We're halfway there...

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We've crested the hill, and we're rolling down the other side, wind in our hair, sun at our backs. Or maybe not. Maybe (in spite of all this glorious spring sunshine!), you're plagued with broken spokes and flat tires. You're losing steam. You left your bike at home and (gasp!) drove your car to work today. Whether your Group Health Commute Challenge team still has a 100 percent participation rate or is lagging behind the completion in every category, we thought we'd send along a few ideas that might help you and your team coast to the finish line with energy to spare.

Sound Transit held a "clean your bike chain" workshop last week. Rebecca, the agency's bicycle program coordinator, reports, "We used both rags and fancy chain-cleaning tools. A fun and messy time was had by all."

Starbucks has an in-house "Bike Buddy" program, though which employees volunteer to ride to work with coworkers in their neighborhoods. Says Liz, the program's organizer, "I’m delighted to see lots of new names on the list – and assume that they are first-time commuters. Ya-hoo!"

The Federal Aviation Administration's Renton office invited experienced bike commuters to offer tips and tricks to their coworkers during a brown bag lunch. Tom at the FAA organized the event as a cheap and easy way to help new commuters get started.

Over at Gregg's in Bellevue, they're rewarding their team with breakfast.

Your very own Cascade Bicycle Club fired up the grill today for our annual Bike Month barbecue. Need I say more?

We're sure there are other examples out there, and we want to hear about them. What's your workplace doing to encourage folks to ride to work this month?