News from the Road Three Seventyish Gents on a Roll by Matt Sobel Part 1 indulged his enthusiasm we were primarily on Volume 1, Issue 5 for planning, maps, and New York State Bicycle July 2009 It wasn’t going to hap- his GPS to devise route Route 5 which is gener- pen. It would take too deviations with less ally slightly south of the much planning. I would- traffic, better scenery, Erie Canal. However, n’t be able to bicycle to or greater historical we frequently deviated my fiftieth college reun- interest. Generally, we from NYS BR 5 to see Inside this issue: ion in New York City. hugged the south shore notable canal locks and Then out of the blue, of Lake Erie until Buf- other sights. Oliver is a Letter from the Edi- 2 Diane, at Hubbub, told falo, where we were canal buff and his com- tor me that one of her cus- joined by Charlie, who ments and my prepara- tomers had asked her if I Ride, Therefore I 2 used to live in the tion for the trip taught Am… she knew anyone who Cleveland area. me much about canals might be interested in in general, and the Erie The Cleveland Bike 3 Oliver and Charlie were cycling from Cleveland Canal in particular. Commuter to Boston during the in the class of 1959 at second half of May. She MIT and Harvard, re- Gear, Tires, and Thursday Night Ride 5 Leader Thoughts forwarded his email spectively, and I gradu- Hauling Freight ated from Columbia in inquiry and that’s how I Oliver rode his touring CTC Club Notes 5 that year. So the three met Oliver who wanted bike with straight han- of us travelled together to pedal from Cleveland dle bars and a German- as far as Albany where Sunday in June Pho- 6 to Boston to his fiftieth made sealed hub (no they continued east tos college reunion. He is a derailleurs), while Char- across the Berkshires to meticulous planner and lie and I used road bikes My Best Ride Ever 8 Boston, and I turned the rest is post- with dropped bars. south along the Hudson collegiate cycling his- Since we would sporadi- River to New York City. New Tuesday Night 8 tory. cally ride on crushed The trip was self- Ride Option limestone paths, I had Coast-to-coast bike trips supported, meaning mounted 28 mm. tires Kudos Korner 9 usually begin and end that we hauled our own (Continental Grand Prix by dipping the bike's clothing and gear. How- 4-Season) instead of the wheels in the ocean. So ever, the key items that Strawberry Festival 9 25’s that I otherwise on May 13, as we left we carried were our Photos use. Oliver too had 28’s Cleveland, Oliver and I credit cards! We stayed and Charlie had 23’s. Upcoming Bike 10 dipped our wheels in the in motels so we didn’t My 28’s were great – Rides pond at Wade Oval next have the weight and lower pressure than to the Cleveland Art bulk of camping gear. with 25’s and more com- Museum. Our route as The trip from Cleveland fortable, more trustwor- far as Buffalo embroi- to New York City, in- thy on dirt, gravel, and dered on Section 9 of the cluding cycling side crushed limestone, but Adventure Cycling Asso- trips, was 800 miles negligibly heavier. ciation’s coast-to-coast long. Northern Tier maps. Continued on page 4 There and later, Oliver From Buffalo to Albany, Page 2 News from the Road Letter from the Editor It seems like summer is flying by – Commuter‖ by Mark Yahraus (page minder to keep sending articles as what have you been doing with your 3), and a new feature ―My Best Ride well as ideas for other ones. Your time? I’d like to congratulate Matt Ever‖ by Bill Brandon (page 8). Bill’s riding experiences, kudos to others Sobel and Ray Kirchner, as well as story reminds us that the best rides on the road, your opinions, product all of the volunteers, for the excellent may not always be the longest ones reviews and other observations are job they did hosting Sunday in June. we take. Speaking of favorite rides, what makes the newsletter relevant I heard so many positive comments consider sharing yours. It would be and interesting. Send all info to me about the event and CTC throughout great to make this a new monthly at either the day. Great job everyone! Check feature, but in order for that to hap- [email protected] or out some of the photos from Sunday pen, people need to send their stories. [email protected]. Looking in June on pages 6-7, and the kudos forward to seeing everyone on the This month’s ―I Ride, Therefore I on page 9. road. Am…‖ features Bill Cashel (page 2), Feature articles this month include a and on the back page a few upcoming Sarah part one of Matt Sobel’s excellent rides are featured. Is there a ride riding adventure on the cover page that you would recommend to other Sarah VanGilder (look for part two in the August edi- CTC members? Send me the informa- Editor tion of News from the Road), the next tion and I’ll include it. installment of ―The Cleveland Bike That’s it for this month. Just a re- I Ride, Therefore I Am… CTC Members Share Why They Ride number one reason I bicycle. CTC – You Are The Ride utmost, are those things that you’ve by Bill Cashel shared with me that are more about There are many great reasons why I life, such as laughter, good cheer, a cold have such a passion for cycling and my “There is so much that I’ve beer (or two … or three), a listening list is what is often cited as beneficial: learned from each of you ear, a helping hand, and a kind heart. fitness, health, cardio-conditioning, Thanks CTC – you are why I ride!! personal challenge, fun, friendship and about cycling since I joined seeing places from a low-speed CTC in 2007.” perspective. Now, picking any one of the attributes I just listed as my main But as important as my health is to me, reason for spending 15-20 hours per my most vivid and lasting memories of week on my Specialized’s rock-hard great personal experiences I’ve had seat is much like deciding who is my since relocating to northeast Ohio six favorite CTC riding buddy – there are years ago from New Jersey, well, they so many likeable cyclists in CTC to would be of you in CTC whom I’ve come choose from! And that last sentence to know, trust, admire, befriend, and really defines for me what I enjoy even in some cases, love like a brother MOST about my cycling today – the or sister. So my ―Why I Ride‖ article is people in CTC. dedicated to so many of you good and Yes, it’s true, I enjoy the social aspects gracious fellow cyclists in our terrific of bicycling with Cleveland Touring club. And I mean that with the most Club just as much as the challenges respect and sincerity. and physical benefits that this intense There is so much that I’ve learned from exercise (cycling) provides. And being a each of you about cycling since I joined Type II diabetic, as many of you know, CTC in 2007. But what’s most I certainly could list ―health‖ as the important, what I truly cherish the Volume 1, Issue 5 Page 3 The Cleveland Bike Commuter by Mark Yahraus Hardware II higher speeds. This one is slightly speeds and helps with climbing if the heavier and has gel padding, but is commute has hills. This month I'm going to focus on the otherwise identical to the saddle on Large Panniers and Trunk Bags - bicycle and accessories needed by a my road bike. more serious commuter - one who You can't ride longer distances in rides 10+ miles one way to work. Lights - Front and rear (clipped on your work clothes. Easier to deal trunk bag-unseen in photo) high with than a back pack or messenger When I decided to reduce my intensity LEDs and absolutely bag and room for the bigger lunch dependence on the RTA bus for the necessary in the morning and you'll need so there's gas in the tank lions share of my bicycle commute, it evening. for the commute home! was time to consider changing to a bike better suited to longer distance Bar Ends - Provides another hand Wheels - Go with a 36 spoke wheel and faster riding. The photo in this position option to keep the blood in the back or you'll be replacing article is the bike I currently call my flowing. spokes and truing wheels constantly - believe me, I know! I’ll be doing the "commuter," which covers the 34 Fender - Only in back for now. same in the front soon too. miles total (12.5 to the RTA stop, 1/2 Keeps the jersey from getting stained mile from my stop to work, then 21 and that nasty feeling of water Tires and Tubes - Kevlar belted miles home) on tires in 700 x 28 the days I ride. x 100 psi provide I chose what is a good balance currently being between ride marketed as a comfort, "cafe" bike with durability and steel frame and acceptable levels straight, flat of speed.