10th Anniversary Erie Canal Bike Tour, July 6-13, 2008

www.ptny.org/canaltour for pics and overview

Intro:
About 500 cyclists arrive in Buffalo on Saturday, July5. Nichols School is our HQ for registration, tent city, rides to Niagara Falls, around the Historic sites in the City, and to and from Buffalo State Dorm , Elmwood and Hertel Ave restaurants, bike shops etc. WE have official tents set up for sign ups, registration and information.

At 2:00 most of the riders are back at Nichols from Niagara and around town and the first rush for registration occurs. At about 4:00 P.M. 2-3 busloads of participants and trucks loaded with bicycles arrive from Albany. The second rush of the day for registration etc occurs. Because Nichols School is undergoing major construction, many of the usual sites we use for our events are off limits. We have the challenge of making sure people know where to go and how to get there. People arriving in cars arriving, unloading and parking will be especially challenging and in need of traffic direction and control.

Shuttles take participants to Campus Wheelworks to fetch their bikes, which were shipped ahead. Also folks who opt to stay at Buffalo State Dorm for the night are shuttled to the dorm.

Late afternoon arrives and the wine and cheese reception begins followed by dinner followed by opening welcome meeting.

Volunteers are welcome to the reception, dinner and the welcome program. It’s here where we are introduced, applauded for our work to get this tour going.

Because Blue Bikes is nearby, it might be possible to show off the shop and give folks information about our bike share program.

Sunday, July 6. The Big Kick Off. Cyclists gather for the 8:00 A.M. Send Off.

For the 10th anniversary, the Buffalo Support Team is hoping to have a more spectacular lead off, such as a whole lot of Blue Bike Riders leading the way to the Riverwalk entry point at Hertel Ave. Cue Sheets provided.

Our goal is to have a safe, memorable and newsworthy kick off event. We’d like to entice Mayor B, County Exec. C, and some Buffalo VIP’s to be part of the parade too. No Critical Mass mayhem allowed. And above all, no police escorts. As usual Helmets required.

Tasks needing volunteers: Saturday, July 5

Morning sort of early (4-6) - set up Easy Up Tents, sign distribution, registeration tables and shirts, bottles, registration packets and special sign up sheets, book and anniversary jersey sales, and all around getting ready for the first rush of participants.
Information booth volunteers (6-8 split shifts) - answer questions, give advice about how to get to shops, restaurants, rental carts to airport, shuttles times and locations, and any and every question that might be asked –including, but not limited to- best place to get beef on weck, best wings, where do I park my car for the long term? FAQ sheets will be available and our Ask Ralph Guru will be on hand to add usual confusion to the mix.
Shuttle drivers (4-6 –split shifts)– licensed to drive, sober and available to go in circles. From Nichols, Campus Wheel and Buffalo State.
Good traffic control persons. (4-8 volunteers, split shifts) Firm authoritative voice, patience, good smile, sense of humor, and ability to undo snarrled patterns in tight turn area.
Basic bike set up and maintenance persons. (2-4, on call, roaming and helping with other tasks) No major repairs. This stuff is supposed to be done before arriving. But stuff happens. Having the Blue Bike work shop nearby is a real plus.
Brass Band Specialist (1 very rare person) find and recruit a Brass Band for the Wine and Cheese Reception and Sunday Kick Off Ceremony. Band does not have to be big, i.e many members, just er loud – I mean loud enough to wake up riders but not loud enough to make the neighbors annoyed. No –Perhaps it would be better to invite the neighbors to participate in the Kick Off Ceremony.

Sunday, July 6.

1. Kick off ceremony – Bike riders dressed to lead. Costumes are encouraged. Many and varied.

2. Brass Band – See #6 above.

3. Ride marshals to accompany first day tour to whatever distance you choose. Marshals are placed at various stages in the clusters of riders. It’s helpful to have a pal to ride with.

Major duty, be sure people stay on the cue sheet, chase after anyone who strays. Strong legs needed for this task.

4. Beak down crew – help disassemble easy-up tents, retrieve signs, repack and stow all stuff for the tour. Look around in amazement that tent city and the entire campus is back to what it was before the 10th Anniversary Erie Canal Tour horde descended on Buffalo and leaves with little or no footprints left behind – except good memories and warm feelings.

Perks: Volunteers are welcome to the wine and cheese reception, dinner, have the opportunity to wear your volunteer T-shirt to be recognized wherever you go and be subject to the thanks from grateful tour organizers, participants and me – the Day 0 and Day1 coordinator.

Contact me at 885-4633 or suzanne550@juno.com, include your name – contact info, task(s) and t-shirt size.

Suzanne Toomey Spinks, EC2008 Buffalo Support Team Coordinator – Days 0 &1.

If you wish to volunteer on the Tour itself, go to www.ptny.org/canaltour and sing up there.