Latest Club News & Info

Just wanted to put out some post-ride notes.

First… WHAT A GREAT RIDE! We received nothing but positive feedback about the new routes highlighting the Maumee River this year. Also, some have commented on actually seeing a heightened police presence out on the roads. Kenneth Shaw was able to coordinate this with the various municipalities that the routes went through as well as ODOT. AND… hopefully some of you saw the two big ODOT signs informing motorists that bicyclists would be out on the roads prior to MARR and the day of the event!

I wanted to send out some special thanks, first to my fellow members of the MARR Planning Committee and other key volunteers for the event:

• Kenneth Shaw: CO-Director of the ride. The new routes this year were from him thinking about how do we showcase the “River” part of the Mad Anthony RIVER Rally. He also came up with the string bag with the various freebies inside.
• Sarah Lee: Coordinator of IT/Website Activities, (she put together a great MARR webpage)!
• Joe Connelly: Coordinator of Volunteer services. GREAT JOB on that Joe! AND… two days prior to the ride, Joe went out with a high-powered gas leaf-blower and blew off the gravel for ALL ROUTES! Those of you who identified problem intersections, Joe made sure to find those. THANK YOU JOE!
• Rick Metcalf: Coordinated our SAG support. We had a few mechanicals, and some individuals needed transport back to the starting point, BUT… we are very thankful that there were NO INJURIES or ACCIDENTS, and no one reported any run-ins with motorists.
• Mark Maxwell: Safety/Traffic monitor at the Grand Rapids rest stop.

Special thanks to all those who volunteered, those who helped with set-up in the days preceding the event including registration: Debbie Tassie (who provided the bike stands at the Shelter House), Sharleen Suico, Ron Wells, Tyler Smith, Bob Kayden, and those who helped with lunch and kept our beverages cold including John Lee and Connie Benning, all our volunteers out at the rest areas making sure everyone had cold water and/or Gatorade and plenty of snacks, THANK YOU! And for those who helped with the tear-down after everything was done, (many who rode in MARR), including Dan Riley, Dan Marsalek, Rick Metcalf, and many others.

I wish I could thank you all by name, but please know, your efforts contributed to a great ride.

We had riders from Akron & Cleveland, some from Columbus, Detroit, and Fort Wayne. All of them had nothing but praise for MARR and expressed that we put on a top-notch ride, and they all look forward to coming back next year.

I am very proud of the effort that went into this ride. The “Old Guard” passing on their knowledge and best practices to the new. This was OUR RIDE, Toledo Area Bicyclists, and so I wanted to say a special thank you to all TAB members who volunteered and/or rode. By participating, you ensure that MARR will be around for many more years to come. For those members who did not ride, I urge you, PLEASE ride next year. MARR is always on the 2^nd Saturday of August. Again, this is OUR RIDE. MARR funds all the club’s expenses that membership dues don’t quite cover.

Finally, I wanted to put out some special recognition.

First of all to our very own Hubert Backes, a long-time TAB member. He rode the CENTURY route without STOPPING at any of the rest areas. At 85, (soon to be 86), he was the oldest person to ride the Century Route, (he was the oldest person in the ride)! And came in with a time of 7:10:58, and somehow, he managed to log in the most miles at 104. Thank you to all our dedicated rest area personnel and SAG drivers who kept an eye out for Hubert!

           

Additionally, we had a woman ride this year, Ellen, Columber, who never rode bikes too much, she was an avid runner, goes to the gym frequently, but this past February, experienced a setback, she felt excruciating pain in her back one day that only worsened. Eventually, she ended up seeing her doctor who referred her to orthopedics. Long story short, she ended up having back surgery that left her unable to run, her doctors told her she’d be lucky if she could even walk for long distances. Her Physical Therapist told her, “hey, there’s some kind of bike ride coming up in August, they’ve got a 30 mile course, I think you could do that!” So that was her goal, with the help of her physical therapist, she worked on the stationary bikes for a while and then transitioned to her bike, started out small, but worked her way up, and she did it! She rode the 32-mile route for MARR this year! We hope to see Ellen for some of our club rides.

It doesn’t matter whether one’s fitness level is elite, (we had 10 finish the CENTURY route sub-5), or if you’re a Meanderer who likes to ride at a slower pace taking in the beautiful scenery around. TAB has a ride for you! And we welcome everyone to join us. Please check out the TAB website at https://www.toledoareabicyclists.org/ and find a ride that suites YOU!

We hope to see you at a future club ride!

AND…

We’re already under a year till next year’s MARR! Mark your calendars, the next MARR will be on Saturday, August 10, 2024!

Click <HERE> for timing results

Click <HERE> for pictures from the ride (Thank you Sue R. & Hugh B.)

One last thing... Eric Hammon won the Wahoo ELEMNT Roam Bundle pack. He left for home after his ride, but when I called him, he said that was worth driving back to Whitehouse for. Congratulations Eric, hope you enjoy the new ELEMNT ROAM.

Speedtrap Ride Tuesday August 15^th

          The Speedtrap Ride, one of America’s great Tuesday night rides, will roll out again, weather permitting, tomorrow, Tuesday, August 15^th, at 6:30 pm from Spoke Life Cycles in Elmore, Ohio.

          Scott Lang will take out his Ghost Pepper Riders, and expects the group to average 22 to 23+ mph. Are you up to the challenge??!!

          Dave Stover, again substituting for Bob Kayden, will lead the Cayenne Pepper Riders at 21 to 22+ mph.

          Tony Mazurek should be back to lead the Habanero Riders at 20 to 21+ mph.

          Todd Pollock , hopefully back from Navy duty, will take out the Jalapeno Riders, averaging 17 to 19 mph.

          I plan to ride out with the Sweet Pepper Riders, those who would like to ride at a more casual pace.

          At ride time, the temperature is predicted to be about 70 degrees, with a NNW wind of 11 mph. However, there is a 35 to 40% chance of showers.

          The Speedtrap Ride is a combined effort of the Toledo Area Bicyclists(TAB) and the Flatlanders Bike Club. It’s a great way to ride some quiet country roads with some great people, too! Sign-in begins at 6:00 in front of the bike shop. I hope to see you then!

Pictured are some Ghost Pepper Riders from August 23, 2022

Chuck Nicewonder

Mighty Cyclists

We had another "road rage" incident on our 5'fer ride yesterday evening (8/10/23). Spicy Plus and Spicy had combined in to one group and were climbing the hill on River Road approaching Stitt, when a motorist "buzzed" the group and was yelling a them to form a single pace line etc. This motorist, did make a hard stop, and with some hearty and loud communication, no one was hurt. Riders reported the incident to me after the ride.

Today, I spoke with a Lucas County Deputy and reported the incident. I had a good conversation and allayed our concerns about what seems to be a growing problem of over aggressive divers. I asked how we should go about getting this issue prioritized on our Thursday rides. He gave me the name of the lieutenant in charge of the patrols. I will be calling this individual and discussing this with him in the hopes of getting patrol cars in the area on Thursday evenings.

If/when a situation like this happens again:

• Always follow the law.
• Call 911 immediately.
• Do NOT retaliate in any way shape or form ( I know, easy to say)
• Stay calm: Try to diffuse the situation and stay calm.
• • These are situations where we need to take the "high" road and not stoop to the level of an idiot driver. Never let your own anger take over, even when it’s justified.
• Keep a camera handy: Keep a camera handy in case you need to take pictures or take a video of an aggressive driver
  

We have 6 more official Thursday rides left this season. I am confident that we will, with an abundance of teamwork, make these rides memorable.

I look forward to seeing everyone next Thursday.

Regards,

Joe

Calling all bicyclists!

Get ready to pedal your way into an amazing adventure! The Mad Anthony River Rally (MARR) is this Saturday, August 12, and we couldn't be more excited.

The weather forecast is looking fantastic – sunny skies and warm temperatures! It's the perfect opportunity to soak up some rays, breathe in the fresh air, and embrace the joy of cycling with fellow enthusiasts.

Haven't registered yet? Don't miss out on the fun! Be a part of this exhilarating ride along the Maumee River. To register, visit MARR and lock in your spot before it's too late. Share this post with your bicycling friends, and let's make this MARR an unforgettable experience!

See you on Saturday, ready to pedal, laugh, and create incredible memories together.

Speedtrap Ride Tuesday August 8^th recap

          The Speedtrap Ride brought thirty-three cyclists to Elmore Tuesday for a great evening of riding. The was a light headwind for the first part of the ride. However, there were no complaints, and the return-to-Elmore portion of the ride was very enjoyable.

          Scott Lang led five Ghost Pepper Riders to a 23.0 mph average.

          Dave Stover’s Cayenne Pepper Riders and Ken South’s Habanero riders joined to form a group of seven riders averaging 22.2 mph.

          Andrew Gundlach, substituting for Todd Pollock, led the Jalapeno Riders and reported an average of 18.7 mph.

          I rode out with at least ten other Sweet Pepper Riders. The group split into two early on.  I was with the slower group of four riders  No report from the faster group. All completed the ride returning to Elmore safely with no issues.

          Several riders gathered after the ride inside the bike shop for drink and good conversation.s

          Pictured is Jeff Warner. Although an experienced rider, he rode his first Speedtrap Ride last week. Welcome Jeff.

          Also pictured are substitute ride leaders Dave Stover and Andrew Gundlach. Thank you Dave, and thank you Andrew, for leading.

          It appears that next Tuesday, August 15^th,  will be another great evening of cycling. The weather forecast calls for a high temperature of 79 degrees, partly cloudy skies, an 18% chance of rain, and a WNW wind of 14 mph. Please join us. I hope to see you then!

Chuck Nicewonder

         

Speedtrap Ride Tuesday August 8^th

          The Speedtrap Ride, the best Tuesday night ride out of Ottawa County, will roll out  again Tuesday, August 8^th, at 6:30 pm from Spoke Life Cycles in Elmore, Ohio.

          The weather forecast appears favorable: a temperature in the upper 70s, partly cloudy skies, a 10 to 15% chance of precipitation, and a west wind of 10 mph at ride time, diminishing as the evening progresses.

          Scott Lang will lead the Ghost Pepper Riders. If you ride in his group, expect to average 22 to 23+ mph. Are you ready for the adrenalin rush!

          Dave Stover, substituting for Bob Kayden, will take out the Cayenne Pepper Riders. This group has been rivaling the Ghost Pepper Riders for the last couple of weeks. Will they do it again!

          Tony Mazurek will lead the Habanero Riders. The group will likely average 20 – 22+ mph.

          A substitute will be needed for Todd Pollock, to lead the Jalapeno Riders at 16 to 18+ mph.

          I will ride out with the Sweet Pepper Riders. Last week’s average was 16.6 mph.

          Let’s all wish Doug Kilpatrick, our friend and TAB president, a speedy recovery from injuries suffered July 29^th. He is pictured here.

          Sign-in begins at 6:00 in front of the bike shop. I hope to see you then!

Chuck Nicewonder

         

 

Friends,

As many of you are aware, our friend, (and the President of Toledo Area Bicyclists, TAB), Doug Kilpatrick, was hurt last weekend on one of the group rides in a road-rage incident with a motorist. Doug sustained some severe injuries and was rushed to the hospital for assessment. He was released the next day, however, we have learned from his wife, Amy, that Doug had to be readmitted recently for ongoing complications.

With Amy’s permission, two upstanding members of TAB and the Northwest Ohio Bicycling Community, Nicole Reece and Sharleen Suico, are taking up donations to help Doug and Amy, whether that be for Door Dash or Uber Eats gift-cards, or other service oriented retailers to help them during this difficult time.

Both are accepting cash or check donations, and you can give those to them at any of the club rides. (Both ride several during the week including the Monday Night Waterville Ride, The Tuesday SpeedTrap Ride, and the Thursday "5fer").

If you prefer a money transfer service:

Nicole has Venmo: @Nicole-Reece-1

Sharleen has Zelle, you can use her mobile number: (440) 522-8446

If you’d like to mail a check, please contact Sharleen (listed above).

You may share this with other members of the bicycling community, however, please be careful and safeguard as Sharleen’s phone number is listed in this post.

The TAB Saturday Spicy Adventurers (with Kris Jensen & John Wodarski), are going to RECON the final segment of the MARR Century route from the Napoleon, OH rest stop down to Defiance, OH, and back to Napoleon this Saturday, 8/05/23.

Stage at East Riverdown Park with rollout at 8:00 AM: 536 E Main ST, Napoleon, OH 43545. Total mileage from Napoleon to Defiance and back should be about 40 (ish) miles. Average speed 18-20 MPH with rolling speeds up to 22 MPH.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43884034

AND... 

If anyone is wanting to change it up a little this Saturday and get a little dirty/dusty, John Galdeen is going to RECON the MARR gravel route. So if you’ve got a gravel/mountain/fat tire bike, please join him for a scenic morning ride this Saturday, 8/05/23, that will take riders down the Tow Path at Farnsworth, Bend View, & Providence MetroParks. The Gravel Group will roll out with the Meandering Group from the CycleWerks – Whitehouse. 6760 Providence St, Whitehouse, OH 43571. Rollout will be at 8:00 AM. The Gravel ride should wrap up around the same time the Meanderers do, both groups, as part of Pre-MARR, are invited to have a post-ride lunch at the Whitehouse Park Pavilion after their respective rides are completed.

32 Mile Gravel Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41721678?privacy_code=rclSl5e9Wisyrb1x

This Saturday, Aug 5th at 8a is Pre-MARR and the Meanderer's are recon-ing the 30-mile route!! We will be collecting feedback to pass along to the powers that be so that we can address any concerns before MARR on Aug 12th. Bring hydration and a snack for the mid-ride rest stop for the route that will average 13-15mph (probably a bit on the slower sIde since we will need to stop and take notes). For those of you that can join us, there will be a light lunch provided after the ride.

If you haven't already signed up to participate in MARR the link below will take you to the registration site. Hope to see you out there!!
https://www.toledoareabicyclists.org/MARR-2023

Speedtrap Ride Tuesday August 1^st recap part 2

          A 2022 addition to the Speedtrap Ride is a group of recumbent tricycle riders, called the Cherry Pepper Riders This past Tuesday, a group of four Cherry Pepper Riders rode down the North Coast Inland Trail and back: Tom and Charlene Saunders, and Spoke Life’s own Dan and Gwen Waggoner.  Tom Saunders took the attached pictures. Thank you, Tom.; and Thank You Dan, for all you have done for cycling in the Fremont/Elmore/Sandusky area.

Chuck Nicewonder