GCBC History
The Gulf Coast Bicycle Club has a rich and evolving history that spans over three decades of cycling, community, and advocacy along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. From its grassroots beginnings to becoming a regional leader in cycling events and education, the club has always been guided by a passion for riding and connection. Today, as we grow and adapt, we’re also honoring the past by bringing back meaningful traditions that continue to inspire new generations of cyclists.
​Upcoming Events
1980s–1990s:
Founding and Foundations
2000s:
Expansion and Advocacy
2010s:
Community Impact and Signature Events
2020–2023:
Resilience and Renewal
2025–Present:
Revivals, Youth Focus, and
New Horizons
The Gulf Coast Bicycle Club was established in the mid-1980s by a small group of passionate cyclists committed to making the Mississippi Gulf Coast a better place to ride. The early years were all about grassroots advocacy, local rides, and community building. Members organized weekly group rides, supported safety awareness efforts, and laid the groundwork for a cycling community that would grow for decades to come.
As cycling gained momentum nationwide, the GCBC evolved with it. During the 2000s, the club expanded its ride offerings, participated in advocacy at the city and state levels, and helped develop a culture of cycling throughout the region. The club also began forging relationships with local shops, schools, and health-focused businesses, promoting cycling as both sport and lifestyle.
This era brought increased participation and the development of signature events, including organized rides that drew participants from across the Southeast. The club strengthened its community roots, engaging more directly with schools, hosting safety clinics, and launching programs that introduced new riders—especially youth and families—to the joys of cycling. Several fun and memorable traditions were born during this period, including themed rides, custom club kits, and a collectible patch system that recognized member milestones and achievements.
Through pandemic-era challenges, the club adapted with virtual events, distanced group rides, and a renewed focus on supporting member well-being. Though some events and traditions were paused, this period underscored the club’s resilience and tight-knit spirit. Planning began for a new chapter focused on growth, outreach, and the return of community-centric traditions.
Today, GCBC is undergoing an exciting revitalization—reconnecting with our roots while evolving to meet the future of cycling. In 2025, we created a new club logo on a club member vote after almost 40 years of the same one. We redesigned this amazing website, making sure it was secure, fast, and responsive across all devices. We revolutionized the way people become club members, putting it all through Race Roster. So, whether you're signing up for an event or buying a club membership, you're doing it all in one place. We became entirely cashless. Donations and buying anything outside of Race Roster is done via the club Venmo or PayPal accounts.
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We got on TV a lot!! Good marketing for the club, good encouragement for our local community to get outside and get more active more, advocating others to adopt a healthy lifestyle per the club's mission! We revolutionized the way feedback is now being captured post events and solved the club's storage issues.
We continued the traditions of the Mid-Year Party Ride, 4-Spoke Century, Tour de Burger, Southern Magnolia, and the Christmas Bike Drive and added new ones for future generations to hopefully keep alive! We explored more around our area with no out and back routes outside of the 3rd Annual 4-Spoke Century. We created official RWGPS routes for people to save to their bike computers or phones to also help with navigation. We set up a club RWGPS presence where all official club routes are housed and where all members can for free gain access to the same features paid RWGPS members receive. We really got up with technology!!
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We had route profile stickers for each distance option and focused those on providing navigational cues.
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These revivals are more than just nostalgic nods—they’re part of a broader movement to honor the club’s legacy while fostering the next generation of riders. GCBC is proud to continue its mission of promoting safe, inclusive, and healthy cycling across the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Enjoy some club photos!
The new governing board of the Gulf Coast Bicycle Club—dedicated leaders committed to advancing the club’s mission and upholding its values. We welcome your feedback and encourage you to reach out with ideas or suggestions at any time.
Governing Board
Janet Case VandeVoorde
Vice President
