As you are aware, DALMAC is an all-volunteer effort of the Tri-County Bicycle Association. Our riding participants take time off from their active retirements and jobs for an enjoyable vacation. We hope our crew find time to enjoy themselves as well, as we depend on many of them to step away from their busy lives and return to the tour year after year. During meetings prior to the start of DALMAC 2007, I asked crew members to do their best to enforce the rules that are set forth in the application booklet and on our web page, and reinforced in the confirmation letters sent to all riders. These media clearly state that riders not following the rules can be removed from the tour. However, I told the crew that we (riders and crew) are on vacation and confrontation should not be necessary because, if asked to conform to a DALMAC rule, I was confident that riders would do so. Apparently I was mistaken.

During DALMAC 2007, a crew person asked you to comply with the rules regarding the use of a bike flag, and you refused. Whether or not you agree with these rules, the bike flags are intended for your safety, they represent the signature of this event, and it is clear in our literature that proper use of an unfurled DALMAC flag is required as a condition of participation.

One of the stated purposes of DALMAC is to promote bicycling in Michigan. We hope to accomplish this, in part, by increasing the participation of new young riders. Even if young DALMAC riders did not witness your interaction with the crew member but saw you on the road, I hope you can appreciate that the message they learned from your blatant disregard for the rules of the tour was that to be as good a rider as you, they need to ignore the rules. If new riders witnessed the incident with the crew member, they also learned that it is appropriate to ignore the instructions of the DALMAC volunteers. This attitude is simply unacceptable and threatens the safety of all DALMAC participants. Our crew members are to be respected for the responsibility they have accepted and their sacrifice in opting out of riding DALMAC, and behavior such as that which you demonstrated will not be tolerated.

In light of your conduct during DALMAC 2007, you will not be permitted to participate in DALMAC 2008. Should you successfully apply using our on-line system; your money will be refunded and your application will be refused.

Sincerely,