Bicyclists needed for fest!

Please consider volunteering for the La Crosse Area Labor Day Bike Festival this year. Detailed information is provided below.

Help the La Crosse Area Labor Day Bike Festival September 2-5 by volunteering as a Ride Ambassador, a Shepherd, or greet and orient riders at the registration tent at Cameron Park. All volunteers receive a complimentary "Premium" registration, with discounts, drink and food specials, and thank-you gifts (including a volunteer t-shirt!)

Ride Ambassador:

Want a chance to show off your local road cycling knowledge as you introduce visitors to Driftless riding?  Volunteer for the Labor Day Bike Fest as a Ride Ambassador and you'll receive a complimentary "Premium" registration, with discounts, drink and food specials, and thank-you gifts (including a volunteer t-shirt!)

Volunteer to head out with one of the "featured road rides" on Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Monday.  See the schedule at http://www.explorelacrosse.com/bikefest/.  Just choose a day you'd like to ride, choose a time you intend on leaving Cameron Park (probably between 7 and 9 AM), and estimate the average speed you'd like your group to roll (slow < 12mph, medium 12-16, fast > 16).  Then email those details to berg@explorelacrosse.com , or see the forms at the bottom of http://www.explorelacrosse.com/bikefest/

Some notes: Don't think of yourself as leading a tour; you are simply a local rider heading out with a group on that self-guided route.  Helping visitors get out of town is your greatest contribution.  The day's route will be available to all riders on printed maps and turn-by-turn directions through Ride with GPS at http://bicyclelacrosse.com, and Ride Ambassadors should probably ride their chosen route at least once before the Festival starts.  Festival participants can leave at any time they wish on these self-supported rides, but you will choose a time (probably between 7 and 9AM) to depart Cameron Park. We'll list your intended start time, distance, and speed in the festival schedule.  Show up around 15 minutes ahead of departure; sign in at the registration tent; announce to the crowd your intended start time and speed, and you're off!

Route maps are always available at http://bicyclelacrosse.com; we'll provide an emergency phone number at the registration tent for breakdown support, as well as water and fruit.  

Registration Tent:

Don't want to ride?  There's still plenty of ways to volunteer back in town; the Cameron Park registration tent is staffed throughout the day as groups depart on short, in-town social rides or on the longer road rides.  Volunteer to help set up on Thursday Sept 1, to tear-down 10 AM Monday Sept 5, or for any three-hour shift from 7AM to 7PM on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. 

Email berg@explorelacrosse.com to get on the list, or see the forms at the bottom of http://www.explorelacrosse.com/bikefest/

Shepherd:

Are you an experienced local rider who is comfortable in traffic? Want to help with the safety of the short, family-friendly guided interest rides (history tours, ice cream rides and social events)?  Then volunteer as a "Shepherd" and ride at the front or back of the groups (generally up to 20 or 30 riders).  Just choose one ride (or more) you'd like to do, and email berg@explorelacrosse.com with your name and chosen ride. On the day of the ride, show up at Cameron Park about fifteen minutes early, and meet the leader of the ride. Ride with the group or at the rear, keeping an eye out for stragglers and safety, follow all traffic rules and make sure all riders get back to Cameron Park.  Shepherds are encouraged to wear their helmet, and to have fun!