Chicago '10

[JimHow]

For the past five years or so we have been doing the annual convention around April 1st.
This week on the calendar usually: a) avoids major religious holidays, b) minimizes the likelihood of winter weather, and c) seems to interfere less with vacation schedules.

The dates for that week in 2010 fall on the following days:

Thursday, April 1, 2010
Friday, April 2, 2010
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Sunday, April 4, 2010

Any thoughts?

[DavidG]

Those dates would work for me.
Passover is March 29-30.
April 4 is Easter Sunday.
I have other commitments April 9-11 and 23-25.

[Daytonnc]

Those dates work for us as well Jim.

Susan

[stefan]

Isn't travel more expensive on Easter weekend than other spring dates? Two weeks later might be both cheaper and warmer.

stefan

[JimHow]

You may be right, let's think about this a bit.

[RDD]

Susan spoke a little too soon for me.
I would prefer a week or so after Easter.
Easter is traditinally the weekend Randoneurs ride a Fleche.
And if anyone wonders what Randoneuring is here's a link for the USA contingent:
www.rusa.org

[JonB]

RDD - I recall an earlier post where you were talking about doing the P-B-P. Is that still the plan? Have you done all the brevets to qualify?

I used to ride hilly, double-centuries until I came down with overtraining syndrome. It wrecked havoc on my sleep pattern for several years, then with small kids at home I never did carve out the time to get back into long distance cycling. However I enjoy hearing about those who do. It takes someone with a special focus. Please be sure and post if you do the PBP next August!

[RDD]

Jon:
Yes I'm planning to ride PBP.
It won't occur again till 2011 but the entry is a little tougher this time as many got DNF's in 2007 (cold and rainy).
So in 2010 you need to complete a 200K,300K,400K in order to get an early mailing date for entry in 2011.
Then in 2011 you must complete a 200K,300K,400K and 600K to actually qualify to ride.
My brother Mike has done PBP twice. This year he knocked out London Edinburgh London.
So he's my inspiration and would be geat to ride together.
I was trying back in 2007 but went through some abdonimal surgery and never quite recovered from it time to whip myself into shape.
You did touch on an important point. It takes a ton of time training to ride the long distances. It borders on being totaly selfish and you have to have an understanding family to support you in this endeavor.
Finally, get back on the bike and just take it easy. Find a nice three mile loop and ride laps each day just to burn off the stress. But it is easy to get carried away and run yourself into the ground until you dislike the bike.

[Rick]

JIm

we had talked about doing Chicago a bit later so it would be warmer - or should I say not freezing

What about May 8

[JimHow]

I'm all for it, Ricky, but you have to remember we have had these discussions before, and we have found that the later you go in the spring the less number of people attend.

[JonB]

I'm more likely to make a Chicago event....but our kids spring break is April 5-9, and it might be hard to make it during the break. I'm thinking you should take a poll of dates.

There's quite a few holidays in April/May, e.g.
Passover Tues, Mar 30 - Mon, Apr 5
Easter Sun, Apr 4
Yom Hashoah Nis 27, 5770 Sun, Apr 11, 2010
Yom Haatzmaut Iyyar 5, 5770 Mon, Apr 19, 2010
Lag B'Omer Iyyar 18, 5770 Sun, May 2, 2010
Shavuot Siv 6, 5770 Wed, May 19, 2010

Rob - from everything I've heard, PBP is an event that takes years of building up to, and even with disciplined training, finishing is not assured. You must be in great shape. Thanks for the tips.

[JimHow]

Sure, let's get some input here, what does the BWE population think?

[DavidG]

May 9 is Mother's Day. Rules out a May 8 convention for me.

[Rick]

did not realize the Mother's day conflict

I am flexible on dates as I do not care about any of the holidays

We have done Chicago twice in the cooler weather so it does work

rick

[JimHow]

How about the following:

Thursday, March 25, 2010
Friday, March 26, 2010
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010

[DavidG]

That works for me... Avoids holidays, Passover is the following week and Easter the following weekend.

[JonB]

Mar 25-28 works for me as well.

[Daytonnc]

These dates work for us. I guess it will still be pretty cold though in March???? Looking forward to it - never been to Chicago before (only connecting through the airport....)

[JimHow]

We did Chicago '01 in February. The 25th-28th is basically the same April 1st weekend we've been doing the past five years or so.

[stefan]

OK for me even if early May is prettier in the windy city.

stefan

[dstgolf]

That works fine for me but will be a bitter weekend in Chicago.Will need some extra special drink to warm us all up.I have the time already booked off and waiting to go since the week was still open it's a done deal for now! Awaiting the final decision.

Danny

[JimHow]

Looks like it is shaping up for March 25-28th, let's sit on it for another day or so to see if there's something obvious we are missing.

[Rick]

works for me....hopefully we hear from JonNorthway that it works for him
rick

[dstgolf]

The Ides if March beyond would be great. Just back from a 2006 Bordeaux tasting. First note is an average year. Forget this discussion of a classic Bordeaux year. They either hit the mark or they didn't. Grape growing was not ideal with the typical blending grapes being devistated (petit verdot, cab franc along with merlot). Will post a more formal/informal report on 2006.

Must say wine of the night Leoville las Case.

Once the effect wears off I'll be a little more coherant.

Danny

[Tom In DC]

A Cab Sauv year always makes me think Leoville Las Cases and Mouton, but the prices are soooo far out of whack...

[Tom In DC]

We're looking good for the last weekend in March, God willin' and the creek don't rise..

[Jay Winton]

mrs v on travel. let me check with her about these dates.

[JCNorthway]

Sorry to weigh in late on this discussion, but we just returned from a couple of weeks in Europe, mostly in France. I'll report on a few wines we enjoyed in another thread (one of them a bordeaux).

I think that weekend looks fine on our calendar, and I saw it also looked OK for Rick. That's great since I assume that Rick and I should do some of the heavy lifting in terms of planning and organizing.

Looking forward to a great 10-year celebration for BWE.

Jon

[Jay Winton]

mrs v on travel. let me check with her about these dates.

barring anything unforeseen i.e. aging parent issues, this weekend should work!

[sdr]

I'm in whenever it is.

Everyday I'm still alive is a holiday. My preferred way to celebrate is a BWE event.

~stuart

[JimHow]

Ok, I think we have our weekend, I'll post the dates in a separate thread.