Good Morning to everyone,

…and another SnE West season comes to an end.  Last night was our last scheduled SnE West ride of this 2016 season.  It has been a great season with spectacular weather and great rider turnout. Thank you all for coming out to support the ride.

Last night was no exception with excellent weather and 37 members and one guest for a total of 38 riders.  The 38 riders logged a total of 611 miles for the evening.

We had our usual selection of rides with Dale Barnell leading Tom Hotaling’s group on a 20 mile loop while Mike Lyon’s intermediate level group rode a less difficult 20 loop.  Mark Perrin of the Bikery with the assistance of Dean Connery and Al Storrings led a slower all highway 10 mile loop.  I did an easy 10 mile canal and highway loop to round out the choices.

As we bring another season of Slow ‘n Easy West rides to a close, I thought I would give you a recap of 2016. 

We began the season on a very cool night that had a temperature of 46^o and only 10 brave (or fool hardy) souls in attendance.  While that was our lowest attendance of the year, things improved weather-wise and in attendance. By the following week we were in the 60s and it kept getting warmer.  It was the driest SnE West season I can remember…we only had one night where it rained…but that was on the folks who went on Tom’s challenge ride and took longer to get back.  The short rides got back to the park, had their treats and were on their way by the time it poured.

We hit 57 riders on two different nights…an all time high in attendance and had an average attendance of 43 riders per night…including the night we only had 10…for the season.  With a total of 20 ride nights, the riders pedaled a total of 13,930 miles this year…a little over half way round the worldJ.

A BIG thanks to all of you who have been regulars at the ride this year and in previous years. Thanks also go out to all those who came out, tried us and came back again and again.  You all help make this a great ride.  The rest of the greatness comes from all the super ride leaders we have who willingly come out every Tuesday evening to lead a part of the ride.  Our thanks to Tom Hotaling, Mark Perrin, Dean Connery, Roland Pearson and Al Storrings for the continuing dedication to the ride and also those of you have occasionally stepped in and led a ride when one of our regular ride leaders was not available.  Mike Lyon and I, who have been leading this ride since its inception, really appreciate their help in making this ride a ride with “something for everyone”.  When we first began there were nights when Mike and I would show up at the park and be the only riders here…so we rode.  Later on, my wife became a part of the “small group” rides.  But, over time, we grew to what we have today.

I also want to thank my wife Lee for her dedication to seeing that we always have a treat.  Mike’s wife Nancy has also been a steady supplier of baked treats…especially when the zucchini are in season.  I also want to thank a number you who also brought treats to the ride.  They were all appreciated by me and all the riders.  I’ve had a few riders tell me that they come to ride for the treats!

To those of you who have only read these reports, you missed a lot of fun.  I hope you can get yourselves out next season and ride with us when we are once again in operation.  Then you can be there to experience the fun of the ride.

Hopefully we’ll all be able to be here again next year once the snow is gone and the days start to get longer.  Watch for our posts around the end of March or beginning of April as we announce the 2017 season of SnE West rides.  Keep pedaling!

Ciao,

Tony

PS:  don’t forget our Fall Charity ride this coming Saturday.  This ride has a full century as well a metric century route and we also have a 20 mile route for those not ready for a century at this time.  Check it out and sign up or come out on the day of the ride and register then.

OCC ANNUAL CHARITY RIDE

When:        September 10, 2016

Where:                                                                        Carpenters Brook Fish Hatchery

1672 Route 321

Elbridge, NY 13060

Fully supported ride

100 & 62 mile ride water stops

Post Ride BBQ