The lass in the photo is Mabel Love, a British actress, star of stage and screen.

Please feel free to print and distribute as often as possible.  If you prefer, you may also request via our e-mail address a pdf of the flyer.  It has been designed to print rather nicely on an 8½ by 11 sheet of paper. 

Coming in at second place was a manipulation of a Rudge Bicycle advertisement.

Third place was my personal favorite.  It is a manipulation of a Michelin tire advertisement.

http://sherlockholmes2.warnerbros.com

This is a special offer to our riders willing to arrive dressed in your tweed ride finery, with your bicycle, one hour in advance of the showing.  VIP passes will be reserved for the first 20 R.S.V.P. responses.

This special engagement will be Monday evening, December 12 at 7:30 p.m. at AMC Studio 30, 12075 South Strang Line Road, Olathe, KS.  Participants will be required to arrive at 6:30 p.m.  During the hour prior to the showing you will be available for photographs and questions & answers about the Tweed Ride on April 14, 2012. 

R.S.V.P. to TweedRideKC@gmail.com   One pass per R.S.V.P. please.  Best of luck!  Talley Ho!

Dear Mark,

My name is Amanda, and I am writing on behalf of Warner Bros.  I have recently been trying to contact KC Tweed Ride through the email listed on the website.  Currently we have an upcoming film SHERLOCK HOLMES, and we would love to work with the KC Tweed Ride members.  We would love to have the members have a presence at our screening, and to show our appreciation we would like to offer VIP seats at the screening as well.  We wanted to see if the KC Tweed Ride would also be interested in any of the following:

- Bring your bikes to the screening and display, and people can pose and take pictures

- Have a spot on the local TV station that teaches the anchors how to ride - we would buy tweed clothes at Thrift store for anchor to wear

- Use members on their bikes to deliver press drops at local radio stations

- Talk about your 2012 KC Tweed Ride – maybe show pictures/video from their 2011 ride

- We would reserve an entire section for the KC Tweed Ride group at the screening, and members could wear their tweed clothing and ride to the screening on their bikes or just ride a block to the screening

- On your website online have individuals find the hidden antique bike and win a SHERLOCK HOLMES prize/screening pass

- Have an individual win a tweed outfit that we would buy from the thrift store

Below is a brief synopsis of the film, and please feel free to contact me with any questions.  I look forward to hearing from you!

http://sherlockholmes2.warnerbros.com/

Thanks,

Amanda

Nancy Pinkston & Amanda Wormington | Allied-THA | 1656 Washington Street, Suite 150 | Kansas City, MO  64108 | P (816) 556-3011 | F (866) 394-2903| alliedtha.com/|

If you are interested please send me an email at mrainey2@kc.rr.com.  I’ll contact the agency Wednesday morning to try and get the particulars.

http://www.facebook.com/groups/KCTweedIndeed/

The Groody Brothers are also in eager anticipation of spring.  We have not gone into complete hibernation, especially with regards to the annual Velocipede & Tweed Indeed – The Kansas City Tweed Ride.  Rest assured that the wheels are already in motion for our third confab upon the most marvelous machine ever devised by man.

We have established a date for our next event.  Be sure to mark your social engagement calendar for the Saturday, April 14^th, 2012.  Beyond that we have made some mentions of soliciting an artist or two.  We have some other need for volunteers for assorted tasks.  Please contact us if you are feeling the need for tweed.

Speaking of calendars…  A local young lady, Caroline Smith by name, one of our participants, has, for the second year, assembled an assortment of area cyclists and their machines into a rather attractive date book.  As it happens, several of our merry band are featured in series of stunning photographs by Tom Styrkowicz.  These are quite suitable for personal display or as a gift to someone who fancies fine attire and beautiful bicycles.  The proceeds from the sale of the calendars will benefit both of our previous beneficiaries, Revolve and BikeWalkKC. 

The calendars are sold at local bicycle shops for the paltry sum of $20.00.  They can also be purchased via the internet at http://coachcarolinesmith.com/bicyclecalendar.html.  Please do give them a look.  We believe that you will be delighted with your purchase while at the same time assisting two worthwhile organizations.

We shall begin with the venerable Calvert Guthrie of Kansas City Center for Ink & Paper Arts. He’s the gent that created our wonderful poster art on quite short notice. It was also he who also applied his numerous years of training to embellish the contest winner certificates with his exquisite calligraphy. If ever you are in need of instruction in the art of relief printing we urge you to patronize his studio. We can imagine no other facility in the city with the range of equipment available at such reasonable rates. We also wish to thank Calvert for making the presentation on behalf of Bike Shack owner Chris Smedley regarding his ongoing battle with cancer.

It was at Calvert’s studio where we first laid eyes on the beautiful sash that was worn by our Grand Marshal. This item was the handiwork of the talented seamstress Michelle Davis. Being the resourceful lass that she is, she conjured up our ornamental garb from recycled fabrics. Upon close inspection one can ascertain that in has been constructed from no less than eight silk neckties. Bravo! The embroidery was provided by Mr. Mark Horn of Paragon Creations.

The sash was proudly worn by our Grand Marshal, Mr. Eric Rogers of BikeWalkKC. It is to him that we give credit for our most appropriate venue and pleasantly scenic route. When he first proposed it we knew at once that Cliff Drive and the surrounding neighborhood were the ideal location for our event. It’s historical significance, architectural icons, and unmatched beauty made for the perfect setting.

Eric brought with him the staff from BikeWalkKC which included Sarah Shipley, the smiling face that assisted you at the registration table. Sarah was also one of our contest judges. She along with Nancy McDonald of Re-Velo and Malenda Shahane, an advocate for the North East Neighborhood, were our judges for our costume and mustache contests. These young ladies rendered us an invaluable service by selecting the winners from amongst so many qualified contestants. Their counterpart as the judge of the bicycles and apparatus was none other than last years Grand Marshal, Bill Poindexter. This was a daunting task considering the vast array and quality of vehicles presented.

The fore mentioned Malenda Shahane (who was introduced to us by the fore mentioned Eric Rogers) played a much larger role in the facilitation of Velocipede & Tweed Indeed by putting us in contact with two other individuals who also champion the causes of the area where we held our ride. Adam Schieber , president of Cliff Drive Corridor Management Committee, and Christopher Leitch, director of Kansas City Museum at Corinthian Hall.

Adam was able to procure, from an anonymous source, the funds required to secure the park facilities. He also worked with Shannon Dooley, Marketing and Events Administrator for Kansas City Parks & Recreation, to see that all was in order the day of our celebration.

Christopher Leitch graciously allowed us access to the front of the museum for our group photo. Had it not been for the major renovation currently underway of the property he could have afforded us greater access. On behalf of the museum, he has expressed an eagerness for increased involvement in the future.

Reflecting back to the registration table, assistance was also provided by the Sister-In-Law/Brother-In-Law team of Theresa Rainey and David Rainey. As is his custom, David also provided the “Sweeper” services at the tail of the parade and is quite grateful that we ride bicycles, not horses.

Also at the registration table were the beautiful prints by local artist Kevin Nierman. Kevin graciously donated these to the event. We consider ourselves fortunate to make them available, and presented the proceeds from them to BikeWalkKC. The donations from the prints raised over $350 which, through a matching grant program, will be doubled to over $700.

Having mentioned art, there were also in our midst several among us who were capturing images by means of the photographic devices. In fact, at the time of this writing there are no less than twenty links to albums on the blog post entitled “Camera Obscura“. We are indeed grateful for the sharing of your handiwork. It is always such a delight to view the images and reminisce upon the good times had.

Not surprisingly the most often photographed subjects were the participants in the costume contests. The amount of effort and attention to detail put into the clothing was quite remarkable and astounding. We do indeed thank all of you who participated for you truly made it a memorable event. All were worthy of mention, but, alas, only one can emerge victorious. Our contest winners were as follows: 

Best Girls Costume – Logan Lasswell 

Best Boys Costume – Parker Lasswell 

Most Flattering Female Finery – Jana Lasswell 

Most Dashing & Debonair Male – Jeff Gibbs

Most Delicate Mustache (Fictitiously Female) – Sue Spade

Most Handsome Mustache (Masculinely Male) – Brian Lasswell 

“Bicyclette du jour” – James McKenzie

Most Clever Contraption for Picnic Portage – Jeff Gibbs

We would be terribly remiss if we did not mention the very generous donors to our event. To the best of our recollection they are as follows:

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art by way of John Young

Re-Velo owned by Nancy McDonald

Walz Caps courtesy of Bill Poindexter

Taddinogg Cycling Caps by Thad Carson

Spin! Neapolitan Pizza

Family Bicycles

Coco’s Photos by Angie “Coco” Colian

Chamois Butt’r by Paceline Products

Bike America of Overland Park

Most of all we, Groody Bros. Bicycle Restoration Project, wish to thank you, the participants of the event.  It was your presence that made this a truly memorable occasion.  We enjoyed your smiles, laughter and “esprit de corps”.  It is indeed heartwarming to see a group of good-natured folk come together for the simple pleasure of riding their bicycles.  It is truly amazing to see complete strangers gather in one place and enjoy each others company.  We hope that during the course of the ride you were able to make a new friend or catch up with an old acquaintance.  Most of all we hope that you enjoyed yourself and that our paths cross again in the not to distant future.  Cheers!

Video by Christopher Beltz

To those who dabble in the photographic arts we extend an invitation to share the memories that you captured at Velocipede & Tweed Indeed. Please allow us to post at this site the evidence of your handiwork, either as the files themselves or a link to a photo sharing site. Those in attendance will enjoy viewing the images of the good times that were had there.

Photos by Chris Thomas

Photos courtesy of BikeWalkKC

Photos by Emily

Photos courtesy of Caroline

Photos by Kim

Thanks for the photos Leon

Photos from Kansas Cyclist

Photos from Mark Anderson

Video & Photos from Christopher Beltz

Photos by Tim

More photos by Tim Oberle

Photos by Calvert Guthrie

Photos from Caroline H.

Photos by Jeff Arnold

Photos from The Northeast News

Photos from Jon P

Photos from Michelle Davis  Get a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, click slide show, sit back and enjoy.

Photos from Nancy McDonald of ReVelo Bags - All Hail Ceasar!

Photos by Jeremy Ruzich

Photos by “The Chocolate Fairy”

Photos by Kimberly McEvers

We will continue to update this post as new photos are made available.

Just a few last minute reminders.  Don’t forget to pack your picnic lunch and some sort of ground cloth.  Check the pressure in your pneumatic tyres.  Bring just a spot of cash ($5.00 per rider) for your donation to BikeWalkKC.  Check your smile in a mirror for foreign objects before you leave the house – you’ll be using it quite a lot today. 

We cannot wait to greet you.  Be at The Colonnade*, Kessler Park, Kansas City, Missouri at ten for registration and contests.  We roll back time one hundred years when we roll out on our bicycles at the hour of 11:00.

*The Colonnade is located at the intersection of St. John Ave. and Gladstone Blvd.

The procedure for entering the contest is quite elementary.  When you arrive go directly to the registration table.  There the staff from BikeWalkKC will dispense to you a Release of Liability Waiver.  When you have completed and signed the document you will have your hand stamped and be issued a Post Card Spoke Card.  Please keep this card with you at all times.  On the card, in rather large print, will be a number.  When we announce the time and place for the judging of the various contests proceed post-haste to that location.  Assemble there in an orderly fashion and present yourselves to the judges.  Please do not attempt the bribe the judges.  This is a rather undignified ploy and has offend resulted in fisticuffs. 

Hold your numbered card proudly on display (with the number facing the judge, right side up and in plain sight).  The judges will make an unbiased appraisal of the contestants and tally their results in private.  Decision of the judges is final and not subject to review or scrutiny.

Likewise, for the judging of the various vehicles and apparatus your assigned number must be present on the device.  This may be written on a separate piece of paper and attached to said machine in an appropriate manner.

Please bear in mind that the contests are intended largely for amusement purposes and should not be taken too seriously.  Our judges are often selected at random and receive absolutely no form of reimbursement, training or instruction.

Just like last year we will also have some prizes to hand out.  Current donors include Spin Pizza!, Family Bicycles, The Nelson Atkins Museum, Re-Velo and many more!  How do you win?  Simply fill out the waiver when you arrive and your name is in the hat!

Unfortunately in December Chris was diagnosed with a rare form of pancreatic cancer. Needless to say, the battle with this disease is quite expensive. His family and friends have quite recently organized a ride to assist him with the mounting medical expenses. As this event coincides at precisely the same time as “Velocipede and Tweed – Indeed”, and none can attend both, we will be “passing the hat” to allow all those who wish to participate in a show of charity. Calvert Guthrie has graciously volunteered to say a few words on his behalf and see that the collection reaches the proper individual.

There is another individual we would like to bring to your attention. You may recall our Grand Marshall from last year, the venerable Wm. Poindexter.  Bill was highly instrumental in making our inaugural event a smashing success.  Realizing his talent for route orienteering he has moved on to a much larger expedition.  He will be retracing the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail by bicycle, mapping out a suitable route for cyclists.  This trek will cover over 700 miles and cross through portions of 9 states.  We wholeheartedly endorse his endeavor and encourage others to do likewise.

Bill will be present at Velocipede and Tweed – Indeed! to chat about his plans, answer questions and solicit support for the trip.  Additional information is available at http://cyclingw3r.blogspot.com/