List of MUni Weekends close to you (me)

[Memphis Mud]

I really envy those of you who have travelled to these MUni weekends. I
want to go reeeeal bad. But job, family obligations and ltd. $$ all
conspire against me. I've poked around some and see a good one coming up
this summer in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

Could we get an informal, centralized list going right here (where
everyone is looking anyway)? Just to get our brains working on plans.

Hopefully some opportunities in E. TN or Georgia? They've got some
excellent mountain trails.


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[joona]

My own nameless MUni Weekends all alone:(. Without any uniing friends:(.
Sometimes some biker's join me but only if I'm at the DH track.:(

*Cry* I'm all alone here.:(


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[James_Potter]

I'm with Joona....
I mean, I'm not -with- Joona, if I was then he wouldn't be in that
situation. And neither would I. I mean, there aren't any MUni Weekend's
around here. I think the South Dakota one is going to be the closest,
but I'm also going to try to make the California Weekend next year.


--
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[unarueda]

joona wrote:
> *My own nameless MUni Weekends all alone:(. Without any uniing
> friends:(. Sometimes some biker's join me but only if I'm at the DH
> track.:(
>
> *Cry* I'm all alone here.:( *


Same here, although i have converted two friends and we are trying to
get into muni without the proper equipment, the main problem is
security, around here roads that might be good are not very safe, i was
told that the only route we have tried (once) was were a couple of
bikers were left with literally nothing, a week ago....
Julian


--
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"Breaking your uni is like a car crash. You see a lot of pictures but
you never think it's going to happen to you."
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[Murde Mental]

> Same here


and here.....sigh:(


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[XWonka]

I'm going to Black Hills! Ha ha ha! Weee! Fun! Hah hah... uh ha ha...
uh... hmmm....


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[James_Potter]

-Geeez-, You don't need to make us feel *worse*. :(
Except that I'm also going to Black Hills (most likely)!! Whoohoo!!!
*And* California Weekend next year (most likely)!!!! YEAH!!!


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[Memphis Mud]

Maybe I was too vague. Let me put it clearly.


I was really hoping Chirokid would see this thread and get all inspired.


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[Memphis Mud]

Or that fledgeling Atlanta Unicycle Club...

Side Note 1
To the Lone Uniers out there: Have faith. Our experience here in Memphis
suggests that if you stay at it and, most importantly, stay visible,
uniers (future MUniers) will present themselves. Hit the trails, ride in
parades, get in the newspaper/TV...

One becomes two then four then eight then twenty...

Side Note 2
Black Hills sound pretty good.

Side Note 3
Smokey Mountain MUni Weekend benefits:
Stunning vistas, trails of variable difficulty, southern hospitality not
a myth, great food, most beautiful girls in US (IMHO), Dollywood close
by, our Bears are smaller and shy, 6 - 8 hours drive from Memphis...


--
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[billham]

Memphis Mud

If you want a local (thus cheap and affordable) event, put one together
yourself! Sounds like you know some good areas. Planning an event, if
done carefuly, would take time, but not much money.

Do yourself and the MUni community a favor and plan a spring event!
With your warm southern weather, you could start us off with an early
spring, winter is over celebration.

Bill


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[bugman]

I am willing to help set up some sort of weekend like this. Just like
you I would love to be able to participate in one of these weekends.

Here are my limiting factors. Time. I currently am running 2
businesses. The first is a retail/internet that takes 40 hours a week
minimum. The second I just started and is a service company. It can
take from 5-15 hours a week. The spring will be the busiest time for
me. I don't know what kind of tim it took John Foss to set up his
weekend, but if I had help I might be able to do something here in
Atlanta.

The second limiting factor is my ability to ride. I have only been
riding about 8 months, and only consistently for about 4-5 of those. I
am not like these teenagers who can invest 5 hours a day to practice and
have crazy skills in 6 months. I can ride, but haven't a lot of offroad
experience quite yet. I plan on riding a lot more during the next few
months, so my skills should allow me to do some Muni. But as far as
leading on the trails forget it. The good thing is I do have some
younger guys here in Atlanta(Drummonds Kids and Employees) that do have
the skills and do know were to ride. So maybe with my help I could
motivate them to get something organized. I will talk to John D and see
if we can work something out.

I would like to see this come together, but I would need a lot of help
from others and advice from those who have done it. Chad


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[XWonka]

Memphis TN+MUni Weekend=Good Idea.

Someone should spearhead this idea Post-Haste. If you shot for a warmer
weather month like April or May then you would have PLENTY of time to
organize everything from trails to food to lodging.

Plus, This is actually fairly centralized that many people would come,
espically those who can't make it all the way over to Cali.


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[joona]

Well, there is this MTB-meeting next summer. There's also a MUni-meet,
next summer is the second time. Last summer I didn't know of it. I had
just started uniing. There were 5 people if I remember correctly. Two of
these were also participating on the MTB-part so not too much uniing for
them. I'll be there next summer.


--
joona - )-O <--Neat

Mad as a moose (or atleast Minimoose)
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[chirokid]

Memphis Mud wrote:
> *Maybe I was too vague. Let me put it clearly.
> I was really hoping Chirokid would see this thread and get all
> inspired. *


Time, time, time, that is all I need, some more time, time, time!
Thanks for the kind words Memphis Mud. I too would love a Southeastern
Muni Weekend.
Great Smoky Mountain rides are out. The park will not allow bikes (I
know, we're not bikes) on the trails. There are several trails in local
state parks that do allow unicycles, I just need to snoop them out and
see what can be put together.
I do have several ideas for very fun days, competitions, etc.
But again, I just don't have time to organize it at this time. Work,
plus we are building an addition on to our home right now.
An Atlanta Muni Weekend, or Nashville Muni weekend sounds great too me!
Read that, I'm passing the buck... for now ;). --chirokid--


--
chirokid

"my gyroscope is in my head......." Zod
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[andrew_carter]

All you need to do is come to visit us in Brisbane, Australia. There'll
be the Weekend of Australian MUni here early next year!

Andrew


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[XWonka]

Now... I'm not a mapologist... But I don't think i would find a person
who would say that Austrailia is close to... say... Southeastern United
States...


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[Memphis Mud]

XWonka wrote:
> *Now... I'm not a mapologist... But I don't think i would find a
> person who would say that Austrailia is close to... say...
> Southeastern United States... *

The shortest route would be to bore a hole thru the center of the
earth... Tough job. After I win the soon-to-be Tennessee Lottery, I'll
be travelling to ALL of the MUni and Uni events worldwide.

I wouldn't so much mind putting on a MUni weekend here in Memphis. We've
got a great club (source of nec. energy and enthusiasm). But the point
of this thread is I want to ride with you folks and I want to ride
somewhere else, but just not 1000s of miles away. Besides, we have some
hilly trails here, but nothing like a mountainous terrain. Heck, we're
on the banks of the Mighty Mississippi. The bottom of one of the largest
valleys on the planet. The Black Hills are just miles away from the
Coninental Divide (the ridge that flows towards me). The Appilatian Mts
are the other ridge.


We do have the best BBQ Pork restaurants.

And Graceland.


--
Memphis Mud - Student of GrandMaster 2T

Mantra: Avoid Hitting Tailbone...Avoid Hitting Tailbone...
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[hell-on-wheel]

Hey man, not sure if you missed 'this thread' (http://tinyurl.com/x2ze),
but in three weeks there's gonna be a muni weekend of sorts in
'Richmond, VA' (http://tinyurl.com/x2zf), which is less than 1000 miles
away, but not by much. It's basicly just gonna be the HoW gang,
Checkernuts, and anyone else who wants to come, riding around Belle
Isle. Not sure if you're into trials, but we'll probably be doing that
too (if you're not into trials, I'd be willing to forego it myself in
favor of more trail riding).

Seeing as how I now live 20 minutes from the Blue Ridge Parkway, I
SHOULD be going out that way looking for actual MOUNTAIN trails more
often than I do. There must be tons of crazy trails in Appalachia just
waiting to be munied on. As soon as I find something good, I'll try and
plan a muni weekend out there, which would be a lot closer to you guys,
and not that much farther from us (HoW gang).

-Frank


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[chissakid]

I sent this reply last week via rsu, but it wasn't posted.

Chad,

Count us in. One of George Peck's more interesting quotes is "Downhill
sucks," but I respectfully disagree. Uphill is okay for a little while,
but I love downhill. What's the closest ski resort to Atlanta that has
a lift? That's where we need to be as soon as the snow melts, probably
around April or May. By mid-June it's too hot and humid.

-John


--
chissakid
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[muniracer]

well there is one in Richmond on the 20th of this month and i am working
on a DC Muni Weekend for the Spring


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The Hell on Wheel Unicycle Gang owns you.
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[bugman]

chissakid wrote:
> *I sent this reply last week via rsu, but it wasn't posted.
>
> Chad,
>
> Count us in. One of George Peck's more interesting quotes is
> "Downhill sucks," but I respectfully disagree. Uphill is okay for a
> little while, but I love downhill. What's the closest ski resort to
> Atlanta that has a lift? That's where we need to be as soon as the
> snow melts, probably around April or May. By mid-June it's too hot
> and humid.
>
> -John *


There is a small slope somewhere in North GA, I can't think of the name
for some reason, but I can find out. THe next closest are Maggie Valley
or Ober Gatlinburg. If we go to Gatlinburg, all the planning would be
on the overworked Chirokid:D since that is his backyard. There are
quite a few MTB trails in the north GA area that are within an hours
drive of Atlanta. For down hill with lifts your in the 3-4 hour+ range.
I will continue to look into that as an option.


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[johnfoss]

I figure I should write this, since I planned the first one. The
specifics of your planning must take into account your goals and
intentions for the event. The early CA MUni Weekends were intended as a
way to attract people to California to ride, and to show off great
scenery as well as all the rest. The more recent Weekends have had to
also take into account larger sized groups and other complications. Your
needs might be different.

For people like James Potter and others who are on your own, remember
you can set something up locally and invite people to come. The better
the event looks, the more riders you will attract. If you want others to
host near you, James, you might want to be a little more specific as to
what country Godric's Hollow is in. :)

I'll try to put these items in order of priority:

1. Determine number of days of riding. The further-away people are
coming from, the more travel time they will need. The early MUni
Weekends were Sat. and Sun. only, but people still had to take off from
work if they were flying in.

2. Find some trails you know people will like. My experience has shown
people don't mind riding on real technical stuff, as they get to watch
the experts do it. But people who aren't exceptional athletes can't ride
beyond their fitness abilities. Too much uphill, or too many miles will
not work for some. If people can't handle your primary rides, make sure
you plan for alternatives.

Based on my learning experiences this year, if Downieville is included
in a future MUni Weekend, it'll be the Friday ride. If people think
they'll end up too sore, they can choose not to do it (and I can set up
an alternate ride, but it would have to be in a totally different
place).

When choosing trails, it helps if they are not only great riding, but
have nice scenery and/or views as well. The better the scenery is, the
less awesome the riding need be. The extreme of this is the Flume Trail
at Lake Tahoe. Barely any technical sections, but a view that can't be
beat!

Obviously, you do not need mountains for great riding. There are fun
trails all over, even in Minnesota and flat Long Island. It's more about
getting together with people ane enjoying the ride.

If trails are long or strenuous, set up alternate rides for people if
you know there will be some that can't do them. These can be shorter
loops, riding in from the end, or other uses of the same trail, or
separate locations if necessary.

3. Set your dates. Talk with the most likely attendees, and make sure
you choose a weekend that works for them. Be aware of potential
conflicts with school or holidays. Americans should avoid July 4, for
example, because people may have family obligations that take
precedence.

4. Publish your event to the world. List it at Unicyclist.com/forums
under News and Announcements. As well as here. Also send it in to the
USA's On One Wheel for North American events. Notify the local bike
shops. If possible, put flyers up in there. Notify the local press.

If your group won't be too big, you can just show up and ride. Beyond a
certain size (not sure, but 40 or more?), you should contact the
authorities responsible for the trails you will use, so they know you'll
be coming. Make sure these trails are legal for bikes of course. This
contact may get you a lot more publicity from local trail users as
well.

5. Set up a schedule that's realistic. Make sure you allow people enough
time to get to places, and for slow riders to complete rides.

6. Consider games or group events. Group meals, games, or other things
can be a lot of fun, but require more planning than just showing up at a
trailhead. And more scheduling.

7. Optionally protect yourself. Since my MUni Weekends are heavily
publicized and well known, I choose to make all participants sign a
release of liability. I don't want myself, other organizers, or trail
owners to be held responsible for what might be someone's own mistakes.
This is most of why I hassle people with registration forms.

8. Plan ahead. Think of what snags you could have, or what could go
wrong. For example I bought a first aid kit for this past MUni Weekend
(then promptly forgot I had it in my car). Being mentally prepared for
contingencies is somtimes all you need to make them easy to handle if
they happen.

That's all for now. The rest is relatively minor compared to the above.
Are my MUni Weekends a lot of work to organize? Yes. But it can be done
much more easily if you aren't trying to be as fancy.

Good luck! I would love to go to all MUni events as well, but at the
same time I'm proud to be in a situation where that's barely even
possible any more because there are so many!


--
johnfoss - IUF Director

John Foss, the Uni-Cyclone
"jfoss" at "unicycling.com"
www.unicycling.com

"My sister wanted to buy the new Eminem CD. I had to say to her, 'Like,
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[bugman]

Thanks for the advice John. If I do get this up and running, I will be
getting in touch with you for release and sign up forms. That is
definitely a good idea. I would say one lawsuit is enough for a
lifetime!!! And I have already had mine.


--
bugman - Equilibrium Challenged

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Jack Wiley _The_Unicycle_Book_
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[bugman]

Okay, I found the slope I was thinking of. I haven't been there since
1982, but it apparently still exists. I will try to get in touch with
someone there to find out if they open the lifts for downhill riding in
the off season. Here is a link to a story about the place, with a few
photos. http://www.danwashburn.com/skiing.html

also they have a poorly maintained website at www.skiskyvalley.com

it is located in none other than Sky Valley, GA go figure.


--
bugman - Equilibrium Challenged

"Trying to maintain balance by wild arm and body motions is something
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Jack Wiley _The_Unicycle_Book_
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[Memphis Mud]

Yes, Thanks, that's real good advice John.

Fact is, I don't think we in Memphis can compete with the scenery around
Lake Tahoe or N. California or N. Georgia.

Maybe we'll do a multifacet unicycle weekend sometime in the future that
will have plenty of good food to eat and fine heartfelt soul
invigorating music.


--
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