Road Fan

Not sure what's settled about the 5th Annual 50+ ride (I have just reviewed the thread), but my current plan is to again ride One Helluva Ride July 13, 2013 (www.aabts.org). Any interested riders may join me for that, and try their hand at one of the easiest cycling challenges in the United States, leave RF behind within the first 5 miles. No prizes.

As a warm-up, on May 5, 2013 I plan to ride the Metro Grand Spring Tour (MGST), which can be Googled at www.lmb.org.dcc, or I can type you what their brochure says for the promise of a beer after the event. For both of these rides I offer the same deals as the 3rd Annual 50+ ride: Let's go on a big ride together, it's organized well and not by me, it ain't expensive, and the night before or the night of ride day we can hit a brewpub or something for dinner, upon which I may collect any beers I have earned.

I don't have a map for MGST, but I can talk about the route if you like.

I hope I can be ready for a 65 miler at MGST.

Let me know, I'm trying to put together my riding schedule for the season.

TiHabanero

Anyone from the Grand Rapids area plan on riding the One Hellava Ride?

BikeWNC

I have a friend that moved up to the Detroit area for grad school and I'd like to get up that way so we can do a ride. Unfortunately, I'll be in Alaska all of July. Once my kid goes off to college in just 5 short years, I'll be more free to make rides. I'm not pushing her out the door though, just looking ahead to more free time.

DGlenday

I'll be doing this really big ride in Michigan on June 15 and 16:

https://www.n24hc.org/

Anyone else..?

Steve Sawyer

Hey, I'd sure like to do one or both of these. Like RF I'm not sure I'll be in good enough shape for a metric at MGST - depends on how friendly the weather is to us in April.

By the way, here is a good link for the MGST.

billydonn

Road Fan,
Some day I will do the OHR with you but, alas, I will be in Italy this July. May 5 is possible but the link you provided doesn't work for me. Tell me more about that one.

Steve Sawyer

I don't think so - not this year, though I've always been tempted to try one of these 24- hour events.

Steve Sawyer

See my post above ^^^ that provides a working link...

pinsonp2 

The MGST spans three of SE Michigan's Metroparks, Willow, Lake Erie and Lower Huron. Includes homemade cookies and a pancake breakfast. If you join us at MGST, say 'hey' to me at the registration table.

P2
Penny Pinson

Road Fan

Actually Italy sounds better than Michigan .... you up to organizing a ride there, Billy ?

Road Fan

And it is about as flat as anything in Michigan - a few creekbed dips, but otherwise it's nearly river-flat, with pancakes on Lake Erie. A Great Lake is a great sight!

Penny, do you know if DCC will be set up to take plastic? I showed up with plastic and no cash one year.

Road Fan

Hi, Duncan, not me. The Ann Arbor club has an Ultra contingent that brings a team to Holland and I contacted them hoping they are randos, but they're not. Maybe in a few years I'll be up for their training regimen, but not now.

Road Fan

Steve, that's a VERY good link, thank you! I owe you the beers I earn!

pinsonp2 

Sorry, but no plastic accepted on the day of the ride, only for pre-registration on Active.com. Personal checks and cash always accepted.

P2

Steve Sawyer

When I'm in the mood to do flat 'n' fast, I'll drive down to Oakwoods Metropark and do the MUP that connects to both Willow and Lower Huron parks. Makes a nice 25-mile out-and-back. Oakwoods is very lightly used, and is a very quiet and peaceful park. On a weekend in the summer the fumes from the barbecue grills in Willow and Lower Huron will make ya weak in the knees!

I registered for the MGST. If I'm by myself or hook up with Road Fan I might try the metric. If I join a couple of family members it'll probably be the 45-miler.

It'll be too soon to identify me by my 50+ kit, Penny, so you'll just have to recognize me by the red carnation being held in my teeth...

irwin7638

May 5th might be a possibility for me, I will wait and see how things go before I commit to One Helluva Ride this year.

Marc

DGlenday

... I was hoping for some 50+ representation there. Though I suspect some of the masters racers (the 317 forum) may be attending.

I'll wear the jersey, though.

Steve Sawyer

This is the first year that I'm actually training for distance, and I have no idea what kind of shape I'll be in by father's day. Hopefully I'll be regretting that I didn't register, and will be a bit more confident next year!

pinsonp2 

Steve, no problem. I'll be the one wearing the tiara, a club gag award for my first century. Hope to see you there!!

P2

zonatandem

Geez . . . last time we rode One HelluvaRide was back in the mid-1970s.
Moved to Arizona in 1978 . . . we can only ride 13 months out of the year here.
Remember the verty distinctive Dan Henry road markers (Devil's Pitchfork) and the heavy rain.
Pedal on!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

freedomrider1

Yup, they still use the pitchfork road arrows and we have not been rained on for a couple of years.hmm i'am guessing i should not have mentioned the rain thing.

Road Fan

Yea I was going to say, this is not the only place where old guys who wear cycle shoes hang out.

Road Fan

I've seen threat of rain, but no big rain. However, it's the Midwest, you should not be surprised at whatever might happen. Many people just pack a pair of tire levers and bananas, and others pack light raingear and a Merino base on the ride. I'll probably be the only one with fenders, but that's because I'm trying to train on my Terraferma. More lately, there's been the need for SPF-50+.

freedomrider1

if Irwin's there he will have fenders.

irwin7638

Rainy days are the days I can't draft anybody, they're all drafting me!

Marc