Announcing the Less Than Aero Series
The Less Than Aero Series is almost exactly what you think it is: a series of rides that are intended for those who are not interested race pace riding. It's a collection of rides meant to inspire riders of all kinds, who want be social, to ride for all kinds of reasons, in all kinds of seasons. It features monthly group rides, long-distance challenges, and camping trips. If you have any questions or want more information please contact us!
Our first Less Than Aero rides are:
Monthly Sunday Rides
Join us on the first Sunday of every month for a casual social ride geared for all. We'll ride for approximately two hours with food and libations to follow at Fifty West Production Works. We'll offer two ride groups and post the ride route the day before the ride. These rides will be (somewhat) weather dependent, meaning that we'll keep you safe, but won't cancel if things are less than perfect.
For all Sunday rides
1:00 PM Start at Fifty West Cycling (7669 Wooster Pike)
3:00 PM Fifty West Production Works for food, drink, and tom-foolery.
Please RSVP to [email protected]
so that we have an idea of how much food to make and beer to save.
March 5 "Ride to the Sun": Ode to the Paris-Nice spring classic ride
This month, we celebrate the start of the Spring Classics in Europe on the cobbles (but we doubt we'll find cobbles in Hamilton County).
April 2 "The No Showers Ride"
In April, we celebrate the coming of spring, but hope that there are no April Showers to wash us out.
May 7 "Find the May Flowers"
In May, we pay homage to the old adage: "Spring Flowers Bring May Flowers" by riding around the farms and hills of our area in search of evidence that winter is most definitely behind us.
The 50/50 Century Ride
This is a unique event, created to get people of all skill levels, and to challenge them to complete 100 miles at their own pace on their own date, starting after April 1. In this event, cyclists will choose their own date to ride 100 miles. There's no registration, and no fee. Simply choose a date that works for you. You'll follow our pre-determined route: 50 miles up the Little Miami Trail starting from the back of the shop, all the way to Spring Valley. In Spring Valley, cyclists will leave the trail and find Slim's Neighborhood Bar & Grill, where they will pick up a token especially designed by us for this ride. Hopefully, riders will also take some time out to enjoy the town, eat lunch, perhaps imbibe in a local beer (if you're brave and badass), and ride back 50 miles to Fifty West Cycling. (50/50... get it?) Once back at the shop, you'll check in with us by presenting the token (which you get to keep). We're looking forward to collecting all of the stories from this challenge, and hope that it goes on all summer long! You can do it more than once, if you'd like! How about once a month? Choose some friends and ride, and let us know when you do!
Our women's rides are picking up a lot of momentum! Every other Saturday, at 10 am, a group of women meet all year round for an intermediate road ride. We do about 25 miles, roll at a pace that suitable to everyone, and enjoy food and drink afterward at the shop. In the summer months, we get nearly 25-30 women to ride along, and there has been a hearty group of 12 riders all winter long. Come see what the fun is all about. And, if you happen to not be of the female persuasion, tell those who are! The ride is led by Patti Bills, a 17-year veteran cyclist, USAC certified coach, and part-time salesperson at the shop. She is often joined by ride leader Brenda Wimberg. All of our ride leaders have various cycling experiences and expertise, can perform roadside mechanical repairs, are good at on-board selfies, and occasionally break into song. Every ride has offered something special, and we have really had a good time meeting and getting to know so many incredible women in our community.
Dates for all rides are listed on the
Fifty West Cycling Events Calendar
, but the next few in the line-up are: Saturdays, March 11, March 25, April 8 and April 22. Save the dates!
(Helmets are required and a road bike is preferred, though we have had some people join us on hybrid bikes and complete the ride successfully.)
Tuesday Night Ride
Begining March 14!
Tired of riding inside? Waiting for a group to form? Thinking it's about time to get out after work and spin your legs? Come join us on our popular Tuesday Night Rides. We start up again on March 14 at 6:00 pm. Ride leader and all-around cheerful human, Brenda Wimberg, leads this co-ed intermediate group ride. We ride from the shop, and often take on about 25 miles of the hills and valleys of the Indian Hill area, making use of the Little Miami Trail (located at the shop's parking lot) to get there. This ride is for those who have some experience with road riding, and helmets and rear lights are required. We often meet up at the Fifty West Production Works for a beer and pizza afterward.
Announcing the Adventure Biking Series
Fifty West Cycling wants to take you on adventures including camping by bike and other overnight biking events. We want to introduce riders who are perhaps new to the adventure cycling, that is traveling by bike to camp or other touring destination. In this series, the ride offerings will feature monthly bike camping trips, each a little different than the last, and most starting and ending at the shop. For the first few trips, we'll ride shorter distances to nearby camping areas. We'll suggest a small fee, that will enable us to take care of all the logistics of your trip including, but not limited to: camp site reservations, snacks, campfire stuff, laughs and good stories (which are priceless), as well as our on-bike SAG service (our resident mechanic and adventurer, Thomas, organizes and attends all rides).
Our First Adventure Biking Series Rides and events are:
Trail Blazing - Intro to bike camping:
Wednesday, March 15 at 6:30 pm at the shop
Sunday, April 9 at 1:00 pm at the shop
At both sessions, you will learn specifics about planning for the ride and camping by bike in general. We'll provide route maps, show you the types of packs and gear that may be necessary for an overnight trip, and we'll discuss how to pack for a trip if you do not currently own gear.
We'll also find out from you what you need to come along: don't have camping gear? No problem. Come to the session and let us know what you need, and we'll coordinate a way to make that work for you.
Trail Blazing - Bike Camping Ride #1
When:
Saturday, April 29 to Sunday, April 30
2:00 PM Saturday start at
Fifty West Cycling
(7669 Wooster Pike)
We'll ride to East Fork State Park for one night of camping. Returning to Fifty West Cycling in the next afternoon.
The first ride will begin and end at our shop, and will take riders on a 30-mile journey through the countryside of Clermont County, to our destination at East Fork State Park. There will be fun little night ride excursion within the park. We'll take care of arrangements for camp sites and fees.
Suggested contribution for food and supplies: $20
