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November - December 2012

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Understanding

TRIRI Report

Cycling Apps &

Ohio Bicycling Fatalities

Equines & Riders

TAB members enjoy scenic

Podcasts

Ohio’s bicycling lawyer shares

MetroParks’ Lora Goerlich

riding in Indiana, as told by

John Kirtos shares some of his

preliminary findings to help

shares the horse’s perspective.

Debbie Tassie

favorites; what’s yours?

riders stay safe on the road.

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TAB Annual Banquet

Consider Biking

Please mark you calendar for TAB's Annual Banquet celebrating the 2012 riding season.  The Banquet is scheduled for Saturday, January 26, 2013 from 5 pm -10 pm at Angola Gardens, 7001 Angola Rd., Holland, Ohio.  Our speaker will be Jeff Stephens, RAAM (Race Across AMerica) finisher and former Executive Director of Consider Biking. 

Consider Biking is committed to making Central Ohio increasingly safe, accessible, and friendly to bicycle transportation. The work they do is at the heart of urban environmentalism – raising awareness about oil dependency, pollution, congestion, safe streets, good urban design, and public health. They are partnering with local stakeholders to improve our streets, bridges, and trails in order to make riding to work, shopping, and exercising by bicycle safe and fun for everyone in the Columbus metropolitan area. Consider Biking has been here helping, asking, training and working to make Columbus a better place to live, work, and ride. They bring cyclists in the region together with the know-how to make bicycling a safe, convenient and fun way to get around. Their achievements rely on three key elements: • A professional staff that meets regularly with government officials in the meetings that affect your cycling environment • Dedicated volunteer leaders and a board of directors who meet regularly to keep us on track • Active members who come from a multitude of backgrounds to combine the strengths of commuters, bike clubs, trail users, racers, and mountain. bikers to create a potent constituency. To find out in more detail what steps they are taking to improve bicycling in the Columbus area, please visit http:// www.considerbiking.org

Watch for more information on the Banquet to be mailed in early December with membership renewals. Information on the Banquet will also be posted on the TAB website. > Mike Vanderhorst

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UN DER STA N DI N G L EA DS T O SA FE P R A CT I CES Equestrians named it the “gauntlet.” They are referring to a section of multi-use trail at Oak Openings Preserve. A segment roughly .20 miles long but riddled with hazards. Hazards a nonequestrian might not recognize. This portion of trail is shared with cyclists, hikers, dog walkers and in-line skaters. Equestrians have the right of way, but it is easy for other users to get impatient waiting for the gentle giants to make safe passage.

Equestrians have the right of way on this section for the safety of everyone, although most riders approaching this section will gladly give way to other users. If you cross paths with an equestrian, greet her or him; the horse will recognize a human voice, which will help it relax. Slow down; it takes less than five minutes for horse and rider to walk the gauntlet. By using proper etiquette and following the rules, conflicts will disappear, creating positive experiences for everyone. I always breathe a sigh of relief when cyclists stop for me and my mount to travel through the gauntlet; it really relieves a lot of anxiety.

Horse and Rider Preparing to Cross the Trail, East of the Gauntlet Hazards include asphalt trail tread, a wooden elevated bridge, a guard rail that offers no protection for riders, narrow trail width and speeding cyclists. Asphalt is very slippery under horse hooves and attracts ice during winter; a horse could lose its footing easily, and fall. Riders must walk to maintain safety. Next, stepping from asphalt to the wood decked bridge creates a different sound, which may cause a horse to hesitate. This is a tenuous moment for a rider on the back of a horse, sitting high above the safety rail. The narrow trail width bordered by heavy guard rails may feel confining to some horses. Couple these issues with the fact that a horse cannot see directly in front of or directly behind itself, and it sees different views out of each eye; they have binocular and monocular vision. Horses are prey animals; they react to threats by fight or flight. Most often they flee. A successful predator approaches its prey from behind, out of the horse’s line of sight, stalking until it pounces on the horse’s back. In order to preserve life, the horse will run, spin, kick and buck trying to get the predator off its back. Now… think how a cyclist or a pack of cyclists riding quietly, appearing out of nowhere, at lightning speed, crouched down like a predator might generate the same response. w w w . t o l e d o a r e a b i c y c l i s t s . c o m!

Outside the park boundaries, on the north and south forks of the Wabash Cannonball trail, horses are permitted but these sections tend to be less frequently used by equestrians since the trail is linear and asphalt. Equestrians prefer to use exclusive trails to avoid potential conflicts. Always use safe practices whether hiking, biking, walking dogs or in-line skating around horses. Easy safety tips: Keep your distance and don’t ride up behind any horse. Announce your presence, and start a conversation by asking the equestrian if the horse is bothered by bikes. Some horses are “bomb proof,” meaning they are fearless. Unfortunately, not all horses are wired this way, most are not. Like humans, they have unique personalities and react differently to stimuli. Being polite and patient goes a long way in helping reduce tension during a potentially stressful situation.

Lora Goerlich Thanks, Lora, for contributing this article to help our understanding. The Wabash Cannonball Trail is a mixed-use trail system. Next time you are bicycling it, look for this sign on the brown mileage marker posts. We share the trail with hikers, skiers, and equestrians.

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T OU R I N G R I DE I N RU R A L I N DI A N A

The hills on the first day of our ride weren’t too bad. Except, of course, for that really steep one to get into Brown County State Park. Imagine leaning a ladder against the side of your house to climb up to the roof. That’s what the angle looked like to me. But the reward for the first 63 miles of the “September Escapade,” put on by Touring Rides in Rural Indiana (TRIRI), were many. We had lunch at the turn-of-the-century Story Inn, and we visited the little town of Nashville, IN, which is famous for its many shops, some of which sell beautiful handmade crafts by local artisans. And, when we checked into the Abe Martin Lodge, the “aquatic center” awaited us, with its crazy luge-like water slide, floating pool and hot tub. I now believe that every long ride should end with a hot tub.

Kelli Routsong, Mary and Ken South, and myself all took part in TRIRI this fall. We knew we would spend every night in a state park lodge (you could camp in the cold if you preferred...), that breakfast and dinner would be sumptuous buffets, and that we would be biking in one of the most beautiful areas in the midwest. Southeastern Indiana is known for its rustic scenery and preservation of historic buildings and sites. One thing it doesn’t seem to have are any restrictions against dogs running at large, but more about that later. The 70 miles of Day Two took us up two of the steepest hills of the ride to a little hole-in-the-wall restaurant in Medora for lunch. Tipped off by the organizers in advance, we had the best pork tenderloin and milk shakes you could hope to find. Unfortunately, the enjoyment of lunch was marred by the gathering storm clouds. Not too long after we left, a slow, steady rain started and continued for the rest of the afternoon. We w w w . t o l e d o a r e a b i c y c l i s t s . c o m!

celebrated our arrival at the Spring Mill Inn by jumping into the well-heated indoor-outdoor pool and swimming under the divider to splash around in the rain.

The next day we had our choice of activities. We all visited the pioneer village, consisting of various buildings which have been gathered from the area and relocated to the park. It was a treat to be able to view the operation of the grist mill with just a handful of other visitors present. Kelli took a 30-mile ride while the rest of us saved our legs for the next day’s 82 miles. On Wednesday, we biked toward Clifty Falls, flying over Mt. Tabor somewhere during that ride. (Mt. Tabor is the infamous difficult hill on the Hilly Hundred ride.) We swore we were just going to tell everyone we rode Mt. Tabor, and that is was easy. But I suppose it’s only fair to say that we went down it, not up. Somewhere along this route our troubles with dogs began. The first dog that we remember was some kind of cattle dog or mutt. We could just see its little ears and wily eyes peeking out from behind a bush. As we passed, the dog rushed out barking viciously and growling. He was wearing a thick collar and dragging a piece of chain. Unfortunately, I got a close-up view as he closed his teeth on my shoe. Fortunately, he let go just as quickly, and we biked away as fast as possible. The next dog was a hound, I think, who rushed into the road barking. Then there was an old and slow golden retriever who wandered onto the road, but didn’t seem harmless when your nerves are getting jangled. Finally, when two fluffy little pomeranians were barking frantically behind their fence, we started laughing. Clearly, some kind of word had gone out to the dogs along the route to give us a hard time.

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T OU R I N G R I DE I N RU R A L I N DI A N A

And was that the day we saw a rottweiler sitting on the top of a slide? The one that started barking wildly shortly after I went by? All I can say is that there were more dogs on Friday’s ride, but for some reason they liked Kelli, Ken and Mary more than me on Friday. Must have been the sausages I put in their jersey pockets. We walked into our room at Clifty Falls Wednesday evening, dropped our bags, and gasped at the view. A huge floor-to-ceiling window overlooked the Ohio River and Kentucky. To our left, we could see the lights of the historic river town of Madison. Ken and Mary even had a room with a balcony.

You could spend the next day hiking in the park, visiting museums and shops in Madison, or riding your bike. Kelli and I toured the 1844 Greek-revival Lanier mansion while Ken and Mary went to see if the drought had left any water in the falls. In the evening, the park ranger built a campfire and fascinated us with stories about the park. The ride back to our cars Friday was only 44 miles, giving us plenty of time to stop at a covered bridge and to have a snack at a tea room/garden/nursery/winery. All in all, this was a wonderful trip. TRIRI owners Kathy Smith and husband Mark Napier have done an excellent job of creating routes and seeing to every detail of the trip. They are cyclists themselves, so have tested the routes, and seem to know exactly what cyclists want. The maps were clear, SAG support was very good, and Kathy made sure we knew about points of interest along the routes. She alerted restaurants and carryouts so they could be ready for us. w w w . t o l e d o a r e a b i c y c l i s t s . c o m!

TRIRI will repeat this trip next year with a slightly different location, and will also have a six-day trip in June where riders keep their cars, but bike from two different state parks. Both trips are well worth checking out.

Debbie Tassie

FART XIX 2012 Mike Troxell and I travelled to Camp Alleghany at the 65,000 acre Allegany State Park in New York to participate in the world’s longest running off-road tandem rally, FART (Fall Alleghany Rally for Tandems, www.fartmtb.org). We were one of the two new teams joining the American and Canadian veterans who were returning for their 19th consecutive year.

The Alleghany State Park is five hours drive east of Toledo. It is the largest state park in New York, with extensive mountain biking trails. Camp Alleghany consisted of two barracks filled with rooms for 1-5 campers as well as a giant mess hall. It was great fun to use the mess hall dish washing machine! Everyone brought dishes to share - this was a weekend of great food. On Saturday morning, the group of over a dozen tandems began the long, five-mile climb to the top of the lookout where we enjoyed a picnic lunch. After enjoying the view, we rode a series of loops along the ridge line doing as much (or as little) riding as we wished. We then had a long descent back to camp. After a huge dinner, everyone prepared their mountain bike tandems with lights for a night ride on the five mile paved trail around Red House Lake. I think the night ride was the highlight of the trip! Afterwards, we circled around a large campfire to share s’mores and stories. We only went to bed early because it started raining. On Sunday, the trails were a little too wet for riding. We divided into two groups and took to the roads (both paved and dirt) for another big climb, followed by a long descent. The fall colors were wonderful in this very scenic park.

Jacqueline Campbell p a g e!

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B I CYCL E A P P S A N D P O DC A S T S Bicycle Apps There are so many apps on the AppStore for iPhone I’ve reviewed a few that I’ve used and would like to hear what other people use and their thoughts also. Bikesavr ($0.99) This is a GPS-based app to remind you that your bike is on top of your car before you reach home (or any destination) and drive into the garage with your bike on top of your car. You enter your location, alarm sound and activate it by pressing “save my bike.” For my house, it alarms about 200 hundred feet before I reach home. It works great. BikeRepair ($3.99) This is a pictorial-based repair app. You can select items to view by a guide with sections (chain, wheels, derailleur, etc) or by problems. It then shows pictorials on how to perform the steps. This would be a good app at $0.99, but the content doesn’t justify the $3.99 price tag. The pictures/display steps are high-quality pictures, but you would probably use this app as a reference along with other resources. They just updated to a new version that has added additional content this week including a bike tracker to track components and maintenance history. Roadbike (free) This app is a GPS-based cyclocomputer app. It tracks your route, mileage, time, etc. After the ride you can view your route and stats on a map. This is a great free app and does some of the functions similar to a Garmin. I’m not sure how the battery would hold up on a long ride like a century and how much data the GPS would use up over a long ride. The longest ride I’ve used it on is 23 miles. I have a limited data plan and am always worried about going over. There is a paid upgrade that eliminates ads and adds some extra features. I won’t use this as my primary computer on my bike but will use it on some but not all rides. Myfitnesspal (free) Although this isn’t a bike app per say, it’s a calorie and exercise counter. This app allows you to enter your weight and weight-loss goal. It gives you a target calorie count per day. Whatever you eat or drink, you enter into the app for tracking. There is a database that it accesses, so you can start typing, and it will search to find the food you are trying to enter. You then enter the portion size (cup, ounce, etc.). If in a hurry or you know the number of calories, you can enter a quick add of just the calorie count. You enter your exercise time also, and it allows you to earn more calories. I started using this over 2 months ago. It was eye-opening for me to realize the caloric impact of certain foods and portion sizing. This app has helped me to reach my weight-loss goal (which was to lose 10 more pounds) plus has helped me to maintain it. Still using it after 2 months. I’ve changed my goal from weight loss to maintain a weight, which gives me more calories per day available. w w w . t o l e d o a r e a b i c y c l i s t s . c o m!

Bicycle Podcasts

I listen to several podcasts on a regular basis. This is a list of the ones I’ve listened to but would enjoy hearing what other people listen to also. KBOO Bike Show-This podcast is based out of Portland, Oregon and is Portland specific. It’s interesting to listen to sometimes because Portland is such a bike friendly community, although not all topics apply here in Toledo. The Fredcast- An interesting podcast by David Bernstein that covers many topics including product reviews, cycling news and racing . Some interesting reviews from interbike and dealer camp. This podcast also gives many reviews on new products they test out. This is one of the longer running cycling podcasts on the Internet that I’ve found. WJCU-The Outspoken Cyclist- Podcast based out of Cleveland, Ohio by Diane Lees (bike shop owner of Hubbub custom cycling). Very informative podcast that is worth going back and listening to the older podcasts, too. Diane is very involved in the bike industry and has many deep contacts for interviews on a weekly basis. Being Ohio-based, it covers things that affect us here also. The Spokesmen-A roundtable podcast discussion forum that includes David Bernstein from the Fredcast (along with other members) that cover many topics from advocacy, safety, racing , news, etc. in the cycling arena. The members of this roundtable have roots in the cycling industry from marketing/ sales to advocacy along with being fans of the sport. The Bike Shop Show-This is a newer podcast based out of SE Michigan. Aimed at bike maintenance but also covers events in the Michigan area including local racing and cyclocross. I enjoy this one because of the regional local coverage and for someone who is not as bike mechanical savvy as I’d like to be, I find I learn a lot from this show. Bicycle Radio-A weekly hour-long podcast out of Arizona that covers all topics cycling. This podcast does discuss but is not limited to coverage in Arizona. The hosts on this show have been on for quite a while and have a great rapport. They discuss everything from racing to touring to advocacy and safety. Thanks, John Kirtos, for contributing both these articles on apps and podcasts. Please share with John your favorites, either by emailing him at [email protected] or by contributing to the ongoing discussion on TAB’s Facebook page. p a g e!

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B I CYCL I N G FATA L I T I E S I N O H I O Steve Magas is a well-know bike lawyer in Cincinnati, OH who has handled over 300 cases. Steve has embarked on a long-term research project, analyzing all cycling fatalities in Ohio. He’s completed his analysis of the 11 Ohio fatalities in 2010 (there were 618 cycling fatalities nationwide in 2010). The 11 consisted of 9 men and 2 women. The average age was 43.6; the oldest rider killed was 76 and the youngest was 11. Five occurred after dark (and in four of these, the crash was blamed on lack of lighting or “conspicuity” of the cyclist). Two were hit-and-run deaths. They found the driver of the first hit-and-run shortly after the crash. Police did not cite him and they “blamed the cyclist for causing the crash as he was unlit and wearing dark clothes” (and had previously been cited for this). The second hitand-run motorist was charged more than one year after the crash, based on DNA evidence. A polygraph examination established that Amber K. Fernandez didn’t realize that she had struck a bicyclist (the crash occurred at 5:00 am on a dark, rainy Columbus street). She pleaded guilty to failure to stop after a collision, and was sentenced to 30 days in jail, received a $5,000 fine, suspended driver’s license for three years, and three years probation. (Although she had an $80 bar bill that night, etc., she was not charged for the cyclist’s death, just leaving the scene). Two cyclists were killed while the cyclists, riding on a bike path, were trying to cross a twolane country road to get back to the bike path on the other side of the road.  In the first incident, Thomas Spurgin and his wife were riding north along the bike trail in Champaign County in early morning. They were approaching Hickory Grove Rd, a 55 mph country road. As you can see from the photo, there is a stop sign and a warning sign that cross traffic does not stop. Mrs. Spurgin told police that the two riders did not stop at the stop sign.   “Mrs. Spurgin left the trail and entered the roadway with Mr. Spurgin 15-20 feet behind.  As Mrs. Spurgin left the trail and began crossing the road, a pick-up truck approached from the east.  The pickup driver told police he saw Mrs. Spurgin moving left to right in front of him and went left to avoid hitting her.  As he went left, he ended up running into Mr. Spurgin, who was just entering the roadway.  Mr. Spurgin died from his injuries.” Steve says, “this crash occurred as a result of a poor, but somewhat understandable, decision by two riders out for an early morning casual bike trail ride.  Anyone who has ridden on a bike trail is familiar with being lulled into that sense of security.  Approaching the roadway intersections we’d need to ALWAYS gear up our senses w w w . t o l e d o a r e a b i c y c l i s t s . c o m!

and remember that we lose EVERY confrontation with every motor vehicle.  Here a combination of the rising sun and the low overpass probably made it difficult to see the approaching pick-up truck.  The police stated their conclusion very simply – the bike rider “… was at fault for not stopping at the posted stop sign on the bike path…” The second fatality occurred in Trumbull County. Lawrence Furniss was riding south on a bike trail and intended to cross T.R. 222, also known as Housel Craft Road.  This intersection is similar to the first, with a stop sign on the trail as well as caution signs. Mr. Furniss was struck and killed as he attempted to cross Housel Craft Road.  As in the Champaign County case, police blamed the crash on Mr. Furniss’s failure to stop at the stop sign. Steve’s analysis shows that the driver was both distracted and speeding, and that the police report didn’t include some key measurements. It is possible that Furniss stopped, saw the car, and thought he could beat it across the intersection, not realizing the motorist was speeding. However, Furniss “had a reputation for doing fast training rides on that trail and for not letting stop signs reduce his pace.” Steve concludes that due to the lack of detail in the police investigation, we will never be able to confirm what happened. Steve is also compiling statistics for all cycling crashes, not just the fatal ones. The results have surprised him. His first analysis was of the 241 bike crashes in Columbus, OH in 2010. Cyclists were blamed for 45.6% of the accidents. Here I’ve summarized his results so far:

CO UNT Y / ( # )

M O T O R IS T AT FAU LT

C YC L IS T AT FAULT

Franklin (241)

43%

45%

Montgomery (83)

24%

64%

Hamilton (117)

38%

51%

Cuyahoga (301)

47%

31%

In Steve’s experience, cyclists tend to be blamed more often than they should for causing crashes, but these results have surprised him. 2012 started well for cyclists in Ohio, but turned negative as five cyclists were killed in the two weeks between August 27 and September 12. Final fatalities in 2012 will exceed those for 2011 and 2010. For more information, and to follow Steve’s continuing analysis of Ohio cycling accidents, see http://www.ohiobikelawyer.com

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N AT I O N A L N EWS & N EW P RO DUCT S New Bike Commuting Data Released The release of the 2011 American Community Survey data on commuting behavior provides further evidence that communities that make investments in bicycling -- through engineering, education, encouragement, enforcement, and evaluation -- attract more bicycle commuters than other communities. Since 2000, bicycle commuting rates in large Leaguedesignated Bicycle Friendly Communities (BFC) increased 80 percent, while rates in non-BFCs grew only 32 percent (lower than the U.S. average of 47 percent). In Toledo, the percentage of workers who commute to work by bicycle is only 0.44% (versus only 0.14% in 2006). In related news, three of the nation’s largest cities joined the League’s BFC in October 2012. Los Angeles (Calif.), Nashville (Tenn.), and Miami (Fla.) are among the 28 new cities to attain BFC status.

Zerust Bicycle Cover Both commuter bikes and high-end racing bicycles are susceptible to rust. Protect gears, brakes, shifters, and bicycle components with a Zerust® Bicycle Cover. These rust-inhibiting enclosures fit all single rider upright bicycles, and will provide 5 years of rust protection for your bike while it’s being stored. Made in Twinsburg, OH. $24.99; get a 10% discount thru end of year with coupon code "Pedaling" http:// www.zerustproducts.com

City Cycling Book Released From John Pucher and Ralph Buehler, City Cycling offers a guide to the urban cycling renaissance. It reports on cycling trends and policies in cities in North America, Europe, and Australia, and offers information on such topics as cycling safety, cycling infrastructure provisions including bikeways and bike parking, the wide range of bike designs and bike equipment, integration of cycling with public transportation, and promoting cycling for women and children. They argue that the bike boom needs to be expanded to a broader cross-section of people. Almost all the growth in cycling has come from men aged 25-64. Rates of cycling have actually fallen slightly among women and sharply among children, most probably because of nervousness about safety. But, in fact, cycling is getting safer all the time. Fatalities per 10 m bike trips fell by 65% between 1977 and 2009, from 5.1 to 1.8. In their book, the authors claim that the health benefits of cycling far exceed the safety risks. http:// citycyclingbook.wordpress.com

KustomCaps Also made in Ohio, Kustomcaps.com makes custom, laser-etched headset caps for individuals. They also have a quantity discount custom program for cycling clubs. We think Kustomcaps are a great way to commemorate club membership and an awesome way to raise funds. You dream it up and we can laser it on any one of our 10 anodized cap colors. Stock designs are only $8.00 Upstand, not Kickstand

Bikes Outsell Cars in Italy in 2011

Allows you to park your bike

Sales of bicycles in Italy last year surpassed those of cars for the first time since World War II, it has been revealed. During 2011, some 1,750,000 bicycles were sold in the country, a 10 per cent increase on the previous year, while 1,748,143 million new cars were registered, down 20 per cent year on year and the lowest level since 1964. Austerity measures introduced by Mario Monti's government are biting, while the price of petrol continues to head skywards, but according to newspapers such as La Repubblica that have reported the statistics, there's another reason too - Italians, it seems, have rediscovered the simple joy of cycling, whether for getting to and from work or leisure purposes. The news comes ahead of the launch of an initiative this weekend in Reggio Emilia of the Stati Generali della Bicicletta e della Mobilità Nuova [the Estates-General of the Bicycle and New Mobility].

anywhere. It installs in less than

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a minute, detaches and folds to store in your jersey pocket, and weighs only 40 grams. A small metal tab fits over your rear skewer inside the quick release. The stand itself is a carbon-fiber tube in two pieces, held together with a shock cord like a tent pole. On one end is a magnet that holds the stand to the tab on your bike. On the other end is a rubber cap that keeps it firmly in place against the ground. $39.00 http://upstandingbicycle.com

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C ALEN DAR OF EVEN TS will get the best ride stories on those days. You do not want to miss out! Saturday, November 3. Perrysburgh, More and more TAB members are Owens Community College. One hour purchasing winter bikes, and our little band spinning rides from 8:00 to noon. $25 fund of winter riders is growing. This year we are raiser for wounded warriors. http:// going to do more fun stuff then ever. 22 www.ride2recovery.com/spinningSaturdays equals 22 adventures starting nation.html November 3rd. Red Flannel Metric Century Winter rides are every Saturday as long Sunday, November 4. Oberlin, OH. Top as it is 10 degrees by 8 am. Rick Metcalf the year off with the premier end-of-season uses Channel 13’s little circle in the corner of touring event! Red Flannel has homemade the TV screen as the official temperature. soup, cookies, and a raffle. The rolling 64mile route visits historic Milan, birthplace of Starting locations and times are variable so be sure to check the schedule. inventor Thomas A. Edison. The rolling and It is easy to be comfortable while winter scenic 32-mile ride tours rural Lorain riding with the proper clothing. If you need County. www.LorainWheelmen.org advice, call Rick at 419-340-6564. Pumpkin Roll and Stroll Regardless of the type of ride Saturday, November 17th. Athens, OH. scheduled, always bring a bike suitable for 36-mile ride on HockHocking-Adena the weather conditions. Rick is looking for Bikeway. www.livehealthyappalachia.org more ride ideas; let me know where you would like to ride. Here is the schedule for the first 9 weeks: NOTE: Club rides officially ended on October 31st. Various people are offering weeknight rides (bring lights and wear D A TE RID E reflective gear) and weekend rides. Stay up Tony Packos Ride to date by visiting the TAB website, receiving 11/3 starting from Monclova TAB YahooGroup emails or visiting TAB’s School @ 9:00 am Facebook page. Official weekend rides will

Ride 2 Recovery Spinning

resume in April and weeknight rides in May, 2013.

YAHOO … WINTER RIDE SEASON! Just 4 months ago we had day after day of stifling heat, thick sticky air and sweat stinging your eyes. None of that is allowed in the winter season. You are guaranteed much cooler temperatures, crisp, clean air and sweat-free eyes. The winter season is a little slower, more laid back with a crazy fun spirit. Sometimes the weather will serve up some pretty unfriendly conditions, and we

11/10

Island Lake MTB ride, caravan leaving from St. Luke’s hospital at 8:00 am

11/17

Old St Rt 24 ride to Napoleon starting from the closed school on River Rd in Waterville @ 9:00 am

11/24

Ride the Towpath to Grand Rapids starting from Monclova School @ 9:00 am

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D A TE

RID E

12/1

Trail ride on the south fork to Liberty Center starting from Whitehouse @ 9:00 am

12/8

Napoleon MTB ride; caravan leaving from the closed school in Waterville @ 8:00 am

12/15

Christmas Card Ride to Rudolph leaving from Slippery Elm Trailhead in Bowling Green @ 10:00 am

12/22

Road ride to Grand Rapids starting from Whitehouse @ 9:00 am

12/29

MTB ride on north fork to Wauseon starting from Whitehouse at 9:00 am

The Novelist Learns to Bicycle Leo Tolstoy, the author of “War and Peace,” took his first bicycle lesson when he was 67 years old. He was grieving one month after the death of his 7-year-old son. The Moscow Society of Velocipede-Lovers provided him with a free bike and lessons riding along the garden paths of his estate. He became a devotee, taking rides every morning. Scientific America declared in 1886, “Count Leo Tolstoy ... now rides the wheel much to the astonishment of the peasants on his estate.”

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November - December 2012

TA B ME MB E R LO C AT I O N S

Ever wonder about where our members are located?  Keith Webb did, so he created this map. He had no idea that two members live just down the street from him.  This is an enlarged view to capture the bulk of our membership. We have a few members that live many miles from Toledo. The northern member is in Clio, MI, to the South is Mainville, West is Napoleon and East is Norwalk. One possible use by members would be to opt in to a group that would allow other TAB members to know your address (like a membership directory) where you could find a riding buddy, etc. We may also use it to plan rides and events.

TAB Website for Mobile Access

Great Dining Options for Toledo Cyclists

If you would like to access the TAB website on you phone, we now have a much better view for you.  We have installed a mobile solution that improves the navigation and view of our website.  How do I get there you ask?  It's automatic!  When you visit http:// toledoareabicyclists.org  on your mobile phone, you are automagically directed to the mobile pages.  If you find something that doesn't work for you, please let me know.

USA Today on September 21 featured “10 Great Places for a Movable Feast.”   David Howard, executive editor of Bicycling magazine, shared some of his favorite areas to bicycle and enjoy locally sourced restaurants and markets.  Joining wellregarded Portand OR, Madison, WI, and the Puglia region of Italy were two areas far closer to Toledo.  In fact, two of the ten “great places” are within 1-2 hours of Toledo.   Northern Ohio.  “It was food, not biking, that first led Howard to this region.   He suggests a multi-day, 140-mile ride from Cleveland to Columbus with stops at Cleveland’s Flying Fig, which gets seasonal food from family farms, and the Great Lakes Brewing Company.  He also suggests overnighting at the Morgan Farm Stay in Ashland, OH.   Detroit.  “Motor City has become a cycling town.  Detroit has sort of discovered the bicycle.  Riders have great dining choices if they just cruise around the city, stopping for Slows Bar BQ’s Triple Threat Pork sandwich, and then beer samples at Atwater Brewery.  Ambitious cyclists could try a multi-day, 140-mile trip to Kalamazoo.  

Keith Webb, TAB Webmaster [email protected]

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November - December 2012

TAB B OA R D M E E T I NG MINUTES TOLEDO AREA BICYCLISTS, INC. October 2, 2012 Officers present: Rick Rump, President; Cindy DiVitto, Vice President; Chuck Nicewonder, Treasurer Board Members present: Linda Posadny, MARR; Mike Vanderhorst, Banquet; Keith Webb, Webmaster; Sue Richards, Ride Captain; Ron Toneff, Membership; Jacqueline Campbell; Newsletter Members present: Hubert Backus, Hugh Benning, Brian Gribble, Mike Troxell, Nancy Beeman, Mark Beeman, Pete Hustwayte, Joe Majdalani, John Rider, Rick Metcalf and Linda Metcalf. The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by President Rick Rump. 1. Budget The 2012 Budget was presented in a spreadsheet with the TAB account $9581 and the MARR account $9964. It reflected pre-paid membership renewals and money taken in but not any transfers to the MARR account. 2. The Banquet Plans for this year’s banquet at the Angola Gardens were discussed with comparisons from last year’s event at the Zoo. Prices had increased at the Zoo and parking will be closer. Cost for members will be $30 and for non-members $32 with the club making up the difference between actual cost of the dinners. The speaker will be Jeff Stevens of the non-profit “Consider Biking”, a former Ride Across America Rider, and volunteering his time minus travel expenses. Better methods for the raffle of door prizes, options for centerpieces and volunteers are needed. 3. Raising the Membership Fee Discussion to raise the annual fees was presented and the Board voted to increase the

Individual rate to $14 and the Family Rate to $20.

the charity. He has several ideas to increase attendance, media coverage, and increased support from volunteers and area stores. The

4. Online Paypal Keith Webb announced that new methods of online renewals of membership, MARR registration, and Banquet

Board voted to approve his request.

tickets can be used online from the Website. An email will go out to members on how to use the service. There are some issues about online Waivers and listing all Family Members and

presented facts regarding cyclist’s impact in our area, episodes of law breaking and new enforcement plans after meeting with local authorities of the Whitehouse Police and

their respective email addresses to be finalized. We have 68 Family Memberships and 158 Individual Memberships. Discussion about the

MetroParks rangers. TAB is being proactive in seeing how we can improve safety and share the trails with other users who legally have the

8. TAB’s Image Jacqueline Campbell

management of multiple email, Facebook and right-of-way on trails and in the Parks. MARR groups online with further monitoring Suggestions about getting a TAB booth at the and study to be sure non-members who are part Whitehouse Farmers Market to educate the of these groups are approached to join the official TAB group and volunteer. Keith Webb and Pete Hustwayte will chair a Task Group to study this further.

public, families, fit helmets for kids, reward families showing good safety awareness etc. were recommended. Within the TAB rides, suggestions were made to add additional ride

5. Membership Brochure Revision A new brochure with updated pictures and

leaders to rein in those going too fast for the conditions and fostering a culture of safety and camaraderie. Safety will be an ongoing issue as

information will be developed to direct members to online information and resources, renew and apply online, and mention insurance benefits and limitations. A target date has not been set. 6. MARR 20th Anniversary Jersey Meeting attendees discussed the idea of creating a jersey to commemorate the 20th anniversary of MARR in 2013.  Ideas were brainstormed, and MARR planners will look into developing a design.  Orders for any potential jersey will need to be submitted by June 1 to the manufacturer to ensure delivery in time for MARR.  Alternatives such as a patch were offered. 7. Memorial Day Ride Hugh Benning requested that Wounded Warriors again be the beneficiary of the Memorial Day Ride with good success and 106 riders raising $1800 for

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we continue to explore and educate members and the public.

Classifieds: For Sale One 2010, tandem, Kent, 21 speed bicycle, still like new, or hardly ridden!  It is good for family fun!  I am asking $150.00! my e-mail is [email protected] or telephone number is 419-381-6503! Yakima (rooftop) bike rack for sale.  Will transport 4 bikes.  Includes locks for each post and a Yakima cable to secure the bikes in transit.  Comes with an extra set of towers (4) and two types of cleats (will  accommodate car roofs with rain gutters and roofs without).  A new Yakima rack with these accessories costs over $1,000.  Very good condition. $250. Contact: Mel Wicks Res: (419) 868-1762 or Cell: (419) 260-6479  

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November-December 2012

TA B INC O F F IC ERS & D IREC TO RS TAB OFFICERS & DIRECTORS PRESIDENT - Rick Rump (419-252-5981) [email protected] PAST PRESIDENT - Matt Cleland (419-704-9394) [email protected] VICE PRESIDENT – Cindy DiVitto (419-340-7039) [email protected] SECRETARY –Debbie Tassie (734-856-3893) [email protected]

MARR CO-DIRECTORS - Linda Posadny and Debbie Tassie [email protected] RIDE CAPTAIN – Sue Richards (330-730-2017) [email protected] NEWSLETTER EDITOR – Jacqueline Campbell (419-324-6914) [email protected] & NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE– Cindy DiVitto (419-340-7039) [email protected]

TREASURER – Chuck Nicewonder (419-535-6820) [email protected] MEMBERSHIP – Ron Toneff (419-517-4393) [email protected] WEBMASTER – Keith Webb (567-225-4032) [email protected] TAB BANQUET – Mike Vanderhorst (419-304-9078) [email protected]

President’s Column TAB’s official riding season has come to an end. But that just means it’s time to get out those winter riding clothes, the basement trainer or rollers, start up or increase those spinning classes, and/or figure out what else you can do so that when the warm weather comes back, it’s not too tough getting back in serious cycling shape. It also means it’s time to recognize those club members who have been nominated by their peers because they stood out in some way this past cycling season. In the next few days, you can expect to receive an e-mail (or a paper ballot if we don’t have an e-mail address for you) that will ask you to vote for Rider of the Year, Volunteer of the Year and Most Improved Rider of the Year. There are five candidates in each category. Each has characteristics that make him or her a worthy nominee, and that’s why we need your help for the tough task of narrowing it down to one for each award. As noted on the front page of this newsletter, our annual banquet will be held the last Saturday in January, and we will honor our award recipients there. The Rider of the Year is one who simply stood out from the pack this riding season. He or she exhibits leadership, is a regular participant in club rides, follows

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club safety etiquette, is friendly and helpful to other riders and/or could be held up as a role model for newer riders. The Volunteer of the Year is one who has made the club a priority by showing leadership, helping organize and assist with club events, and/or taking initiative to make a ride, event or the club a little better. The Most Improved Rider is one who has shown noticeable improvement from the 2011 season to the 2012 season or from the beginning of the 2012 season to its end. This may mean improving distance or average speed ridden and/or moving up from hanging at the middle or back of the group to occasionally being out front pulling. He or she has become a stronger participant in club rides. On this ballot, you will also be asked to vote for your club officers for the coming year and to submit your outdoor cycling mileage for 2012. We realize that several club members will continue to ride through December 31, and in that case, ballots do not need to be submitted until year-end. I encourage you to submit your ballot so that we can get as clear a consensus as possible. This will be my last letter as TAB’s president. I just want to thank my fellow board members and all the other volunteers in our club who made my responsibilities a lot easier. I know our next president will be able to count on the same support. My major disappointment is that I was not able to fulfill my campaign promise of introducing handle grip streamers as a club ride premium. Rick Rump p a g e 11