Echelon Gran Fondo announces the merging of ZteaM Cycling with Echelon Gran Fondo effective July 1st 2011 - Moves to free membership model.
Hunter Ziesing, founder of ZteaM Cycling and also Echelon Gran Fondo has announced that the approximately 1,000 current and past members of ZteaM Cycling around the country are to be transferred to join the nearly 7,000 participants and followers of the Echelon Gran Fondo organization creating one large and growing group of cyclists and fitness buffs. “This ensures continued benefits for ZteaM members as part of the Echelon organization with preferred access to world class mass rides during the year as well as the enhanced benefits a much larger number of riders can command long term.”
ZteaM Cycling, a 501 (c) 3 and the predecessor to Echelon, was founded in 2004 as a social riding club in Marin California and later grew to over 20 regional chapters around the country. Several put on their own local charity rides including the Oak Hill School ride for autism with Eddy Merckx, as well as rides with Bob Roll, and Frankie Andreu. In 2006, ZteaM developed a racing program led by Hans Gouwens who built a very strong masters team as well as a U27 team that took his developing riders to a third place finish at the 2008 Tour of Pennsylvania. Video
In 2009, Hunter Ziesing and Echelon co-founder, David Cochran left their full time careers to enter the event fundraising arena full time starting with the production of two gran fondos in the US in 2010. Both benefitted local cancer organizations. Echelon now has 5 cycling events in 2011 and is expanding into walking and running with their first Echelon Challenge in Palo Alto this fall including a novel idea in the event business: Charity of Choice, where participants have the ability to fundraise for their own charity.
Being part of Echelon is now free and followers get a growing list of benefits from corporate partners through upcoming discounts and deals including loyalty programs for gran fondo participants. Anyone can get these benefits by simply following Echelon.
