Big Bike Project - Skype meeting Tues. April 21st

[kevin marley]

We were supposed to have our meeting last night, but I forgot to remind everyone ahead of time.  So the next meeting is Tues April 21st at 7:00PM.

This is a Skype call.  Anyone who plans on attending please post up your skype user name.   Some new people have mentioned that they would like to participate in this meeting.  The meeting is open to the public, anyone can attend, but keep in mind that have a specific agenda to accomplish and that the meeting organizer will ask people to be quiet in order to accomplish our goals.



Here are the to do's from the last meeting (see the meeting notes from the last meeting).  I know some of these are done already.
I will post up the agenda within the next couple days.


Marley to provide sample letter to send to businesses.

Pete and Dan - Get letters from Bike Shops and local businesses endorsing the bike park and increase in tourism.

Dan - will contact the Kane County Forest Preserve (KCFP) (will contact them after the next meeting). He will give the initial sales pitch and provide an info packet during the initial phone call showing benefits of bike parks, the benfits to the KCFP, and success stories. The goal of the initial contact is to set up a meeting where we can discuss the plan in detail and eventually give a presentation for approval.


Info Packet:
Dave (not Peters?) - maybe help with creating a video
Pete - gather pics, info on bike parks.
Marley - generic statistics on bike parks.
Dave - will format the info and create a published document.



edit - added 04-08-09: 


Post up pics or info that you want to share for the next meeting. Because time is always limited let's use the meeting time to not talk about specific examples or other locations, we can share them and other information here in this forum before the meeting.

Do not post sensitive information here (such as specific addresses or names of potential locations) as it is a public forum and can be viewed by anyone.

Post up you status and achievements so that everyone can see your progress.


04-21-09  Agenda:
Report on contacting local businesses and collecting letters.
Discuss first contact phone call and our message.
Creating initial info packet for first contact phone call.
Discuss plan "b"

[R.Snyder]

We were supposed to have our meeting last night, but I forgot to remind everyone ahead of time.  So the next meeting is Tues April 21st at 7:00PM.

This is a Skype call.  Anyone who plans on attending please post up your skype user name.   Some new people have mentioned that they would like to participate in this meeting.  The meeting is open to the public, anyone can attend, but keep in mind that have a specific agenda to accomplish and that the meeting organizer will ask people to be quiet in order to accomplish our goals.



Here are the to do's from the last meeting (see the meeting notes from the last meeting).  I know some of these are done already.
I will post up the agenda within the next couple days.


Marley to provide sample letter to send to businesses.

Pete and Dan - Get letters from Bike Shops and local businesses endorsing the bike park and increase in tourism.

Dan - will contact the Kane County Forest Preserve (KCFP) (will contact them after the next meeting). He will give the initial sales pitch and provide an info packet during the initial phone call showing benefits of bike parks, the benfits to the KCFP, and success stories. The goal of the initial contact is to set up a meeting where we can discuss the plan in detail and eventually give a presentation for approval.


Info Packet:
Dave (not Peters?) - maybe help with creating a video
Pete - gather pics, info on bike parks.
Marley - generic statistics on bike parks.
Dave - will format the info and create a published document.

yeah I noticed that I had missed skype calls this morning, sorry I completely forgot that we said 2 weeks in the meeting.

[gobighitmtb]

Yeah I tried to skype some of you yesterday but got no answer so when’s the next time you all want to get together.

[Seanbikes]

We were supposed to have our meeting last night, but I forgot to remind everyone ahead of time.  So the next meeting is Tues April 21st at 7:00PM.

[kevin marley]

I modified the original post.  Also I am copying my to do's over to this thread for the sake of finding them easier...




Sample support letter:

To whom it may concern:

The Chicago Area Mountain Bikers (CAMBr) have been maintaining the best off-road trails and riding facilities in the Chicagoland area for close to 15 years. They are a non-profit organization that works together with forest preserves and park districts to create and maintain off-road recreation for bicycles. CAMBr provides volunteer labor to give life to projects on public land by organizing workdays, raising donations, and building community support. CAMBr has seen huge success with their multiple facilities which besides providing a healthy recreational activity are also used as locations for events like riding exhibitions, competitions, and bicycle skills and safety training.

Although there are over 9 million residents in the Chicagoland area, most of whom own a bicycle, there are only a handful of off-road riding destinations.  Off-road riding facilities usually can be built with little or no cost and can bring recreational tourism dollars to the surrounding areas and increased sales for local merchants.  A unique riding destination such as the Palos Forest Preserve trails or the Plainfield Bike Park would be good for our community and would increase my sales.

I am excited about this new CAMBr Project. It will surely be a benefit to the small local businesses of Kane County. Please accept my recommendation of the Chicago Area Mountain Bikers and of their proposed park.

Sincerely,






Reasons to build a bike park

Bicycle friendly communities are seen as places with a high quality of life.
This often translates into increased property values, business growth and increased tourism. Bicycle-friendly communities are places where people feel safe and comfortable riding their bikes for fun, fitness, and transportation. With more people bicycling, communities experience reduced traffic demands, improved air quality and greater physical fitness.

Bicycling is good exercise. A bicycle provides individual freedom and transportation.
Our sedentary lifestyle leads to cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, and being overweight. Bicycling as a regular aerobic exercise leads to a healthy body and helps prevent disease and a shortened lifespan.

A bike park provides a year round facility for riders to improve bicycle handling skills in a safe manner.

A bike park appeals to today’s youth. Extreme sports are gaining in popularity and don't require teams or organization to enjoy.

Built with relatively little cost, a park could be a destination along the existing trail system.

Competitions and exhibitions would bring visitors to Kane County businesses. Last year the Plainfield Dirt Jam brought over 150  bike riders from across the Midwest to raise money to fund the Plainfield Bike Park.

Manufacturers and local bike shops can use the park to hold events and exhibitions.

The facility could offer classes or lessons for bicycle handling skills or dirt jumping.

A bike park will help prevent illegal jump building and extreme bike riding in unauthorized areas.   A legal riding facility legalizes this popular recreational sport and eliminates the need for unauthorized building.   

[Yeti Clyde]

Last night, the pre-ride at the North meeting included a ride at Raceway woods.

During our meeting talk of doing something in Raceway woods came up, we have a few members who ride there a few times a week.

From the local's perspective, it's sort of unclear what the county is doing there.

Maybe North and West should discuss Kane County, so we don't step on each other each other trying to achieve the same goal.   

[RenegadeRick]

Maybe North and West should discuss Kane County, so we don't step on each other each other trying to achieve the same goal.   

We won't step on each other.  We will coordinate our efforts.  It's a completely different thing.

[R.Snyder]

reminder for all that this is tomorrow night.

[kevin marley]

see you tonight