Wee whooo, our Mayors Ride straight ahead promises to cut the edge of the music and hi tech worlds with an unprecedented bombshell of excitement. And almost as one would expect from those who have been following our soon upcoming rolling Woodstock, Claire Machado is leading the charge! Not only has she begun recording the NBG song with words she is licensing from "The Road" by The Alarm (who she has also invited to perform at a few venues) and surrounded herself with some of the area's best musicians with her band C.A.M. engine as they ramp up to tour with us next summer, but in making her dream of live video and audio of her performances and the Mayors' receptions themselves (also called webcasting so anyone anywhere can watch from the comfort of a home or office computer) real she is pulling in some of the best talent the Silicon Valley has to offer.
One such powerhouse is Mike Taht. Mike and I spoke yesterday and the vision he foresees for our ride is exciting beyond compare. Especially since he has the knowledge and ready access to the resources needed to make it all happen. One of the early founders of the Internet, Mike also played an important part in keeping the Y2K bug quiet once the millennium dawned upon us. Over the last several decades he has worked, often closely, with some of biggest names in the computer world. In fact, he even invited me, Claire, Faye, Libby and our riders to a party at his home where many such shakers and movers will be present. There is even a chance that I will get to meet his friend, the co-founder of Apple Computer, and the widely respected true father of the desktop device that you are reading this on, Steve Wozniak!
A musician himself, Mike will be on the road with Claire and her musicians digitizing (for either live or delayed broadcast) C.A.M. Engine performances in all the towns and cites that stand between Los Angeles and Chicago. Mike plans also to communicate our vision himself to radio stations and service clubs along the way as he also talks about something near and dear to his heart (open space planning). He even foresees getting his radio interviews on line in real time where possible. Too exciting!
And then out there on the East Coast, Janet Bressler just booked the popular Tokio Ballroom in Philadelphia. What's more is that they gave her the date right when she asked for it. A petite woman with a bellowing vocal delivery that would make any man proud, she is so good that most all venues out her way jump at the chance to get her away from her recording studio (there are mp3's at her site noted below that I encourage you to download and hear for yourself). Like what Claire's shows will be doing for ~16 other receptions, Janet's performance in Philly will call attention to our Mayors' ride event at that East Coast City Hall. Hmmmm, I wonder if we can get Janet to help us announce Baltimore and Washington, DC.........
And Steve Bilenky, the owner of Bilenky Cycle Works, makers of the famous Viewpoint recumbent/upright tandem among other prized uprights and two-seaters, may ride the New York to Philly leg as a way to have fun and take advantage of Janet's advance publicity. His factory is in Philadelphia and he has lots of business contacts up in New York City who may join him.
In terms of other bike business owners, Mike McDowell is thinking hard about riding from Indianapolis where his shop, Valley Bikes, is located, to Chicago. In doing so he may even be joined by 2002 Mayors Ride Iron Man and Just 2 Bikes owner, Jim Muellner. Maybe even Fred Kirchner, last year's Columbus to Indianapolis superstar will be back to take part in the fun.
And where human interest is concerned, Patrick Thomas is very close to committing his wheel to our ride. Patrick, a San Francisco school teacher may ride his unicycle from SF to Chicago as a part of our ride. And once his decision is final our NBG Riders will see me in here asking for cyclists to provide sag support for his ride. You see on a unicycle , it is very hard to carry the gear needed to support a long trek. And Patrick wants to do 50 mile days. Nor do we want him to use a car for such sag assistance. I will keep you posted!
Stay tuned for our next newsletter detailing some of Mayor Bob's training in rainy Arcata and Faye Saunders' IMovie representations of our 2003 Festival as well as DC Mayor Anthony Williams send off speech (now at our schedule) and etc
Yahoooo!!
Links for the above:
Claire Machado
Mike Taht
Janet Bressler
Bilenky Cycle Works
Valley Bikes
Jim Muellner
Just 2 Bikes
DC Mayor send off speech