ESPECIALLY seeing how we have so many new faces this year, I think it's time once again to have our annual RBENT get-together and picnic, aka Bud's Birfday Ride.  We had to have it without him last year, in his honor, but hopefully we can ameliorate that this time around.
 
Even In my new place we should be able to acommodate just as many people as before, since just a few feet over from my apartment is a patio area with good seating and outdoor BBQ grills.  There is a parking lot to get onto the Trinity Trail just 1/8 of a mile away, if that.
 
I'm thinking April  The only "good" rides that I'm aware of (imo, of course) are the Lancaster ride April 11, the Cruisin Da Hood in Granbury on April 18, and Muenster on April 25.  I'm doing Lancaster for sure.
 
Of course, there's nothing saying we can't do this on a Sunday.  If we did it,then I know Rose would be able to come.  For you churchgoers, is there anything that would stop you going to a later service or going earlier in the week, and being able to come ride on a Sunday?  I hate bringing up the religion thing, but hey, fi I'm going to coordinate a bunch of people I have to ask.
 
Now, the routes
 
Just like last year, we'll have two routes/groups.  The slow/short distance group will do all or most of their riding on the Trinity trail.  My wife Alesis will lead this group at what will likely be a 10mph pace.  The great thing about this ride is that if you get tired you can turn around at any point and not lose your way, or stop at a picnic bench and wait for the group to come back.  30 miles or less I figure.
 
The long group will get ff the trail pretty quickly and go into the benbook lake rec. area.  We'll ride through and go do some route or other over the hills of Aledo maybe.  We can do whatever distance y'all would like - 60 miles or so is what I'd shoot for.
 
I'm open to any thoughts or ideas to make this go smooth.  I'm throwing ideas for dates up top, so PLEASE vote.  Also, you may vote for more than one option  Please vote for as many days as possible, so I get the best results.
 
Finally, the food
 
Alexis and I can make our beef and black bean burgers as usual, and the rest will be a potluck sort of deal - y'all can bring the soda, sides, and adult beverages, or anything else you'd like to add.  It was quite a spread last year and VERY YUMMY.
 
If you haven't been to one of our get-togethers, you're REALLY missing out.  This is one of the highlights of the year for me, and having a bunch of bents together get serious attention and we all just have a great time.  Whatdya say?

Oh don't do the 26th.. 3-4 folks will be off in 600k land

I'll likely be doing that 600k as well, if it's not going to be a disaster like the 300k that Steve and Peggy had.  I had forgotten when that was going to be.  So we can take that weekend off the table, but I know already that we won't be able to work around everyone's schedule, so we'll just ahve to pick a weekend and go with it!
 
Our other option would be to send it all the way to end of may, I think.  like May 23-24 or 30-31.

April 19th is the Austin Easy Street shindig that somebody posted an invite to, but I could probably make it any of those days except Easter Sunday, the 12th.

We didn't make it last year, but would sure like to this year.  Unfortunately I have activities the first 3 Saturdays in April, so my vote is for early May.
Richard

Quote from aikigreg on Mar 11^th, 2009, 9:59pm:

 
Either of the first 2 Sundays in April would be fine.

Hey...u know im all up for a Sunday.  April the 5th is Bud's Birthday, I would most def attend, any other Sunday would work for me as well.  

The 5th works for me.