Latest Club News & Info

Unofficial Speedtrap Ride Tuesday or Wednesday October 22/23 ?

                   Do you want an unofficial Speedtrap Ride tomorrow, Tuesday, October 22nd ? If so, I am proposing a 5:30 pm start.

                    It is predicted to be very windy tomorrow. However, the severe winds are supposed to have subsided by ride time.

                                    If that doesn't sound good, since the ride is unofficial, we could have the ride on Wednesday, October 23rd,  instead. The temperature is predicted to be slightly higher, with very sunny skies. It is still predicted to be windy, although slightly less windy that Tuesday.

                    I hope we can get a ride in. Please respond with your thoughts by email or on facebook.

I hope to see you in Elmore!

Chuck Nicewonder

We are going to gather to talk about what we liked and disliked about Winter Warrior and discuss the rides for this year.

Hopefully plan everything all the way to the end and the finale party!

Date: Friday, October 18, 8:00pm

Location: The Wheelhouse, Beach Ridge Area Oak Openings, Swanton OH

Unofficial Speedtrap Ride Tuesday, October 15^th recap

          The Speedtrap Ride, Ottawa County’s best Tuesday night ride, brought ten riders to Elmore for an unofficial ride last night, October 15^th.

          A combination Ghost Pepper/Cayenne Pepper group consisted of six riders for a while, then five. Deb Lohr reported a riding average of 22.1 mph for the 25-mile ride.

          A combination Habanero/Jalapeno Group consisted of four riders for a while, then picked up a fifth. Ken South from that group reported 16.5 mph for the 22-mile ride.

          It was pleasant weather for October, with a slight headwind at the start. The 5:30 pm start made everyone comfortable finishing the ride before it was too dark.

          It was technically not Todd Pollock’s first Speedtrap Ride. However, his last Speedtrap Ride was sometime before the start of the ride was changed from Woodville to Elmore in September of 2015.

Todd is pictured. Welcome back Todd!

          If the weather is favorable, I am proposing another unofficial Speedtrap Ride next Tuesday, October 22^nd, with a ride time of 5:30 pm! I hope to see you then!

Chuck Nicewonder

Greetings to all TAB members and Friends,

      Just a reminder that there will be no official TAB rides this coming Saturday, October 19th.

Why? Because it has been a long-standing policy of TAB to support Maumee Valley Adventurers' invitational rides, and this Saturday is MVA's Tombstone Tour.

        The ride begins at 10:30 am at the Buehner Center in Oak Openings Preserve Metropark. You can register for the ride on line at the cheaper rate until 11:59 pm this Thursday, October 17. Day-of-ride registration will be available.

    I hope to see you on the road!

Chuck Nicewonder

Is anyone interested in an unofficial Speedtrap Ride tomorrow, Tuesday, October 15th ? If so, I will plan to be in Elmore for a 5:30 pm start. The temperature is predicted to be 70 degrees, with partly sunny skies and southerly winds 10 to 20 mph. Please respond by email or on Facebook.

    If we ride, we will form riding groups based on who shows!I hope to see a few riders tomorrow in Elmore!

Chuck Nicewonder

Last year’s Ray Squire ride was cold and windy if I remember right. And guess what? It was the same this year. I think Ray’s spirit is challenging us! 8 riders came out in the 36 degree temps to enjoy the crisp autumn air. As we went out east and south into the wind, we hid in the woods as much as we could. But we still had 4-5 miles straight into the 10-12 mph winds. When we stopped in Metamora after 25 miles, we were at 16.0 mph. But we had smooth sailing all the 15 miles back to Wildwood with ever-increasing tailwinds pushing us at a 20 mph average to arrive with a solid 17.1 for the whole trip. It was great to see Chris Crandall joining us for his return to road cycling after 8 weeks off the bike. He reported he felt good, but a little ibuprofen wouldn’t hurt. Welcome back Chris!

It was this time last year that the Metroparks and the cycling community dedicated a Fix-it Station and bike rack in front of the Visitor’s Center at Wildwood in memory of Ray Squire and his and his wife Pat’s contributions to cycling in Toledo. As part of that ceremony, we dedicated our ride that day to Ray. Deb & I thought it would be a nice idea to repeat that ride again this year and remember Ray. 

The weather looks challenging. With temps in the 40’s, and some blustery winds from the SW and W, we’ll need to break out the cool weather gear. The good news is it should be mostly sunny to keep us warm and I’ve packed the first half of the ride with woods for some protection from the wind. Think of it as a warm up for Winter Warrior, a chance to practice your layering skills.

We’ll be starting at 9:00 from Parking Lot 7 at Wildwood (also known as the “Where The Breakfast Ride Starts” lot) for a 40 mile ride loop out west of town, with a snack stop in Metamora before we head back. Pace is expected to be in the 17 mph range. Be there or be square!

GPS track is at Ride With GPS: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31284703

This weekend is another gravel doubleheader. The gravel gathering this Saturday morning will be in Morenci, MI at 8am. Get ready to ride a half gravel, half road century with planned stops about every 20 miles.

Date: 09/28/2019

Ride: Morenci Gravel Century

Distance: 100 miles

Start location: Wakefield Park, 555 W Main St, Morenci, MI 49256

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/29029625

Sunday is BIKEtoberfest. The gravel ride starts at 8am from the Beach Ridge Wheelhouse in Oak Openings. Details can be found here: https://www.toledoareabicyclists.org/news/7896032

Unofficial Speedtrap Ride Tuesday, October 8^th recap

          An unofficial Speedtrap Ride brought twelve cyclists to Elmore yesterday, Tuesday, October 8^th.

          A combined Ghost Pepper/Cayenne Pepper group consisted of seven riders who rode 25+ miles. Rob Rausch from that group reported an average of 20.8 mph.

          Five riders made up a combined Habanero/Jalapeno/Sweet Pepper group, who rode 20 miles. My Garmin indicated a 15.8 mph average.

          New to the Speedtrap Ride this week was Rob Rausch, who, as mentioned above, rode in the faster group, and who is pictured. Welcome Rob!

          A few riders expressed an interest in another unofficial ride next Tuesday, October 15^th, but earlier. If there is interest and the weather is favorable, I am proposing an unofficial Speedtrap Ride at 5:30 pm on that day.  All are welcome! Perhaps I’ll see you then!

Chuck Nicewonder

Didn't get a count on the number of cyclists that rolled out with Hubert but we created quite a wake. 82 miles for 82 years for a great guy!

Thanks to everyone who came out to ride.