Latest Club News & Info

Another favorite Winter Warrior hangout is this week's Intro to Gravel destination. We'll meet behind Tecumseh Brewing in Tecumseh, Michigan at 9am. This is a fresh route, exploring hills north and northwest of Tecumseh. Doug Metzger will act as tour guide this week since I am still recovering from my recent hernia operation. I'll meet you all at the start and be on course for support and photos.

We will be visiting some of our favorite roads on this route, including Noggles and Taylor. The planned stop is a BP station at mile 27 just outside of Clinton. It's a little early to be betting on the weather, but it will likely be in the 80's with a bit of wind. I don't really remember wind being much of a factor in this area due to tree cover and the rolling nature of the route. I'll meet you at least a couple times on route with water and snacks and moral support (unless my doc clears me to ride).

Here is the planned route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/28989353

Start location: Tecumseh Brewing, 128 W Chicago Blvd, Tecumseh, MI 49286

Departure time: 9am

Big thanks to everyone who came out to ride and support MARR this year! It was great to see so many of you out there enjoying a perfect day in the saddle on some great Northwest Ohio roads. I saw many regional clubs represented in addition to a fantastic turnout from our membership. There were a great many smiles as the riders rode through the arch that led to beer and bbq and we loved to see it. We hope your experience was a good one and you will return to ride with us again next year.

I can't say enough about the sponsors who partnered with us to bring MARR2019 to you and, to all the volunteers who went out of their way to make MARR a pleasant experience for its ridership, you absolutely knocked it out of the park. I'm proud to be a part of this club and its outstanding individuals.

Lastly, but most importantly, our Co-Chairs Mark and Nancy Beeman organized and pulled off a great event. An incredible amount of work goes in to organizing and planning this day, and their energy, ideas, and willingness to give A LOT of their time to ensuring this event was a success is hugely-appreciated.

We'll take some time to soak it in and expand on feedback before we begin looking ahead and planning next season's event; one we hope you are looking forward to. Thanks again!

Ron Schieb - Board President

From the looks on your faces, you all had a great time at MARR yesterday. This was my first time taking photos and videos of an event like this. And I gotta say, people on bikes are really hard to photograph. It was fun and I would do it again! Thanks for all the smiles!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ruAo1eA3VCa4YhfB7

Nate

Speedtrap Ride Tuesday, August 6^th recap

          Nineteen cyclists came to Elmore this past Tuesday evening for the Speedtrap Ride.

The relatively small number of riders is most likely because for a few hours before the ride, there were heavy rains on and off throughout the area. However, the weather cooperated with those nineteen riders. Wind was hardly a factor; the sun was shining; there was dry pavement on most of the route. Those who didn’t ride missed a beautiful evening and a great ride!

          As you can see, rainy weather in the area doesn’t mean the ride will be rainy.

          Scott Lang’s Ghost Pepper Riders and Bob Kayden’s Cayenne Pepper Riders rode together as a group of twelve and reported a 22.3 mph average.

          Tony Mazurek was one of four Habanero Riders and reported a 19.4 mph average.

          Claude Watkins, Marnie Arndt, and I formed a combined Jalapeno-Sweet Pepper Group. We stayed together and rode at  a 14.8

mph average.

          After the ride, several riders, spouses, and friends, enjoyed a cookout and potluck at the home of Scott Lang, complete with hamburgers, brats, pool and hot tub! Thank you, Scott, for inviting us all to your home and for hosting! Pictured are some of the partiers. Rob Golden, Doug Metzger, Debra Lohr, and Mike Meiser, Steve Siesel, Claude Watkins.

          So please join us next Tuesday, August 13^th,  as the next chapter of the Speedtrap Ride rolls out from Spoke Life Cycles in Elmore! I hope to see you then!

P.S.#1 On Tuesday, September 3^rd, there will be a Speedtrap Special. We will all ride as one group at a conversational pace over the Flatlanders’ Thursday evening Fun Ride route. Doug Metzger will bring the boom box and play his rock and roll playlist.

P.S. #2 There has been a suggestion to ride the 25-mile Peggy Avers route that the Flatlanders did a couple of years ago. I am proposing Tuesday, August 20^th, for this. We will discuss it this coming Tuesday. Comments are welcome!

Chuck Nicewonder

 

A few photos from Bike Prom:

With August, Windsday’s best days are here. The winds have calmed down, the temperature is nice, and riding is sweet. We’re all beginning to realize the season’s coming to end soon So come on out, enjoy the late summer sun, hang with your friends and enjoy the ride. See you all tomorrow, leaving at 6:30 from Timberstone JHS, 9000 W Sylvania. We’ll see you there!

Kudos and congratulations to all of our members kicking butt this summer in competitions and charitable rides from the U.P. (Who knew he could write too?!) to Colorado and beyond. We have such a diverse group; roadies to triathletes to gravel junkies to mtb and beyond (bigfoot included) and it is great to see members excel, reach new plateaus, and inspire the rest of us to new adventures and goals. You represent what the ever-broadening world of cycling can be!

Speedtrap Ride Tuesday August 6^th

          The Speedtrap Ride will take place again this coming Tuesday, August 6^th. Sign-in will begin at 6:00 pm and we’ll roll out at 6:30 from Spoke Life Cycles in Elmore. I am sending this message early because we will have a cookout and potluck after the ride at the home of Scott Lang, 17579 west Elmore-Eastern Road. That is one mile, or less, from, the bike shop. Hamburgers, buns, and brats will be provided. If you plan to attend after the ride. Please bring some food to share. The pool and hot tub will be available.

          The weather forecast for Tuesday is partly sunny with a high of 84 degrees. Winds will be WSW 10 to 15 mph. That’s not great for going out from Elmore, but it will make for a great return!  There is a 30% chance of thunderstorms with gusty winds late in the day.

          Scott will lead the Ghost Pepper Riders over a 25-mile course. He expects to average 22+ mph. Are you up to the challenge?

          Bob Kayden will lead the Cayenne Pepper Riders over the same course, He expects to average 20 – 22 mph.

          Tony Mazurek will lead the Habanero riders over the same 25-mile course, and expects to average 18 – 20 mph.

          I will lead the Jalapeno Riders over a slightly shorter 22-mile course. We expect to average 16 – 18 mph.

          Marnie Arndt will lead the Sweet Pepper riders on a ride at a speed and distance comfortable for those in her group.

          Whether you’re coming for the after-the-ride cookout or not, why not give the Speedtrap Ride a try! You’ll ride some quiet country roads and with some great people, too! It is Ottawa County’s best Tuesday night ride! I hope to see you then!

Chuck Nicewonder

We had a great turnout for Windsday this week. 33 riders showed up for the ride. (We would have had 34, but Jeff Kroncke for was so excited to ride, he forgot his helmet!) It must have been the great weather, outstanding ride leaders and amazing route! Or maybe it was the free Dairy Queen treats after the ride. I wonder which it was… Reality is it was both. By any definition, it was an outstanding turnout on a great riding evening. 

Edgar’s Fast & Furious group, with visiting rider Griffin Van Nest, hit a new season high at 23.6. The long straight stretches of roads with very few turns and stops were really working for them last night. And the light winds didn’t hurt any either. Jen’s Reasonably Fast group hit a solid 20.1. Kris Jensen guest led the Reasonable & Reliable, trying to hold them in their 17-18 mph range. But the group hijacked the ride, pushing it up to 19.0-19.1 depending who you checked with. (We’ll have a chat staying in your range next week team) And I took the Relaxed group out, pushed it for an extra 2 miles, and scored a sweet 15.3. It was nice to be able to enjoy that pace.

Of course, after the ride, the group descended on those sweet DQ treats that Ben Rowe brought. You’d think they’d never seen ice cream before! (Or was that just me gobbling them down?) It capped off another nice Windsday evening. Thanks to Kris for leading the R&R group for me!  And I to Ben Rowe a big thanks for the treats, you made the evening! 

We’ll look forward to seeing you next week, 6:30, at Timberstone JHS for another Windsday cruise through the fields. Thanks to all that turned out!

 

Speedtrap Ride Tuesday July 30^th recap

          Thirty-seven cyclists came to Elmore last night, Tuesday, July 30^th, to enjoy great riding weather on the Speedtrap Ride.

          Dan Willis(filling in for Scott Lang) led the Ghost Pepper Riders and reported a 22.5 mph average. Thank you, Dan, for substituting as ride leader.

          Bob Kayden led nine Cayenne Pepper Riders who stayed together during the ride and reported 20.8 mph. Dan Waggoner from that group questioned whether his ride even counted! He had no cycle computer on his bike!

          Tony Mazurek led the Habanero Riders and reported 19.4 mph

          Seven Jalapeno Riders stayed pretty much together until a few broke off from the group and returned to Elmore by a different route at Witty and Martin-Williston Roads. Ron Berry reported a riding average of 16.8 mph.

          Ron Schieb(TAB president, filling in for Marnie Arndt) led the Sweet Pepper Riders on a ride of 20 miles at 14.9 mph. Thank you, Ron,  for leading! Becky Kayden rode 16 miles at 13.9 mph. Becky has been improving and is just about ready to join the regular Sweet Pepper group!

          Light west winds provided riders a tailwind for the return-to-Elmore portion of the ride. It’s always fun when that happens!

          Pictured are five riders new to the Speedtrap Ride: Erwin Cummings(orange TAB jersey), Kris Jensen(yellow jersey), Lori Stahl(with Ron Schieb), Jeff Roselle(blue jersey), and Ashley Marcinkowski(pink and black jersey). Welcome all to the Speedtrap Ride!

          Several Riders did enjoy food, drink, and good conversation after the ride at the Portage Inn in Elmore.

          Next Tuesday, August 6^th, after the Speedtrap Ride, there will be a cookout and potluck at the home of Scott Lang(less than one mile from the bike shop). Hamburgers with buns, and brats will be provided. If you plan to attend, please bring food to share. The pool and hot tub will be available. Please join us next Tuesday for Ottawa County’s best Tuesday night ride. I hope to see you then!

Chuck Nicewonder