The Team TIBCO cycling team is making its first conference appearance this year at the upcoming Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society show which begins February 20.
The team has exceeded all expectations as a popular draw at our events providing some unexpected entertainment for conference goers. Last year, the cycling team drew large crowds at every venue, including the America’s Health Insurance Plans Institute, our own TUCON, and the BlueCross BlueShield PMO Summit.
During TUCON, Team TIBCO invited our partners on a ride as an alternative to a golfing event that was being offered. As it turned out, no one signed up for golf and 50 were wait-listed for the sold-out morning ride to Red Rock Canyon National Park outside of Vegas. The lucky ones were equipped with competition-grade bicycles, which one rider equated to being the “Rolls-Royce” of bikes.
The team has literalized our motto “the two-second advantage™” in a stationary bike competition and giveaway with conference attendees. The two-second advantage describe the ability to predict the future with a bit of the right information at the right time, even just by two seconds. A Team TIBCO member set a distance in 30 seconds and challenged the suits to match that same distance in 28-seconds, giving the team member a two-second advantage.
“The two-second advantage is just as critical in bike racing as it is in business. In two seconds you could make or miss the critical move that wins the race.”– Linda Jackson, Team TIBCO owner and founder
Although perhaps unfair to have your typical corporate conference attendee cycle faster than a professional cyclist, the team entertained the packed crowd with giveaways of drinks and energy snacks for all and prizes to the top three competitors. Some attendees even rushed to their rooms to get tennis shoes, while many returned to the line three or four times to have a better chance at winning by trying new techniques to cycling further in the allotted 28 seconds.
“It was great to see people in suits really letting loose, rolling up their pants, pouring sweat to try to win this challenge… At the end of the day, many just enjoy doing something different at these conferences.” – Jennifer Wheeler, Team TIBCO cyclist
Distances were reported in real time as soon as the 28 seconds were up, displayed via TIBCO Spotfire technology integrated with our partner PIKE Electonic.
If you are going to HIMSS in February, get ready ‘cause Team TIBCO will be coming to spice up your conference schedule. If you are planning on attending TUCON 2012 we will see you there as well.
