I
had a thought of doing an article on past equinoxes by researching the club
archives. Our hard copies go back to 1989. As I read thru the various
accounts, I see names that I’m now familiar, likewise, some I don’t
know. Maybe some of the faces have changed but the weather still remains the
same. My hope is that this account brings good memories to some and
enlightenment to others.
2001
Equinox Reliability Tour
Our
Equinox tour has been going on, it seems like, forever. Year after year,
usually in marginal weather, this ride tests bodies and bikes by way of an
unsupported 50 mile ride across the wind-swept farmlands of Northwest Ohio.
Last year the weather was unseasonably nice. This year it was unseasonably
awful at 29ºF and a SW gale wind!
Good
thing Steve Sams brought hot coffee, GatorAid and cookies. The 22 die-hards
who showed up are used to having breakfast in the middle of their winter
ride - but not today. The gray photos don't do justice to the miserable
conditions. Every once in a while there was a complete whiteout from snow
showers.
The
guys rode off companionably at 11:00, but that only lasted until the hot
shots warmed up (at the turn of Hull Prairie Rd). A group of 10 roared into
McClure (absolutely Nowhere, Ohio) and paused to pee and use some of Steve's
goodies. They were followed 10 minutes later by a second group who never
bothered to stop - "just get me home!" The chase group was all
business. MVW President Jim Allen and a couple of others were way to smart
then to try to hang in with the tour-turned-race. Jim was sitting in a warm
car in the parking lot when the lead group breezed in about 2:00 p.m. Well,
the Winter misery is probably behind us now. Everyone is looking forward to
having warm sun when the MVW racing season begins April 19.
2000
Equinox Tour
We
missed the usually nasty weather as this time the temperature was mild but
the winds howled WSW across the flats as usual. The 40+ riders were spread
all over the countryside by the breakaway foursome returned from the 50 mile
road race @ 1:34; (Clark, Regan, Thourot and McGregor). Dollman and
DeLombard, after helping with sign-in, were seen putzing across the flats on
tiny 3 speed Raleighs with 16" wheels.
1999
Equinox Tour Karen McKee
Well,
it was typical Equinox weather: grey skies, West winds 10-20 mph, about 38
degrees F. and snow showers. But the 30 riders who turned out for this 50
mile "reliability tour" headed out strong at 11:00 Sunday, March
21. This 23rd Spring ride was, as usual, treated as a road race by about
half the cyclists.
Denny
Noward, as usual, had done a fine job of marking the long course with day-glo
orange arrows, making it hard to get lost on the flat, open-country route
through the bare farmland to the village of McClure, Ohio. Dave Komives took
the first sprint sign at Haskins. Steve Sams claimed the Sprint sign in
Tontogany. By the time the leader arrived in Tontogany the lead group was
down to about 13 riders. Many had dropped off tired of chasing Jeff Ray’s
attacks and Steve Sams' strong pulls into the head wind and snow pellets.
Komives
dropped his jacket and stopped to pick it up. After Dave was discovered
missing of the back Jeff Ray dropped back to help him chase down the pack.
After chasing the pack down Long Judson for probably 5 miles into a nasty
head wind they were drawing near to the pack. As the pack turned onto
Wapakoneta Road they eased up and let Komives and Ray get back on, at which
point Ray jumped again. Just prior to the turn from Poe onto Rt. 65, as I
was trying to tell Steve Clark where the McClure sprint sign was, he dropped
his water bottle. So a few of us held up for him while the rest sprinted to
McClure. The lead group stopped at the gas station for a potty break and to
munch on their energy bars.
A
group of 13 were the first to arrive in McClure. Consisted of (in no
particular order): Jeff Ray, Steve Sams, Tony Gwin, Andy Morrison, Eric
Snider, Dave Teall, Jim Allen, Steve Clark, Dave Komives, Karen McKee, Rob
Selle, Adam Slough, and Andy Wenberg. Heading out of town, the lead group
picked up a few stragglers who turned around and latched onto the draft.
Shortly
after turning onto Poe Road Steve Clark picked up the pace to 27 mph. A few
miles down the rode Jeff Ray came up to give Dr. Steve a break and picked
the pace up to at least 30 mph. Of course, the group started falling apart
then. On long Judson the lead group became Steve Clark, Jeff Ray and Dave
Komives. A group consisting of Andy Morrison, Eric Snyder, Jim Allen, Dave
Teall and Pio Apostoli worked hard down long Judson try to gain on the
leaders. I chased this group for a few Miles Down Long Judson and up Range
Line. (I almost lost it on an oil slick at that corner; Jeff Ray and Dave
Komives had wiped out there when they came around it.) I finally caught that
second chase group at the turn onto Kellogg.
We
worked together for awhile, wishing the wind was a bit more directly at our
back and not so strong when we headed North; we were wearing down. On the
last up hill on Tontogany Creek Road Jim Allen's legs blew up and he fell
off the back. As we headed up Hull Prairie we lost Eric Snider as he reached
his limits after another strong pull. Minutes later the Allen/Morrison chase
group was down to Andy Morrison, Teall and McKee as Pio dropped off.. The
chase group wasn't much of a chase group anymore, as we had no plans to
catch anyone. Our goal was to be finished and off our bikes and, as usual,
for McKee, to get warmed up.
1998
Equinox Tour – Jim Allen
This
years tour on March 22nd turned into an informal group ride after snow on
Saturday wiped out plans for marking the course, leading to the cancellation
of the "Tour". The snow melted under bright sunshine on Sunday
leaving the roads in excellent shape and tempertaure in the 30’s. A group
of about 40 hardy cyclists, mainly from the Toledo-BG-Fremont area arrived,
arrived expecting a tour but found out it was cancelled. Tour director Denny
Noward passed out maps, water bottles and the cyclists rolled out following
the faded ’97 tour markings.
The
group started to breakup as the pace picked up near Haskins but with an
in-flight route change kept the eager riders in the group in check. The pace
escalated again after we joined the equinox route on Long Judson road,
leaving more cyclists dropped as we headed into the strong NW cross wind.
After battling the crosswind all the way to McClure and regrouping at the
convenience store, many of us chose to leave the course for the shelter of
the trees along the Maumee river. Again the pace picked up leaving cyclists
off the back. The rest of the cyclists followed the traditional route again
fighting the crosswinds. Despite the windy conditions, everyone appeared to
enjoy the ride.
1997
Equinox Tour – Jim Allen
This
year’s tour started on March 16th thru the Black Swamp in sub-freezing
temperatures. These temps accounted for a low turnout with 28 riders
registered. This included a pair of tandem bike couples. Joe Dollman topped
off his winter duds by wearing a hunter orange helmet cover. May thanks to
Matt Thourot and Ed Kipplen who did a great job of painted very visible
course arrows. The conditions lead to a moderate and courteous pace untill
the turnaround in McClure. Mike Iannone sped away from a sluggish peloton
after the turnaround. He was eventually chased down by a group of six
cyclists. Greg Alspach broke this group up with a series of jumps near
Haskins and Jim Regan was the only rider to catch him before Perrysburg.
Denny
Noward did a fine job in his now traditional role as Equinox director. Rita’s
and Denny’s efforts as the master soup chefs were appreciated by the cold
and tired riders. Keith Suhr drove the Sag vehicle to aid riders on the
course.
For
the 20th year, the annual Spring Trek went off into a stiff March 24th
breeze. About fifty riders went into the country side by Denny Noward. As
usual, most of the participants read "Tour" as race and went out
to prove that their winter training had been a part of their lives. Brad
Watkins was up to the challenge, beating out 2nd place Cliff Clermont and
followed by the usual up-front pack i.e… Jim Regan and Dave Komives among
others.
But,
wasn’t The Equinox a Race? Not officially, nobody took times… for a
change. Everybody noticed that Gregg Alspach won the final sprint for the
lead pack! If that wasn’t a road race, it sure looked like one. The
weather was dark and overcast with a brisk ENE breeze. But, for a change, no
snow or rain. Folks that were wearing jackets when the peloton left FT.
Meigs parking lot were peeling them off about 5 miles down wind. Of course,
the 25-28 mph pace could have had something to do with that. Jackets weren’t
the only thing getting peeled off as the professional wheel suckers were
losing out in the crosswinds after about Tontogany.
There
were 62 registered riders leaving the park at the appointed time. We heard
some groups got held up in Tontogany (or Haskins) by an American Legion
Parade. And then there was Sherry blaming the sheriff deputy with a bullhorn
in Tontogany for causing her to lose concentration and getting dropped. It
seemed like it was a successful event, thanks to Denny, Rita and Tim.
This
year’s Tour went off in fine weather for a change as 69 riders blasted off
towards McClure. This year it was March 20th. PC Randolph was first in. Jim
Regan, who looked like a strong contender for the honor, said he faded badly
in the last mile. Must be the effect of young Colin’s mid-night
socializing.
About
60 riders showed up on March 21 for this year’s equinox. We even had 4
cyclists from Dayton and Dave Hyland came up from Columbus. Road conditions
were hazardous as few people had flats. Overall, the club made money.
Five
inches of snow was dumped during the weekend of March 21-22 and tour was
cancelled.
Sunday
March 17, 80 official riders participated in the 15th annual Equinox Tour.
The day was overcast, south winds and around 40 to 45 degrees. The first
three in this year were Brian Koenig (2:40), Greg Bamford (2:42) and Aaron
Feehan (2:42). Other on the very large list were Dave Komives, Bill Borsos,
Scott Main, J. Donaldson, D. Barnes, L. Wagner, K.Suhr, G. Alspach and D.
Pickering to mention a few.
Not
much of a report in the DD but as usual the heavy crosswinds on the flats
were the standard. The top three finishers this year were Tom Herron, Dave
Bhaer and Jeff Aufdencamp.
1989
Equinox Tour
March 19
brought 55 official riders to ft Meigs to participate in the 13th annual
equinox tour. The day was sunny but very cold. The top five cyclist that
arrived back at Ft. Meigs were Todd Eaton and Jason Walle @(2:14), Dave
Bhaer (2:39), R Reynolds (2:40) and Brent Evans (2:44).
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