Speedtrap Ride Tuesday April 4^th

          The Speedtrap Ride, the best Tuesday night ride out of Ottawa County, will begin its 2023 season with four unofficial rides on the four Tuesdays in April.

The first will be tomorrow, April 4^th, leaving Spoke Life Cycles in Elmore at 6:30 pm.

          As with any unofficial ride, regular ride leaders are not required to be there. Riding groups and leaders for those groups will be determined by those who show up to ride.

          For ride time the temperature is predicted to be in the low 50s, with cloudy skies and an east wind of 12 mph. Sunset will be right about 8:00, so any slower riders should really have lights.

The TAB April board meeting is this Thursday at Ernest brewing on S Detroit Ave at 6:30 pm.

I just wanted to let everyone know that I will be running the Westerly starting tomorrow. I'll be leaving at 6pm. Sunset is at 8pm so lights and hi-vis is a must. I want to clarify that I usually ride at 16 to 18 mph depending on how I'm feeling and the weather. The weather is supposed to be sweet tomorrow with 52 degrees at the start. Looks like a southerly breeze at 10 to 15 out of the SSE.

I will check the weather at 7:30 to determine if we will ride the adventure ride tomorrow.

The Meandering Ride will depart from Whitehouse this Saturday, Apr 1st at 9:00a (meet up just across from Cycle Werks). We have selected one of my favorite 27-mile loops for our first ride of 2023. Looking at the forecast it'll be a little bit of a battle heading out, but that return will be SUPER SWEET!! Be sure to bring hydration and a snack (or two) for our mid-ride break. The average pace is targeted at 13-15mph for the overall route. Hope you can join us (Kenneth Shaw & I) for our OPENING DAY!!

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/39090630

This Saturday April 1st is the last Winter Warriors ride and the First Adventure ride of the year. we will depart from the Ernest brewing on S Detroit Ave at 9 am. The ride is a 33 mile scavenger hunt through Maumee and the surrounding communities. Due to the weather a good chunk of it will be on bike paths and the pace will be determined by you, last year we had 3 groups with different speeds. Following the ride we will head into Ernest so we can crown the Winter Warrior and enjoy some or our favorite beverages. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42368422

Important message to all TAB members,

        With the start of TAB’s warm-weather riding season quickly approaching, the club still needs ride leaders for some of its rides. If you, hardy TAB members, want these rides to continue, and I know you do, some of you will have to step up and volunteer to lead. They cannot continue without a leader.

        You may be thinking that you don’t want to commit to being at a ride every single week. That is understandable. However, a great way to avoid having to show up every week is to pair up with a fellow rider. Then you can take turns in leading. You can work out a schedule that works for both of you. If you have something else going on in life, your co-leader can fill in for you—and vice versa!

        Perhaps you have a riding companion you know would be good at leading a ride. Please have that person contact me…or send me that person’s name.

        If you want these rides to continue, and I know you do, please step up and volunteer to be a ride leader. Yes, there is some responsibility, but it’s not that bad, and kind of fun!

        Below is the list of rides still needing a leader. I hope to hear from you soon.

Chuck Nicewonder         TAB Ride Captain

• 1.    Sunday Breakfast Ride from Wildwood Preserve Metropark
• 2.   Sunday 1:00 Getaway Ride  16 – 18 mph pace
• 3.    Monday Bedford Ride 16 – 18 mph pace
• 4.    Tuesday Old 24 Breakaway from Whitehouse
• 5.    Windsday Ride from Timberstone Reasonable and Reliable
• 6.  Group AND Fast and Reliable group.
• 7.  Thursday 5fer Spicy Plus
• 8.   Thursday 5fer GLR

Just a friendly reminder that the TAB March Board meeting is This Thursday, March 2nd at 6:30. We meet in the back room at Ernest Brew works on S Detroit Ave.

The Seat Post

Welcome to the Seat Post!! This is/was the TAB newsletter for many years and in an effort to better communicate with our members we are returning to this format. The team will work to keep it short, sweet and packed with important information for the membership - things like exciting news, board meeting minutes,  financial status of the club, future plans and upcoming events. 

THIS WEEK’S

TOP STORIES

TAB year end Banquet and Award Ceremony

Put the date on your calendar: the TAB Banquet is Sunday February 26!! This year we are changing things up a bit to liven the event up a little.  First we are having more of an open house type event at the Waterside Community Club House at 7062 Longwater Dr, Maumee Oh.  The open house starts at 3 PM, then we will conduct the award ceremony at 5 pm and will conclude the event at 7 pm.   This will allow people to come and go as they need or want.  We are serving appetizers and all kinds of finger food as well as having a chili cook off.  Our guest speaker will be from The Right Direction a non profit organization that helps children connect with cycling through clinics, skill camps, demonstrations and donations.  Come hear their story and see the amazing things that they do for our community.

Ride Leader Spotlight

Each month we are going to highlight one of our Ride Leaders. The goal is to help you become better acquainted with the people who volunteer week after week to provide safe opportunities to ride.  So I think it is fitting to start with Ride Leader/ TAB Ride Leader Captain Chuck Nicewander.  

Chuck leads the Tuesday night Speedtrap ride in Elmore, Oh.  The route is named after a local restaurant in Woodville that we ride past.  Chuck does an amazing job of organizing the groups, managing the different experience levels as well as identifying new riders.  No-one is ever left out on the speedtrap.  Chuck also does an amazing job recapping the rides with pictures as well as his play by play each week. Lastly after the speedtrap ride is over he helps organize social activities and food!!  In Chuck's own words the Speedtrap is the “Best ride in Ottawa county!”  Yes Chuck it is and you are a HUGE part of that!!  

TAB 2022 Budget

In an effort to help the members understand what your dues go towards our Treasurer created this visual.  It breaks our expenses down into 3 categories.  Operating expenses is 79% or the cost to operate TAB (Insurance, MARR, Web Page, Bank Fees, and storage), Membership support is 10% (Banquet, Ride Leaders, and Picnics) and Donations 11% (NORTA, Metroparks, HOOVES and The Right Direction) helps support the cycling community in northwest Ohio. 

 

Why be a TAB Member?

Last month we highlighted the membership perks to remind everyone why joining TAB is beneficial to you. I would also like to add another benefit that is important and most people don’t think about.  It’s helping to raise awareness to all things cycling related in northwest Ohio.  Road infrastructure, bike paths, parks and even business think about cycling more because we have dedicated clubs.  Most recently we were asked by the Toledo Blade to give them information regarding the new bike that is being built along the Anthony Wayne Trail.  The community thinks about cycling more than you know because of your club.  Help support us so we can continue to help grow safe cycling infrastructure in our communities. 

• 10% off merchandise at most of the area bicycle shops

• Discounts for Mad Anthony River Rally registration

• Rider Insurance

• You support the Metroparks, HOOVES, The Right Direction and other organizations through our philanthropic donations 

• Daily organized and safe rides

• Annual Banquet 

• Summer Picnic

• Ability to Purchase Club only merchandise

• Social activities with like minded individuals

• Miles of Smiles

Quick Sprints

Are you enjoying the Winter Warrior Ride Series? There is plenty of winter left, come ride outside with us this winter. There are opportunities to win prizes each month, come see what all the excitement is about.

Are you interested in volunteering?  Maybe helping out as a ride leader? It doesn’t matter if you can do it once or for the season we need your help. Reach out to us and we can talk about how you can help keep TAB rolling in 2023. 

READ MORE ON OUR WEBSITE

Just a friendly reminder that in 2023 the TAB board meetings will be held on the first Thursday of the month. This Thursday Feb 2nd the meeting will be at Ernest brewing on S Detroit Ave at 6:30. As always you are welcome to come and see what we are doing and help us continue to improve and grow our club!!