Log in

Latest Club News & Info

  • 09/03/2019 9:00 PM | Daniel Riley (Administrator)

    Partly sunny/cloudy, mid 70’s temps, mild N winds (relatively speaking). This all means a good evening for our first 6:00 September Windsday. Come and see us at Timberstone JHS, 9000 W Sylvania Ave. With the heavier traffic at the earlier time, we’ll plan to leave at 6:00, but if you’re running a bit behind don’t worry, we’ll be flexible. Hope to see you there!


  • 09/03/2019 3:04 AM | Deleted user

    From WeAreTraffic:

    It's been four years since the first Fix-it Stations were installed in the Toledo area, you can read about that here. Since that time, we now have stations at UT, City of Toledo and City of Oregon, and those not counted yet. Needless to say, the Fix-it Stations and Air Pumps are a big asset to area cyclists! That is until you try to use the air pump and it lets the air out of your tire...not fun!

    We Are Traffic has been contracted by Metroparks and the Univerisity of Toledo to maintain their respective hardware, but we need to know something is broken to schedule a repair. Please help us out by letting us know if you find a Fix-it Station / Air Pump in need or repair and we'll work with owners to have it repaired as soon as possible. For repairs, fill out our contact form.

    We would also like to know where bike parking is needed. As an advocacy dealer for Dero Bike Racks, the majority of our funding is through the sale and installation of bike racks.



  • 09/02/2019 9:50 PM | Deleted user

    The 10th Intro to Gravel Ride was far from an introduction. Edgar, Helen, Suzanne and I took on the hills of Waterloo, forwards and backwards, with a few new roads thrown in just to see what's out there. A little rain during the night kept the dust down. The roads were firm and fast. And it was all I could do to hang with the Fast and Furious crew. Riding with these three will make you a stronger rider, there is no doubt. Only a small mechanical during the ride, my water bottle cage bolts worked themselves loose. Otherwise a fun ride.

    We'll continue with gravel rides every Saturday during September and October. The routes are either long, difficult, or both. More details are found on the Ride with GPS event page: https://ridewithgps.com/events/69932-2019-introduction-to-gravel-series

    Photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/w9M3vyxc7ayi9xRu6

    -Nate


  • 09/02/2019 1:09 PM | Chuck Nicewonder (Administrator)

    Speedtrap Ride Tuesday September 3rd

              The Speedtrap Ride, Ottawa County’s best Tuesday night ride, will roll out once again tomorrow, Tuesday, September 3rd, at 6:30 pm!

              For something different, just once, we will all ride together at a relaxed pace, and we’ll follow (mostly)the route of the Flatlanders’ Thursday night fun ride. Doug Metzger will provide the music from his rock-and-roll playlist.

              The high temperature is predicted to be 84 degrees. However,  winds will be strong, SSW at 15 to 25 mph.

              After the ride, some riders may gather at the Portage Inn in Elmore for food, drink, and good conversation!

              Come out to Elmore and ride some quiet country roads! Since we’re all riding together, you’ll be able to talk to your fellow riders, regardless of speed group. You’ll meet some super-nice people, too!

    Sign-in begins at 6:00 and we ride at 6:30 pm! I hope to see you then!

    Chuck Nicewonder

     

  • 09/01/2019 9:49 AM | Daniel Riley (Administrator)

    Honestly, I thought this weekend’s Adventurer Ride would be low key. Labor Day weekend, starting in Swanton, prediction of stiff east winds. I thought for sure the attendance would be low. Boy, was I wrong! 19 riders came out just to ride the hills on CR16. I think that’s a season high!

    At the start, the winds were from the North. Since the route was mainly east to west, we made good time getting out to the hilly section. The hills are a group of nice rollers - once you come down, you have momentum for getting up the next hill. But those north winds slowed us down. I heard wishes that the they could do them with the wind at their back. Your wish was my command. After a stop in Morenci and an ill-fated attempt to pump up a tire (it got deflated instead) we were back in the hills, wind at our back.

    Remember that east to west route? It was west to east coming back. And the winds had shifted to out of the east and increased to 10-12 mph. But the group stayed clustered together worked hard against the wind until we made it past the famous CR 8-1 flowers - which were in full glory by the way. As we headed in to the winds one last time, we separated into 2 groups, but still made it back in good shape to our starting point. A tough ride, but still a “hill” of a great one, with a fantastic group of people.

  • 09/01/2019 9:29 AM | Daniel Riley (Administrator)

    Windsday was a classic ride this week. Partly cloudy skies blocked enough of the sun to keep the temperatures cool. A tough west wind up to 12 mph greeted us in the parking lot. But Windsday riders are a tough bunch. All three groups buckled down to attack the enemy from the west out to CR 4-3 when we were able to turn back east and take advantage of those winds. Speeds were down by about a 1/2 - 1 mph, but were still great. Edgar and the Fast & Furious (a great name for a band by the way) reported a 23.0, Jen’s Reasonably Fast a 20.3, and my Reasonable and Reliable came in at 17.6

    Next week, we're back to Timberstone for our start, but starting time is 6:00 due to the fading sun. I hope you’ll all come out and enjoy a ride through the field with us.

  • 08/31/2019 12:58 PM | Chuck Nicewonder (Administrator)

    Greetings to all TAB members and Friends,

        It's that time of year again.....Time to tell your boss at work you have to leave early to get to a ride...

                In September, because the sun is setting earlier,  all evening TAB rides officially roll out at 6:00 pm. This includes the Monday Bedford and Whitehouse Rides, the Tuesday Old 24 Breakaway and the Speedtrap Rides, the Windsday Ride, and the 5fer Thursday Ride.

           Also, because the sun is rising later, start times for Saturday and Sunday morning rides are affected. The Saturday Adventure Tour will depart at 8:30 am, and the Intro to Gravel Ride will leave at 9:00. The Sunday Breakfast Ride will start at 8:30 on September 8, 15, and 29, and at 9:00 on the Sundays in October. There will be no Sunday Breakfast Ride on September 22, the day of the Irish Hills Tour. The Meandering Rides are still listed as starting at 8:00 am.

                    As always, there may be exceptions[ The Speedtrap Ride is at 6:30 for at least one more Tuesday]. Please check the ride announcement from the ride leader for any ride.

    I hope to see you on the road.

    Chuck Nicewonder


  • 08/29/2019 6:59 PM | Deleted user

    Big thanks to Doug Metzger for leading the group from Tecumseh Brewing a couple weeks back. The humidity was high, the route was hilly, but everyone made it back for good food and beer.

    The gravel ride this Saturday is leaving from Chelsea for some rolling hills. This is an out and back type of route, sending us across the bottom of the Waterloo G&G route (you know, where all the hills are), and back across the same hills going the other direction. There are some additional hills thrown in for extra credit.

    The full route is 49.5 miles, regrouping as needed with average speeds between 12 and 14 mph. Bring fuel and extra water as the only store on the route is at mile 28.5.

    Departure time: 9am

    Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/28989360

    Start point: 1101 S Main St, Chelsea, MI 48118


  • 08/29/2019 1:28 PM | Daniel Riley (Administrator)

    Since it’s Labor Day weekend, I thought I’d make you work hard this Saturday! We’re going to be heading for hills – the hills of NW Ohio. There are hills in good ole flat NWO? You betcha. This ride is an oldie but goodie from Janet Smith. North of US 20 on CR 15 are some sweet rollers that are a lot of fun. If you rode the Freedom Ride on July 4th you got a little bit of an exposure to them. This time we’ll ride them all. Twice! And we’ll also have a pretty trip to ride them. 

    The route is one of our longer ones – 52.1 miles according to Ride With GPS. We’ll be starting from the Parkview Dr. parking lot at Swanton Memorial Park in Swanton. For you GPSer’s the address is Parkview Dr., Swanton, OH 43558. It’s just opposite of Mom’s Diner There are bathrooms onsite in the park too (important for us old guys!). After hitting the hills, we’ll take a snack stop in Morenci at the mid-point. Then we’ll turn around and ride them again! And since we’re out that way, we will of course ride past the flowers on 8-1 again on our way back to Swanton.

    We’ll leave at 8:00 a.m. sharp – our last 8:00 start of the season. Pace will be out usual 17-18 mph. Weather looks fall-like cool and breezy, so dress appropriately. I’ll see you all at Swanton Memorial Park in Swanton.

    GPS track is available at  https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30977460


  • 08/28/2019 5:17 PM | Chuck Nicewonder (Administrator)

    Speedtrap Ride Tuesday, August 27th recap

    The Speedtrap Ride drew thirty-three cyclists to Elmore last night to ride the Peggy Avers route in almost perfect riding weather!

              Two years ago, Peggy Avers, owner of the ice cream shop next to Spoke Life Cycles/Elmore, fell sixteen feet  from a ladder to concrete getting Christmas decorations out of storage. The Flatlanders organized a special ride in conjunction with other events to raise money for Peggy Avers. We rode the 25-mile route last night. Several riders said it was a nice route!

            There was a slight headwind for the first half of the ride, but not bad, and a very nice tailwind for the return to Elmore portion. The sun was shining in mostly clear skies after rain earlier in the day.

              Scott Lang led the Ghost Pepper Riders and reported a 23.2 mph average. *Some e-bike riders reported a slightly higher number.*

              Bob Kayden led a total of nine Cayenne Pepper Riders at a 21.0 mph average.

              Tony Mazurek led the Habanero Riders and reported an 18.8 mph average.

              I rode out with seven other riders for a combined Jalapeno-Sweet Pepper group. The eight of us stayed together for the entire ride! My Garmin said 16.1 mph when we arrived back in Elmore. Kudos to Marnie Arndt who said it was her first 16+ mph of the season!

              Pictured are several riders enjoying food, drink, and good conversation after the ride at the Portage Inn in Elmore.

              Next Tuesday, September 3rd, we will all ride as one group at a relaxed pace following the route(or close to it) of Flatlanders’ Thursday night fun ride. Doug Metzger is organizing the ride and will provide music from his rock-and-roll playlist…Something different! Hopefully it will be an enjoyable change of pace for everyone. Thank you, Doug!

              Come on out to Elmore next Tuesday for the Speedtrap Fun Ride! Ride some quiet country roads and ride with some great people, too! Sign-in begins at 6:00 and we ride at 6:30 pm! I hope to see you then!

    Chuck Nicewonder

             

© 2024 Toledo Area Bicyclists

All Rights Reserved

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software