Due to unbelievable demand, Tony and I have decided to continue the S-n-E rides for the next two Thursdays ending on Sept. 9^th.  Last week we set a new speed record thanks to one of the newbees, 14.8 mph for our 15 mile road ride.  Not sure I really want to go faster but it is all determined by you, our customers.   Tony took another newbee along the canal with Lee.  Didn’t hear how fast but it doesn’t really matter now does it.  That is the whole point of these rides.  This week we are likely to have a short demo on fixing a flat.  Not sure if Erick Dorffenson is available for this demo but I will stand in for him.  So come on out, Reed Webster Park in Camillus, near the tennis courts/pavilion, north/west end of the park.  Still at 6:00 pm.

 Mike ridebent@twncy.rr.com  & Tony abaleno@twcny.rr.com

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For the avid hill climber or those simply seeking a challenge this weekend brings back another opportunity to ride Dante’s Inferno.

When: Saturday and Sunday, August 28th and 29th

• Saturday’s ride is Dante’s East – 7 AM start time;
  10 minute rule applies.
• Sunday’s ride is Dante’s West – 11 AM start time.

Where: Alliance Bank parking lot, route 92 south of Manlius.

These are 70 mile rides, each with 7,000′ of climbing. The approximate ride time is 4.5 hours.   For more info see http://www.genufix.com/dante’s_ride.htm

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Alright, our rides this weekend may not be quite so challenging.  However, in addition to being a whole lot safer, we have something for everyone on both Saturday and Sunday.

Both of this weekend’s club rides leave the gate at 8 AM.  For Saturday there is an added route and Sunday’s ride has a change of venue:

Saturday – as scheduled, we’ll be leaving from the Camillus airport on Cessna Dr.  In addition to the  Cam-4 route (Denny’s Demise), rated as a “generally rolling”  36 miles, maps will be available for Jim’s Hilly Western ride, Cam-3.  Jim’s route is rated as a “very hilly” 60 miles and is meant for those looking for more of a challenge.

Sunday – we are postponing the inaugural Gran Fondo until next year.  So for this Sunday we’ll do the Marowaskaoti Tour Mar-10.  Leaving from Marcellus Park, this is a beautiful set of routes that will take riders in between or around three of the Finger Lakes while offering distances of 33, 50, and 68 miles .

See you on the road

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The annual club picnic and bike parts swap for OCC’ers, family, friends and guests is right around the corner !

When: Saturday, July 31st, 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Where: Highland Forest, Torbert shelter.  The shelter is the same one we had last year.   It’s located directly above the old parking lot on the right side, which is a few hundred yards past  the turn to the new lodge (so just go straight by the turn for the lodge).  (Directions)

Parking: The club has paid for parking, so there’s no need for the parking “donation”.

The Club Ride is earlier in the day, at 9:00 AM, and begins at the bottom of the sledding hill (click for more info and map).

The post ride picnic is a great opportunity for post-ride relaxation and hanging out with your riding buds, so come up the hill after the ride.

Food: Soft drinks, juice, beer, chips, and charcoal are provided. If you come unprepared, no problem, we will also have hot dogs on hand to share.  Otherwise, bring your own grilling items and perhaps a dish to pass. In the past people have brought deserts and salads – always fantastic food!

Bike Parts Swap: There will be a table or two for bike parts that you’d like to sell, swap or just give away.

Also: Bring your mountain bike if you’d like to  ride the best trails in the area.  Groups go out regularly.

Any questions? Call Chad Bradshaw (345-5745)

Hope to see you there!

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If you’re looking for a challenging set of rides and something different this weekend join the fun of   Dr. Dan Wnorowski’s Dante’s Inferno.

When: 6 AM rollaway this Saturday and Sunday, July 24th and 25th

Where: Start at Alliance Bank, 8270 Cazenovia Road (Rte. 92), Manlius, NY

What are these rides? Who are they for? What are the routes? – Click here for the details

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Who’s invited ?
Everyone who loves a good time

When ?
6:00 to 9:00 PM, Thursday July 22nd

Where ?
Bella Domani (it’s where all the fashionable tri-athletes have been going)
5988 East Taft Road, Syracuse, NY
http://belladomani.net/directions.cfm

Why ?  There are two reasons why:

• To say thank-you to our sponsors and all the volunteers who made this year’s Tour de Syracuse a huge success!
• For everyone who loves cycling, and, very importantly, for everyone who simply loves to have a great time

So who’s invited ?
Everyone, everyone, everyone

The setup:

• A big screen to cheer on your favorite cyclists
• A BBQ – Summertime Fun Menu consisting of…

- Pulled pork sandwiches

- Salt potatoes

- Salad

- Watermelon

- ice tea, lemonade, and sodas

• Cash bar

• Cost:
  • Free! For all our volunteers and sponsors as a very simple way of saying Thank-You for your help and support!
  • All other avid cyclists – $10.00 + tax provides you with all of the above.

RSVP - by Tuesday AM, July 20th please send an email to wayne.miner@gmail.com so we have a headcount for the caterer.

Come on out and join the celebration and fun!!!!

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It was a hot night and the winds were calm.  Several people dressed in strange apparel were standing around, some talking, some wiping their brow or head and some doing nothing.  No need to fear it was the Slow-N-Easy group getting ready for another grueling ride.  The group set out with great hopes of eclipsing our previous record of 15 miles at 10.85 MPH, but after about 4 miles there was a decision to turn back.  I was disappointed we didn’t raise the bar a couple of notches.  It was then I realize why.  It was the allure of the frozen juice bars that we brought for after the ride.  Wait a minute it could have been the milk and cookies.  One will never know for sure.  What goes into the record book is 10 miles at the blazing speed of 9.3 MPH.  Not to mention devouring several juice bars apiece as well as a few cookies.  See you next week: Reed Webster Park, Camillus, 6:00PM come earlier if you have a few questions.  Mike ridebent@twcny.rr.com and Tony abaleno@twcny.rr.com

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We were very disappointed last night when neither Donald, Daisy, Hewy, Dewy, nor Lewy showed up to ride.  This of course also meant that the M&M’s didn’t come either.  With this type of disappointment I am not sure how much longer we can continue these rides.  On a bright note, Lee Baleno was there and as cheerful as ever and we did a nice slow-n-easy 10 miles.  We do enjoy it when she comes and it has nothing to do with the milk and cookies she brings for after the ride.  Anyway hope to see you next week same Slow-N-Easy place, Reed Webster Park Camillus, same Slow-N-Easy time, Thursday 6:00 PM.  Mike Lyon ridebent@twcny.rr.com and Tony Baleno abaleno@twcny.rr.com .

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The dedicated, i.e.  OCD- it’s-all-about-the-bike, cyclisti can spin 275 OCC miles over this July 4 weekend, but most of us will pick and choose amongst the fireworks, picnics and the Roady celebrations of the four rides offered on the calendar!

Friday – 2 July. DeRuyter Reservoir Tour.
35 mi. starting at the Enders Rd school in Manlius, 10 a.m.

These Friday rides have become more and more popular with ten to twenty riders in attendance. One significant climb, a scenic loop of one of the original Erie Canal’s feeder reservoir, which is fed by Artesian springs, and a nice, long and gradual roll back to the start.
Pete VonZwehl, 437-9280 is the RL.

Saturday – 3 July, Two Swamps Tour.
25-59 miles, starting at Gillette Middle School in Cicero, 9 a.m.

There are two ‘official’ mileage options visiting the Cicero and Peter Scott swamps but looking at the map one could imagine any number of mileage options. The web map shows only the 35 and 59 mile routes when, in fact, many clubbies often use the original 28 mi. shortcut on Cicero Center Rd. or a 31-miler which skips the short segment of NY31. Confused? Don’t be, just join ‘relic’ Bob as we gawk at the celebrations along Muskrat Bay and Lakeshore Road.

Bob Feak,458-4593 is the Ride Leader
(see also, his ride preview posted yesterday on the OCC web site)

Sunday – 4 July, Le Tour de petit France.
31-131 miles, starting at the Brewerton Plaza, 8 a.m.
NOTE: that’s 0800 hours.

Rotterdam? As in Holland??
Brussels? In Belgium, on Eddy Merckx’s birthday?? Holy Yellow Jersey, Robin, it’s LeTour!!

But, if you can’t be over there, and they are not in France…yet you can be……. in Little France. In fact, you can visit this hamlet more than once if your legs are so inclined. Our route[s] cover terrain at least topographically similar to the flat plains traversed by the pro peloton today. No big hills, no polka dot jersey points but green jersey wannabes should look for the signs marking ‘Little France.’ Independence Day in Southeastern Oswego County on the North shore of Oneida Lake looks to be a hot one so come prepared. Convenience stores are few and forty miles apart and there are none on the loops inside the metric century [65 miles].

Eight mileage options [31, 40, ~50, 65, 75, ~85, 100, and ~130] provide a distance for everyone and promise a roll along roads rarely ridden. Details too numerous for the lazy to type, but light traffic and generally good road conditions prevail, so call or email the RL, namely, moi.

Bob Spear, 436-4675.

Monday – 5 July, Horseshoe Island Rides.
21-49 miles, starting from 3 Rivers Plaza in Phoenix, 9 a.m.

NOTE: that this is 3 Rivers Plaza NOT the Start/Finish site marked on the web map.

This ride was drawn up by none other than Bill Johnson, the same Bill Johnson whose memorable story is, no doubt, known from OCC’s past fall centuries. Two route options of 32 and 49 miles have been added to his original 21 mile loop around Pirate’s Cove and the ‘Three Rivers’ confluence.

Your recovery RL is Joe Mautz, 652-3383

Enjoy!!

Bob Spear

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There are slight differences shown in the two maps at the beginning and end of the ride. To eliminate any confusion at the start, my plan is for both short and long riders to follow the start shown on map Cic-1, where we proceed north along South Bay Road to Whiting Road. This eliminates riding along Thompson Road, which tends to be busy with traffic and sucks overall, condition-wise. Also, Cic-1 is shown as a 35 mile route; shorter options are possible, if desired.

Roads are in good to excellent condition. There is a construction project on the Bartel Road bridge over I-81 in Brewerton, but it should be a non-issue. I do anticipate more traffic than usual in the Brewerton and Oneida Lake area, especially near Oneida Shores Park, and along the lakefront, due to the holiday weekend; so be aware of that.

The boob tube weather pundits call for sunny skies with temps in the low 80’s; I can promise the sunshine: it’ll be shining on something. Come on out and enjoy!

Bob Feak

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