The Funtathalon is no ordinary cycling event—it's a celebration of community, fitness, and fun. Created by Stacey Brickson, a cycling enthusiast and organizer, the event brings together friends, couples, and volunteers to participate in a unique blend of cycling and games. Born out of a desire to keep people connected during the pandemic, the Funtathalon has grown into a cherished annual tradition. With teams competing in a mix of cycling segments and quirky challenges, the event fosters camaraderie, laughter, and the thrill of competition. This article gives you an inside look at the origins of the Funtathalon, Stacey’s discovery of OCG - Online Cycling Gear, and the custom jerseys that have become a vital part of the event.

1. What is Funtathalon?

The Funtathalon is an event designed to bring together people who enjoy cycling and having fun. Each team consists of two "funtathletes" who work together to complete four cycling segments: an 8-mile mountain bike ride, a 13-mile road bike ride, a 24-mile gravel ride, and a 24-mile road bike ride. Each funtathlete must complete two of the four cycling segments. While one funtathlete is riding, the other participates in a game that can add or subtract from their overall time.

This year, the games included cornhole, Kubb, Monkey Tail, 3D metal puzzles, trivia, and whiskey shots (with both non-alcoholic and full-strength options).

The Funtathalon originated during the pandemic when all cycling events were canceled. People were craving a sense of community. To help fill that void, I was creating cycling routes weekly, asking cyclists to take photos at designated locations. I would then share those photos to create a sense of unity, despite everyone riding separately. That certainly helped us feel less isolated, but there was more to be done. I created the Funtathalon as a way to bring people together in a fun and safe environment.

The first annual Funtathalon consisted of teams of married couples (people obviously in the same bubble) and the outdoor setting allowed for enough physical separation to minimize Covid risk. The inaugural Funtathalon events included paddling (kayak or canoe), 7-mile trail run, 10-mile roller ski/rollerblade, and 15-mile road ride. The games included cornhole, open soccer kick, horseshoes, and a basketball game of H.O.R.S.E.—plus whiskey shots, of course!

While the event was fun, it presented some challenges. Several participants capsized during the paddling portion (though I had a rescue boat on standby), and there were some minor injuries on the rollerblade event. Managing multiple transition areas was tough despite the generous number of volunteers. Since then, we’ve streamlined the event to focus on four cycling segments, which has made things much easier to manage.

The Funtathalon has grown over the years, but what makes it so special is the people. This year, we had nine teams (18 funtathletes) and as many volunteers. Seven of the teams were couples, one team was made up of in-laws, and another was an unrelated pair connected through dance! Our volunteers ranged from age 2 to 75 and included family members of the funtathletes and participants from my cycling group, BrickO’s Drafters.

2. How You Discovered OCG

I first discovered OCG when I was searching for an affordable custom jersey to gift a friend for her 50th birthday. OCG was the only company I found who would create a single custom jersey. What stood out was the incredible level of customization available, even for just one jersey! I was able to choose the color, add text to the side panel, and select the size and gender. The process was user-friendly, and the pricing was very affordable.

3. The Custom Jersey Design Process

Typically, I already have a logo designed, thanks to a talented Drafter member who handles our graphic design. I then share the logo with OCG and give them the challenging task of creating 18 jerseys—one for each team. Each team has a male and female version of the same color with their team name, and then we repeat the process for all nine teams with different colors and names.

It’s amazing that OCG can pull this off, especially at such an affordable price. There are no restrictions on the number of jerseys that must be the same, so OCG essentially creates nine different jersey designs and then prints them in male and female versions in various sizes. Can you imagine?

4. Your Experience Wearing OCG Apparel

The photos from the event speak for themselves. The funtathletes love creating unique team names and jerseys that reflect their personalities. For example:

• Bone Crushers: A husband and wife team, both in orthopedics (surgeon and PT).
• Are We Late?: A couple with three young kids, notorious for always being late.
• Brazen Ballerinas: This team has a fun connection to the local high school dance team.
• Where’s The Swim Start?: A couple who are world-class triathletes, poking fun at the fact that there’s no swim in the Funtathalon.
• Easy-Beats: In-laws who embraced the possibility of finishing last.
• Sweet and Salty: An engaged couple, one known for being sweet, the other salty!

Each team gets to choose their jersey color, which adds even more fun. Since three teams chose blue and two chose orange, OCG provided different shades of each color to keep things distinct. The jerseys also help volunteers easily identify participants during the mountain bike course, which is open to the public.

While some of our funtathletes are competitive cyclists who are used to wearing skin-tight suits, they still appreciate the "fun" nature of the Funtathalon. Many even use the OCG jerseys during indoor cycling season, and most wear them year-round.

Those who participated in 2023 reused their jerseys this year, which helped me save on costs. One participant even requested a replacement after he tore his jersey in a crash. Luckily, OCG was able to quickly reprint the exact same jersey with the 2023 year!

5. Summarizing Your Overall Experience with OCG

OCG has been incredible to work with. This year, there was a mix-up with the jerseys being printed with the wrong year (2023 instead of 2024), but Dina from OCG worked tirelessly to get them all reprinted and delivered a week before the event. I like to have everyone wash and wear their jersey once before the race to ensure it fits well, so the fast turnaround was very much appreciated.

It’s challenging enough for me to keep track of all the different jersey colors, text colors, team names, and sizes, but OCG manages to do it seamlessly. The affordability is also a huge factor. I couldn’t pull off this event without their pricing. While I could consider charging participants in the future, for now, I enjoy giving back to the cycling community—and OCG makes that possible.

No other company would be willing to work with me on this level of customization, and for that, I’m incredibly grateful.

Conclusion

The Funtathalon has become more than just a fun event; it’s a testament to the power of community and creativity. What started as a way to keep a sense of togetherness during a tough time has evolved into an annual celebration of cycling, friendship, and joy. With OCG’s support, we’ve been able to add a personal touch through custom jerseys, making the event even more special. Their affordable and highly customizable apparel has been a game-changer, allowing us to keep the event accessible and unique. As we look forward to future Funtathalons, I am grateful for the partnership with OCG and the memories we continue to create.

P.S. Planning a unique event? Let us help you create custom jerseys that stand out! Email us at support@onlinecyclinggear.com.au.