Across North America, campus rec departments are gearing up for the 5th year of the Fall Frenzy Virtual Cycling Tournament. Hosted by NIRSA associate member Expresso, this tournament rewards the athletic performance of top colleges with t-shirts, trophies, and a chance for riders to win $500.
The five-week bracketed tournament takes place on virtual reality Expresso Bikes in nearly 200 colleges across North America. Participants ride as far as they can on the interactive exercise bikes during 48-hour rounds. Throughout the event, everything is tracked live online as the action unfolds.
2017 schedule
The schedule has been set for 2017:
- Qualifiers: Oct 4-5
- Super 16: Oct 11-12
- Electric Eight: Oct 18-19
- Fearsome Four: Oct 25-26
- Championship: Nov 1-2
Schools of all sizes can ride in the tournament. The only requirement is to have Expresso Bikes in the rec center! Schools like the University of Iowa, Vanderbilt University, Penn State University, and more participated last year and will be back again. Colleges can invite their athletic teams, cycling clubs, and even academic clubs to participate. This tournament brings riders of all athletic backgrounds to the cardio floor and every mile counts!
“We noticed a strong sense of community throughout the event,” says Kevin Grant, Director of Recreation Fitness at Saint Mary’s College of California. “Diverse members were involved in creating an enthusiastic environment throughout the tournament.”
Past winners of the tournament include Louisiana State University, Saint Mary’s College of CA, and two time champion Schoolcraft College. Last year, the Schoolcraft College Ocelots took the title back after being upset in the finals by the Gales of Saint Mary’s the year before. In the final round the two teams rode a combined 8,981 miles in 48 hours. 335 students, faculty, and staff participated.
Over the course of last year’s tournament, 2,358 riders from 155 schools rode a combined 59,048 miles and burned nearly 2,000,000 calories on their Expresso Bikes. This fall will be even bigger!
Official rules and prizes are available online. Leading up to the tournament, Expresso hosts staff trainings and provides marketing materials to help schools engage their students in the Fall Frenzy.
- For more information or to set up a staff training, please contact Expresso Coach Ross Stensrud.
Ross Stensrud is currently Chief Marketing Officer and coach at Expresso. He can be reached at rstensrud@ifholdings.com.
