It seems I'm always at the trailing end of post Cirque reports. Just takes a while to get back on top of what, unfortunately, resembles normal life. Arriving home on Monday afternoon, getting the Black Market Shuttle unloaded, figuring out what I bought and what I sold and stuff stashed away (well, sort of), then crashing out for an hour before my wife comes home from work, I didn't really face reality until Tuesday morning when the alarm went off. Back in the office on Tuesday, trying to catch up on work and personal business, I realize that I must have been on another planet for the prior four days. Totally removed from the planet I inhabit on a normal basis. My work generally demands that I check email and have my phone available on a somewhat regular schedule. Just part of the requirement. However, this year I never once plugged in my computer, and left my phone off and in the drawer about 90% of the time (forgetting my charger was the best excuse I've had in a long time). Like Eddy Albert, I'm a bit of a news junkie, reading the Washington Post every day, and watching the news every night. But not on this other planet! I never once turned on the TV in my room. Total escapism! Life on this other planet, where bicycles are of supreme stature and grace, and the populace live and breath the culture of bicycle steel, alloy, paint, leather and plastic, is a mighty fine planet indeed. A visit there is not to be missed, and thoughts of trying to stay there forever always linger.
Alas, my time there went by in a flash. I blinked and it was over.
When I first landed, I was taken aback a bit when Dale said something about this possibly being the last Cirque. Something about the furniture business and having to change the dates, and not knowing when, and possible conflicts, and the growing size and complexity, and the workload, and.....gasp, gasp, the air was getting thin. I couldn't breath. What was happening? Was the planet going to flame out? Had it burned too bright? It was like a stab in the heart.
Fortunately it was just a passing storm. Within a matter of hours, it seems, calm had been restored and the next Cirque was already on the books for another year, but shifted to a later date. Safe again. Relaxed and breathing again.
I'm a veteran of many visits to this wonderful place. It would be hard to imagine life without it. The bikes are really beyond belief. It's hard to imagine that there could be more of the quality and diversity assembled in one time and place, yet that seems to happen every year. But as everyone has recognized, it's the people that are the real treasure assembled here. The collective knowledge, camaraderie, humor and sheer exuberance of this community is just hard to describe. But when Jeff spoke at the banquet on Saturday, he really summed it all up for me when he described the collective passion exhibited in this special community. This passion for the history, the craft and the art of the bicycle is nothing short of astounding. The rides, the presentations, the auction, the swap and the show are all important components, but it's the passion of the people that defines this environment, this other world.
And while Dale Brown might be the nucleus, the shining core, it's really everyone involved collectively that make this event other worldly. And I can hardly wait until my next visit.
On the spouse issue, my wife seems to have sensed the infectious nature of what's happening, and has expressed her interest in attending next year. I think that's great, and I hope other spouses are encouraged to attend as well.
Gotta go for now, but I have a couple more specific points to touch on, and highlights to report, so there is probably a bit more to come.
Ciao for now.
Wayne Bingham
Lovettsville VA