2012 is starting off big for Greenlightride with a host of challenges that fit the something new, something old and something blue theme.

Let’s start with something blue. Three winter challenges have already begun including the
Bartholomew County IN Commit to Commute Winter Bike Challenge,
Alaska Department of Fish and Game Winter Bike Off
and the RDI – Winter Commuter Challenge 2011-12. It’s interesting that two of the three competitions originate with companies based in Alaska.

For something new check out the Jackson County Bicycle Club 1/2 Hour a Day Health Challenge The concept for this challenge is simple: Use at least 2% of your day to make 98% of your day better. But they’ve taken it a step further by offering prizes to make someone else’s day better as well. The club has teamed up with B2 Bikes & Boards and HWRT Reddington Terminal to make donations to the charity of choice of one active rider per month. See the challenge for more details.

Every challenge is new, but some of our best challenges have been at it for several years. Wells Fargo’s 2011 Challenge blew past its 100,000 mile goal by Labor Day and kept right on riding. They’ve upped the ante for the 2012 challenge. The new goal is one mile of bike commuting for every employee in the company. According to Wikipedia, Wells Fargo had 270,000 employees in 2011. Greenlightride wishes them well in their new challenge.

Two other worthy competitions returning for the new year:
2011- every mile counts had 26 teams competing. The team with the highest mileage MTBR Forums Commuters logged over 28,000 miles during the competition.

20 days per month in 2011 challenged competitors to ride at least 20 days in every month of the year. Team limit is one person and the top mileage team (rider) logged over 10,000 miles, despite a restriction that only work and errand trips counted.

There’s more to come. Greenlightride can help you make 2012 your best riding year ever through the motivation of friendly competition. Join one of the ongoing competitions or start your own. It’s all about riding more.

We’re proud to announce that team search is now live. This has been our most requested Greenlightride feature.

To use Team Search, click on “Teams” in the top navigation bar, then “All Teams.” Scroll down to “View Teams” and type in the name you are searching for. Click on the team name to go to the team’s homepage.

If you don’t know the exact spelling of the team name, type in as much as you know. You will get an alphabetical list of teams with that word in the name. For example, if you type in something common, like “Bike,” you will get a long list of teams with “Bike” in the name. The teams will be listed in alphabetical order.

Watch this space for more changes and updates to Greenlightride as we prepare the site for an exciting new season of bike challenges and competitions

Check your homepage or your profile page for the latest feature from Greenlightride: Facebook Connect. Just click the button and in a few minutes you will be able to:
Enter a ride and share it with your Facebook friends.
Set up a team and invite your friends to join.
Quickly find out about new competitions- and join the fun.
Write a comment about your ride and share it.
Enter your rides directly from Facebook.
You can do it all by clicking on the “Connect with Facebook” button, then logging into your Facebook account. Once you’re set up, you can go to your profile page and check “Automatically post my greenlightride updates on Facebook.” Or leave it unchecked and selectively post your activities by clicking on “Post this Greenlightride update on Facebook.”
You will also see the latest updates from your Facebook friends as they enter rides and create competitions. You will see their latest ride posting, the teams they belong to and the competitions they have entered. Check it out. What better way to let your friends know that you are riding and competing on Greenlightride?

Thanks to everyone who logged miles and a special thanks to those who set up, administered and promoted challenges and leagues on the site. Thanks, also, for the feedback on how when can improve the site. We take your suggestions seriously and will be making changes during the next couple of months.