GS500 America Relay - Ideas?

[Zethioth]

I'm in Northern California (Yuba City/Marysville Area) and can take it in both directions.

[BockinBboy]

I'm in Northern California (Yuba City/Marysville Area) and can take it in both directions.

Go ahead and add your area to the google map from the first page of the thread. 

- Bboy

[jestercinti]

We need Dry_Humor to send me the image for the banner.

[dry_humor]

lookie what i just got finished with today 

[jestercinti]

Love it Mr Dry_humor!  Dinner at Clark's Fish Camp is on me. Is that still open in Jacksonville, FL?

My kind of place!

[dry_humor]

hahaha yeah it is actually. thats weird because my fiancee and i have been hearing a lot of good things about that place and we've been meaning to go for a few weeks.

[pawo]

Looks like there's already several people from CT in this thread.... I'm down to ride along whenever this gets going.

BTW what part of CT are you guys from? I rarely see gs500's around.

[jestercinti]

Dry, did some work in Jacksonville for a while (I-95 and Baymeadows area).  That was the place that all of the locals said to go...so I did.  An experience to say the least.

[DaMuffinMan]

Just added to the map. I got Delaware, Jersey, NYC, up to CT if need be 

[jestercinti]

Now that my zoning battle is over and won, I have more time to devote to this.  Here's what's happened recently.  GSTWINS member Dry_Humor made this:



^^ I think that we have a winner for our banner.  Now, I think it's time we start planning this.  Looking at the map, we have a lot of interest.  Thus far, a "Visit every state" route appears to be the winner, so unless we have objections, let's go with that one.

Here are my proposed guidelines for the GS500 America Relay:

--The "Baton" must be carried on a GS500.  Although other riders may join, they cannot carry the baton for it to be "official"
--We must hit all 48 US Contiguous States.  This is more the 'Honor' system...not strict like some competitions requiring a purchase in every state with receipts.
--The Baton will get stuck at a location from time to time, and might get lost forever (Kerry's valve shim kit for instance).  I'm willing to take that risk.
--I'll take a look and choose a route or method that makes the most sense.  I am willing to travel up to 500 or so miles one way to start.
--Remember, we need pictures of the hand-off and the ride along the way.  Try to avoid Interstates.
--The baton MUST pass through the West Seattle, Washington bike cave!

I'll create a new thread for the actual event since this is planning/brainstorming for now. 

After all, we, the members of GSTWINS can accomplish anything if we put our minds to it.  I'm looking to start this off in the next month or two.  Keep in mind that it will take time (So did the Australia version), so don't expect this to complete anytime soon.

Most of all, have fun.  I'm looking forward to Spring and a good challenge!

[BockinBboy]

I was gonna say something about the website url being 'wrong' on the banner... but I just noticed that the message board url is 'gstwins...'  and the main site url is just 'gstwin...'   and the banner at the top left of the message board just says 'gstwin.com'

So nevermind, I guess its right! Lol

I'm ready for this to take off.  I am actually planning two trips this summer.. one early and one mid/late both heading eastward.  It'd be cool to sync up one with this if possible, but I also don't mind an excuse for another!

- Bboy

[jestercinti]

I think it makes sense to head east.  You are in IL, I am in OH.  Probably 2-2.5 hours away.  Steezin is in VA.  Might be fun through the hills of WV...

A thought at least.

[steezin_and_wheezin]

Banner looks GREAT!! Awesome work guys. I can plot it here at work full size in color and mail it to whoever if you need.

I'm finally back in town(been out of town for business for the past couple months) just a couple more weekends left in the shred season. Then i'll be full throttle on the project! Lots left to do, but its doable.

Got a couple trips planned this summer as well. I'm shooting to have the gs running by May ~22nd. My old roommate is going on a cross country ride(on a shadow unfortunately..) and I will be trying to ride a bit with him. That trek we'll be heading east into Kentucky. The other trip is from radford, va area to snowshoe, wv(the mountain we ride in the winter).  - - It'd be cool to work the relay into those rides, but like Bboy, don't mind an excuse for another trek!!

Stoked for this

[jestercinti]

Plot out the banner (not too big now...) and mail it to me with the shims    Can it be laminated, or will it be regular paper?

[steezin_and_wheezin]

No laminater in house.. I'll call the people we get to do our mounting(owner is an old friend) and see how much just to laminate the banner. Shouldn't be too much so i'll take care of that.

How big are we thinking? Guess it depends on the container size. If its rolled too much it will be a hassle to present for photos.. I'll mull it over

[jestercinti]

Big enough that it looks cool...small enough that your average Joe can carry it on their GS.

Remember, we don't all have GIVI boxes (I don't at least).  Maybe 8.5x11 is all we need?  Dono  .

Or...some sort of Vinyl/Nylon/Tyvek Home Wrap type material (if you can print on that...if not, don't worry).  Then it can be smashed and mashed into a ball and still look cool.

Don't care...whatever you think.  I'll send you the file that Dry_Humor sent me.  That might be a better resolution.

[Calpantera]

So will the baton be a container for the banner?
I checked the map for updates and realized my area was not on there. Pretty sure I did it already, maybe I didn't save? Recreated it again this morning..

[Kms254]

I can do the Pensacola, FL(or mobile) to Baton Rouge LA. I think one member here said he wanted to do LA so I would pass it off to him and probably ride with him. I also added a norther section I can do if that is needed.

[steezin_and_wheezin]

Printed a couple banners out;



8.5x11 seems a little puny.. 11x17 looks nice, and would work better in photos, but w/o folding would require an 11" baton. It definitely all comes down to the baton size. One thing i was thinking- we could modify the image to ~8.5x17 landscape, then it would roll nicely, look better in photos, and not need ~foot long baton we would need for the 11x17. This is just pipe thinking - if laminated and solid we could put some ties on the banner to attach on the bikes. That would help solve presenting the tightly rolled banner bounce back.

I'm going to walk around the office real quick to see if i can find anything to rig a test baton out of

I volunteer to build the baton/document holder.  It will contain at a minimum a US map and a log.

The best option I see is a clear mailing tube like this



That would contain a US Map and a log printout similar to this



Just roll up the documents like a scroll, stuff in tube, and Presto!  You have a baton.

^^ This still has my vote for the best baton. Something cheap, waterproof, and lids that are secure. I also agree with a nice spreadsheet log in the baton as well.

[comradeiggy]

Depending on the time frame of this, I could potentially take it to Key West or cover the area between Jacksonville and Mobile.