Road Soldiers Cycling Club®

Scooter & Wheelchair Owner's Group

Sandusky, Ohio

Welcome to the Road Soldiers Cycling Club

RSCC/SWOG NEWS

26 June 2009

The Veteran Newsletter

The Road Soldiers rode the Trumbull County segment of the Western Reserve Greenway Trail on Thursday, 25 June 2009, despite threatening skies and predictions of storms and severe weather. Because of transportation shortages our Rain Date was eliminated, and the clubs went riding in spite of the dire meteorological predictions.

Our first ride in Trumbull County actually began in Ashtabula County at Orwell, Ohio, just north of the county line. It was the same trailhead that we visited last ride when we did the WRGT north to Austinburg, OH. The peloton fueled up on sliced ham or tuna sandwiches with the fixin’s and then rode south out of town. John Degnan, our driver, followed the peloton south by intersecting the trail at its various parking lot/trailheads. Lance took the trailer to the terminus off highway 305 in Champion Township and then broke out the Trek 6000 and rode north toward the oncoming riders.

The day was a hot one. Lance’s bike computer read 100 degrees at one point, but was likely affected by solar gain. It was more likely around 90 some degrees. The trail was largely tree lined and shaded until the sun was in its noontime vertical attitude. Lots of Crystal Lite ® was consumed on the trail, and that’s always a good thing since cyclists lose a water bottle of fluid about every 45 minutes.

The pavement is well maintained and is on an abandoned rail gradient, and therefore is virtually flat. We were riding uphill for this ride, as we were going south, and one could feel the subtle drag of gravity, particularly when the trail did slight upgrades. Wind push was more of a factor than the lay of the grade. The peloton, complete, made the journey from Orwell to Champion Township in Trumbull County, and did approximately 16 miles per the bike computers. The map has it at less than this, but there is always some doubling back and the fact that the group started in Ashtabula County, at Orwell, not at the county line where the Trumbull County Map starts.

After the ride on this verdant and well cared for trail, we loaded the trailer and headed for the local friendly BP Station to fuel the van and wheelchair bus, they were quite hungry! This was accomplished and we pushed on down State Route 45 to Route 5, past the Ohio Turnpike, to Route 534. We called the AmVets Post 112 in Newton Falls, Ohio, per prearrangement to let the good folks in the post know that hungry riders were heading their way.

The members were greeted by Bob Ferriman and his crew of two post members who provided the riders with a freshly grilled selection of burgers and dogs with the extras. The macaroni and potato salad were great and the watermelon slices were devoured with gusto. Cold drinks were available and truly appreciated by the hot, sweaty riders, who did the longest ride of the season on its hottest day, so far!

The Newton Falls AMVETS Post #112 is a very active group. It occupies part of a block off Center Street and Broad Streets in the little downtown. The post has contributed tens of thousands of dollars to the Home over the last several years, and they were very excited to see the big RSCC/SWOG Trailer (to which, no doubt, funds from the club were directed)! The members thanked Bob and his little crew for the great food, and, as if the food were not enough, Bob produced Post 112 ball caps for each of the riders! We warned Bob that such hospitality could well result in returning to the WRGT in years to come! The cordial response of the local post members was, “Come on back!”

Newton Falls, incidentally, is a charming little Ohio town. It has festivals oriented around the 4th of July including a car show and motorcycle show. It’s a tad out of the way, but a place with charm and worth visiting, especially if you bike the WRGT in Trumbull County. One caveat, however, is in order, you won’t want to try and bicycle from the Champion Twp. Trailhead to Newton Falls because of the distance and the traffic. It would be far safer to load up and motor over to the town.

July will bring our return to South Bass Island and Put-In-Bay as well as a day at the East Harbor State Park. We’ll finish the Independence Day month by a return to the “Bermuda Triangle of the Road Soldiers,” the Mill Stream Run and Rocky River Metroparks of the Cuyahoga County. At least we get to have supper at Danny Boy’s Restaurant, one of the best pizzerias around, and our first club sponsor.

Cycling hint: Take along water! The more and the bigger the bottles you can mount on your bike, the better you will be. An alternative is the “camel back” water device which is not unlike a watery back pack. Take water and drink it and avoid the “bonk,” dehydration and crashes.

Yours in wheelin’ about,

Lance N. Franke, Staff Liaison

26 June 2009

A & B HOBBIES & CYCLES
1202 W Washington St
Sandusky, Ohio 44870
419-625-4242
The folks at A & B Hobbies & Cycles always give discounts to the veterans at the Ohio Veterans Home.

bikeforums.net

Fremont Cycle & Fitness Always gives us a discount too.
Corner Of State & Ohio Ave
Fremont, OH 43420
419-332-4481