I was recently asked about what I think ENY will look like in the future. I love that question. I think it is important that there needs to be a long term strategic plant to ensure that ENY can grow in a sustainable way.

Let’s start with Sakura:

Long term Sakura Park is too small to handle the type of crowds we want at the Start and Finish Line Festival. The promenade and plaza in front of Grant’s Tomb would enable us to grow larger without moving too far from the historical Start/Finish location.

Here is a concept:https://www.dropbox.com/s/9u37cjtedx7y8n3/2016%20Concepts_Layout%201.pdf?dl=0

...And maybe the club treasury would contribute something. And, hey, even you, yes, YOU, dear reader....

Think of it as a Remember Irv observance. Say what? You don't remember our longtime member, 75 year old Irv Schacter, or how he was killed? Uh, by a cyclist. In the park. While training to run in the marathon. But this does more than remember Irv. It goes to TA. In other words, a few steps removed, it goes to you.

https://nycc.org/message-board/help-team-transalt-cross-finish-line-honor-irv-shachter/81130

Accuweather predicts that rain will arrive in NYC at 4:30pm, and posted at 1pm that thunderstorms could be locally damaging.

Radar: http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/new-york-ny/10016/weather-radar/3711_pc

I hope all of our riders will be safely indoors before anything dangerous begins!

Call it re-branding, or call it a re-boot, that is what we have been doing for all of 2016.

When it comes to marketing in the modern marketplace Bill Gates said it best "Content is King". We have spent the last ENY cycle building the portfolio of imagery and brand looks that ENY needs to compete in the modern marketplace. This is something that did not exists when I first accepted the position of Ride Director.

We also have been re-structuring the backbone of the event so that it is sustainable and robust year over year using cloud based tools and not dependent on paper and pencil.

With the work we have done, we could open ENY 2017 for both Volunteer and Rider Registration tomorrow.    

Richard has just posted ClimBathons for Saturday and Sunday, October 29-30. 

Participation was down from approximately 1500 in 2014 to 700 in 2015 to less than 600 in 2016.  

The ride does not happen without participants. There are no sponsors without participants.‎ Volunteers become discouraged without participants. There is no word of mouth to increase ridership without participants.  There are no funds to donate to worthy causes in our community without participants.

It's time for change - ENY needs a reboot!

 

The following is a report from the Central Park Conservancy:

We can discuss philosophy, process and ideals, but at the end of the day it is what the riders think that is most important.

We recently completed the 2016 Riders Survey and distributed it to all of the 2016 Volunteers. I spent many years working with Marriott Hotels and I found sharing guest comments with EVERYONE on the team was the best way to share the glory and fix the issues.

Here are some quotes:

"Loved the people directing along the route. Really enjoyed the party at the end. The band was great and so was the food!   Loved the "photo booth"

"This was the 4th time I've done ENY.  I would rate this one #3 out of the 4 because of the commercial sections that I thought were a bit of a drag."

http://www.bicycling.com/training/health-injuries/what-happens-to-your-l...

Event: November Club Meeting
Topic: “A Bike Racer & His Bike Art”, a presentation and exhibit/sale of bike art by Doug Dale, sponsored by DUGart.
Date: November 8, 2016
Location: Connolly’s Bar & Restaurant, 121 W. 45th St. (3rd fl.) (bet. 6th Ave. & B’way)

Doug Dale has been a bicycle racer for over 50 years.  In April 2011, he crashed badly at the Tour of the Battenkill, Cambridge, NY, and nearly lost his life due to extensive internal injuries and 21 bone fractures.  During his recovery, he turned to a latent, but life-long interest in creating art.