Spokin Times News S L O W S P O K E S B I C Y C L E C L U B P. O. B O X 7 9 2 S T E R L I N G H E I G H T S, M I 4 8 3 1 1-0 7 9 2 July 2012 President Paul Wilhelm Vice President Jane Mayle Treasurer: Clara Herndon Secretary: Ed Schultz Newsletter Editor: Jim Walter Newsletter Distributor: Lennie Raines Membership Chair: Lennie Raines Sunshine Liaison: Rita Zupan POAR Chair: Tom Graham Ride Chair: Rose Marie Jacobs Webmaster: Tom Miller Slow Spokes Annual Picnic Saturday July 7th The Slow Spokes Annual Picnic is set for July 7, 2012 at Dodge Park Pavilion #2. There will be a bike ride in the morning (see ride calendar for details) with the picnic to follow at 2:00 p.m. The club will provide the hamburgers and hot dogs. Please bring a dish to share and your own non-alcoholic beverage. We have a special treat this year! Two world renowned professional chefs have volunteered to cook for the picnic. Come to see Chef Evelyn and Chef Aloys in action. Due to the demand for this event, we ask that you reserve your spot early. Please call Sue Graham (586-286-3135) by June 30 th to let her know how many will attend and the passing dish you plan to bring. We have the pavilion reserved from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. so come early (even if you are not riding) and enjoy the games, take a walk on the trails, talk with friends, or just relax in the outdoors. Please bring any lawn or table games you may have and would like to share with other club members. Join us for a day of fun, food, and friendship! Website: www.slowspokes.org Mailing Address: Slow Spokes P.O. Box 792 Sterling Hts, MI 48311 Any excuse to stop and take a picture.
Meetings Unless otherwise noted, meetings are held at 7:30 p.m. on the first Friday of every month at the Graham Elementary School located on Crocker, north of Metro Parkway. Refreshments are served. Ride Information Send information for rides and walks to Rose Marie Jacobs via email: rmj211@comcast.net by the (10th) of the month. Newsletter Information Send articles you d like published to Jim Walter. Email the information to him at jim.walter@comcast.net. Articles must be received by the 15th of the month for inclusion in the newsletter. Feel free to call Jim at 248-879-2405. Our summer meeting schedule is as follows: Summer Meeting Schedule July No meeting. Come to the picnic instead. Saturday, July 7th. August Meeting Friday, August 3rd Riviera Terrace Condominium Clubhouse (Rose Marie s Condo) just north of Nine Mile on Jefferson in St. Clair Shores. September meeting This meeting is traditionally held the Friday before the Peach of a Ride. This year, the Peach of a Ride will be Sunday, August 26th. So, the September meeting will be held on Friday, August 24th. No word at this time where the meeting will be held. Cass River Habitat Ride Cass River Habitat for Humanity 9th Annual Riding for Home Tour Date: Saturday, July 28, 2012 Start: Vassar MI High School Proceeds benefit Cass River Habitat for Humanity Distance: 10, 15, 32, 64 miles Fee: $15 Individuals/$33 Family; after 7/14, $20/$40 Contact: Donna Gillies (989) 823-2228 d.gillies@charter.net Information and registration form at www.cassriver.com Peach of a Ride The Peach of a Ride is coming up soon. It will be held on Sunday, August 26th this year. This is our annual club fundraiser ride. We need everyone to get involved, either as a volunteer for the event, a cookie baker, or come out and do the ride. Everyone s contribution is needed to make OUR ride a success. Enjoy a scenic bike tour through Tuscola County and lovely towns of Frankenmuth & Vassar, ending at high school for lunch. 64 mile must start by 8am. Helmets recommended. DO WE HAVE YOUR CORRECT EMAIL ADDRESS? If you want to know of impromptu rides and other information of special interest not found on our website or in the newsletter, please make sure you forward your correct email address to Paul Wilhelm at jpwilhelm@hotmail.com Notes from the Newsletter Editor: Every attempt will be made to include all articles as they are submitted, and in their entirety, in the newsletter. However, due to space constraints, this may not always be possible. If you do not want your article edited in any way, shape or form (even if typos and/or grammatical errors are apparent) please make a note of that when the article is sent.
A group of 12 Slow Spokes took a little tour of Auburn Hills on June 3rd. We visited Oakland University and Meadow Brook Hall, and circled the Chrysler building. We then had a nice lunch by the babbling brook, which really was babbling. Above: Chrysler building Right: Meadow Brook Hall (We paused here while the ride leader got on his cell phone and tried to locate some wayward riders.)
JULY WEEKLY RIDES Monday Evening Rides DISTANCE: 15-18 miles DATE: Mondays PACE: 11-14 mph TIME: 6:00 P.M. LEADER: Mary Woloszyk (586) 778-9172 & Mike Matlas (586) 264-6759 MEETING PLACE: St. Clair Shores library Corner of Jefferson & 11 Mile Road We will ride through the neighborhoods of St. Clair Shores and the Grosse Pointes. Tuesday Evening Rides DISTANCE: 25-30 miles DATE: Tuesdays PACE: 13-15 mph TIME: 6:30 P.M. LEADER: Josie (586) 484-4412 or Jim (248) 879-2405 or someone else??? MEETING PLACE: Rainbow Plaza SE corner of 25 Mile Rd. and Shelby Rd. Optional dinner stop at a place to be determined after the ride. We will ride the Macomb Orchard Trail. Weather permitting, we will ride as far as Armada. If you wish to go your own pace (either faster or slower than the rest of us), we don t mind. You can t get lost on the MOT. Wednesday Evening Rides DISTANCE: 20 miles DATE: Wednesdays PACE: 12-14 mph TIME: 6:00 P.M. LEADER Bill Appleberry (586) 573-7377 MEETING PLACE: SW corner of Metro Pkwy and Garfield in bank parking lot. Ride destinations may vary from week to week. Friday Evening Rides DISTANCE: 25 miles DATE: Fridays PACE: 12-14 mph TIME: 6:00 P.M. LEADER: Tom Miller (586) 573-4754 MEETING PLACE: Ram s Horn Restaurant 23815 Jefferson, St. Clair Shores Please park at North end of parking lot, behind the restaurant. Dinner stop after the ride.
JULY SCHEDULED EVENTS Picnic Ride DISTANCE: 25 miles DATE: Saturday, July 7 PACE: 12-14 mph TIME: 11:00 a.m. LEADER: Paul Wilhelm (586) 243-4325 MEETING PLACE: Dodge Park, Pavilion #2 July Picnic Ride. We ll return in time for the food and festivities. Impromptu Rides Most of our weekend rides now seem to be impromptu rides. Typically, they are posted one or two days in advance on the website, and members (whose email address we have) receive an email notification. Since there isn t much scheduled on the weekends in July, watch for impromptu rides, or better yet, lead one. If you wish to lead an impromptu ride, send the information to Tom Miller, tmiller793@gmail.com, and he will post it for you. You need to include the same information you see on the rides in the newsletter: Date, time, distance, pace, terrain (flat or hilly, paved or not), leader name and phone number, meeting place, and any additional information. Coming Bike Innovations Alert reader Gary Haelewyn submitted the following information he found in a recent New York Times article. Anti-theft handlebars Here s an old idea whose time has come again. The bearing system that allows the bike to turn can be locked so that a thief can t steer his stolen bike. The lock is internal, meaning that he d have to destroy the bike to ride it away. No more greasy chains An updated shaft drive which replaces the chain with a rod and internal gear system would be perfect for urban riders. They re popular in China right now, but new versions will be lighter and have more sophisticated gearing. One-piece plastic and carbon-fiber frames Plastic frames were tried back in the 90s, but they were too heavy. The materials and technology have improved. Thermoplastics are cheap and practically impervious to the elements.
Slow Spokes Spokin Times News Page 6 HAVE YOU SEEN US? We have no idea where we are! On June 9, 2012, eight Slow Spoke Turtles and two wannabees were bike-jacked. They were last seen hootin and a hollerin as they were being abducted from the Harsens Island ride. If anyone has information on their whereabouts, please keep it to yourself. A reward is NOT, I repeat NOT being offered for their safe return. 22 people enjoyed the Harsens Island ride on Saturday, June 9th. A picture of 10 of them was later spotted on this milk carton. The contributor who submitted the milk carton picture wishes to remain anonymous, and we will respect their wishes.
Slow Spokes Spokin Times News Page 7 YOUR FAVORITE BIKE SHOP!!! The following bicycle stores offer a discount on equipment and accessories. Be prepared to show your Slow Spokes membership card when making a purchase to receive the discount. Allied Cycle 23101 Gratiot Eastpointe, MI 48021 586/772-3411 American Cycle & Fitness 29428 Woodward Ave Royal Oak, MI 48072 586/542-7182 American Cycle & Fitness 2169 Metro Parkway Sterling Heights, MI 48310 586/979-7570 American Cycle & Fitness 203 N. Perry Street Pontiac, MI 48342 248/333-7843 American Cycle & Fitness 20343 Mack Avenue Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236 313/886-1968 American Cycle & Fitness 18517 Hall Road Macomb Twp. MI 48044 586/416-1000 Anchor Bay Bicycle & Fitness 3521423 Mile Road New Baltimore, MI 48047 586/725-2878 Bike Tech 18401 E. Warren Detroit, MI 48236 313/884-2453 D & D Bicycles 8383 N. Middlebelt Rd Westland, MI 48185 734/522-9410 D & D Bicycles 121 N. Center Rd. Northville, MI 48167 248/347-1511 D & D Bicycles 9977 E. Grand River Brighton, MI 48116 810/227-5070 D & D Bicycles 4141 W. 12 Mile Road Berkley, MI 48072 248/547-0770 D & D Bicycles 7330 Highland Road Waterford, MI 48327 248/461-6550 East Side Bike Shop 26210 Van Dyke Ave Centerline, MI 48015 586/756-2001 Fraser Bicycle & Fitness 34501 Utica Road Fraser, MI 48072 586/294-4070 Hamilton Bicycle 69329 Main Street Richmond, MI 48062 586/727-5140 Macomb Bike & Fitness 28411 Schoenherr Warren, MI 48088 586/756-5400 Main Street Bicycles 598726 Mile Road Washington, MI 48094 586/677-7755 Main Street Bicycles 622 S Lapeer Lake Orion, MI 48362 248/236-9100 Metro Bike-N-Sport 36649 S. Gratiot Ave Clinton Twp., MI 48035 586/791-3488 Paul s Bike Depot 28057 Gratiot Roseville, MI 48066 586/776-9165 Stoney Creek Bike 58235 Van Dyke Washington, MI 48094 586/781-4451 SLOW SPOKES MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION DATE: NEW MEMBER RENEWAL NAME: PHONE: ADDRESS: EMAIL: OPTIONAL BIRTHDAY (MONTH and DAY): Please mail this application along Slow Spokes with a check for $15.00 payable to: P. O. Box 792 Sterling Heights, MI 48311-0792 I do not wish to receive a hard copy printed of the Newsletter. Anyone interested in bicycling is eligible for membership. Those under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult during all club activities and rides.
Slow Spokes Spokin Times News Slow Spokes are members of the League of Michigan Bicyclists and the League of American Bicyclists. Website: www.slowspokes.org BIKE SMART Always Wear Your Helmet! Slow Spokes P. O. Box 792 Sterling Heights, MI 48311-0792