences rather than solely focusing on results, I have sought out races like Cape Epic, where I could continue to push boundaries and thrive as an athlete under my own terms, undeterred by the constraints of MS.”

Starla’s decision to tackle Cape Epic, an eight-day mountain bike stage race in South Africa, exemplifies her new approach. Racers, in teams of two, typically cover more than 420 miles and climb more than 55,000 feet over seven stages.

“Planning for an eight-day stage race halfway across the world required meticulous attention to detail. So many spreadsheets!”

Starla and her race partner Hannah Shell, and their husbands, opted to stay in Airbnbs instead of the “race village” in order to have more control over nutrition planning due to Starla’s dietary needs and equipment preparation, including things like ice socks to control her body temperature as daily highs could reach 115 degrees Fahrenheit.

“Trips to the grocery store were frequent to restock our chicken, rice and steamed vegetable supplies. Outside of racing, fueling became an arduous task, especially for someone like me who is celiac in a country where gluten-free isn't well understood. During the race, they drove to all the pro aid stations to deliver additional ice socks and cold bottles of water we used to dump on me.”

“Water’s coming,” Hannah would say as she sprayed Starla’s neck and shoulders with ice-cold water in an attempt to keep her core temperature down and her MS symptoms at bay for as long as possible.

Their meticulous planning seems to have worked out well as the team finished 15th overall in the UCI women’s category, finishing strong in 11th in the final stage.

“Our team name for Cape Epic, ‘Distance To Empty,’ reflects the program my husband Gino and I run—a Colorado-based non-profit that helps women overcome obstacles and reach the start line of races. Conceptually, it also symbolizes how two teammates supporting and communicating with each other can surpass their own ‘distance to empty,’” Starla said.

“Reflecting on the race, we did just that.”

With Cape Epic as the official kickoff of Starla’s 2024 race season, which will primarily focus on mountain biking, she also looks forward to continuing the work on Distance to Empty and fulfilling the Pursuit Awards, with the help of sponsors like Bikeflights.

“Our Pursuit Awards have always aimed to support a diverse range of aspiring women in cycling, from newcomers to those striving to turn pro. And Bikeflights has been instrumental in helping the program run smoothly. From shipping bikes and equipment to events to sending sponsor products to athletes spread out across Colorado, Bikeflights makes logistics easy and eliminates one less spreadsheet to manage,” she said.

“With the support of Bikeflights, we can focus more on our goals and less on transportation logistics, ultimately helping us achieve more tremendous success personally and for the DTE program.”

[weshipyourride]

Introducing Free Shipping Friday

We’re pleased to announce that we’ll be giving away free shipping to one lucky winner each week, and that winner could be you! Read on for details about how you can participate in Free Shipping Friday and win a free Bikeflights shipment.

First, follow us on social media. You can find us here:  Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube. 

Then tune in each Friday, when we’ll announce on one (or more!) of our channels about exactly how you can win that week.

Play along, submitting your entry by no later than the next Thursday at 11:59 am ET.

Each week’s winner will be announced the following Friday as we roll out the next week’s contest. Lucky winners will receive a $200 Bikeflights bike shipping credit. We’ll apply it directly to your Bikeflights account, so you can use it at your discretion on one or more of your upcoming shipments.

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2024 Sea Otter Classic Recap

Every spring, the Sea Otter Classic attracts riders and cycling-industry companies from all around the world to the beautiful Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California. This year, the Bikeflights crew was there in full force, with Gina Perschbacher, Michael Potter, Garrett Bonenberger, Kerry Werner, William Alcorn and Sue George joining the massive celebration of all things bikes.

Join us for a recap of our trip, where we'll share highlights from the races, the expo and the unbeatable California vibes!

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Bikeflights Becomes Official Shipping Service of USA Triathlon

We are proud to announce that Bikeflights has become the official bike shipping service of USA Triathlon through 2025. We will be providing USA Triathlon members with our fast shipping, dedicated support and multiple options for transport customization and insurance coverage.

“After supporting several Bikeflights Ambassador triathletes over the years, we’re excited to work with USA Triathlon to expand our bicycle shipping service to the multisport community,” said William Alcorn, Bikeflights President. “Every athlete is on Bikeflights’ route, and we’re looking forward to helping USA Triathlon members ship their bikes to events big and small.” Bikeflights’ support will focus primarily on servicing USA Triathlon’s proprietary National Championship events for 2024 and 2025: USA Triathlon Multisport National Championships Festival presented by Mutual of Omaha, and USA Triathlon Olympic and Sprint Distance National Championships. 

Photo Credit: Archi Trujillo

“The entire multisport community will benefit from these partnerships,” said Victoria Brumfield, USA Triathlon CEO. “TrainingPeaks offers unparalleled expertise in athlete and coach education and performance, with their support being a requisite for our top performing athletes. Plus, the Bikeflights partnership could not have come at a better time as athletes plan their travel for USA Triathlon National Championships and World Triathlon championship events. We are thrilled to partner with a company well established in bike logistics to service our community’s needs both domestically and abroad.”

Services for Multisport Nationals will be ready for purchase on Bikeflights website by the end of April. USA Triathlon’s Age Group Team USA program will also benefit from new logistical support for bike transport at World Triathlon championship events.

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Bikeflights Announces 2024 Brand Ambassadors

We’re pleased to introduce our roster of 2024 Bikeflights Brand Ambassadors and Sponsored Teams.

"What Bikeflights offers is hugely helpful in managing logistics, reducing stress and saving time and money for Ambassadors who are shipping their bikes or traveling the globe for races and events,” said Bikeflights Marketing Associate Kerry Werner, a former Bikeflights Ambassador who now coordinates Bikeflights’ Ambassador Program. “Given my own experience, I’m especially excited to welcome 32 individuals and two teams to represent Bikeflights this season.”

Veteran Bikeflights Ambassador and pro gravel and mountain bike racer Alexey Vermeulen said, “Bikeflights is one of those companies that saves the day multiple times a year for me. Whether shipping bikes to race destinations for smoother travel or sending bike parts to friends, I am never worried about anything because the process is so simple. I’m proud to have been a Bikeflights ambassador for the past five years!”

First-time Bikeflights Ambassador and Life Time Grand Prix Series Contender Deanna Mayles said, “I love Bikeflights because they make my life easier! Travel is stressful enough without the hassle of lugging your bike through the airport and hoping it arrives to your destination. I can plan ahead with Bikeflights and pack my bike and equipment a few days beforehand, so on my big travel day, all I have to worry about is me. No hassle, no rush, and I can track it all the way to my destination.”

Maxxis Factory Racing Team Owner and Manager Drew Esherick said, “ I'm constantly moving team equipment and personnel around the country. Bikeflights makes it easy to book and pay for shipments, whether it's across the country or around the globe. Our team trusts Bikeflights for our shipping.”

Maxxis Factory Racing and the Bear National Team are both returning sponsored teams in Bikeflights’ Ambassador Program.

Launched nine years ago in 2015, the Bikeflights Brand Ambassador program continues to make it easy for Ambassadors to ship their bikes, wheels and gear, whether they are traveling with their bikes or shipping bike-related gear they’ve just sold online. In exchange, Brand Ambassadors help spread the word about Bikeflights.

“I’m thrilled to share my love for Bikeflights!” said returning Ambassador Tina Beecham. “This game changer has transformed my cycling adventures. Seamless, cost-effective and eco-friendly, Bikeflights ensures my bike arrives safely, letting me focus on the joy of the ride.”

“Bikeflights is the fastest, easiest and most efficient way I’ve ever shipped my bike,” said Bear National Team Rider Thatcher Naeve. “The service is unmatched, and I always feel safe shipping my bike with Bikeflights.”

New Bikeflights Brand Ambassador Paula Gil Echevarría said, “Bikeflights is a great way of transporting bikes. I like the fact that I don't need to worry about the way my bike is treated in the airplane and through security checkpoints. It gives me peace of mind knowing that the bike will conveniently show up at my destination.”

"We're proud that our Ambassador Program includes riders of all ages, types and levels of experience, from grassroots to pro," said Werner. "We support Ambassadors of different races, ethnic backgrounds, ages, genders and locations, whether they love to ride bikes on roads, gravel, trails, velodromes or bike paths."

Collegiate racer Emmett Culp said, “As a track cyclist, I am often traveling with two bikes, spare wheels and a lot of extra gear that can make getting to races expensive and exhausting. Bikeflights solves all of that by providing easy, affordable and fast shipping for my bikes and gear. Thanks to Bikeflights, I can show up on race day more recovered from travel and with all of my equipment ready to go.”

“Bikeflights has created the easiest way to ship your bike,” said individual Ambassador Sarah Bowman. “From packing to tracking to delivery, Bikeflights has thought of it all so you don't have to. Once I drop off my bike, I know it's in great hands and can't wait to see my bike on the other end.”

Expect to see Bikeflights Brand Ambassadors in action at national caliber events like the Sea Otter Classic, SBT Gravel, the Gran Fondo National Series and the Chequamegon MTB Festival as well as many more events in their local communities and beyond. You’ll also often see them out pedaling on their favorite local roads and trails.

Individuals

Afrodesia McCannon (New York, NY)

Alexey Vermeulen (Boulder, CO)

Alexi Ramirez (Greenville, SC)

An-Mei Ellisor (Durango, CO)

Ashton Lambie (Barcelona, Spain)

Caleb Swartz (Missoula, MT)

Chris Mehlman (Colorado Springs, CO)

Curtis White (Beverly, MA)

Deanna Mayles (Colorado Springs, CO)

Diana Hildebrand (Cleavland, OH)

Emmett Culp (New York, NY)

Enzo Moscarella (New York, NY)

Jess Brunson (Washington DC)

Justin Hanneken (Fort Meyers, FL)

Kecia L. McCullough (Rochester, NY)

Kelly Jones (Palm Beach, FL)

Kyle Trudeau (Tucson, AZ)

Lindsey Richter and Ladies AllRide (Bend. OR)

Lisa Gillespie (New York, NY)

Liza Rachetto (Boise, ID)

Madison Maloney (Hudson, NY)

Maria Doering (Atlanta, GA)

Martin Jones (Denver, CO)

Paula Gil Echevarría (Portland, OR)

Ricardo Recinos (Harrisonburg, VA)

Sam Coyle (San Luis Obispo, CA)

Sara Lim (Seattle, WA)

Sarah Bowman (Los Angeles, CA)

Sierra Sims (Hendersonville, NC)

Starla Teddergreen (Longmont, CO)

Tina Beecham (Cibolo, TX)

Truong Nguyen (Seattle, WA)

Teams

Bear Development Team (including Riders: Robbie Day, Cayden Parker, Jack Spranger, Carson Hampton, Lasse Konecny, Toby Hassett, Brady White, Raulito Gutierrez, Ian Brown, Landen Stovall, Ruth Holcomb, Bailey Cioppa, Makena Kellerman, Kellie Harrington, Chloe Fraser, Nico Konecny, Luke Mosteller, Ben Bravman, River Valdez, Maddex Thiel, Vida Lopez de San Roman, Andie Aagard, Mike Ziomek, Preston Ronck, Rowan Nistal, Brynn Aagard, Aida Linton, Kira Mullins, Nathan Dutton, Miles Mattern, Oliver Welcker, George Frazier, Tyler Lambert, Leo Gutierrez, Thatcher Naeve, Bayli McSpadden, Ingrid McElroy; and Team Managers & Staff: Julia Violich, Jason Jablonski, Julie Young, Julien Petit, Eric Fostvedt and Dylan Anderson)

Maxxis Factory Racing Team (including Riders: Andrew L'Esperance, Sean Fincham and Eva Poidevin; and Team Manager Drew Esherick)

The Bikeflights Brand Ambassador program is full for 2024. Applications will be accepted for 2025 starting sometime in October 2024. Stay tuned to Bikeflights e-newsletter, social media and blog for details about when and how to sign up. For more information about Bikeflights.com’s 2024 Brand Ambassadors, visit Bikeflights.com/ambassadors. To get started shipping your bike, go to Bikeflights.com. To stay up to date on all Bikeflights happenings, follow our blog at Blog.Bikeflights.com.

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Meet Bikeflights Ambassador An-Mei Ellisor

Bikeflights Ambassador An-Mei Ellisor thrives on persevering. If something goes wrong in a race, she embraces the test of her mental strength, knowing it will only make her stronger to finish no matter what.

It’s not hard to pinpoint the genesis of this mentality. In the summer between sixth and seventh grade, An-Mei was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a blood cancer originating in the lymphatic system. Though it was caught early, An-Mei still had to endure chemotherapy, weight loss and losing her hair.

Needless to say, she persevered. And with a little help from her mountain bike team.

An-Mei was an endurance athlete from an early age, primarily running and swimming. When the opportunity to explore triathlons came up, she reluctantly added cycling to her repertoire.

Coincidentally, as cycling was added to the mix, she had just become old enoughto join her Auburn, Alabama community’s NICA team in the fledgling Alabama league. With some encouragement from her mom, An-Mei joined the team.

The transition to cycling was a bit rocky at first. She found padded shorts uncomfortable and was reluctant to commit to another activity. But the timing of her team’s Sunday practices provided just enough motivation to continue.

“I stuck with it because I preferred going to practice over church,” An-Mei said with a smile.

As the racing began, she received some added motivation: She was good, thanks to her endurance background.

The summer after her first NICA season is when An-Mei was given the devastating diagnosis. Her treatments began just prior to entering seventh grade, a time when the weight of social standing and physical appearance is starting to be felt by many kids. With the help of a wig, she chose to keep her cancer a secret from virtually everyone at school. But her mountain bike team knew.

“I still wanted to participate in the NICA season, and my parents thought it would be good for me to not be shut in a little room, so my team knew what was going on. They were very supportive in terms of treating me normal. I was still learning to ride trails. They didn’t make it about cancer, they made it about bikes.”

Despite having only finished chemotherapy in October of that year, An-Mei was competing in NICA races by the spring, often finding herself on the podium.

By the time she entered high school, her consistent success in racing helped her complete the transition from reluctant participator to passionate cyclist. In addition to NICA, An-Mei began racing for a regional development team. As high school ended, she was a NICA state champion with US National Championship experience and was headed to the renowned collegiate cycling program at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado.

Entering Fort Lewis in 2022 An-Mei earned the distinction of racing varsity as a freshman and joining her college teammates at US Collegiate Mountain Bike National Championships.

An-Mei began to realize with all the racing exactly where her strengths and pure enjoyment lie: Endurance.

“I hated doing intervals. So I thought I’ll just go ride my bike for lots of hours and then go race lots of hours,” she said, before elaborating, “I ride my bike purely because I love riding my bike, and if I don't love it, then I'm not gonna gain anything from it because my mind's not gonna be in that mentality to want to train.”

With that mentality, she set her sights on the 2023 Leadville Trail 100 MTB and SBT GRVL, two iconic events in endurance racing.

It seems to have paid off, as An-Mei took third in her age group in both events, and just over a month later she won the US Marathon National Championship in her age group.

For 2024, however, she’s shifting gears a bit and taking a step back from racing.

An-Mei says her cancer experience and the possibility of a recurrence has taught her to take advantage of every moment.

“Things like that happen, and you can’t fear them, because you can’t stop them, but you can use them to motivate you to try new things and get out of your comfort zone.”

In lieu of racing in 2024, she plans to take the summer to solo bikepack from Portugal to Poland.

This winter An-Mei is taking some time off the bike to simply enjoy living in Colorado, exploring snow sports and volunteering with the adaptive sports program at Purgatory Resort in Durango.

Her ultimate goal – after graduating college with a degree in marketing and certificates in resort management, avalanche science and digital marketing – is to develop an outdoor sports facility that lowers barriers, both financially and physical ability, for people to participate in the outdoor sports she has grown to love.

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Bikeflights Becomes Tour De France Femmes Avec Zwift Official Service

Each summer, we eagerly await the start of the Tour de France, and more recently also the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. With every day’s stage, there’s the potential for excitement as the world’s best road racers vie for the glory of stage victories and the coveted maillot jaune (yellow jersey) of the overall race winner. So we couldn’t be more excited to announce that Bikeflights is now also a Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift Official Service.

“We’re pleased to extend Bikeflights’ relationship with Amaury Sport Organisation (A.S.O.) to both continue our support for the Tour de France and also expand it to include the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift,” said Sue George, Vice President of Bikeflights.

Bikeflights has long been a supporter of women’s cycling, from its grassroots-focused Ambassador program that has helped many female riders to its sponsorship of elite and junior individual cyclists and cycling teams.

“It’s exciting to be a part of the growth of women’s professional cycling, and we hope to encourage future generations of aspiring young women who dream of competing in cycling’s most iconic event,” said George.

Bikeflights began working with Amaury Sport Organisation through a licensing deal signed in 2019 that designated Bikeflights as an official bike shipping service of the Tour de France. At the time, there was no women’s edition of the race.

The renewal designates Bikeflights as an official service of both the Tour de France and the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. Per the three-year agreement extension, Bikeflights will collaborate with Amaury Sport Organisation to promote Bikeflights’ global bicycle shipping service among fans of the Tour de France and some L’Etape events.

Bikeflights offers a fast, convenient service for cyclists to ship their bikes to and from France. After booking their bike’s shipment with Bikeflights, cyclists can travel unencumbered by their bikes through airports en route to their destination. Their bike will be awaiting them upon arrival, just like happens for the pros.

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Gran Fondo National Series Hosts Six Events in 2024

Looking for some fun road cycling opportunities in 2024? The Gran Fondo National Series is America’s largest and most competitive gran fondo cycling series. With six events from March until September, the series will kick off in Florida and conclude in Maryland with USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships.

At Bikeflights, we recently renewed our long-time support of the Gran Fondo National Series, and we’re eager to assist riders in shipping their bikes to all series events.

“Continuing the relationship between the Gran Fondo National Series and Bikeflights is a natural collaboration. It’s not just that we have cycling events around the nation and that riders need a great way to get their bikes to events,” said Gran Fondo National Series Founder Reuben Kline.

“It goes beyond that. I created the Series to share cycling with more people and make the sport accessible. Bikeflights was founded by people who wanted to make it easy to ride your bike anywhere and who believe in getting more people on bikes and enabling them to realize their goals. Our companies and goals simply align.”

Gran Fondo National Series events are fun, challenging, competitive and inclusive. Their unique timed-segment format gives cyclists of different levels the opportunity to ride together, race each other, regroup to swap stories and enjoy the scenery in some of the nations finest cycling destinations.

“Each event in the Gran Fondo National Series showcases some of the best road riding on the East Coast with challenging, yet scenic routes in five different states,” said Sue George, Vice President. “We’re honored to continue to help riders enjoy these classic rides. Race the timed sections, or just ride for fun — either way you’ll have a great day!”

Heading into their 13th season, the Gran Fondo National Series events continue to be a bright spot in the overall road cycling landscape in the United States. The 2024 Gran Fondo National Series will feature the following events:

March 17, 2024 - Gran Fondo Florida, Dade City, FL

April 21, 2024 - Tour of Georgia Gran Fondo, Helen, GA

June 2, 2024 - Highlands Gran Fondo, Butler, NJ

July 14, 2024 - Gran Fondo Asheville, Asheville, NC

August 4, 2024 - Boone Gran Fondo, Boone, NC

September 15, 2024 - Gran Fondo Maryland, Frederick, MD

Learn more and register for Gran Fondo National Series events.

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Bikeflights Improves Shipping Service For Small Packages

We’re pleased to announce a new, cheaper shipping option for small packages using Bikeflights.com. It’s ideal for customers who are looking to reduce their costs of sending bicycle accessories and components while still enjoying the conveniences of shipping ground with Bikeflights.

“You can now get Postal Service prices for small packages without having to stand in line at the post office,” said William Alcorn, Bikeflights President. “We listened to the needs of our bike shop and individual e-commerce customers who are buying and selling online.”

Shipping via the new service starts out as a typical ground shipment and may move into the US Postal Service for final delivery. It’s ideal for small, low-value, non-urgent packages going to residential addresses and saves $5-$10 per package. As with all other Bikeflights services, customers still have the option to either schedule a pickup or drop off their shipment to get it underway.

Effective immediately, Bikeflights customers will see the option to ship via UPS SurePost® for packages that meet the following criteria:

Shipment Size less than 60 inches (152 cm) where Shipment Size = Length + (2 x Width) + (2 x Height)

Weight less than 10 lbs (5 kg)

Premium Protection of $100

Shipped from within the contiguous United States

Shipped to a residential address in the contiguous United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico or the US Territories (including American Samoa, Guam, Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Northern Mariana Islands and US Virgin Islands).

Due to its non-urgent nature, the new service is not available for time-sensitive Bikeflights shipments such as those booked for events and vacations.

This addition of our newest service complements the industry-leading bike shipping that we’ve been offering for larger gear – like bikes, frames and wheels — since 2009.

Visit Bikeflights.com today to book your next shipment of bikes, wheels or gear.