New Years and PALM applications

Today's the last chance to get a bike ride in for 2010. For me it is also the last chance to do a December ride period. December hasn't been the best month. Yesterday was the first day its been above freezing for 3 weeks. (December is the new January!) But things have thawed. Maybe I can get a short ride in before it starts to rain. Hmm.

Let's talk about PALM applications. PALM has filled early the last 5 years. Last year it was filled by Jan 23. We mail out applications by 1st class mail and don't put the application on the website until we feel that all the mailed applications have been received. This is a long way of saying that the best (and almost only) chance of getting on PALM is to get on the mailing list. To do this, email me. the mailing address of where you will be on Jan 12. Don't be worried that you are going to get bombarded with junk mail: we are an all volunteer organization. We have trouble picking a color for the t shirt, let alone trying to do anything with a mailing list.

This year we will be mailing applications to everybody outside of the state of Michigan and everybody in Michigan whose zipcode starts with 49 on Jan 12. Then we will mail applications to the people whose zipcode starts with 48 on Jan 13. I'll put the application on the website on January 15. Hopefully this will mean that everybody will get their application the same day and will have the same chance of getting on PALM.

Let me make a suggestion. If you are planning to be on PALM this year (our 30!), fill out and return the application the same day you receive it. If you are a little short after Christmas, just send in the registration fee ($110 for people 18 and older, $65 for people 11 to 17, $55 for people 10 and under). You have until May 15 to add meals and busses. If something comes up and you can't do PALM, you can cancel up to May 15 and it will only cost you $20 to cancel everyone on your application. If you know you are going to do PALM, there is no reason to delay.

If you are going with a group, put everyone on the same application (There is room for 5 on the application. We tolerate a couple over 5, but don't put any more than that.) That way you either all get on PALM or you all don't get on PALM. And please, please, please include a business sized stamped self-addressed envelope with your application. We use it to mail you a confirmation letter with the t shirt sizes, meals, busses, and jerseys that you may have ordered plus directions to the starting / end site. (And if you don't make it on PALM we use it to mail you back your check.)