Tuesday, April 7, 2009

It's time to ride in 2009!

Well it’s cold and snowed the last couple of days, but Spring is here and it’s time to plan some rides. Team Velodox will not be officially participating in RAGBRAI this year. However, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t get together for some great rides.

Bruce and I have already been out on some mountain bike rides at Rum Village. For those of us that don’t ride through the winter, many have begun to ride to work already. And we have some great riding events on the horizon. I thought I’d post some of the things that have been talk about and try to generate some “buzz.” I’m sure more rides will come up, as they do please post them. Hopefully we will get the chance to enjoy some fun group rides again this year.

Many of us are also planning some Sub-24-Overnight rides (S24O). These are short overnight camping trips on bikes. We'll load up and ride 30-60 miles and camp somewhere. Pack up all our stuff and ride home the next day. It's a way to use all of our fun gear without devoting multiple days to a bike tour. I'll try to keep you posted on those too.

May 1-3 Northern Indiana Fat & Skinny Tire Fest (click here for all the info)

This is a great weekend of cycling in Winona IN. On Saturday, May 2, there is a nice tour. The Kosiusko County Tour has rides of 21, 42, and 68 miles.

Also on May 2, is the first DINO mountain bike race of the season in Winona. This is a great mountain bike area and the race has been great to watch. Velodox team member Mark Malaby has been the points leader in the DINO series the last few years. New this year is the rumor that Matt Mooney may even race. That is still up in the air, but has not been ruled out at this point.
There is a bike expo, a road race, BMX demos, among other things. It’s worth the trip if you have time.

May 9 Kalhaven Trail Blazer (click here for all the info)

It's also Charmelle’s 40th!!!!!!!!!!!

This is another great benefit ride that supports the Kalhaven trail. You can basically go any distance you want from 1 mile to nearly 80 miles. There are nice SAG stops along the way, plenty of food and it’s a nice flat ride to start the season.

May 16 Tour de Max (click here for all the info)

Culver IN will be hosting the Tour de Max. Some of us have already planned to participate in this tour. There are 3 different lengths. There is a 10, 30, and 63 mile ride. You’ll get to ride around Lake Maxinkuckee (Indiana’s second largest inland lake) and enjoy a nice day of cycling.

June 19-20 Le Tour de Shore (click here for all the info)

This is a charity ride for Maywood Fine Arts in Chicago. We will start from Millennium Park in downtown Chicago and travel 64 miles (with SAG stops) to Indiana Dunes State Park, where we will camp for the night. Then we will travel 32 miles to Warren Dunes State Park in MI, where the tour will end. Those of us in South Bend have already begun planning to camp at Warren Dunes and ride the approximately 35 miles to South Bend. Thus, some of use will need to be self-supported and carry our gear. The tour does provide baggage transportation and you can purchase a ride back to Chicago (including your bike).

August 23 Tour de La Porte (click here for all the info)

Last year brought many of us together for a great ride benefitting the La Porte Hospital Foundation. Many of us have already added it to our calendars for 2009. All the details haven’t been released, but there have traditionally been a nice variety of tour distances, and it’s been a great time.