Jim from Boston

As the self-proclaimed ”archivist” of the Annual Fifty-Plus Rides, I note that this is the first reported Annual Ride this year, and the third time for the Michigan OHR. This year was a nice reunion from 2011, and a great ride. The above-mentioned gang of four rode (but not together) then, and we met Mrs. RF for ice cream. RF himself was the instigator for that one. For me as before, this ride capped a pleasant visit with family in the Detroit area, and the visit was well worth the one-way 750+ mile drive.

The sponsoring Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring Society is an amazingly well attended and active bike club with an impressive website when I came upon it in well before even 2011. Back in the early 1970’s I rode with a ragtag, loosely University- (of Michigan) affiliated student club of the same name. It was a small group of about maybe 5 to 10 regulars, led by a woman who basically suggested weekend rides (and taught me bicycle mechanics).

I have occasionally wondered if the current AABTS is the direct continuous sucession. I did ask about and named one rider from the seventies who was immediately recognized. One current rider had a jersey indicating the first OHR was in 1976. The name “One Helluva a Ride,” is taken from the nearby town of Hell, MI.

Freedomrider1 had arrive about 7:00 AM, and graciously waited for us to assemble, but we were disappointed that we couldn’t at least ride a few miles together. I hope he reports since 75 miles seemed a big goal if his training was limited. The rainfall in that region was indeed a topic of conversation. The RF’s and I had our first stop at the main lunch spot (prior to lunch time) and Mrs. RF commented how heavy the mosquitos were due to the heavy rains. The AABTS was well prepared with insect repellent. Though we never made the Ride Lunch itself, both food stops were well stocked with convenient facilities, shade, drinks, excellent cookies and remarkably luscious fruit.

As we left for our segment of the ride, I immediately recognized Blazing Pedals and his sleek, shiny, futurisitic black recumbent. I had no qualms, asking, “Blazing Pedals, I presume?.” I hope we hear from him too. My major remorse about the trip is not enough pictures taken amidst the hubub of getting together; I have only the two below, to show it really happened. (The minor disappointment, for a data junkie, was forgetting affix my computer to the bike).

The ride certainly did attract a lot of seemingly well-attired and equipped cyclists, but all were welcome and the ambience was totally midwestern-friendly. Our route, and the weather combined for a virtually perfect ride. The roads were very lightly traveled, almost more sag wagons, than local traffic. The scenery was lushly rural, mostly well-shaded with lots of cornfields and farms. Despite what Road Fan posted earlier on this thread, the vistas were quite wide open.



I usually ride solo according to schedules on well known routes so on these organized rides it’s a treat to be lost to time and place, and to have companions as nice as the Road Fans to chat with, from bicycling topics such as technical details and training techiques, to life style items such a music and travel. It’s particularly interesting, as inhabitants of Bike Forums to discuss the other correspondents we know and read, either personally, or as “E-entities.”

Thanks for that comment. One reason I’m such an enthusiast for these Fifty-Plus Rides is because they usually occur in July and that encourages me to start my Ten Week nice weather training schedule in time for the Ride. RF and I particularly discussed our respective training techniques, and both agreed on the difficulty of complying, because of our busy work schedules.

Metzger's is a long standing Ann Arbor traditional and a quite authentic German restaurant. We continued to have a lively conversation, and got quite biographical about ourselves. We departed with a hopeful, “Same time, next year.”

As we were leaving I spotted a table of two couples and thought one of the men and I had occasionally exchanged places en route. So I asked him if he was that one. His companion replied, “No, we are from Boston, but we are into bicycling." What are those chances, do you think, there in Michigan? So I did do a little prostelytizing for Bike Forums, besides touting the joys of Michigan cycling.