Hi Everyone,

Looks pretty dreary and damp this morning as I write this email.  But, according to the weather forecasters, tomorrow should bring a vast improvement with temperatures hitting a high around 62 at 5:00 pm. They are showing  sun with clouds all day J.  I’m good with that…a whole lot better than last week’s frigid temps and grey skies.  As usual, winter in Syracuse hates to let go to summer and last Tuesday was a great example.  I’ll purge that from my memory.

OK, all of you who have been wanting to come out,  but have not taken the step, let tomorrow be that day.  You won’t regret it.  There was an article in yesterday’s Post-Standard noting that May was National Bike Month.  The author pointed out several activities in the city of Syracuse during the month focused on cycling.  There was no mention about the rides that OCC sponsors every week in the area.  But, she may not have been aware that OCC supports two SnE rides each week as well as the Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday rides. That’s a whole lot of cycling for those who care to partake.  You may want to find and read the article to see what else is happening in the area.

All those of you who planned on coming out to ride last Tuesday but did not want to freeze any part of your anatomy…tomorrow is the day.  Last Tuesday was not the night to ride but there were a number of us who did.  Not fun!  Tomorrow should be better although it will not be summer-like yet…it’s coming…please!  Get those bikes out of the basement or garage, check the air in the tires and come out to try the SnE west ride this week. These are no-drop rides.  So take that out of your mind.  These are just fun rides.

If you have never come out before and have been wondering what group rides are all about, this is an easy non-intimidating way to see it firsthand.  These are not races and it’s an easy pace with a number of stops along each route to allow everyone to regroup and see what is happening.  The simplest routes are approximately 10 miles in length on pretty level terrain and at pretty slow speeds that most anyone can handle.  Yes you can do this…no doubt about it.  We will do a good share of this real easy ride on the canal path…so there is no traffic to worry about.  The highway portion is on a road with a wide shoulder to make it less of a hassle.  We want to help you learn about this sport as well as have a good time.

We also have several all highway routes that you can opt for as you gain experience or if you have some riding experience.  These all highway routes are good for beginners and intermediates.  As you progress and gain experience and confidence we have some more challenging and longer routes that you can chose.  Throughout the season, we will always give you a choice on the routes so that you can decide what will work for you.  Tomorrow, we will have at least 3 different choices you can choose from and we’ll have more as the summer wears on and the days are longer.

So, make up your mind to join us tomorrow night.  Here are the details…

    Where:  Reed Webster Park, Camillus, NY located on Warners Rd (Rt 173) (parking lot on west end near tennis courts)

                                    When:    Ride(s) leaves at 6:00 PM sharp;  sign-in starts at ~5:30 PM

                                    Bring:     Your bike, an approved helmet, water bottle and a strong desire to ride; with the warmer weather, you’ll want to stay hydrated

                                    Dress:    Whatever you are comfortable wearing on a bike… the weather will help dictate this

Remember, in order to ride with us, you must have a bike helmet.  No helmet, no ride.  Not a member?  Join us as a guest and see if you like what we are doing.  If you do like the ride, you can join on line or by hard copy.  We accept registrations at the rides.  Also, our insurance only allows a guest to ride once during the season.  It’s their rule, not ours but we must enforce it.  it’s not a lot of money…only$20 for a single or $30 for a family.  It’s one of those truly good deals that allows you to participate in all of the club’s activities during the season.  Membership runs January through December.

I am looking forward to see you all tomorrow evening and having an enjoyable ride. 

Ciao,

Tony

PS:  don’t forget that we do this again on Thursdays on the east side of town…check our website for details