What about a Clyde Ride in Omaha? [Archive]

mcompton1973

07-07-07, 05:15 PM

ok, lots of replies from Clydes in Omaha, NE.
I was thinking of getting together for a ride. Either a one time thing, or a weekly ride.

I dont know what everyone is up to in terms of distance etc etc etc...but I thought it would be a fun get together.

I was thinking either a weekly ride of 15-20 miles. Somewhere way out west where we can find a good road with little traffic. First thought would be west Q street out from 204th to twin Rivers St Park and back. depending on where we start would be about 17 miles, and there is little traffic out that far, plenty of trees, and gentle rolling hills. I like it.

OR

we could do a one time thing, on one of the trails, and maybe end at a park where we could have families meet for burgers and dogs or something. i dunno...just some ideas...

What are your thoughts?

bdinger

07-07-07, 10:50 PM

I'm in Lincoln, but ever so often I venture up that way. I'll wait to see the rest of the responses but yeah, that could be pretty fun. I hear there are some VERY nice trails out that way :).

fifthcircle

07-08-07, 09:13 AM

I'm in. Not next week though, I will be out of town on the motorbike :D

Qst out there doesn't have shoulders, and construction traffic scares me! Have any of you ridden the trail in Council Bluffs? It's flat, but could be an easy 30miles plus on cement. Or we could do a dirt ride. Or meet up for the taco ride. Or do any of the trails that goes to a lake. LOTS of options =)

EDIT:
I just thought of somthing. We could meet at Lake Zorinsky, ride around that and to the trail that runs up 156th/Bob Boozer and eat lunch at Hectors. Ride back.

OR

Start at 84th and I-80, ride the trail to Bellevue and stop at Culver's (or another spot there's a bunch close) and ride back.

OK, I am full of ideas.....and I'll shut up now.

flip18436572

07-08-07, 02:48 PM

I am an hour plus away, and currently have softball for my daughter on most nights, but I would be willing to try and meet people some time.

mcompton1973

07-08-07, 02:55 PM

Fifth has some great points. I have not ridden Q st yet, just thought that it would be good. Did not realize it had no shoulders. See...this is how you can tell I am a novice at this.

I dont want to do a group at the taco ride becuase I am looking for a way to add a second group ride. Helps keep me motivated...hahaha

I have not ridden the CB trails. are they any different/better than the Omaha trails? I like the idea of ridding a trail, having lunch, and back...but I am also poor and cheep so I like the idea of a ride, and some kind of thing also....

what do some of you others think?

fifthcircle

07-08-07, 03:41 PM

I'm a n00b to road riding too, but I have been out there (west Q st) a ton on my motorcycle. I wouldn't ride it on a bicycle. Take a look at http://greatplainsbikeclub.org/ for some other ride ideas. They have group rides mostly in Lincoln, but some in Ashland and Wahoo. I have not been on one....yet. What about you BDINGER?

There are also some great roads in Iowa, if we wanted to ride somwhere close to Red Oak :D

flip18436572

07-08-07, 07:04 PM

There are not many roads with shoulders in my area. Highway 48 out of RO, has a shoulder until Elliott and then it goes away before Griswold.

I would be willing to drive up to C.B. and ride some road or paved trails, as I only have the road bike. I still need to setup my bike for something other than a me only ride that is just a loop that keeps me pretty darn close to home, so if something would fail, I could walk the bike home.

I don't know of any of the trails in Omaha or C.B. as I am a complete noob to this. I have had my had my bike for three weeks and only have a little over 100 miles on it.

fifthcircle

07-08-07, 08:43 PM

www.omahatrails.com
www.mapmyride.com

flip18436572

07-09-07, 09:06 AM

theone2496

07-09-07, 11:45 AM

I have ridden in a Great Plains Bike Club ride (the ride of silence). They are EXTREMELY nice, and very helpful. I would be game to an Omaha ride too (as I live in Lincoln), but more on a once in a while, or a yearly big get together over something weekly or more often. Just my monies worth though.

flip18436572

07-09-07, 12:17 PM

I think it would be good to have a weekly or bi-weeky ride and those that can make it ride it and post about it here, and that might drive more people to it. Then have a big one that gets almost everyone together and have it end at a park, so we can all have lunch together or something like that.

fifthcircle

07-09-07, 12:37 PM

How long before the north and south river trails meet up?

Is there a web site for Council Bluffs trails?

I will try any of those trails, but I have a few questions.

How far do each of you ride every day and at what speed? I don't have the cyclometer yet, so I have no idea of my speed. I only ride about 9 miles a day, when the time allows. I am at our local YMCA every day to work out.

Does the Zorinsky park trail look as easy as they say it is? I know that is the farthest away from me, but we could make it multiple loops for anyone that wanted to and could also pack a lunch in a cooler for a break between laps. I don't eat much, but I try to make my food ahead of time to keep me away from fast food places.

There is also the Keystone trails that we could make into a longer ride if we wanted, but I don't know of any of these trails, so you guys would have to decide what would work the best.

N and S river trails???

C.B. trails: http://www.cbparksandrec.org/biking.asp

I ride when I can. Usually not less than 10miles on the road bike. Not every day though. I don't do more than 30miles...yet.

Zorinsky park trail has about 2 hills, one on either side of the dam. Other than that, its just a winding trail around the lake. Cooler with drinks and food would be a good idea. Those who want to stop can, and those that don't could ride another loop.

All the trails that are on the map at omahatrails.com are easy flat cement trails. Great for all ranges of cyclists. Just watch out for people walking dog's and kids!

fifthcircle

07-09-07, 12:45 PM

flip18436572

07-09-07, 01:15 PM

N and S river trails???

C.B. trails: http://www.cbparksandrec.org/biking.asp

The Omaha North Riverfront Trail and the Omaha South Riverfront Trail show a proposed link between the two on that web site. That is what I was talking about.

I will check out your other link.

chunkyd

07-09-07, 01:57 PM

I'm in illinois but i'd drive over for a fun ride... it would have to be longer than 20 miles but i'd be game..

chris

mcompton1973

07-09-07, 06:54 PM

I kind of like the idea of a weekly ride...maybe around 15 miles? This would be do able with 2 laps on Zorinsky, or on some of the other trails.

I think that it would be a blast to get some kinds of a big ride together maybe 2 or 3 times a year. That could be something where if there was a park, the kids, family could hang out, and afterwards grill something together.

Just what a bunch of Clydes need. get in a good hour long ride, and then eat twice as many calories as we just burned.

fifthcircle

07-09-07, 09:48 PM

The Omaha North Riverfront Trail and the Omaha South Riverfront Trail show a proposed link between the two on that web site. That is what I was talking about.

I will check out your other link.

To get from the South to North it would be really simple. Jump on Abbott Dr. and then around the back of the airport. Nice ride with VERY LITTLE traffic around the general aviation side of the airport. Then head up the street to the North trail. I may have to take that ride soon.

flip18436572

07-10-07, 06:21 AM

To get from the South to North it would be really simple. Jump on Abbott Dr. and then around the back of the airport. Nice ride with VERY LITTLE traffic around the general aviation side of the airport. Then head up the street to the North trail. I may have to take that ride soon.

Abbott Drive, does it have a bicycle shoulder? Too many idiots drive that road at twice the speed limit trying to make their flights.

On my way to True Wheel (Council Bluffs) last night, I noticed that C.B. is building more of its roads with the extra shoulder for bicycle traffic. We stopped at the Log Cabin BBQ near the head of the Wabash Trace riding trails and had our home made sandwiches and then went in for a baby cone. I wish the trace was something I could ride my street bike on. I am sure I would end up with a flat otherwise I would try it. I only saw about 10 bikes, but they all had on knobby tires.

fifthcircle

07-10-07, 07:45 AM

I am pretty sure there is a nice shoulder on Abbott dr. We could always park at the airport too. I used to work in general aviation out there, so I know where we can park on the East side.

The trace "can" be ridden on street tires, but it doesn't look like it would be that fun. Last taco ride, I was passed by a guy on his road bike. Not a cyclocross bike, but a road bike with skinny tires. Between Minneola and C.B. it would be ok. There is so much traffic on that part that there are hardly any rocks left, it's all pulverised into almost sand.

flip18436572

07-10-07, 09:09 AM

I only looked at the area by the Log Cabin, and decided I would have to have a different bike for that type of riding. I unfortunetly don't have those kind of funds available.

flip18436572

10-14-07, 02:47 PM

Did this ever happen?

There is a cyclocross race next weekend, is anyone going to attend?

flip18436572

10-15-07, 08:21 PM

I take that as a no and a no.

v1k1ng1001

10-15-07, 09:45 PM

Next spring Omaha will be between my home in North Dakota and my job in Texas. I could conceivably make it to one of these rides.

RKDNE

10-16-07, 11:41 AM

How about a CRAN - Clyde Ride Across Nebraska?

KingTermite

10-16-07, 11:59 AM

I don't know about Clydes....but one of our lovely Foo wimmins lives in Omaha. Aprilm lives there. :)

She just recently took a trip to Cali and rode with some of the SoCal people....pics in Foo.

flip18436572

10-16-07, 04:30 PM

CRAN - North to South or East to West?

The North to South sounds pretty easy. East to West could take some time. NE is one long state East to West. But at least it is pretty flat.

flip18436572

10-16-07, 04:30 PM

I don't know about Clydes....but one of our lovely Foo wimmins lives in Omaha. Aprilm lives there. :)

She just recently took a trip to Cali and rode with some of the SoCal people....pics in Foo.

What is Foo???? I will look around here and see if I can figure it out.

SambaMixte

10-16-07, 05:23 PM

RKDNE

10-16-07, 09:57 PM

CRAN - North to South or East to West?

The North to South sounds pretty easy. East to West could take some time. NE is one long state East to West. But at least it is pretty flat.

Chadron to NE City. Downhill all the way?

flip18436572

10-17-07, 05:45 AM

Zorinsky twice is ok but lately we have been doing the Double Lake Ride, about 25ish miles. Start at Morton Middle school (all bike path) to 144 bike path to chalco hills (construction is done!) Around Lake Weresphan, back up 144 path to Q, side walk to Walnut park and bike path to Lake Z counterclockwise, back onto the papio to finish near the home, at Morton Elementary. good ride, not flat but with street crossings.

Is this a normal "group" ride for the clydes?

I know we had talked about getting together and riding, but we never worked it out, either through PM's or using this thread.

I am planning a 25+ mile ride on the Wabash Trace on Saturday with my wife and another couple if we can work it in everyones busy schedule. We did a 24+ a month or so ago, and really enjoyed the "Trace" so we want to do it again, but go to a different part of it this time.

flip18436572

10-17-07, 05:56 AM

Chadron to NE City. Downhill all the way?

470+ miles using hiway 385 and 2 and others.

I tried using MapMyRide.com, but it blew up after 65 miles. It doesn't like tracking everything with those distances, I guess. The elevation changes are not very bad either.

RKDNE

10-18-07, 08:12 PM

470+ miles using hiway 385 and 2 and others.

I tried using MapMyRide.com, but it blew up after 65 miles. It doesn't like tracking everything with those distances, I guess. The elevation changes are not very bad either.

And today all you needed was a sail to get there. Hwy 2 to GI, then 34 to? cross south of Lincoln, or through?

flip18436572

10-18-07, 08:39 PM

That sounded about right. I am not sure about how to get through Lincoln. That would be a long week. And if we had the winds we had today, you would have hated the ride and added a lot of time to be peddling.

SambaMixte

10-19-07, 09:49 PM

Is this a normal "group" ride for the clydes?

I know we had talked about getting together and riding, but we never worked it out, either through PM's or using this thread.

I am planning a 25+ mile ride on the Wabash Trace on Saturday with my wife and another couple if we can work it in everyones busy schedule. We did a 24+ a month or so ago, and really enjoyed the "Trace" so we want to do it again, but go to a different part of it this time.

I did take a few friends on this Double Lake ride while packing milage for the Corporate Cup.. It can be a mix of road & bike path, but not much an opportunity for pacelines. I hadn't heard a standard posted yet. The Trace is a great ride, but not real good for road bikes. As my stoker says "it seems like its uphill, both ways..." since we rode it in the rain, she still has a T-shirt with clay spots up the back. The stoker is always right. Road riding we did was on West Center to Wahoo. Once you get past the Walmart/Lowes complex traffic dies down and their is a good shoulder all the way to Wahoo (and back) One long slow hill by the river (Elkhorn?) and then mostly flat. I'm game on the half bike or tandem if I can hook a stoker from their busy social calander..I/we can usally ride afternoons, and my weekend is wed/thur :-( so I'm out of saturday morning rides

KingTermite

10-20-07, 12:05 AM

What is Foo???? I will look around here and see if I can figure it out.

Foo is another subforum off the main page. Just like this (Clydesdales/Athenas) is a subforum off the main page. Foo is the "off topic" (e.g. non-bike related) subforum.

flip18436572

10-20-07, 09:53 AM

I found the foo forum, I just don't go there. Nothing much for me there. I go to advrider if I want the off-topic.

As far as the trace goes, there is up hill both ways, and downhill both ways. It depends upon where you ride it also. We did a short ride from Malvern to Mineola and back (25 miles) with some friends a few weeks ago and had a great time. I was on a loaner bike, so we didn't carry anything much with us. We are going to take a little more this time and take a break and have a sandwich or something and ride back. We had a good time and got exercise at the same time. It was nice talking music with my friend while my wife was talking to her about something completely different. We did short high speed runs and then went easy for a while. Saw a small waterfall and different animals. It really would be fine for road bikes, the only bad parts are crossing gravel roads every once in a while. Other than that the hard packed limestone wouldn't be a problem. I don't know how you got clay spots while riding on the trace, unless of course it was where some people tore it up and got through the inches of limestone. I don't ride my road bike on there, because my wife wanted me to get something slower to ride with her. So I bought a comfort/hybrid.

SambaMixte

02-17-08, 08:26 PM

I don't know if anyone is still thinking about this ( Omaha Clyde rides) but I drove the west Q route today and would not my stoker on that road, no shoulders, poor visibility lines, lack of stops to keep teenagers interested. The Wabash is a good ride, and any of the bike paths are ok, (Maybe not the the Bellvue Loop without prior planning coordination). Cannot wait for the weather to improve! Hope to see everyone out and about!

flip18436572

02-18-08, 05:54 AM

What is the problem with the Bellevue Loop? I have not ridden in Omaha at all, but I occasionally ride the Wabash with my wife and another couple for relaxing (slow) rides to enjoy the outdoors.

fifthcircle

02-25-08, 06:28 PM

What is the problem with the Bellevue Loop? I have not ridden in Omaha at all, but I occasionally ride the Wabash with my wife and another couple for relaxing (slow) rides to enjoy the outdoors.

So you CAN ride the wabash. Sounds like we need to make it a Clyde Taco Ride!!!!

You know, as soon as the snow goes away....for good....and the wabash dries up....

See you in another couple months :rolleyes

flip18436572

02-25-08, 06:54 PM

I ride the wabash on a slow comfort bike, not my road bike. It is something I bought to ride slow with my wife.

SambaMixte

02-25-08, 07:42 PM

Nothing wrong with the Loop (with prior coordination) I guess I spoil my stoker (and Me) who like to swap out water bottles/picnic or maybe just the loop one way for the first few times. We are wimps. As far as the Wabash, I ride fatter tires on it-(1.95 to 2.25) but still the same bikes single and tandem. But speaking of different bikes, any one have recommendations for a Clyde road bike? Last had a Motobecane in college- in '83! Nowadays for road riding I just get narrower 26x's and keep pumping the pressure. I was thinking trek 520, the Canondale t800, or even a specilized touring model, I think tricross? Any opinions? I am about 295lbs and tend to be rough on bikes, so durability is key.http://www.bikeforums.net/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

flip18436572

02-26-08, 05:21 AM

My recommendation is to go to True Wheel in C.B. and talk to Steve (the owner). I really struggled with the other bike stores in Omaha, and ended up there.

If you are wanting a "cross" bike, I think there is a Motobecane on sale again for around $500.00, but I am not sure about the wheels on it. That is usually the down fall for us larger men.

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/fantom_cross_cx.htm

tdbmd

02-26-08, 02:16 PM

I live in Fremont. Would be up for a Clyde ride in Omaha or surrounding area as the weather allows. On another note, I have had very good luck with BikeMasters in Omaha at 129th and Fort. Great service in my experience with them.

Tom Stormcrowe

02-26-08, 02:20 PM

The wheels are Alex R500 on that Moto.

I'd really recommend a stronger wheel than that, like a DeepV from Velocity, for one example.

My recommendation is to go to True Wheel in C.B. and talk to Steve (the owner). I really struggled with the other bike stores in Omaha, and ended up there.

If you are wanting a "cross" bike, I think there is a Motobecane on sale again for around $500.00, but I am not sure about the wheels on it. That is usually the down fall for us larger men.

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/fantom_cross_cx.htm

SambaMixte

05-13-08, 11:39 PM

West Omaha trails, 144, West Papio, Standing Bear Lake, Zorinsky, Chalco Hills, are hiller than midtown paths, (Keystone, Big Papio, Bellvue Loop) and have more road crossings. Picnic areas are more prevalent in West O, (see lake sites) but Midtown does go by Harrison park and even the Bellevue loop ends at a campground. Standing Bear now attaches to the 144th path and is a pleasant trip, like a huge 'C' that doesn't quite close the loop, but is still a nice ride. (read, new, smooth trail!) The weather is fine now, even for Clydes! I ended up buying a Jamis Aurora and am enjoying it on the paths in west O. See you out there.:thumb:

flip18436572

05-14-08, 02:07 PM

How about a ride on a Sunday? My daughter is now in softball, so all of our days, except some Sunday afternoons might be available.

SambaMixte

05-19-08, 07:21 PM

flip18436572 How about a ride on a Sunday? <snip> so all of our days, except some Sunday afternoons might be available.[/QUOTE]
Just saw your reply-WED & THUR are my weekend and the most flexible days-but I'm up most any day-How do we coordinate place and time?

tdbmd

05-20-08, 03:03 PM

I could conceivably make it for a Sunday afternoon ride. We have some good rides out here in the Fremont state lakes, we have a little 22 mile loop that we do through there. Just another option. No hills at all here in Fremont, however.

joe_5700

06-11-08, 09:42 AM

What is the longest continuous bike path in or around Omaha? So far ther only one I have been on is the west papio trail starting at Maple and going down to lake Zorinsky and looping back.

It looks like there are plans for more bike paths out west which is good news.

http://www.papionrd.org/pdfs/CountyTrailsPlan.pdf

flip18436572

06-11-08, 08:13 PM

Ok, rain and flooding is pushing my schedule everywhere but where I want.

I am going to stay out of this ride thing until July. Anyone in the Red Oak area that wants to do some Sunday morning rides on 48 to Griswold and back, let me know. It is all on the paved shoulder of highway 48. It is 40.20 from my garage to Griswold and back.