Conference noted::bicycle

    	I'll be driving down Thursday.  Three choices. 
    1. Go down 395 and over on 44
    2. Down 84 and follow the signs to UConn
    3. Down 84 and get off where there's a gas station on the right,
    right near the highway. You'd better have a detailed map because
    this involves some back roads and a jog as you cross 44 (I don't
    remember which way).
    
    	NEAR '89 will have something different: since the area around
    Storrs is hilly, there's a remote start location in Vernon, just
    off 84 for flatter rides (20 to 100 miles) in the Conn. River Valley.
    
    	I'll be doing my Cold & Wet weather clothing workshop Friday
    evening and Saturday afternoon (if I make it back from a long ride
    Saturday).  Met some people on the AMC Tanglewood trip this weekend
    who were going, so we should have a varied crowd.  Registration
    is a bit low this year compared to '87, probably won't break 1000
    (was between 600 and 800 last I heard).   - Chris

    Pardon my ignorance, but what is NEAR?

	re .-1
	
	NEAR is the New England Area Rally which is held every two
	years and sponsored by several New England bicycle clubs
	who join together to make this event possible and successful.

	It's generally a 4-day event that includes rides ranging anywhere
	from 15-100 miles, workshops and seminars, an exhibit area with
	all types of cycling paraphernalia and an opportunity to meet
	all kinds of cyclists.

	It's great fun and it sounds as if there might still be some
	room.


	re .-2

	Thanks for the directions Chris.  I'll be driving down early 
	friday and definitely plan on attending your seminar so I'll
	see you there.  I sent my registration in very late (July 31st) 
	but there was still room when I called so I was glad the 
	registration wasn't as high as expected otherwise I wouldn't
	have gotten a room!


					Laura

	

When is NEAR and what are the accommodations?  Can you come down for a day?

Tom	

    	NEAR is the comming weekend, Aug. 10,11,12 & 13.  Rides and
    workshops and exhibits are scheduled for Friday thru Sunday. Weekend
    only participants are welcome.  Day only participants are also most
    welcome.  Follow the signs to "NEAR Registration".  
    	When we originally contracted with UConn for NEAR '89, we told
    them we expected about 1500 attendees.  (based on projections from
    previous NEAR events.)   So, if you want to stay in a dorm room
    like most of the participants and make it a multi-day event, I'm
    sure there's room!  
    	Typical schedule:  Pre-breakfast ride if you wish
    			   Breakfast (and make your own lunch)
    			   Rides
    			   Exhibits and Workshops
    			   Supper
    			   Exhibits, workshops, and social events
    
    There will probably be 20 to 30 exhibitors, and a similar # of
    workshops on various topics.  Social events include an Ice Cream
    Social, a Lobster/Chicken picnic supper, and a concert by folk
    singer (? I don't know him) Bill Stains.   Should be fun!
    		- Chris

< Note 1274.5 by ENGINE::PAULHUS "Chris @ MLO6B-2/T13 dtn 223-6871" >
                          -< Day trippers WELCOME !! >-

>    There will probably be 20 to 30 exhibitors, and a similar # of
>    workshops on various topics.  Social events include an Ice Cream

What kind of exhibitors?  Manufacturers?  Which ones?

Kevin

    	Usually the big manufacturers don't come (but we do invite them),
    so don't expect to see Campy, Shimano, etc.  If they are lucky,
    they may get some locals like Rhode Gear and Cannondale, but maybe
    not.  Georgena Terry is about the best known regular exhibitor.
    REI, Nature Wear, bike shops, tour organizers, frame builders, etc
    are more typical.
    
    	Re. cost - Thursday to Sunday is about $200 for everything:
    room and board + registration
    	Registration only for that period is $55.  This includes
    participation in workshops, entry to exhibit hall, and (best of
    all) the rides booklet with maps and clue sheets for 20 to 30 rides.
    A one day registration is probably in the $20-25 area...anyone got
    a registration blank handy so they can correct/confirm this?
    
    	- Chris

    	...trying to find some silver linings on the gray clouds...
    I've never been to such a wet event. The bike never came out of
    the car.  It seemed that Conn. was temp. an extension of the Long
    Island Sound. (I drove one route thru my home town, South Windsor
    and showed a friend Tobacco Barns and shade grown tobacco.  We had
    to drive thru a stream about 6" deep overflowing across one road
    on the route.)
    	In a way, I'm glad we only had 600 or so disappointed people
    rather than the expected 1500.  There's lots of talk about this
    being the last big NEAR and cutting it back to a smaller event with
    registration limited to 500 or so, only 5 to 7 rides, no fancy stuff,
    etc.  The event was cut back a great deal in facilities and costs
    late in July, so that explains a lot of the mix-ups that were evident.
    The question is, why did the growth rate that we had established
    in previous NEARs falter?  I've heard the following:
      Competition from GEAR-Up and LAW Nat. Rally, both nearby this
    year.
      Hilly area near Storrs
      Insider info on 'new' organizing committee, fewer volunteer workers.
      Price
    I'd like to hear from anyone who went to previous NEARs and passed
    on this one.
    	- Chris
    ps. My workshops on Cold & Wet weather clothing went well.
    pps. Hope I/we have better weather for the Acadia trip!

      Speak for yourself.  I rode everyday and had a hell of a time.
    Almost as much fun as GEAR.  The rain was warm so as long as we
    kept moving we did not get cold.  We were getting real good at swimming
    imitations while riding.  
      						Norm

    I spoke with Paul Morissette who went to NEAR and rode 2 centuries
    there as well as down and back.  He also said that he rode alone.
    
    (Paul is not a DECie but is well known to some of us Southern NH'ers.)
    
    ed

Yes, it was veeeeerrrrry wet.

But the rides were still beautiful.

Folk singer Bill Stains was great.
He had me mezmorized.

The free Harpoon Ale, imported from Boston Mass, was excellent.

And maybe most important, the Ice Cream buffet was good and of 
UNlimited quantities (four times around for me).

	A top notch rally even if "the wettest NEAR ever".

    ~Mike