--- February 19, 2012----------------------------------------------------------------

The past few weeks have been pretty busy getting some of the details sorted out for both the Cirque and the Cirque Sportive ride.  That's right, the ride now officially carries the Cirque moniker.  We had a joint meeting last week with Loudoun officials and the sheriff's department, and most everything is in place.  With this major milestone behind us, things should settle out pretty quickly, so I wanted to provide some updates and more general information.

Registration

The Cirque on-line registration is up and ready at BikeReg.com.  This is registration for the Cirque only, not for the Cirque Sportive ride.  The Sportive will have a separate web site and registration, but it is not active quite yet.  One of the things that's still being worked out is the cost for the Sportive.  There will be a discount for those registered for the Cirque, but that's still being sortedt.  I'll post more details as they become available.

Please be aware that there is a small charge for using the on-line registration.  I 2010, about 75% of registrants used on-line registration.  We will also have a print-and-mail registration form on the web site soon.

Cirque registration link:  http://www.BikeReg.com/15569 

Accommodations

I think that the Best Western may still have a few smoking rooms left, but possibly not.  There are several other hotels nearby which may still have rooms left.

 - The Days Inn is just a short walk away.  It's a little scruffy, but inexpensive.  352-787-3131
 - Comfort Suites is a bit farther than the Days Inn and in the same general direction.  703-669-1650
 - Hampton Inn is about a half mile from the Best Western, and is quite nice.  703-669-8641
  
Cirque Show & Swap

Even though the main tent we will be using on the hotel grounds is quite large, it will still be significantly smaller than the event barn at the Fairgrounds.  Consequently, space for both display bikes and swap spaces will be more compressed than in the past.  The main tent will be only for show bikes and swap spaces will be outside the tent canopy. Some swap spaces will line the perimeter of the show tent and some will be in the area leading to the tent.  If you sign up for a swap space and have a small pop-up canopy, please plan to bring it, and also please let me know so that I can position you to your best advantage.  I realize that this is a departure from the past and not as desirable, but I believe that the advantages out weigh the disadvantages.  Besides, outdoor swap meets are quite common for swaps not held in the winter.

With the Cirque's American bicycle theme, I want to strongly encourage those attending that have an American built bike to bring it.  I don't want to discourage people from bringing non-American bikes, but space preference will obviously have to favor American bikes.  Please remember that you must bring your own bike stand.

Cirque Sportive

The Sportive is shaping up to be a great event.  The ride routes have been finalized, and there will be three distance options, 30, 60 and 100 miles.  The rides will take place on Saturday, starting at about 7:00 or 7:30, so the short option will have riders back in time to enjoy afternoon activities at the hotel.  Fat tires, 650B wheels, fenders and vintage esthetic encouraged, but not mandatory.  The non-paved roads in Loudoun are generally pretty nice, and can be ridden with 26mm tires, but wider tires are definitely better.  I run 32 mm tires on 700c wheels mostly, and with great success.  The two pictures attached are on roads that will be used in some of the Sportive routes, and I plan to try and ride most of the routes prior to the Cirque.  I encourage everyone to consider getting involved in the Sportive event.  I think its going to be great fun.  I'll issue updates as more info becomes available.

Schedule

We are still working on finalizing the schedule of activities.  There are obviously going to be some conflicts between some of the Sportive rides and Cirque activities, but I think variety and options are good.

Start making plans now!  Keep an eye on the website.  More information to come.

Cheers -

Wayne
 

--- January 20, 2012----------------------------------------------------------------

With the holidays behind us and the New Year gearing up, it's time to start thinking about and planning attendance to this year's Le Cirque du CycIisme on June 8, 9 & 10!

We are still working on a lot of the details, but the dates are set and our contract with the hotel is in place. That would be the Best Western Hotel in Leesburg, VA, the same location as in 2008 - 2010. While some of the basic format will be the same as previous years, there will be a few significant changes. As many of you know, the Cirque grew from very humble beginnings. Dale Brown started the Cirque under a few tents in the parking lot of his old shop in Greensboro in 1998. Dale's vision for the Cirque was a place where like-minded souls could get together, display vintage lightweight bikes, swap parts, and generally just hang out and enjoy each other’s company in a low-key social setting. And, above all, to have fun! It was all fairly simple in the early days. And fairly short too, pretty much a one-day Sunday affair. I remember having dinner with Dale on Saturday evening before the 1999 event. I think there may have been about 5 of us at dinner. The Cirque grew steadily from then on, to a two-day event in 2001, semi-officially a three day event by 2004 when Dale's Friday home lawn party sort of became an official "must-attend" component. Attendance grew (and outgrew Dale's home neighborhood). With larger numbers of attendees came complexity and more work, but throughout it all, the Cirque has managed to maintain its core spirit and has stayed true to Dale's original vision. With that vision in mind, we now look forward to another Cirque.

Back to Our Roots

For 2012, the Cirque is going back to its roots, back under the Big-Top!! In keeping with the "more social, less formal" approach used in Leesburg in 2010 and again in Greensboro for the CR weekend in 2011, we are consolidating and are planning all activities in one location, the hotel and grounds at the Best Western. We will be renting a large tent for show bikes in the rear parking lot of the hotel, and utilizing a number of smaller tents in the surrounding area for a real circus atmosphere. There are a number of advantages to staging everything in a central location like the hotel:

- Easy access to the hotel's facilities (and rest rooms) at no additional cost.
- Easy access to attendee's hotel rooms.
- Less need for a rental car.
- Lower overall costs for incoming travelers.
- No need to schlep bikes and parts back and forth between the hotel and remote locations such as the Fairgrounds or Community Center.
- And especially in Leesburg, restaurants galore within easy walking distance.

The picture on the front page of this web site showsthe concept we are working on.

The hotel is also holding the room cost to the 2010 rate of $115 a night (and remember, the hotel offers free transport from and to Dulles airport for registered guests!)

Celebrating American

Our theme for the Cirque this year will be "American Bicycles and American Bicycle Builders". This idea was originally hatched while I was at NAHBS in Austin, and formalized with input from some of my trusted advisers at the CR weekend last year. Our goal is to try and achieve the largest gathering and widest diversity of American built bicycles in one place ever. We are not saying we don't want to see non-American bikes at the Cirque, but we are encouraging everyone to bring an American made bike if possible, and that space consideration will be given to American bikes. In keeping with our theme, our special Guest-of-Honor will be non-other than Roland Della Santa. Roland started racing in 1962 and has been building frames since the early 70's. He won the award for Best Road Bike at NAHBS in 2009, and is truly one of America's iconic builders. He’s also a fun and really interesting guy. To honor the even earlier American bicycle scene, Eddie Albert will give a presentation titled "Intimately Involved: Craftsmen Frame Builders in New York Metro Circa 1920s – Early 1960s". We are working on other similar theme things as well, so stay tuned.

Tool Time Workshop

After a warm reception at the CR weekend last year, we will resurrect the Peter & Wayne Tool Workshop again in 2012. Peter Gilbert and I will come up with some more interesting tools and demonstrations. Since we will most likely be outdoors under a tent, we can really get down and dirty this time. If you have something in particular you would like to see, let us know. We can't guarantee that we'll do it, but we just might!

Cyclosportive Challenge

This year the Cirque will have a "sister event" in the Cyclosportive Challenge Ride held on Saturday, June 9th. This will be a separately organized and managed event held in conjunction with the Cirque, and also staged in Leesburg. As described by the organizers, this will be:

- A retro-themed ride in the spirit of a classic European sportive.
- Chip timing, gourmet food stops and primarily dirt/gravel roads.
- Steel bikes, fenders and panniers encouraged!

Details are still in development, but the organizers envision three ride lengths in the 35, 55 and 100 mile range. There will be separate entry fees (cost not yet determined), but we are working on a discount for people registered for the Cirque.

Wheel building Class

As has already been announced, Earle Young will once again be organizing his Wheelbuilding Master Class. It will be held at the hotel on Thursday June 7th. Several people have already signed up. Please contact Earle at > earle.young@tds.net < if you want to participate.

Hotel Reservations

Because of the Cyclosportive Ride, we anticipate that the hotel will fill up quickly this year. We strongly recommend that if you have the slightest chance of attending the Cirque, that you make a reservation NOW. You can always cancel the reservation without penalty, but once promotion starts for the Cyclosportive, the hotel will most likely fill up. Please call the hotel directly at 703-777-9400 and tell them that you are booking for the Cirque.

Get Involved
For the past few years, we've been able to organize some special displays and exhibits, and would like to continue that trend, so we are soliciting ideas, suggestions and participation. If you have something in mind that you would like to do, especially if it is appropriate to our Cirque theme, and are willing to make the effort, please contact me HOWEVER, PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFOREHAND SO THAT WE CAN MAKE ARRANGEMENTS AND APPROPRIATELY INCORPORATE YOUR DISPLAY. PLEASE DON'T PLAN ON JUST SHOWING UP WITH SOMETHING. We need to plan and manage our space, and also want your display to be presented appropriately, so planning ahead is crucial.

Event Registration

We will once again be using BikeReg for on-line registration. We haven’t finalized everything yet, but hope to have registration open before the end of the month. Once the registration site is live, I’ll post details and the link.

As always, we are also seeing volunteers to help with many of the tasks associated with the Cirque. Since we plan on fencing off a large area behind the hotel, we are in particular need of folks to help with that (and you won’t even have to leave the grounds!). If you are willing to pitch-in and help, please let me know!

Your ideas and suggestions are, as always, most welcome. The Cirque is for YOU, and we want it to be the best possible event for all participants.

More details will be coming soon. Keep an eye on the web site, and start making your plans now!

We are looking forward to a great Cirque again this year!

Cheers -

Wayne Bingham
Lovettsville VA USA

--- May 25, 2011--------------------------------------------------------------------

 Those that did not attend the Classic Rendezvous Weekend in Greensboro not only missed a great event, but also missed the formal announcement about Le Cirque du Cyclisme 2012.  That's right, the Cirque will be back in Leesburg Virginia again next year!  The dates have been set - June 8, 9 & 10 2010.  Event headquarters will once again be the Best Western Leesburg Hotel and Conference Center.  Our contract is in place and the hotel is accepting reservations.  Please be sure to mention the Cirque when you make reservations, since the hotel has reserved a block of rooms for us.  Call the hotel directly at 703-777-9400.

Our theme for next year is "The American Bicycle and the American Bicycle Builder", and iconic American frame builder Roland Della Santa will be our special guest!  Don't miss this opportunity to meet and/or get reacquainted with Roland.  Rolland has been racing since the 60's and building some of the most well respected frames in the business (including race winning frames for Greg LeMond) since 1970.  One of our goals for Cirque 2012 is to try and gather together one of the largest and most diverse groups of American bicycles ever assembled in one place.  I know that there's lots of this iconic iron in the hands of the CR community, so this will be the time to bring these gems out for all to see, and be a part of something really special.

We have a number of other very special things in the works too, so please stay tuned!  Please also visit our web site for information about hotel accommodations, Leesburg and the surrounding area, and additional information as our program develops.  Start planning now.  This will be an event you don't want to miss.

Wayne Bingham
Lovettsville VA USA