Big Bike Project Meeting Notes - 4-21-2009

[kevin marley]

Dan Kiss
Chris Warning
Pete Kraemer
Ben Jenkins
Kevin Marley

Dan and Pete have been contacting different bike shops, bars, and other small businesses getting support letters and signatures.

Dan get more contact info from businesses - specific phone #'s and emails so that he can contact them and invite them to a town hall meeting.

Dan will get contact info for public bike parks for references and to provide to land managers for initial contact.

Ben might be a better contact person with land manager because of existing contacts

Initial contact documents to prepare:
Reasons to build a bike park
park examples sheet
Letters from local businesses

Dan will contact Dave and get the flyers made and if Dave can't do it, then he will contact someone else.

Kevin to provide Dan the Plainfield and Farmdale contact info 

The committee decided to not specifically ask for a location, but rather provide an example where what we are asking for might work.

The committee decided to use the forum more for collaboration and updates. 

Next Meeting on May 19th 7:30 PM

[kevin marley]

Post up your work... I would hate to see this project fizzle out, many people were excited to hear about it and hoped that we could pull it off.

Let's see some collaboration!

[R.Snyder]

I would have been there but I was trying to roll to Pete's so Dan could use my bleed kit and got lost.  If there's anything that can be done by someone not in the area with very little people skills I'd be all over it.  What's going on with "Plan B"?

[rrogers]

Is there any progress to report here?

[kevin marley]

I believe we are waiting for people to put some material together and present it to the Park District, but I am a little concerned as support for this project seems to have stumbled a bit.

[R.Snyder]

anyone have any information about what's going on with this?

[kevin marley]

It appears that there is nothing going on with this.  Dan was leading this, but I haven't heard form him lately.  I am pretty bummed because I had a blast riding some great freeride stuff last weekend (it's been a few years) and I realized how much I miss big freeride stunts.  I hope this project isn't dead for good. 

[rrogers]

If this project does not go anyway it further demonstrates just how hard it is to implement a new riding facility. People that lead such projects and seem them through are very hard to find.

[R.Snyder]

If this project does not go anyway it further demonstrates just how hard it is to implement a new riding facility. People that lead such projects and seem them through are very hard to find.

I know full well that I could not be a lead man on a project like this.  Beyond not having the time, I don't have the social skills.

I know that Dan and Peter have been busy with other projects and that perhaps the initial mostly clerical type process would be more efficient in the off season. 

[Seanbikes]

The clerical work never goes away, it's there in the winter and the summer.  You just have to find time to fit it in between digging and riding.     

I hope their not concentrating on a private trail project of questionable legality at the expense of this project.  

[R.Snyder]

The clerical work never goes away, it's there in the winter and the summer.  You just have to find time to fit it in between digging and riding.     

I hope their not concentrating on a private trail project of questionable legality at the expense of this project.  

I'm aware that the clerical work never ends up going away, but initially that's all there is.  And when a trail you can ride today is right there I'm sure it's hard to find the motivation.

[I pick bad lines]

I'm aware that the clerical work never ends up going away, but initially that's all there is.  And when a trail you can ride today is right there I'm sure it's hard to find the motivation.

This is why we all ought to appreciate folks like Marley who are willing to sacrifice riding much for a year or two and put in hundreds upon hundreds of hours of work to make a riding destination into a reality. We need more Marleys.

Did I really just say that?

[R.Snyder]

This is why we all ought to appreciate folks like Marley who are willing to sacrifice riding much for a year or two and put in hundreds upon hundreds of hours of work to make a riding destination into a reality. We need more Marleys.

Did I really just say that?

very true, didn't we have an alternative group of guys talking about a location in the ::gasp:: cook county area in the initial meeting?

[gobighitmtb]

I’m still here and in all honesty I have not had much time to ride legal or illegal trails.  Our freeride spot has gone untouched for over 4 weeks now that I know of.  I had to put all mtb on the back burner while my life took a bad turn.  My wages got cut at work witch in turn resulted in marital difficulties.  So I apologize for disappearing with out a trace.  I think my guys may have lost some interest in the project but I still would like to be on board w/ this.

[I pick bad lines]

Thanks for checking in and for being willing to continue with this project despite the challenges you're facing in your personal life. I wish you all the best with your personal stuff and I do look forward to hearing about more progress with the project too.