Czech Embassy Bike Challenge 2023

The Embassy of the Czech Republic invites you to its fourth annual Czech Embassy Bike Challenge to celebrate the upcoming Czech Independence Day.

 

Cycle anytime during the challenge period from September 28 to October 28, 2023, in two categories:

  

Challenger

 

Cycle the 19.18 km long track from Georgetown to Great Falls, record your ride and compare your time with others!

 

Commuter

 

Not living in DC or want to cycle less than 19.18 km? The commuter is right for you! Organize a ride with your community or cycle by yourself during the challenge period and share the picture from the ride with us. If you can, add something Czech to your photo - can be a Czech flag, your favorite Czech sight – you decide! Please send the photo submissions with a short text to: czechembassydc@gmail.com  or share the picture on Facebook or Instagram and tag us by using the handle @czechembassydc, hashtag #czechembassybikechallenge

 

PRIZES:

 

The top ten participants in the Challenger category will receive diplomas and tasty beer kits provided by the Challenge partners or a special Embassy gift bag for participants under 21.

 

For the Commuter category, the Embassy will award best photo submissions with a special gift bag.

 

           

EVENT DETAILS:

 

TIME: Anytime from September 28 to October 28, 2023

 

WHERE: 

 

For Commuters: Anywhere in the US

 

For Challengers:

 

Start: Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath (gravel trail) in Georgetown under the Key Bridge (map)

Finish: Mile 13 Marker at the Great Falls on Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath – before Lock 15 (map)

 

Map of the entire 19.18 km (~12m) track from Georgetown to the Great Falls

 

Video of the track: 3D video

 

RULES AND REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CHALLENGER CATEGORY:

 

Czech Embassy Bike Challenge is open to everyone!

  

1) Register on Eventbrite at: TBD

 

2) Become a member of “Czech Embassy Bike Challenge 19.18” club in the Strava tracking app.

 

3) Record your ride in Strava. Remember to hit the record button before you get under the Key Bridge when starting the 19.18 km gravel trail. 

 

About Strava tracking

 

Strava is an internet service for tracking human exercise which incorporates social network features. It is mostly used for cycling and running using GPS data. Strava uses a freemium model with some features only available in the paid subscription plan. To take part in the challenge, free Strava membership is sufficient. The Czech Embassy has created a 19.18 km long track (Czech Embassy Bike Challenge 2023 segment) on Strava on a popular trail leading from Georgetown to Great Falls. By registering for the challenge and becoming a member of the “Czech Embassy Bike Challenge 19.18“ club, the Czech Embassy will be able to filter results of those taking part in the challenge with other cyclists riding on the trail and passing through the same track. There is no official cooperation between Strava and the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Washington, D.C., and the Embassy cannot guarantee 100% accuracy of the tracking system. Please keep in mind that our challenge is not an official race as the Embassy provides solely a joint leaderboard to measure the time from your leisure ride with others.

 

Final results

 

Strava app will update the joint leaderboard for the “Czech Embassy Bike Challenge 19.18” club automatically based on the recording of all results. We will take into account results from September 28-October 28, 2023, only. This is a friendly challenge, participation of everyone is encouraged, and one final leaderboard will be announced once the challenge is over. 

 

Why 19.18 km?

 

The year 1918 brought independence to the Czech people. That year, future President Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk and sitting US President Woodrow Wilson shared a friendship and vision that forever changed the map of Europe with the creation of a sovereign, democratic state on October 28. The Czech Embassy Bike Challenge honors the historic year of independence via its 19.18 km track and challenges all to seek out Czech connections in the United States!

 

DISCLAIMER

 

By registering, you are acknowledging that you are going to take part in the Czech Embassy Bike Challenge (“Challenge“) at your own risk. The Challenge does not constitute an official race as the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Washington, DC, (“Embassy”) provides solely a joint leaderboard for those who voluntarily cycle at the time of their choice a ride of their choice or the segment created in the Strava app. The created segment is an open trail with other cyclists, hikers, runners, and pedestrians. It is imperative that all Challenge participants obey all existing laws and regulations as well as friendly cyclist manners.

 

Conducting activities outside of your home poses an inherent risk. You and any family members and guests voluntarily assume all risks related to the Challenge and agree not to hold the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic and the Embassy or any of their diplomats, staff, contractors, affiliates, employees, agents, or volunteers liable for any illness, injury, or death.