2007 Fall Color Ride – Sunday, October 28, Noon-O’Clock

This is your last chance to make good on your 2007 NY’s resolution to go on a VBE Ride this year. The Sammamish Valley Trail/Fall Color Ride is one of our group’s oldest traditions, pre-dating VBE and, in fact, the Tokul Creek Bridge itself (at least the second one.)

The SV Trail is built on an old railroad grade and runs through woodlands with bridges crossing several ravines and offers many vistas of the valley below. We will be riding a twelve mile section of the trail between the intersection of the trail with Tokul Road, and the Town of Carnation. The first 9+ mile section is a gentle downgrade followed by a flat stretch to Carnation.

(1995 Fall Color Ride)

We will start the ride from the parking lot of the Salish Lodge (Snoqualmie Falls Lodge.) We plan to depart by 12:30, so try to arrive a bit before noon to unload your bike and pre-function. The trail head is approximately 1/2 mile north of the parking lot on Tokul Road. Once we reach the trail the ride takes about 1 ½ to 2 hours including several stops for photos. In Carnation we will stop for lunch and strategize car-pools to get riders back to the lodge parking lot to retrieve their vehicles.

(2006 Fall Color Ride)

Bulleted List of Important Ride Info:

• Meet in the Salish Lodge parking lot (see driving directions) BY noon.
• We will drive or ferry bikes to the trailhead ½ mile north on Tokul road.
• Once underway, the ride itself takes about an hour and a half. Lunch usually absorbs the remainder of the afternoon.
• Once we reach Carnation, we will organize getting riders back to the Lodge parking to retrieve their vehicles. Riders may then need to return to Carnation for their bikes. If possible plan ahead with other riders to have vehicles at both ends.
• Call or comment to this post with questions: Phil: 206-708-1199 Ron: 206-364-0922
  
  

Driving Directions:

Take I-90 to exit #25, Highway-18/Snoqualmie Parkway (about 16 miles from Bellevue). Turn left (north) off the exit and follow Highway-18/Snoqualmie Parkway 3.5 miles through the residential development, Snoqualmie Ridge, until it comes to an end at the traffic light on Railroad Avenue SE. Turn left and proceed 1/4 mile. The Salish Lodge will be on your left and the parking lot is on the right.

I will post a map for the Salish lodge and a map of the trail this weekend. This information can also be sourced from mapquest.

DIRE WARNING!

The trail has few access points to the road and civilization. If you flat, or have a mechanical malfunction, the ride can turn into a long walk. Be sure to prepare your bike mechanically for the ride or yourself, mentally, for the walk.

SECOND TIER DIRE WARNING!

VBE has been cautious about becoming a “club” or even building an event calendar outside of the LeMay Concours. All this is not about to change but I am working on a 2008 calendar of rides to make it easier to honor your 2008 NYR’s. Hey and probably a real meeting or two!

WEATHER ALERT!

It could go without saying that the weather is one of the most important factors contributing to a fun ride. Obviously it is hard to predict today, with any surety, what the weather will be on the 28th. Starting this Sunday I will post the forecasted outlook for our ride and update it daily. If the outlook is particularly gloomy by Noon, Saturday the 27th. I will post an alternate gathering for lunch in Seattle.

Phil/Ron/VBE

(Michelle's Aerocycle, 2006 Fall Color Ride)

Alternative cell number for Saturday, batteries can be short-lived...

206-422-0889

Tour de Fat

The Tour de Fat rolls into town next Saturday, August 11th. This is a "corporate alternative" beer and bike event sponsored by New Belgium Brewing, makers of Fat Tire Ale. The event begins with a Bike Parade at 11:00 am and finishes up with last call at 6:45 pm. It is a fun event with bicycle displays, bicycle games, live entertainment, and importantly, a nourishing Beer Garden. Weld three of yourAutocycle frames on top of each other and make the scene at the Adobe Quadrant inFremont just Northeast of the Fremont Bridge. For more information and pictures from last year's event check out their website at:

http://www.newbelgium.com/index.php

2006 Concours Photos

The Aerocycle Gathering:

The grounds of the former Marmount Academy prove to be an excellent setting for the Concours:

And, of course, there are the cars of the LeMay collection:

Hotel Information

This is the hotel information given to us last year by LeMay. Some prices may not be current, please call the facilities for correct information:

Holiday Inn Express Hotel

253-848-4900

$169.00+tax

(Offers discounts for AARP & AAA)

Best Western Inn

253-848-1500

$139.00+tax

(Offers discounts for AARP)

DeVoe Mansion Bed & Breakfast

253-539-3991

$133.25+tax

Hawthorn Inn & Suites

253-657-0500

$89.00+tax (includes breakfast)

(you must say that you're from LeMay's to get the low rate)

Mill Village Hotel

253-832-3200

Single $60.00+tax

Double $70.00+tax

(you must say that you're from LeMay's to get the low rate)

INFORMATION ABOUT JUDGING

Display Classes

VBE developed a system of bicycle classes, condition classifications and judging criteria for entries in the 2006 VBE Concours at LeMay. The goal of this system is to provide distinctions for entering and judging bicycles that reflect the current practices and ideals of the collecting community. Minor changes have been made to the system for 2007 and special Sears classes have been added to reflect the featured make.

As before, bicycles will be entered by their Make, Model, and Year. These designations must match the bicycle frame. The key component of any bicycle is the frame it is built around. If these do not match, the bicycle will be reclassified to the correct make, model and year as defined by the frame used. An example of this is that a 1949 Phantom outfitted with 1938 Cantilever components will be judged as a 1949 Phantom with incorrect parts.

For the 2007 Concours at LeMay, the following bicycle classes have been defined for judging:

1A - Pre-Balloon

2A - Balloon 1933-1945

3A - Balloon 1946-1960

4A - Middleweights and Muscle

In addition to the above, Special judged classes for Sears bicycles will include:

1B - Pre-Balloon-Sears/Elgin

2B - Elgin Balloon

3B - J.C. Higgins Balloon

Non Balloon Sears bicycles produced after WWII and before 1975 will be judged inclusive with Class 4A .

All bicycles entered in the judged classes will also be listed in one of the following four condition categories:

Survivor

Original

Restored

Distresstoration

Additional text defining these conditions will be posted. The judging staff will help in assigning condition status in the case of bicycles that display aspects of more than one condition category. This year awards will be presented for first, second and third place across the judged field to the best originals and restorations.

There have been several requests to display bicycles that fall outside the specific range of our group focus on Classic American Bicycles. In addition to featuring a particular brand or manufacturer each year we plan to have special non-judged classes and displays to include other areas of the hobby. A special display class for Hot Rods and Customs will be open this year for up to 10 bicycles and we are planning a small display for Whizzers.


Judging

Judging will be again be based on a point system that assigns 100 points to each of the following areas:

Correctness

Condition

Finish

This means that, theoretically, a perfect bike in all three categories would have a 300 point score.

Within each judged class, total points will be tallied to declare the class winners. In the case of a points tie the judges will declare a winner.

As previously noted awards will be presented for first, second and third place to the three best restorations and the three best original bicycles amongst all the judged entries. Restoration awards will be declared by the judges based on the correctness and quality of the restoration. Awards for condition will be based on the judged point score with a factor for age filtered in.

A people’s choice ballot box will be provided. All entries in the judged classes will have an entry number and be eligible for the people’s choice award.


Awards

Awards will be presented as follows:

Best in Show Class 1A - Pre-Balloon
Best in Show Class 1B - Pre-Balloon Sears/Elgin
Best in Show Class 2A - Balloon 1933-1945
Best in Show Class 2B - Elgin Balloon
Best in Show Class 3A - Balloon 1946-1960
Best in Show Class 3B - J.C Higgins Balloon
Best in Show Class 4A - Middleweight and Muscle

Best Restoration – First Place
Best Restoration – Second Place
Best Restoration – Third Place

Best Original – First Place
Best Original – Second Place
Best Original – Third Place

Best in Show - People’s Choice

Best in Show awards will be presented to the top bicycle in each of the listed classes. If, for instance, the Best in Show Elgin Balloon is deemed to also be the Best in Show Balloon, 1933-1945; then it would receive both awards.

Best Restoration and Best Original awards will be awarded to the three best restorations and originals on the field independent of Class. Restorations will be judged for accuracy first with consideration given to the presumed difficulty of the restoration. Originals will be judged on condition, completeness and correctness with a premium allowed for age.

Best in Show – People’s Choice will be chosen by ballot.

After the judges have reached their conclusions for the above categories, an overall Best in Show bicycle will be selected by the judges from the winners of the seven categories noted in red.

Ticket Information, please read if you plan on displaying.

Event Tickets

While there is no charge to enter your bicycle in the Concourse , the LeMay Museum does require that, along with the general public, all exhibitors purchase tickets for entry to the site on Saturday. Tickets may be purchased in advance at: 253-779-8179.

Tickets and parking passes are not required for set up on Friday. If you are unable to set up on Friday, consider purchasing your ticket in advance to avoid standing with your bike in the ticket line the day of the event.

Ticket prices are as follows:
Adults = $10 Children 6+ = $5 Children under 6 = Free
Family of 4 (2 Adults, 2 Children or 1 Adult and 3 Children - these are the only combinations allowed) = $20

Tickets can be purchased by phone and received in the mail until 2 weeks before the event. After that, tickets purchased by phone must be picked up at Will Call at the main gate.

Tickets can be purchased the day of the event at the gate.