Latest Club News & Info

Windsdays are back on schedule again after our fireworks interruption. If you haven’t checked us out yet, come and join some of the friendliest riders in TAB. Our 26 route mile is flat and smooth, with very few turns. Edgar’s Fast & Furious group like to challenge riders with a 21+ mph pace. Jenifer and her Reasonably Fast group like to average a 19-20 mph pace. My Reasonable & Reliable riders enjoy a more leisurely ride targeting around 17 mph. And our Relaxed group keeps a comfortable pace for all on a shorter 20 mile route. 

It’s looking like the hottest ride in TAB will have the hottest night of the week. Temps look to be rising to the high 80s maybe even 90. The winds are expected to behave - out of the Southwest at 5 mph - though they have a habit of fooling with us. 

I did a recon run last week out to CR 4-3 and found it to be in much better condition than CR 4-1 our western turnaround road. Much better pavement, and flatter too. So expect to add an extra .8 mi to the ride. It’s well worth it.

Finally, good news & bad news. This is the last week for the construction on westbound Sylvania Ave between McCord & King! It should be open next week. Bad news - eastbound on the same section will be closed for 3 weeks starting next week.

We’ll see you all at Timberstone JHS, 9000 Sylvania Ave. We leave promptly at 6:30 so get there early. I hope to see you there!

In the wake of Thursday's Freedom Ride we received additional funds from a few generous members which brings our donation total to $1404.00. Thank you so much for coming out and for supporting this cause and for taking time to donate even if you weren't able to ride. I was very proud to be able to contact the organization and provide these funds on the club's behalf. Thank you!

Last weeks Old 24 ride included 14 riders, 1 flat, and an average speed of 20.5 mph. Thanks to Ken, Tyler and Walter who volunteered to stay back and fix the flat.

Tonight we will once again head out to Old 24.  Expect the average speed to be between 20.0 to 20.6 mph.  We will be heading out from Cycle Werks in Whitehouse at 6:30 for a 28.5 mile loop out to Old 24 and heading north on County Road 3.

See you on Old 24.

A slight change to our gravel ride schedule. One Helluva Ride has a gravel route this Saturday from Chelsea, using a lot of the Waterloo G&G route that I was planning to use as well. Please go support OHR and the Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring Society if you want to ride the Waterloo G&G route. It's a well supported ride and the gravel is easier for me to swallow than some of the paved roads up that way.

Instead of heading to Chelsea, the Intro to Gravel ride will leave from Cotton Brewing in Adrian, MI at 9am for a 47 mile cruise. We'll start by winding through town to the Kiwanis Trail. The gravel roads just north of town will take us to one of my favorite roads, Taylor Rd. There will be two planned stops, one at the end of Taylor Rd near mile 19, and the second after the closed (but hopefully still passable) road around mile 33.5. Plan for 12-14mph average, regrouping as needed. Remember, "no rider left behind". (Although we've been known to get carried away in the last mile or two.)

Here is the planned route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30501667

Start location: Cotton Brewing, 626 Oak St, Adrian, MI 49221

Departure time: 9am

Please wait until Friday evening to load the route to your device. I need to double check some turns and cues.

Thanks as always for the continued support and coming out to the rides.

Nate

Speedtrap Ride Tuesday July 9^th

          The Speedtrap Ride will once again roll out from Spoke Life Cycles/Elmore tomorrow, Tuesday, July 9^th, at 6:30 pm. We will ride the regular Speedtrap Ride route in reverse, beginning on SR 51 going to SR 105.

          Scott Lang will lead the Ghost Pepper Riders on a 25-mile course. If you ride with him, expect to average 22+ mph. Are you ready?!!

          Tony Mazurek will lead the Habanero Riders over the same course. He expects to average 18 – 20 mph.

          I will lead the Jalapeno Riders on a slightly shorter 22-mile ride. We hope to average 16 – 17 mph.

          Marnie Arndt will take the Sweet Pepper Riders on a ride whose distance and speed is comfortable for those in her group.

          Tuesday is predicted to be sunny, with a high of 84 degrees and ENE winds 5 to 10 mph—not the hot and humid weather we had last week.

          After the ride, there will be a cookout and picnic in front of the bike shop. Spoke Life Cycles will be providing the ground beef and hot dogs. Please bring a side dish to share.

          If you haven’t experienced the Speedtrap Ride, tomorrow is a great opportunity to ride some quiet country roads, meet some great people, and enjoy this special event. Sign-in begins at 6:00 and we ride at 6:30 pm! I hope to see you then!

P.S. Coming next week July 16^th: Tandem Night!

Chuck Nicewonder

Speedtrap Ride Tuesday July 2^nd recap

          The Speedtrap Ride, Ottawa County’s best Tuesday night ride, brought twenty-five cyclists to Elmore this past Tuesday, July 2^nd.

          Scott Lang led the Ghost Pepper Riders and reported a 22-mph average.

          Tony Mazurek led the Habanero Riders and reported a riding average of 18.5 mph.

          I rode with two other Jalapeno Riders: Claude Watkins and Justin Hart. We recorded an average of 15.4 mph

          Marnie Arndt and Becky Kayden were the Sweet Pepper Riders. They rode 13 miles, some of it on the North Coast Inland Trail. However, riding on the trail wasn’t good because there were branches down in many places forcing them to walk their bikes around.

          Right at 6:30, the rain came down very hard. We knew it would be short-lived, and it was. In five minutes, it was over. However, we thought there might be another one. Not so. Roads were wet only for the first few miles.

Some of the Ghost Pepper Riders thought that THIS week we were riding the route in reverse, and that’s what they did.

A few of the Ghost Pepper Riders did fall off the pack and rode separately., probably because of the heat.(The high temperature was at least 90).  The heat was a likely reason riding averages were not as high as they have been the last few weeks. However, there was a tailwind for much of the ride returning to Elmore.

Pictured are first-time Speedtrap Riders John Del Toro and Adam Stemen, who rode with the Habaneros. Welcome John and Adam to the Speedtrap Ride.

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

Next Tuesday, July 9^th, we will ride the Speedtrap Ride route in reverse. There will be a cookout and a potluck in front of the bike shop after the ride. Spoke Life Cycles will be providing the ground beef and hotdogs. Please bring a side dish to share. Please join us for this special occasion. I hope to see you then!

Chuck Nicewonder

100+ cyclists came out to Oak Openings this morning for TAB’s 4th of July Freedom Ride. The four groups did awesome in this heat and humidity. A, B, and C groups rolled out at 8:00am and rode the 100K route. Linda’s D group rolled out at 9:30am to complete the 50K route.
Once again the generosity of our cycling community was in evidence; $1,254 was raised for Justice for Sierah. Thank you all SO MUCH for coming out, opening your wallets for a great cause and spinning sweatily. You are some of the best people I know. Thanks also to Lori Stahl and Susan Rostkowski for helping pull this off. You both rock! And to Monica Bernhoffer, you sing our National Anthem so beautifully. Thank you!

Tomorrow's Freedom Ride beneficiary is

Justice for Sierah

The big jug will be out and roaming the parking lot. Please donate generously; your gift will be used to help empower and ensure the safety of our children. No parent should have to endure the loss of a child, more so to senseless and preventable acts of violence.

We expect our Freedom Riders to step up as they always do, but even if you are not able to ride please swing by Oak Openings from 7:00 am to Noon and throw something in the jug. Every bit helps.

"He only earns his freedom and his life who takes them every day by storm." - Johann Goethe

"Liberty hath no greater joy than two wheels." - Rick Metcalf

Linda and Debbie are at it again! They will combine the Meandering and Adventure Rides on August 24th for another Pedal/Paddle Saturday Adventure. We will meet at the Kayak Livery at Farnsworth Metropark, enjoy the countryside for a 35-40 mile combined ride, return to Farnsworth for a picnic lunch, and then slide into the kayaks for some paddling around Missionary and other islands in the Maumee.

More info will be forthcoming but save that date and plan to have some fun!

Sylvania has their fireworks at Centennial Quarry and Pacesetter on Wednesday this week. It’s a great display and the party starts at 6:00. People come from miles around to watch them. And they park at the school parking lots at Central Trail and Timberstone, and all along the roads out in Sylvania. it’s truly a great display. 

Unfortunately, that means it’s a crappy night to be riding due to the traffic and condition of the drivers. So Windsday night is cancelled. Come on out and join us next week for a jaunt through the fields.