obrentharris 

@panzerwagon where did you find the quote about this year's theme? I scoured the website but failed to find it.
Brent

davester

I found it earlier, but I can't remember where. Once you sign up, it appears on the signup page:

"

Description

Ride through time to a corner of Montana that the world forgot. Meet vintage bike enthusiasts and geek out over custom builds. Enjoy sweeping panoramas and eat like like the champions of the great tours. Covering over 100 miles in two days (mostly on dirt and gravel), you will revel in the exquisite camaraderie that is unique to Cino. The tradition and spirit of the ride revolves around vintage bikes, but we welcome all non-electric bikes and their riders.

This year's theme is 'made in the USA'. Most American companies transitioned their frame production abroad in the 80's, but some smaller, independent companies held out for a while longer. We have a handful of Cino stalwarts who maintain the tradition of beautiful custom bike builds in Montana and Washington. So...bring your classic American steed, road or mountain, and we'll make a toast to craftspeople who keep the art of the custom build alive!

We will provide a delicious buffet for lunch, water and snacks along the route, and a gear shuttle to Hot Springs. We invite you to load up your panniers or handlebar bags and hit the gravel with us. Also included in your registration is a catered three course meal with wine or beer, served in style on the evening of day one. Don't forget your fancy dress togs for dinner!​ This year, we are also offering a Sunday morning breakfast burrito and coffee, included in the registration price.

The Cino Heroica will be a truly memorable ride for you and it is also a fundraiser for Kalispell Montessori! Funds raised through this event will be put towards student scholarships so that more Flathead Valley children can experience a quality Montessori education.

Please go to Cinorider.com for more details on the ride! "

Lascauxcaveman 

Damn. I've disposed of all my vintage Treks; I think my only current Made in USA Bike is my Raleigh Technium, which will not support Cino-applicable tire widths.

OOH, scratch that, I have a 1990 Cannondale ST. Doesn't get anymore American than that, I don't think.

I'm a definite maybe, depending on how my physical therapy goes. My shattered ankle is the sticking point at the moment.

AdventureManCO 

I mean, I’ve got a few ‘US made’ bikes I would love to see others ride, if you need options.

Andy_K 

You'll be riding the Huffente though, right?

I think the AeroWind and a LeMond Buenos Aires are my only US-made bikes apart from a Cannondale zero bike stashed at my sister's house in Maryland. I guess I could crimp the chainstays and put 650b wheels on the Lemon D.

AdventureManCO 

Darn straight, although I think I'll have to use a different wheelset. Ideally, I'd like to find a set of Campy 28H hubs laced to some sort of clincher, and then put some of them JBs on there. Right now the only tubulars I have are the '22c' size which I'm sure would be horrendous on the ride.

Right now, the only way I'm getting there is to take a flight. I know it would make no sense to fly a bike out there with me, but what would be the point if I didn't ride the Huffente?

majmt 

Well done, mountaindave et al. Great article about Cino published in the newest issue of the Big Sky Journal.

https://bigskyjournal.com/tour-de-flathead/

Well established magazine, widely circulated throughout the Northern Rockies. Here’s a link to all of the articles in the summer issue:

https://bigskyjournal.com/category/summer-2024/

AdventureManCO 

Does anyone have any ideas/thoughts/suggestions about flying w/ a bicycle as checked baggage? Do they make containers for that? Extra charges? A driving trip is out, but if I can make a flight, it can still happen. Of course it makes total sense to just borrow a ride there, but 'making sense' hasn't really ever been my style, I suppose.

rccardr 

Most airlines these days treat a bike in a box or bike case at less than 50 pounds as a regular piece of luggage. Alaska is even nicer about it.
I do it all the time.
Check your airline for details.

AdventureManCO 

Wow...good thing I got that thing lightened up...lol

nlerner

I’ve flown with a bike as checked bag luggage a bunch of times. I’ll be doing it for a 5-day tour in another week or so. My pro tip is to get a direct flight, at least on the way to your destination. A couple of times now I’ve had my bike not make it to the connecting flight. That’s a drag.

mountaindave 

Man, here I was thinking that I was remiss in keeping up with the BF social presence, but I had forgotten about @gugie - of course he posted a link to registration!

Really excited about the article - big kudos to @majmt for the assist with that! I really have to hand it to Andrew, that's some fine writing! For those who did Cino back in 2019, that's when Nick took photos of the ride which were used in the article. Some of you might be in there...

I suppose people already are aware that the early bird pricing goes away after June 15 (hint hint).

Looking forward to better September weather. Get ready (and healed up!), everyone, and come ride back through time!

Cheers!
Mountaindave (AKA that Cino dude)

mountaindave 

There are currenly five Dave's registered for Cino!

bikemig 

I would love to do this ride but the dates are tough (and I know there is no good way to pick dates that work for everyone). I love the idea of riding built in the USA bikes. I am getting ready to build up a drop bar ‘93 Trek conversion for gravel rides although that is likely too “new” to be cool enough for Cino, .

squirtdad

Still figuring out if I can go.....already doing a trip to Chinook MT for my 50th and the general all class reunion. Tradition needs me to play bass drum in the marching band

but is I can swing it, I have a conundrum with the theme....

I do have a made in Montana bike but rim brakes, steel frame, and tubies are all that would qualify as vintage (and it runs 32 mm) other option is the Team Miyata with 28mm (just to note my 28mm gravel kings I just measured at 25.2...going to put on some rene herse chinook pass 28mm I have laying around

I know N+1 but my current N+1 is going to be de rosa N+2 is a push especially when trying to get the pass to do 2 trips to montana

Andy_K 

This ain't Eroica. My impression is if you have a reason why you chose the bike you did, you're fine. If you don't, you're still probably fine but people will give you a hard time.

I rode it last year on my Gugificazione powder coated 650b Motobecane Grand Jubilé with indexed shifters and not only did they let me ride, I got the "heroic" stamp on my number card after inspection. I'm not sure if this was because I conformed to the randoneur theme or because the Gevenalle shifters confused the judge.

mountaindave 

gugie 

It was because you were brave enough to bring a French bike.

bikemig 

Or brave enough to ride a bike you had modded. . . .

gugie 

fify

Choke 

I thought it was time to start training for Cino.....

steine13

Reminds me of Rodney Dangerfield:

"I drink too much. Last time I gave a urine sample, there was an olive in it."

cheers -mathias

davester

The more the merrier! You can never get too much of a good thing.