Latest Club News & Info

This from our friends at NORTA:

Northwestern Ohio Rails to Trails Association

Wabash Cannonball Trail

"Twenty five years ago, on March 24, 1994, the Wabash Cannonball Trail was born.  Representatives of Norfolk and Western Railway and the six purchasing partners (Toledo Metroparks, Lucas County, Maumee, Whitehouse, Wauseon, and NORTA) gathered in a room at TMACOG offices in Toledo, to sign the massive volumes of paperwork needed to transfer ownership of 64 miles of the former railroad corridor property.

Northwestern Ohio Rails-to-Trails Association (NORTA) needed only 2 days to clean up 2.5 miles on the South Fork in order to declare that section of trail open for business!  A ceremonial ribbon cutting was held on April 2, 1994, at that site in Colton, Ohio.

On Saturday, March 30, 2019, at 10:00 am, we will commemorate the 25th anniversary of that event, at the site where it all began.  Please join us in Colton for a few words, refreshments, and a stroll on the Wabash Cannonball Trail."

The full schedule for Hunt 4 Bigfoot rides is now posted. Check the calendar and come on out for some after-dark MTB!

Registration is now open for MARR! Did you know we've changed the name?! MARR is now the Maumee Area River Ride! Register early to avoid higher costs. Early registration helps with with planning the catered lunch - and ordering beer, too!

TAB Members will receive 10% off of their ONLINE registration (you may need to log in to the web site).

We can't pull this off without your help! Please consider volunteering on the day of the ride. And spread the word - let's make this a bigger MARR than ever!

-2019 MARR Co-Chair Nancy Beeman

Coordinator and Ride Leader Nate Burks has been busy preparing for our new gravel series. He is getting ready to begin distributing PR materials to promote the events, which will take place on certain Saturdays beginning in April.

Attached is the series flyer for your perusal and sharing.

Metroparks Toledo's Jerri Fink advises that After-Hours Commuter permits have arrived. Per Jerri, if you have submitted an application your permit should be in the mail this week. Not sure what effect the weather will have on delivery dates but start looking for them soon.

If you have not yet filled out an application and would like a permit you can access it from the link below. Happy Riding!

2019 Metroparks After Hours Permit.pdf

Gravel guru Nate Burks has released the tentative schedule for his new 2019 TAB Gravel Series. Per Nate, this ride is for experienced and novice alike. "If you are new to gravel, this series is designed to take you from short and flat to long and hilly over the course of ten rides. These are "no rider left behind" rides with frequent regrouping."

Nate adds, "There are many advantages to riding roads less traveled. Riding gravel is a great way to increase leg strength and endurance. You are guaranteed to see fewer cars. We will encounter roads with varying terrain, hills, the occasional closed road or bridge, and sometimes dogs and livestock. You will never be bored." 

The ride schedule has been added to the calendar along with starting points and route info. These rides are scattered throughout the summer calendar so check dates and times to ensure you don't miss out.

04/06 - Waterville Towpath

04/20 - Pacesetter

05/04 - Original Gravity 27

05/18 - Wauseon Warmup

06/01 - Original Gravity 37

06/29 - Pacesetter Blissfield

07/13 - Chelsea Waterloo 36

07/27 - Forest View Lanes

08/17 - Tecumseh Brewing

08/31 - Chelsea Waterloo 51

09/07 (Bonus Epic Ride 1) - 70MilesAGravel (71.6 miles)

09/21 (Bonus Epic Ride 2) - SLAFALA (80.6 miles)

09/28 (Bonus Epic Ride 3) - Morenci Gravel 100 (103.3 miles)

10/05 (Bonus Epic Ride 4) - Loudonville ExGravelGanza (71 miles)

Look for more information as the season approaches.

Thanks Nate!

Updated 12/28/2019:

2019 applications for Metroparks Toledo After-Hours Commuting permits are now available. The application is easy to complete and submit, and approval (At least in my case because I look trustworthy) was almost instantaneous. If you are going to be riding with us on after hour rides you should have this free permit. The pdf application is available below.

2019 Metroparks After Hours Permit.pdf

-Ron Schieb