Well, the holidays are behind us, it's the new year, and time to start thinking about and planning attendance to this year's Le Cirque du CycIisme on June 4, 5 & 6!
While we are still working on the exact program for the Seminar series, but the basic format and schedule for the rest of the Cirque will remain pretty much the same as last year. We had lots of positive feed back about our "more social, less formal" approach, and about the overall feel and flow of the event last year, so we are generally sticking with that again this year. We feel that we successfully fine-tuned a lot of things last year, and hope to further that effort again this time around. There will be some minor changes, and hopefully a few surprises too.
Prices, both for all Cirque activities as well as room rates at the Best Western Hotel (event headquarters) will be held to the same as last year.
On-line registrations is now open at the following link:
http://www.bikereg.com/
Please be aware that there is a small fee associated with on-line registration, but we feel that is well worth the minor charge, and it saves us a significant amount of work. Nevertheless, a down-loadable and print-out registration form will be available on the Cirque web site soon, so you still have that option.
The event headquarters hotel already has a number of Cirque reservations, and I encourage anyone even considering attending to make reservations now. You can always cancel later, AND THE HOTEL WILL FILL UP! Anyone that has attended the Cirque in the past two years knows that the Best Western is the place to be, and a virtual ever-changing bike show and impromptu social gathering scene practically 24 hours a day! Call the Best Western Leesburg directly at 703-777-9400. Please tell them you are booking for the "Cirque".
One change we are making this year is that the Auction's sole beneficiary will be Bikes for the World (BFTW). We are doing this primarily to simplify management of the Auction, and BFTW staff will be be handling all record-keeping and money-management for the event. Last year we raised over $9,000 shared by BFTW and The US Bicycling Hall of Fame. With BFTW actively participating, as well as bringing a number of interesting things to the Auction (as they did last year), we felt it best to simplify to event by making it a specific BFTW initiative. We will still be collecting donations specifically for the Hall of Fame via an option on your registration form (as we did last year), and we are exploring other direct-HoF donation options as well. We still appreciate and support the HoF, but have chosen to separate (and simplify) our charitable efforts.
The Cirque Show & Swap venue will again be the Loudoun County Fairgrounds. I think all will be happy to hear that the main event barn now has a FULLY PAVED FLOOR!
For the past couple years, we've had some special displays and exhibits, both at the hotel and the Fairgrounds. We would like to do something similar again this year, and are soliciting ideas, suggestions and participation. If you have something in that vein that you would like to do, and you think appropriate for the Cirque and are willing to make the effort, please contact me HOWEVER, PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFOREHAND SO THAT WE CAN MAKE ARRANGEMENTS AND APPROPRIATELY INCORPORATE YOUR DISPLAY. PLEASE DON'T PLAN ON JUST SHOWING UP WITH SOMETHING. We need to plan and manage our space, and also want your display to be presented appropriately, so planning ahead is crucial.
We would also like to solicit folks that would be willing to offer a "demonstration" or "mini-workshop", similar to what Earl did last year with his great wheel building demo. Please contact me if you have an idea and would like to contribute.
As always, we are also seeing volunteers to help with many of the tasks associated with the Cirque. If you are willing to pitch-in and help, please let me know!
Your ideas and suggestions are, as always, most welcome. The Cirque is for YOU, and we want it to be the best possible event for all participants.
More details will be coming soon. Keep an eye on the web site, and start making your plans now!
We are looking forward to a great Cirque again this year!
Thanks -
Wayne & MJ
http://www.cirqueducyclisme.com/