New
12 Aug 2003		 The Gent's Lounge Updated
01 Jun 2008

Local Group Rides

Bicycle Rides
in the Middletown, Ohio area
Franklin - Germantown - Lebanon - Mason - Miamisburg - Middletown - Monroe - Seven Mile - Springboro - Trenton - West Chester
See details below if you would like to have your own ride(s) added to the list.

PLEASE NOTE: This listing is intended only as a general guide to rides usually scheduled in the Middletown area.
It should not be construed as an up-to-the-minute schedule with the latest locations, revisions, or cancellations.
For the latest authoritative information on any ride, contact the respective ride leader directly.

Ride / Destination Start Dist. / Terrain Type / Av.Sp. Leader Notes Status
(?)
Date Time Location
Every Other Saturday Ride:
loops via Farmersville & Germantown CCC		 Alt. Sats, 9:00a (summer)

10:00a (winter)

 Bicentennial Commons, S. Carmody Bl., Middletown 30-37 mi.
moderate to heavy rolling		 tour
12-16 mph		 David Myers
513.292.1710
helmet req'd.		 No rain, temp>45°F. Food stop.
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Miamisburg Sunday Ride:
loop to Germantown area DCC		 Suns, 3/5-? 2008 11:00a
(Feb, Mar)

9:00a (Apr-?)

Municipal Lot, Miami (just N of Linden), Miamisburg 30-35 mi. tour
12-18 mph		 Jim Casey, Larry Wymer
helmet req'd.		 Food stop.
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Miamisburg Monday Ride:
bikeway DCC		 Mons, 11/6-12/18 6:00p Municipal Lot, Miami (just N of Linden), Miamisburg 20 mi. tour
12-15 mph		 Henry Powers 937.865.6445
helmet req'd.		 Dry roads, temp>25°F, lights req'd.
Dining after ride.
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Middfest International Bike Tour Sat, 10/06/07 only Registration 7:00-9:00a, $20 YMCA, 1020 Manchester Av., Middletown 20 mi.
flat to rolling		 Dutch Heritage Tour,
all speed ranges		 Middfest International Office
513.425.7707
helmet req'd. 		Food, water, support, maps, marked route.
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Ski Club Ride:
loop DCC
(Rotates among 4 locations south of Dayton, 2 of which are within 12 miles of Middletown.)		 Weds,
Apr-Nov
5/7; 6/4; 7/2,23; 8/20; 9/17 2008		 6:00p (bef.5/1)

6:30p
(5/1-8/14)

6:15p
(8/15-30)

6:00p (Sep)

 Rice Field, Miamisburg
 		 20 mi.
mostly flat to rolling, some hills		 tour
12-15 mph		 Frank Brooks
937.885-7451
helmet req'd.		 No rain, temp>50°F. Dining after ride.
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Weds, Apr-Nov 4/23, 5/21; 6/18; 7/9; 8/6; 9/3 2008 Schoolhouse Park, Centerville
Springboro North Park Ride:
loop DCC		 Sporadic (see DCC schedule) 11:00a North Park, Tamarack Tr., Springboro 30-40 tour
15-18 mph		 Kenny Wysong 937.748.1271
helmet req'd.		 Dry roads
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Sunset Ride:
loop via Sunbury, Carlisle DCC		 Mons, May-Oct
5/5-10/27 2008		 6:00p (bef.5/15, 8/16-9/6)

6:30p (5/15-8/15)

5:30p (aft 9/6)

 Bellemonte St. @ Miami Av., Middletown 30 mi.
flat to rolling (distance reduced in late season.)		 tour
14-17 mph		 Steve Joyce
helmet req'd.		 No rain, temp 65-95°F, wind <20 mph.
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WCW Beginner & Inexperienced CCC Tues (TBA) 4/15... 2008 6:30p (4/15-9/19) Hughes Center, 1771 Gephart Rd., Woodsdale
St.Clair Tp.		 5-10 mi,
mostly flat to rolling, a few hills		 instruction tour
8-12 mph		 Walt Fick
helmet req'd. 		No rain.
Location occasionally shifts to other sites.
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Dudley Woods Park, Hankins Rd., Lemon Tp.
WCW Mid- & Fast-Paced
loop, various CCC		 Weds & Thus, 4/16,17... 2008 6:30p (4/16-9/19)

6:00p (aft.9/19, lights reqd.)

 Location varies. Contact leader for specifics. 20-35 mi, flat to moderately hilly tour
16-20+ mph		 Walt Fick
helmet req'd.
lights req'd. Sep-Mar. 		Dry roads, no rain.
 
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WCW Weekend Safari
loop, various CCC		 Sat or Sun,
4/12... 2008		 Time varies.  Contact leader for specifics. Location varies. Contact leader for specifics. 40-100 mi, terrain varies greatly tour
15-18 mph		 Walt Fick
helmet req'd. 		Location varies; contact leader for details.
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HAVE YOUR RIDE LISTED HERE ... !
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*THE "TRAFFIC LIGHT" in the rightmost column indicates the leader's confidence that rides will take place as planned.  Contact the leader if there is cause for uncertainty.
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RED
YELLOW
GREEN		 The ride is canceled or not currently scheduled.
The ride is tentative; contact leader to confirm.
The ride goes as scheduled, subject to any listed conditions.
CLUB RIDES: Rides officially listed as local cycling club activities are designated "CCC" (Cincinnati Cycle Club), "DCC" (Dayton Cycling Club), or the equivalent.  Rides listed here are open to all competent adult riders, whether club members or not. HELMETS ARE MANDATORY ON ALL CLUB RIDES.
DISCLAIMER:  The owner of this web site accepts no responsibility whatever for errors in information supplied by others (including, but not limited to, relocation, rescheduling, or discontinuance of rides), or for any inconvenience, loss, damage, injury, illness, death, or liability suffered as a direct or indirect result of the information's use or misuse.  The site owner does not actively monitor conditions or practices on rides conducted by others; however, rides on which illegal, unsafe, or intolerant practices are found to be promoted will be removed from this listing.  It is solely the responsibility of the user of this information to verify its accuracy and to determine its suitability for his or her own use.
Ride policies (e.g., age limits, helmet use, etc.) are established at the discretion of the respective organizer / leader.

Rider health, safety, and comfort are solely the responsibility of the individual rider.  Unless otherwise noted, these rides are unsupported, so bring water, food, tools, and cash adequate to your needs.  Also carry identification in case of emergency.


Submit Your Ride for Listing in This Schedule

To have your own ride(s) added to this list, send me all pertinent information (using the above table as an example) not later than one week prior to the start of your ride.  At a minimum, you must supply:

  • your name
  • either your e-mail address or your area code and phone number (where you can be reached prior to ride time)
  • day(s) of week and date(s) of your ride
  • starting time in AM / PM format
  • starting location, including street and city
  • whether or not guests should contact you prior to the ride (default = "yes")

You should also include, if appropriate:

  • destination (if other than starting location; default = "loop")
  • type of ride (tour / race / training / commute; default = "tour")
  • terrain (flat / rolling / hilly / urban / bikeway / off-road)
  • distance - length of your ride in miles
  • average speed, in miles per hour, that riders are expected to maintain
  • information source(s) (e.g., your web page URL) where additional details can be found
  • notes - features, requirements, or conditions (e.g., "chill factor > 40F, eat at Booger's")

You may also include the following, if applicable:

  • name of ride (e.g., "Sunbury Scurry"), if applicable
  • name of cycling club, if your ride is officially listed

Include the words "local ride" in the Subject line of your message.
Check your message for completeness, accuracy, and spelling.

To qualify for this list, your ride should be on a regularly repeating schedule, and some portion of the route must be within 15 miles (24 km) of the city limits of Middletown, Ohio.  Submissions for rides outside these parameters, or with inadequate or unclear information, or which discriminate on the basis of factors unrelated to non-competitive cycling (e.g., ethnicity, religion, sex) will not be accepted.



Dos and Don'ts for Group Riding

In general, group bicycle rides hosted by responsible individuals and organizations have certain requirements in common.

YOUR BIKE

  • Your bike should be roadworthy, reliable, properly sized and adjusted to your physique.
  • For road riding, your bike should be a road, trail, or hybrid design with multiple gears.
  • For riding on pavement, tires should be inflated to maximum rated pressure (shown on tire sidewall).
  • For riding after dark, your bike must have a headlight and taillight (reflectors are insufficient).

YOU

  • Be in good health and condition.
  • Wear a properly fitting bicycle helmet.
  • If an average speed is given, be able to keep up.*
  • Know how to fix a flat tire, and carry necessary tools and materials.
  • Carry water, food, cash, medication, and identification adequate to personal needs.

*Cruising speed is typically about 20% faster than average speed.  E.g., average 15 mph + 20% (3 mph) = 18 mph cruising speed.  In urban environments, the difference is even greater because of frequent stopping and starting.

WHILE RIDING

  • Be alert and aware of your surroundings at all times.
  • Ride safely and courteously, obeying all applicable vehicular laws.
  • Ride smoothly and predictably, in as nearly a straight line as practicable.
  • When turning, use the proper lane, give proper signals, and yield when appropriate.
  • When cruising, ride in the right-hand tire track of the rightmost traffic lane as a rule, but use the left side of the lane if necessary to avoid hazards.  (Ride in your lane, not on the edge or divider lines.)

DON'T

  • Don't be careless or aggressive.
  • Don't straddle lane markers or weave in and out of traffic.
  • Don't use an entertainment device with earphones while riding.
  • Don't use or be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, legal or otherwise.
  • Don't bring a tricycle, kid's bike, stunt bike, single-speed cruiser, motorbike, or scooter.
  • Don't use a cellular phone while riding. (If you must use one, signal, pull off the roadway, and stop to do so.)

OTHER

  • Some rides require riders under 18 to be under full-time adult supervision.
  • Supported rides usually furnish food and rest stops; most unsupported rides do not.
  • Some rides require everyone to stay with the group; others allow riders to set their own pace.
  • Some rides permit drafting, others do not. Drafting is advisable only under open-road conditions. Be careful not to let your front tire overlap the rear tire of the bike ahead.

GROUP COMMUNICATION

Especially when riding in close formation, where sight distance and maneuvering space are limited, use accepted "bike shorthand" to keep others in the group aware of conditions.

  • TRAFFIC: "Car up / back!" "Car left / right!" "Walker up!" "Clear!"
  • HAZARDS: "Gravel!" "Mud!" "Dog!" "Hole!" "Train!" "Wheelchair!"
  • MANEUVERS: "Right / Left turn!" "Braking!" "Stopping!" "Gear down!"
  • PASSING: "On your left / right!"

When waiting at a traffic light, call out "Yellow!" or "Green!" if you're first to see the light change for your lane.

DON'T BE LATE

Remember, "start time" is when a ride is supposed to get underway.  You should arrive several minutes beforehand—early enough to get signed up, set up, pumped up, and mounted up.  By start time, you should be on your bike with helmet on, and ready to roll.  Showing up at the last minute, and expecting others to wait while you get ready, is inconsiderate, and might well get you left behind.