The latest iterations of the patch and logo ...

The latest iterations of the patch and logo were announced today:

The were attached to following email:

Please review the attached jpg containing the updated draft of the SSSBR patch and logo. Comments are welcome and encouraged. 

I am thinking of starting with a road race up the Steese broken into 5 stages. Hopefully this will become an annual event.

1.) Wednesday, 6/18: Gold Hill Alaska to Chatanika Lodge,
2.) Thursday 6/19: Chatanika Lodge to Sourdough,
3.) Friday, 6/20: Sourdough to 12 Mile Summit,
4a.) Saturday, 6/21: 12 Mile Summit to Eagle Summit for the Solstice,
4b.) Sunday, 6/22: Eagle Summit to Nugget Gulch.

Each stage would be both a part of the overall race and a separate race in itself with age and gender groupings, and distinct standings between the individual stage cyclists and the overall cyclists. (But it could very well start as an organized adventure tour for a small group of less than ten interested participants with a minimum number of rules. We can be flexible.)

The last two stages would be combined for the 4th separate race. I think a number of locals would be interested in joining the race at 12 Mile Summit and cycle to Eagle Summit for the Solstice overnight, then go on into Central and to Nugget Gulch at Circle Hot Springs.

I also think there would be considerable local interest in the first stage from Gold Hill Alaska to Chatanika Lodge.

My thinking is to have broad appeal for participation by the local community in a race that follows the Steese Highway and we grow the interest from there. This could be a "base" race for folks to get involved with serious mountain bike racing, like the races Endurance North is involved with. In any case, we can shape it together ... and if 10 or 110 participate we will have room for them.

If you would like to join the small but growing group that is helping out by sharing ideas and constructive criticism ... simply reply with your feedback. And if anyone wants to know what's in it for me, I am a volunteer and will remain one. I simply think it is a great idea and absolutely doable, and it will either grow if it proves its value, or die a natural death having provided an opportunity to learn more about ourselves and what is possible. I have two rules for my volunteer efforts: 

1.) Am I learning enough to make it worth doing? If yes then I continue. 

2.) Am I more committed than those who will benefit most? If the answer is yes then if I can't motivate them to be more committed, I stop unless rule no. 1 is still giving me a positive outcome.

And there are plenty of areas to use your talent to help make this race happen at an improved level. It's an opportunity to get in on the ground floor of what can become a exciting venture. Besides, if you are young it will look good on your resume.

I am going to start contacting some of the other businesses along the Steese Highway because ALL of the feedback to date has been positive on the concept.

Gus

If you would like to be on our email list, contact us at:

hilding.lindquist@gmail.com

Steps going forward ...

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This plan was updated 09/15/2013

In addition to our "draft concept plan," Gus Lindquist (see below for more detail on Gus's role) has contacted USA Cycling to explore the process of becoming a sanctioned event and engage with other Interior Alaska cyclists for our mutual benefit in support of competitive cycling.

Here's the plan, folks.

1. Enlist 5 to 10 like-minded individuals who are willing to volunteer their time and energy to establish a nonprofit association to promote, organize, and manage bicycle racing and tourism—including mountain bike racing and tourism—on and around the Steese Highway in Interior Alaska starting with the Steese Summer Solstice Bicycle Race from Gold Hill Alaska, between Ester and Fairbanks, to Nugget Gulch, 7.9 Miles southeast of Central on the Circle Hot Springs, over the weekend of the 2014 Summer Solstice, June 20th to 22nd. As organizer Hilding "Gus" Lindquist will select the initial members of the Board of Directors, herein called "The Board," from those who respond to this and his invitations according to the following criteria:

(a.) Are over the age of 18;

(b.) Are full or part-time Interior Alaska residents and have or are willing to develop an enthusiastic appreciation for (are or willing to become a fan of) bicycle racing and tourism—including mountain bike racing and tourism—on and around the Steese Highway in Interior Alaska;

(Please note: The current intent is to allow nonresidents with special expertise to be non-voting members of the Board of Directors and be able to participate in all deliberations except voting. Residents and nonresidents alike who are age 13 and older will be allowed to become members of  the Association. Age restrictions on activities will apply to those under 18 years of age.)

(c.) Are willing to participate in a consensus form of policy-making on a Board of Directors governed by Bylaws—Bylaws that they will write and approve initially—with administrative and operations responsibilities and duties carried out by executives of the association appointed or hired with approval by the Board of Directors for those purposes;

(d.) Have the expertise and access to the computer equipment necessary to participate in regular meetings—including monthly Board meetings—conducted over the internet;

(Please note: By the end of this October we will have begun regular planning meetings hosted by Gus on www.anymeeting.com)

If you meet the above criteria and would like to be considered for selection to the organizing committee for this nonprofit association, please contact Gus at hilding.lindquist@gmail.com for an application.

2. Organizer Hilding "Gus" Lindquist, who is working pro bono as an executive consultant to organize the association and the first Steese Summer Solstice Bicycle Race as a viable ongoing organization and continuing annual race, will perform the following:

(a.) Select the members of initial organizing Board of Directors from applicants responding to both the open and directed invitation to apply according to §1 above.

(Please note: Gus will be a non-voting member of the Board and if asked to provide executive management after the formation of the Board and election of officers will do so pro bono plus travel expenses capped at an amount to be determined by the Board. Gus considers himself a catalyst for these endeavors and not a Founder or fixture.)

(b.) Guide the initial organizing Board of Directors in writing the Bylaws for the Association including the rules for membership in the Association and provide a draft set for immediate consideration;

Gus will perform the following with the assistance of members of the Board of Directors:

(c.) File the required documents with the Federal and State of Alaska government agencies to establish the Association as a legally formed and registered nonprofit organization doing business in the State of Alaska.


(d.) Establish the start and finish lines and start times for the race's three stages.
Proposed schedule for the 2014 Steese Summer Solstice Bicycle Race:

(Note: All mile post designations are on the Steese Highway.)

Stage 1: Wednesday, June 18th: Gold Hill Alaska, 3040 George Parks Hwy  Fairbanks, to Chatanika Lodge, Mile 28.

(Pease note: The distance for Stage 1 will be determined by its route through Fairbanks. Currently the plan is to go through the the UAF Campus then follow College Road to the Steese Highway. This route is approximately 35 miles. Going around on Farmers Loop Road is approximately 38 miles.)

Stage 2: Thursday, June 19th: Chatanika Lodge, Mile 28,  to Sourdough Creek, Mile 66.

Stage 3: Friday, June 20th: Sourdough Creek, Mile 66, to 12 Mile Summit, Mile 85.

Stage 4: Saturday, June 21st, Summer Solstice, 12 Mile Summit, Mile 85, to Eagle Summit, Mile 107.

(Please note:  A primary feature of  Steese Summer Solstice Bicycle Race is that it will pause overnight at Eagle Summit to observe the Solstice.)


Stage 5: Sunday, June 22nd, Eagle Summit, Mile 107, through Central, Mile 127, to Nugget Gulch, Circle Hot Springs Road, a total distance of approximately 29 miles.

(e.) Determine the name of the Association, create a logo, establish the permanent website, and begin promoting the race and soliciting members.

 The rest will come out of the successful completion of these steps.

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Researching a 2014 Summer Solstice Bicycle Race in Interior Alaska

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Note: Click on photos to enlarge.

 to

We are researching the feasibility of an annual bicycle race in Interior Alaska for the Summer Solstice starting in 2014 on Saturday, June 21st. It would run from GoldHill on the George Parks Highway between Ester and Fairbanks up the Steese Highway to Nugget Gulch at Circle Hot Springs, Mile 7.9 on the Circle Hot Springs Road off the Steese Highway at Central, and back.

The race will pause overnight  at Eagle Summit at Mile 107 on the Steese Highway in Interior Alaska's awesome Yukon River Wilderness Arc  for the grandeur of the summer solstice on June 21, 2014.

 Susan and Hal Osborne, owner/operator of Gold Hill Alaska, — "your one-stop-shop for specialty Alaskan wines, beers, meads and unique gifts" — and Jim Crabb, owner/operator of Nugget Gulch, are on board to help put the Steese Summer Solstice Bicycle Race together.

Gold Hill Alaska is across the George Parks Highway from The Blue Loon and virtually around the corner from Ester and it's historic gold camp, now designated the Ester Camp Historic District by the National Register of Historic Places. It's a perfect place to begin any kind of adventure through the gold country of Interior Alaska.

After leaving Fairbanks the race will follow the Steese Highway to Central at Mile 127, ending at Nugget Gulch at Circle Hot Springs just under 8 miles southeast of Central on the Circle Hot Springs Road. Central is where the Circle Mining District has its museum and holds its annual Miners Picnic on the first Saturday of August.

Contact email: hilding.lindquist@gmail.com

Note: Click on photos to enlarge.

 From information signboard at US Creek Road Wayside (Mile 57) [See below.]

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