ROCK
‘n’ ROAD Cycle Ride Board
The online version of the chalkboard at the store
Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day CANADIAN CENTURY Rides; details below.
THURSDAY RIDE!
From ROCK ‘n’ ROAD Cycle Grand Haven every Thursday at 6:00 pm SHARP.
BEST RIDE ON THE LAKESHORE, FROM EASIEST TO HARD AND FAST!
"D Group": Head out with C and turn around when you want
C : 32 miles, beginning road group pace, under 18 mph
B- : umm, faster than C, slower than B, on the C route
B20 : 39 miles, a computer reset at Robbins Rd. will read 20 mph average back at the return to Robbins Rd. This group will "cruise" at 21 in a neutral wind, and average 20 with turns and hills.
Super B : Sometimes added when we have "too many" riders!
B' : 39 miles, 22 mph, pulling off paceline to change leads
B+ : 40 miles, 22+ spirited double line rotation with sprints, collecting the residue from A. May combine with A after Riley Equalizer.
A: 42 miles utilizing the Riley Equalizer, 23+ ave. with sprints and motivated stretches of club race pace; will drop riders to B+.
There is no sprint at Robbins Road. Really.
Beverages from Old Boys' Brewhouse to follow.
A, B's and C leave at 6:00 pm SHARP.
WEDNESDAY INSTRUCTIONAL RIDE ROCK 'n' ROAD Cycle 91 Douglas, Holland. Instructional Ride, learn how to properly ride in a group. Class and easy C-pace practicum, 6 PM sharp (gotta be in class on time!).
SUNDAY
It's a B Ride, 20 MPH, not 21, it's 1:00 PM at Rock 'n'
Road Cycle Grand Haven. The default ride is across the bridge through Spring Lake, to Eastmanville and back along Osborn, Lincoln etc.
Those seeking an A ride on Sunday have plenty of options, either ride at a B pace, 20 MPH, not 21, to Eastmanville and do
the ever-popular Bonus Hills Option (new for 2009 the option has the same initials as the President), or declare yourselves a separate group, or talk with each other and do your own thing. But whatever you do, please respect the B pace, 20 MPH, not 21, of the Sunday ride.
Other regular local rides:
MONDAY
Muskegon
A, B, C, 6:00 pm, 35 miles, starts up each season eventually by May
WEDNESDAY
ROCK 'n' ROAD Cycle 91 Douglas, Holland. Instructional Ride, learn how to properly ride in a group. Class and easy C-pace practicum. 6 PM sharp (gotta be in class on time!). Starts in April.
WEDNESDAY
Gratttan training races, Grattan Race Course, East of Rockford
6:00 pm registration, races start at 6:30
Begins in May
THURSDAY
ROCK ‘n’ ROAD Cycle, 300 N. Seventh, Grand Haven
A, B 40 miles, C 32 miles. Starts 6:00 pm SHARP, beverages following.
SATURDAY
Loose Spokes
8:30 am, and sometimes leaves on time now, 20 miles
Ongoing, indoors in winter
ANY OTHER GOOD RIDES OUT THERE? Please contact us.
Rock 'n' Road Cycle holiday events:
These rides provide virtually traffic-free cycling on some of Ottawa County’s most beautiful country roads. Imagine Leonard Road with more deer than SUV’s!
Memorial Day Canadian Century, May 31, 2010
Ride 100 kilometers through the valley of the Grand River, breakfast in Allendale, returning well before noon for family activities.
Meet at ROCK 'n' ROAD Cycle Grand Haven by 6:45 to split in two or three groups, leave at 7:00 SHARP
Pump tires and find your shoes the night before. Don’t forget breakfast money.
Fourth of July Canadian Century, Sunday July 4, 2010
Ride 100 kilometers through the valley of the Grand River, breakfast in Allendale, returning well before noon for family activities. Maps provided with SHORTCUTS, as little as 43 miles possible and still meeting for group breakfast!
Meet at ROCK 'n' ROAD Cycle by 6:45 to split in two or three groups, leave at 7:00 SHARP.
Pump tires and find your shoes the night before. Don’t forget breakfast money.
Labor Day Canadian Century, Monday Sept. 6, 2010
Ride 100 kilometers through the valley of the Grand River, breakfast in Allendale, returning well before noon for family activities.
Meet at ROCK 'n' ROAD Cycle by 7:15 am to split in groups, leave at 7:30 SHARP
Pump tires and find your shoes the night before. Don’t forget breakfast money.
League of Michigan Cyclists Calendar
-Grand Traverse Region, (Frankfort to The Bridge) from Cherry Capital Cycling Club, One of the best places in the world to ride a bicycle! $7.99
-Ottawa County Official Road Map, FREE
-Eastmanville Loop, FREE
-Lakshore Drive Loops, FREE
-Grand Haven through Muskegon, FREE
-Michigan Bicycle Trails reference Map, $6.99
-Ottawa County Tourism Council bike path map, FREE
Bass River Recreation Area
Between N. Cedar and Sleeper and east off 104th. Two off road trails, generally flat and winding. A local favorite.
Pigeon Creek Park
Three miles east of US 31 on Stanton. More popular as XC ski trail, but great beginner to moderate off road riding.
Hofma Park
Enter on Sleeper off 168th, or Ferris two miles east of US 31. A great place to take your date if he (or she) is new to mountain biking. Lots of trails, lots of wildlife, floating bridge across the bayou. Take a picnic.
Owasippe Boy Scout Camp
North on US 31 past Muskegon, exit on Russell Rd, turn right (north) ten miles to camp. Thanks Greg.
An endangered area, use it and keep the condo owners from Chicago out! Check out Ooec.org
North County Trail
Ten miles east of Hesperia on M-20. Watch for the trailhead sign. This trail in Manistee National Forest connects the Appalachian Trail with the Louis and Clark Trail. The portion north from M-20 to Nichols Lake Campground is open to mountain bikes. Take a tent and a cookstove!
Muskatawa Trail
Paved rail trail. Good directions on OCTC bike path map at ROCK ‘n’ ROAD Cycle.
Hart Montague Trail
Paved rail trail. US-31 to Whitehall exit. Follow brown State Park signs.
Kal-Haven Trail
Crushed surface (very smooth, dusty in August) rail trail. US-31 to South Haven. Brown State Park signs to trailhead.
HOW TO BOX AND SHIP YOUR TWO-WHEELED DREAM MACHINE
By Adventure Cycling’s Tours Department
Although airlines, bus companies, and railways are generally accustomed to transporting bicycles, there is always a risk of damage. Proper boxing can minimize the risk of damage or loss. You must anticipate the possibility that your bike will be dropped, stacked in cargo bins, or otherwise handled roughly once it leaves your sight. Don't travel with your bicycle unless it is boxed! Some airlines have boxes available. Some airlines require several days' advance notice that you'll be traveling with a bicycle. Give this notice directly to the counter where you will be departing.
You can get used boxes from ROCK 'n' ROAD Cycle, especially if you stop by a day or two ahead. Also, pick up some plastic packaging parts from a new bike, fork spacer, hub protectors, seat tube protector and bubble bags. You may want to get two boxes (for each bike you want to ship), preferably one slightly larger than the other. A single box can be modified to protect your bicycle fairly well, but one slipped inside another to form a double-walled container, braced internally, will give your bike better protection and give you greater peace of mind.
It takes time to box a bicycle, especially if it's your first try, so don't wait until a half-hour before your flight is scheduled to depart to begin working on it. You'll need a pocket knife, some extra strips of cardboard, some scrap wood, tape (filament or duct tape), and some light rope, twine, or stout cord.
Disassembly
1. Shift the gears so that the cables are slack.
2. Deflate the tires halfway for more shock-absorbing capability.
3. Remove seat and post as a unit.
4. Remove the front wheel. Get a plastic fork spacer from the bike shop and shove it in place. This will help prevent the fork blades from being bent.
5. Remove the brake cables from the brake levers. If your bicycle has a very long wheelbase, it may help to completely remove the front brake so the fork can be rotated 180 degrees.
6. Remove the handlebars and stem as a unit by loosening the stem bolt two full turns. Then, protecting the bolt with scrap wood, hammer to loosen the internal wedge, and pull the stem out of the steering tube. Retighten the stem bolt to avoid losing the wedge.
7. Remove the pedals. Remember that the left pedal is a left-hand thread; the right pedal is a standard right-hand thread.
8. Tie or tape the front wheel to the right side of the frame, padding between the wheel and the frame with cardboard. Turn the crank arms parallel with the box bottom and tape in place.
9. Make two 6-inch square "washers" of several layers of cardboard with a center hole. Make them thick enough to prevent the front-wheel axle or quick-release end from puncturing the box. Tape these in place over the exposed front axle end and the end of the rear axle opposite the derailleur.
10. Unbolt the rear derailleur (but don't disconnect the cable) and tape it to the rear wheel spokes below its normal position so it doesn't stick out past the frame. Pad the derailleur with a roll of cardboard also taped in place.
11. Cradle the handlebars and stem over the top tube or around the fork and head tube if space permits.
Preparing the Box
1. Cut five pieces of cardboard, each about one foot in length, and wide enough to fit snugly across the inside width of your box. Form tightly rolled tubes and fit them inside the box. These tubes will absorb forces from the sides and prevent the box walls from collapsing into the bicycle.
2. Place one tube inside the box near the lower end of the front fork. Place two tubes, slightly flattened to fit, through the rear wheel and tape them in place. Place other tubes where the top and down tubes meet, through the front-wheel spokes, and below the top tube, toward the front of the bike. Tape each tube in place.
3. Lower the bicycle into the box, and add cardboard pads wherever any remaining sharp or fragile parts might contact the box. Anchor the cross-bracing cardboard tubes further by punching holes in the box sides to match the tube centers, and securing the tubes with tape, rope, or both. The rope can also be padded and used as convenient carrying handles.
4. Wrap the saddle, pedals, and other parts in newspaper or cloth and secure them inside the box. You might also want to place the tools you'll need to reassemble the bike in an easily retrievable bag inside the box.
5. Seal the box with tape, and clearly label it with your name, destination, flight number, and home return address.
In this illustration, holes have been punched corresponding with the cardboard tubes which will protect the bike against side loads. The tubes have then been held in place with tape. Finally, rope acts as both support and temporary carrying handles.
Remember, on most airlines you will have to sign a waiver which will remove the airline from any responsibility for damage to your bicycle. It is to your benefit to spend some time carefully packing your bike. It's no fun to get to the trailhead of your long-awaited tour only to find your bicycle has been damaged.
Written by Adventure Cycling Association’s Tours Department.. For all of your bicycle touring needs, visit www.adventurecycling.org.
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