2002 Ride Reports
CCCC - November 24
It was a fairly nice morning. Party sunny, 40º and a moderate westerly wind. Bill was showing off the new
valve stem caps on his V-Rex. They flash red as the wheel turns. Not very visible in the daylight but probably
look pretty cool at night. Not many people out on the path today. As soon as we got close to the rest stop we
could hear the falls. It was flowing again for the first time since early summer. Milan had the best time down
"the big hill" with a top speed of 42.4. This was good considering the stiff wind we were facing. The coffee
shop was completely empty when we went in for lunch. Laurie had cooked up some homemade vegetarian chili
that hit the spot.
Attended:
Bill Glor - V-Rex
Milan Demko - Low Baron
Bruce Raines - Lowracer
Tom O'Connor - Tour Easy
Paul Bigelow - Lynx
.
CCCC - November 3
Overcast, 33º and no wind as we headed out. Rode north and stayed on the roads most of this morning.
Worked our way west to the park and then north again. Extended the ride some because it was so calm
today. Tom and Don met us after at the coffee shop.
Attended:
Ed Weiss - V-Rex
Bruce Raines - Lowracer
Paul Bigelow - Lynx
Don Tillett
Tom Mc Auliffe
.
Chestnut Ridge Ride - November 2
Other than the fact that it was 38º, heavily overcast, wind 22 mph gusting to 30 and snowing out, it
wasn't a bad day for a ride in the country. There wasn't much traffic out and only some of the roads
were wet and muddy. The further south we went the more snow we saw on the ground. Once we got north
of Powers Rd. everything was dry and the sun came out for a few short minutes. Yates park and Green Lake
were deserted. The trees around the lake still had lots of color and they were very pretty reflecting off
the water. The route ended up being a little shorter than we figured. Both the computer and the GPS
receiver showed 25.4 miles at the end. Total elevation gain was 1096' with an average grade of 2%.
Attended:
Ed Weiss - V-Rex
Kathy Rice - Prism
Paul Bigelow - Lynx
.
CCCC - October 27
Partly sunny, windy and 44º this morning. Tom J. arrived with the long awaited Rocket makeover.
After being cut apart and disassembled, it's now ready to ride. Tom redesigned the rear end so
he could mount a 26" wheel. He also lengthened the wheelbase by eight inches and lowered the
seat height slightly. The bike looks and rides beautifully. Great job Tom!! Tom B. has been itching
to ride the South Newstead route so we headed off for Stage Rd. via Tillman Rd. Went out Stage
all the way to Crittenden and then headed south. Took Dorsch west then picked up Nice to N. Millgrove.
Worked our way over to Ransom then to Salt and picked up the bike path and back to the coffee house.
Ended up with 28.5 miles. Jerry was there with Ripley and stayed for lunch. It was still 44º when we
got back and still very windy. For the first time since last May we ate inside instead of out on the patio.
Attended:
Ed Weiss - V-Rex
Paul Alico - Slipstream
Bill Glor - V-Rex
Tom Jones - Rocket
Tom Mc Auliffe - V-Rex
Bruce Raines - Lowracer
Tom Barone - Speedmachine
Paul Bigelow - Lynx
Jerry Hanley
.
CCCC - October 20
Sunny, clear blue sky, 40º and calm when we headed out. More of the trees are changing color now
due to the cooler nights lately. Not many people out this morning. Akron Falls Park has got some new
pavement on the main road. The falls is still dried up even after the rain last week. Tom M. led us on
a detour through Liesurewood and showed off his new home. It was 56º and cloudy by the time
we got back to the coffee house.
Attended:
Paul Alico - Slipstream
Bill Glor - V-Rex
Don Tillett - V-Rex
Tom Mc Auliffe - V-Rex
Tom - O'Connor - Tour Easy
Bruce Raines - Lowracer
Tom Barone - Speedmachine
Paul Bigelow - Lynx
.
Grand Island Ride - October 15
Fast ride tonight.
Attended:
Bill Glor - V-Rex
Don Tillett - V-Rex
Dave Levine - P-38
Tom Barone - Speedmachine
.
Niagara Recreation Trail - October 11
Foggy and low 50s as we headed out. The further we went up the river the foggier it got. Most
of the time we couldn't even see the US side at all. The Niagara Parks Department was out in
full force today. All along the trail were workers mowing, trimming, painting and doing pavement
repair. Traffic was light as we rode past the falls. The wind was out of the east so there was
quite a lot of mist as we went by so we didn't take our usual rest stop here. It was at the Spanish
Aero Car where we stopped. As we got ready to leave Doug noticed his rear tire was flat. He repaired
it as a bus load of tourists unloaded nearby. Many walked over to check out the 'bents and take some
pictures. The fog was gone by now and it was getting warmer out. It was 12:15 as we pulled into The
Epicurean for lunch. The restaurant was busy and we decided to eat out on the patio. Had a great
lunch and started back as the clouds started to break. The sun came out briefly and then the clouds
were back. The wind picked and as usual, it was mostly in our faces all the way back.
Attended:
Rich Rash - Horizon
Ed Weiss - Baron
Bill Glor - V-Rex
Doug Ploetz - V-Rex
Tom Barone - Speedmachine
Dave Fleck - Thunderbolt
Dave Levine - P-38
Paul Bigelow - Lynx
.
Grand Island Ride - October 8
Sunny, calm and 57º. Don got his brand new custom V-Rex today. Great looking bike.
Attended:
Bill Glor - V-Rex
Don Tillett - V-Rex
Dave Levine - P-38
Tom Barone - Speedmachine
Don Simon - upright
Paul Bigelow - Lynx
.
CCCC - October - 6
An absolutely gorgeous fall day. Clear blue skies, a slight breeze and 50º at 10:00. Before
heading out, Paul and Ed assisted Bill as he installed a new set of cranks on his V-Rex. They
are 165s and have a 26 tooth granny gear. Now maybe he won't do so much whining when we
get to the hilly parts of the rides. Passed a lot of people out on the path today. A lot of cyclists,
almost none of whom were wearing helmets. Sara was having trouble with her front derailleur. She
couldn't get it to shift out of the middle ring. A small increase in cable tension solved the problem.
The Lynx hit 45.2 going down "the big hill." No flats  and no crashes today. The temperature was
68º when we finished the ride. Had a very enjoyable lunch out in the sun on the patio. Just before
one o'clock we heard a loud roar in the sky. Gazing up we watched as five F-14 Tomcat's flew over.
Four were in a tight diamond formation and the solo was on it's wing in a steep left turn. Very cool!!
Attended:
Bill Glor - V-Rex
Maureen Glor - Giro
Steve Schultz - Stealth
Sara Schultz - Rocket
Don Tillett - Tailwind
Ed Weiss - Baron
Bruce Raines - Lowracer
Tom Mc Auliffe - V-Rex
Tom Barone - Speedmachine
Kathy Rice - Prism
Dan Mangold - Stratus
Joe Kilian - Stealth
Dave Fleck - Thunderbolt
Paul Bigelow - Lynx
.
Cuba Lake Ride - October 5
It was overcast, windy, 55º and sprinkling very slightly as we left the parking lot and headed north on 305.
Two and a half miles down the road Doug had a blowout on his front tire. Cuba Lake was almost completely
deserted this morning. There was only one person buzzing around on a jet ski. The town has been doing a lot
of repaving in the area which made for a smooth comfortable ride. The steel deck bridge was out so we had
to take an alternate route to Belfast. Doug had done some pre ride scouting and led us down a lightly traveled
side road. We passed a couple of Amish boys out in a yard who stood there wide eyed as we rode past them.
Odds are they had never seen six recumbents go past their farm before. The detour ended up being noticeably
flatter than the regular route. We certainly didn't miss riding that steel deck bridge. Had it been brighter
out, the foliage would have been prettier. The leaves weren't at their peak yet due to the unseasonably warm
weather we've been enjoying. Even so, the surrounding hills had a good deal of color in them. It was 12:15 as
we walked into the restaurant. The tables and booths were all occupied so we sat at the counter. As always,
the food was great. Large servings and that unmistakable "home cooked" taste. It was a little after one when
we started heading for Friendship. Just before pulling into town, it started to rain lightly again. By the time
we arrived at the turnoff for the hill climb, the pavement was wet and it looked pretty hazy up there. After
a short deliberation we decided to forgo the hilly route and take the shorter, flatter way back. Tom crashed
as he went over some railroad tracks. He wasn't hurt and nothing broke on the bike. The rain stopped as we
got close to Cuba, and the cars. This wasn't the best day for a ride but far from the worst. We all enjoyed
ourselves. Just as we headed for home, the clouds broke and the sun came out. Oh well.
Attended:
Bill Glor - V-Rex
Doug Ploetz - V-Rex
Dave Levine - P-38
Tom Barone - Speedmachine
Ed Weiss - Baron
Paul Bigelow - Lynx
.
Grand Island Ride - October 1
78º, hazy sunshine and very windy. Rode at a much more relaxed pace today. Much easier to carry on a
conversation and enjoy the scenery. Very nice ride!!
Attended:
Bill Glor - V-Rex
Don Tillett - V-Rex
Paul Bigelow - Lynx
.
CCCC - September - 29
It was partly cloudy and 50º when we headed out this morning. By the time we got to the park, the clouds
were gone and the sun was shining brightly. Tom J. had a very slick looking headrest on his RANS seat. It's
simple yet functional. Had a bit of a headwind on the return trip. Maureen had some chain problems on her
Giro. By the time we got back and were having lunch the temperature was pushing 70º. Not bad for the end
of September.
Attended:
Bill Glor - V-Rex
Maureen Glor - Giro
Steve Schultz - Stealth
Sara Schultz - Rocket
Don Tillett - V-Rex
Jerry Hanley- Street Machine
Bruce Raines - Lowracer
Tom Barone - Speedmachine
Tom Jones - Stratus
Dan Mangold - Stratus
Rich Rash - Horizon
Tom Mc Auliffe - upright
Paul Bigelow - Lynx
.
Grand Island Ride - September 25
Clear blue skies, 70º and quite windy today. Headed out into the wind at a moderately fast pace. Got around
to West Shore Rd. and started to pick up the tailwind. Cruised along at 25-26 MPH till we got around to
the north side and dropped down to the low twenties. Made it back to the start in just over an hour.
Attended:
Bill Glor - V-Rex
Don Tillett - V-Rex
Dave Fleck - Thunderbolt
Dave Levine - P-38
Tom Barone - Speedmachine
Paul Bigelow - Lynx
.
CCCC - September - 22
It was only 60º when we headed out at 9:00, but it felt warmer. There wasn't a cloud in the sky and
not a bit of wind. A truly beautiful morning, bright and clear, with the smell of autumn in the air. Very
light traffic on the path and the roads. Made good time to the park. Akron Falls is drier than I've ever
seen it. Bill  had the fastest time down "the big hill" at 44.6. Tom J. had a rear flat on the way back.
With Ed's help he was back on the road in no time. Tom M. headed home and the rest of us enjoyed a
delightful lunch at the coffee shop. Had to push four tables together to fit everyone. Betty Barone
stopped by to make sure Tom was behaving himself.
Attended:
Bill Glor - V-Rex
Maureen Glor - Giro
Steve Schultz - Stealth
Sara Schultz - Rocket
Don Tillett- V-Rex
Jerry Hanley- Street Machine
Bruce Raines - Lowracer
Tom Barone - Speedmachine
Tom Jones - Rocket
Kathy Rice - Prism
Dave Levine - P-38
Ed Weiss - Baron
Tom Mc Auliffe - upright
Paul Bigelow - Lynx
.
Ellicott Creek Trailway - September 21
The day started out cloudy, breezy, 70º and a slight chance of rain. Not many people out on the path
this morning. There were dozens of volunteers out picking up litter all long the river. Some had clip
boards and were documenting what was collected. We rode the Riverwalk all the way down to the Erie
Basin Marina and had lunch at the Hatch. The return trip brought us through downtown Buffalo. As we
rode past city hall we decided to stop in to The Statler Towers and visit Don (The King of Diamonds)
Tillett. He was busy with customers but took a minute to tell us about has newest purchase, a custom
V-Rex built up by Mark Power. Leaving Niagara Square we headed up Delaware Ave. to Hoyt Lake.
We rode the Scajaquada bike path back to the river. Just past Grant Street, there was an unexpected
stop to fix a rear flat on the Lynx. Had ice cream at Mississippi Mudd's. Got back to the cars with
47+ miles on the computer.
Attended:
Bill Glor - V-Rex
Richard Uschold - Tailwind
Tom Barone - Speedmachine
Bill Denson - Phantom
Joe Kilian - Stealth
Paul Bigelow - Lynx
.
Grand Island Ride - September 17
Attended:
Bill Glor - V-Rex
Don Tillett - V-Rex
Tom Jones - Rocket
.
CCCC - September - 15
Headed out under the threat of rain. Got about 5 miles and the rain came. Turned around and headed for the cars.
Attended:
Steve Schultz - Stealth
Sara Schultz - Rocket
Don Tillett- V-Rex
Tom Mc Auliffe - upright
Tom O'Connor - Tour Easy
.
Tour of Chautauqua - September 8
On Sunday, Sept. 8th seven of us (Bill, Ron, Dave, Ed, Dave, Sara and Steve) met in a waterside park on lake Chautauqua
around 10 a.m..  What a day! Clear, sunny and no wind. Ron, who lives in the area had a glorious route of about 37 miles
all mapped out for us. The route took us past picturesque Amish farms where we could see horse drawn buggies taking their
Sunday rest.  We trudged up a hill (o.k. so I walked one) where the reward was being able to see Lake Chautauqua and
Lake Erie all in one view.  We rested at a park where our eyes could take in the tiny town of Westfield, the tower in
Dunkirk, Lake Erie and the greenest vistas you could imagine.  We lunched at an old fashioned diner in Westfield.

Either the food was fabulous or we were so hungry we just thought it was great.  After lunch we went on some quiet
roads and were lucky enough to get to the Mayville airport in time for an air show.  Happier than ever to be close
to the ground we headed back to the park where Bill generously provided the beer and we had a chance to tell Ron how
much we appreciated the ride. We decided that biking was our form of meditation.  Thoughts of work and worries may
pass like clouds but we let them go to focus on the importance of the moment, good people, beautiful places, safe riding,
and the push and pull....   Sara
Attended:
Ron Condio - V-Rex
Ed Weiss - V-Rex
Dave Levine - P-38
Dave Fleck - Thunderbolt
Bill Glor - V-Rex
Steve Schultz - Stealth
Sara Schultz - Rocket
.
CCCC - September - 1
Another beautiful morning for a ride. Mid seventy's, clear blue skies and no wind. Tom B. was sporting a new helmet
today, a sleek Louis Garneau Prologue. It has a built in eye shield and looks like carbon fiber. We're going to miss
the sun blazing off his shiny chrome brain bucket. Jerry had some chain problems and stayed at the start to get
things back in order. He caught up to us later. The new pavement on Strickler Rd. has a dangerously steep drop-off
at the sides. Tom O. got a little to close to the edge and went down hard. He suffered some road rash and was a bit
shaken, but finished the ride with no problems. Maureen was enjoying the new SLicks Bill had mounted on her Giro.
The stock Kenda's were way to slow. Tom B. had the fastest run down "the big hill" hitting 45 MPH.
Attended:
Bill Glor - V-Rex
Maureen Glor - Giro
Steve Schultz - Stealth
Milan Demko - Speedmachine
Don Tillett- V-Rex
Jerry Hanley- Street Machine
Bruce Raines - Lowracer
Tom Barone - Speedmachine
Tom Jones - Stratus
Tom O'Connor - Tour Easy
Tom Mc Auliffe - Stratus
Paul Bigelow - Lynx
.
Niagara Recreation Trail - August 30
You couldn't have asked for better weather than what we had today. The sun shone bright all day, there
was no wind and the temps were in the 70's. The mighty Niagara River was smooth and still on the surface.
That is a rare sight. Heading north we had the roads and the path all to ourselves. Even when we arrived
at the falls we saw that it was strangely devoid of the usual crowds. But there were tourists around and
tourists have cameras. Like always, we caught peoples attention as we rode by and we got our pictures
taken. I couldn't help but wonder what becomes of these images. How many albums or cd's have shots of
us on our strange bicycles. Joe K. headed back after a short break at the falls. The rest of us continued
northward. Joe F. met us at Brock's Landing. He had rode there from his home in Niagara Falls USA. So
we now again had a Joe in the group. You know what they say " Easy come, easy Joe."  It was 11:30 when
we got to Niagara-On-The-Lake. Dave suggested we eat at "The Epicurean." There was ample room to park
our 'bents out back next to the outdoor dining area. The food was excellent. After eating, we took a 25  minute
walk and checked out some of the many shops in this quaint town. Next stop was at the small park opposite
Old Fort Niagara. Lake Ontario was a deep blue and was also very calm. As soon as we got on the trail
heading south we started to see more and more people out walking and biking. Traffic was heavier as we
rode by the falls again. There were lots more people now than earlier. After passing the falls we decided
to stay on the road to make better time getting back. Five of us stopped at "The Lighthouse" restaurant
for some liquid refreshment. The rest of the group kept going and were gone when arrived back at the
cars. Everyone agreed that today was one of the finest rides we had this season.
Attended:
Ed Weiss - Baron
Bill Glor - V-Rex
Doug Ploetz - V-Rex
Tom Barone - Speedmachine
Tom Jones - Stratus
Joe Kilian - Stealth
Dave Fleck - Thunderbolt
Dave Levine - P-38
Joe Fruscione - Rocket
Paul Bigelow - Lynx
.
Grand Island Ride - August 27

Sunny, warm and breezy. It felt like old times as we took off on a clockwise circuit of the island. The winds
seemed to favor this direction. Very little traffic this evening. Another island resident joined us on her BikeE AT.
Had a nice uneventful ride. Rehashed the BROL festival of last weekend. Bill had an album full of pictures he took.
Attended:
Bill Glor - V-Rex
Don Tillett- V-Rex
Tom Barone - Speedmachine
Tom Jones - Stratus
Kathie - BikeE
Dave Fleck - Thunderbolt
Dave Levine - P-38
Tom Mc Auliffe - Tailwind
Paul Bigelow - Lynx
.
CCCC - August - 25
Bruce reported, "We had a nice ride."
Attended:
Steve Schultz - Stealth
Sara Schultz - Rocket
Bruce Raines - Lowracer
Tom O'Connor - Tour Easy
Tom Mc Auliffe - upright
Dan Mangold - Stratus
.
Grand Island Ride - August 20
It would be hard to imagine a nicer evening for a ride. Clear, cloudless, blue skies. Calm air and 75º. Tom M. was
riding Don's extra 'bent today. Had to get used to the steering a bit, but overall did a great job keeping up with
the rest of us. Not much traffic but quite a few other riders out enjoying the evening. Bill invited us over after
the ride but he didn't have much to offer us to eat, so we passed.
Attended:
Bill Glor - V-Rex
Don Tillett- V-Rex
Tom Barone - Speedmachine
Tom Mc Auliffe - Tailwind
Paul Bigelow - Lynx
.
CCCC - August - 18
Overcast, 70's and breezy this morning. Looked like it might rain, but it never did. Had to do a quick flat repair just
as we were ready to head out. Maureen's front tube blew out shortly after Bill topped it off. Lesson learned: Never
put 100 lbs of air in a 60 lb tire. Light traffic and the tailwind made for a quick ride to the park. The falls was
nothing more than a very small trickle today. The pool at the bottom was perfectly still and fairly clear. We observed
a snapping turtle lazily moving around. There were several large fish visible in the water as well as many smaller ones.
The large ones appeared to be carp or Koi. Ed hit 44 going down "the big hill." The group got somewhat spread out
on the return trip. Some riders riding hard while the rest took it easy. A cold front was starting to move through.
The sun was out but the wind had picked up considerably.
Attended:
Bill Glor - V-Rex
Maureen Glor - Giro
Ed Weiss - Baron
Don Tillett- V-Rex
Jerry Hanley- Street Machine
Tom Barone - Speedmachine
Tom O'Connor - Tour Easy
Tom Mc Auliffe - upright
Paul Bigelow - Lynx
.
Ellicott Creek Trailway - August 17
Warm, breezy and mostly cloudy this morning. A guy with a very nice looking homebuilt SWB rode into the lot
while we were getting ready to ride. Ed invited him to join us today but he only had planned on a short ride. Maybe
some other time he said. The trail was still wet from the earlier morning rain. Not as many people as usual out on
the path, especially down along the river. It was just after 11:00 when we arrived at the Hatch. By now everything
was dry and it was mostly sunny. Had lunch, watched the sailboats, cruised down to the end of the marina and
headed back. We made the obligatory ice cream stop at Mississippi Mudd's. Got back to the cars around 2:00
with 45.6 miles on the Cateye.
Attended:
Bill Glor - V-Rex
Ed Weiss - Vanguard
Pat Weiss - Rocket
Richard Uschold - Tailwind
Dave Fleck - Thunderbolt
Dave Thomas - Stealth
Dan Thobaben - upright
Tom O'Connor - Tour Easy
Tom Barone - Speedmachine
Milan Demko - Low Baron
Rich Rash - Horizon
Paul Bigelow - Lynx
..
Grand Island Ride - August 13
Not quite 90º this evening, but it was hot, humid and hazy. Lot's of traffic on East River Rd. Something we don't
usually see on the island. Kept us in single file for awhile but no real problems. While stopped at the petrie we saw
a guy on a V² coming up the middle of the road. Wasn't wearing a helmet and just gave a nod as he rode past. When
the Niagara Falls skyline came into view the extent of the haze became evident. There wasn't even a hint of the mist
above the falls visible. After the ride most of the group headed over the the Glor's for hors d'oeuvres and drinks. We
hung around until all the food was gone, then left.
Attended:
Tom Jones - Stratus
Don Tillett - V-Rex
Tom Barone - Speedmachine
Kathy Rice - upright
Bill Glor - V-rex
Maureen Glor - Giro
Paul Bigelow - Lynx
.
CCCC - August 11
Once again the weather was outstanding. Clear blue skies, temps in the 80s and just a hint of a breeze.
Had a couple of new riders on uprights join us for our ride. Modified the route slightly so we could enjoy
the newly paved sections of the bike path. The section from Strickler Rd. to the Newstead town line is
now complete. Tom B. filled us in on all the action at the HPV world championships this past week in
Brantford Ontario.
Attended:
Bill Glor - V-Rex
Maureen Glor - Giro
Dave Levine - P-38
Steve Schultz - Stealth
Sara Schultz - Rocket
Don Tillett- V-Rex
Jerry Hanley- Street Machine
Bruce Raines - Lowracer
Tom Barone - Speedmachine
Tom Jones - Rocket
Tom O'Connor - Tour Easy
Tom Mc Auliffe - upright
Russell - upright
Paul Bigelow - Lynx
.
Grand Island Ride - August 6
Clear, mostly sunny, mid sixties and a south west breeze this evening. We left the Holiday Inn parking
lot and headed out in a clockwise direction. The road was closed to thru traffic because of repaving,
but we had no problem getting through. The river was a pretty, deep blue and quite calm. Didn't notice
many boaters out. It probably was a bit chilly on the water. We got spread out for awhile, but regrouped
about half way around. Dave spent some time telling us about his positive experience on the Bon Ton Roulet
tour he and Dave Fleck completed a week and a half ago. Maureen was feeling the effects from the head
winds we had from the start. She and Bill headed for home early. Kathy wanted to pick up the pace some
as we headed around the north side of the island. Now we had a tailwind and were cruising along between
17 and 19 mph for the final few miles. All in all, a short but very enjoyable ride.
Attended:
Tom Jones - Stratus
Dave Levine - P-38
Jerry Hanley - Street Machine
Kathy Rice - upright
Bill Glor - V-rex
Maureen Glor - Giro
Paul Bigelow - Lynx
.
CCCC - August 4
Last Sunday's rain was long gone and we once again enjoyed a truly beautiful morning. Clear skies,
lots o' sun and temps in the mid 70s. Bruce gave us a bit of a start as he pulled into the parking lot. As
soon as he stopped the car his M5 fell off the roof rack. One of the securing fasteners wasn't locked in
100%. Luckily there was no damage to the bike. Bill's V-Rex was sporting a new pair of Speedplay Frog
pedals. Maureen had two new mirrors on her Giro. Tom J. was riding Bill's old Stratus today. Six weeks
ago, Joe Kilian convinced  a rider we met in Akron Park to give his bike a try. After a short and shaky ride,
Joe invited her to join us some Sunday. Today Kathy, and her sharp looking Terry Prism, took up the offer
and rode along with the group. Very little traffic on the path today. I don't think we passed a half dozen
other people. The Lynx had the fastest  time down "the big hill," hitting 44.7 mph. Bruce took an alternate
route back so he could practice his sprinting. After the ride, all of us enjoyed some great food, beverage
and conversation.
Attended:
Bill Glor - V-Rex
Maureen Glor - Giro
Kathy Rice - Prism
Don Tillett- V-Rex
Jerry Hanley- Street Machine
Tom Barone - Speedmachine
Tom Jones - Stratus
Rich Rash - Horizon

Bruce Raines - Lowracer
Paul Bigelow - Lynx
.
CCCC - July 28
Hot and mostly overcast when we headed out. The roads and trail were still wet from the morning rain.
John (Jim's dad) from California and Lani (Sara's sister) from Florida joined us for  today's ride. Made
good time getting to the park. The paths and roads were all but deserted. No sooner did we get to our
rest stop and the rain returned. Tried to wait it out but after about 30 minutes we headed for the cars.
less than five minutes later it stopped and the sun came out. We were dry before long. Ed picked up a
shard of glass in his front tire. A quick tube change and we were on our way again. Had a nice lunch and
everyone left to enjoy the rest of the day.
Attended:
Jim Lenker - mountain bike
John Lenker - Stratus
Tom O'Connor - Tour Easy
Don Tillett- V-Rex
Lani Kaskel - mountain bike
Sara Schultz - Rocket
Tom Barone - Speedmachine
Tom Jones - Rocket
Ed Weiss - Baron

Bruce Raines - Lowracer
Paul Bigelow - Lynx
.
CCCC - July 21
Blue skies, bright sun, no humidity, 80º. Bill talked his buddy Don into joining us this morning.
Tom invited Scott to use his Stratus for today's ride. Quite a few people using the trail today.
Bikers, walkers and bladers. Murder Creek was very low and the water was just trickling
over the falls. Had a  great run down the escarpment. After loading up the bike's, most of the
group went over to the coffee shop for eats and drinks.
Attended:
Jerry Hanley - Street Machine
Tom O'Connor - Tour Easy
Don Tillett- Tailwind
Scott - Stratus
Steve Schultz - Stealth
Tom Barone - Speedmachine
Tom Jones - Rocket
Bill Glor - V-Rex

Bruce Raines - Lowracer
Paul Bigelow - Lynx
.
Ellicott Creek Trailway Ride - July 20
Sunny, dry, clear and calm. 86º. Not to many people on the path today. the City of Tonawanda
was having their annual Canal Fest. The route we usually take was closed to vehicular traffic
so we took a detour around the festivities. We found ourselves in bumper to bumper traffic.
Soon the group was separated. Some not sure of where to go. Not a pleasant situation. Eventually
we found our way back to the path and regrouped. The path along the river was almost completely
deserted. Everyone must have been back at the festival.  Mary decided to stop and wait for us
on the return trip. The grand Island Bridge was the turn around point today. Mary was waiting
patiently when we returned. Mississippi Mudd's was looking mighty inviting about this time.
After pulling the 'bents in a circle, we headed over to get us some ice cream. As usual the
cones were piled high. After the goodies were devoured, we headed back, but walked the bikes
through the midway instead of dealing with the traffic. After the ride we all went over to Tom
Barone's for a cookout and a dip in the pool. Good food, good drink, good conversation, good
company. What more could you ask for. Many thanks to Tom and Betty for their wonderful
hospitality. Congratulations to Mary Demko on her longest ride ever.
Attended:
Rich Rash - Horizon
Tom Barone - Speedmachine
Tom Jones - Rocket
Bill Glor - V-Rex
Maureen Glor - Giro

Milan Demko - Low Baron
Mary Demko - Tailwind
Paul Bigelow - Lynx
Bruce Raines
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CCCC - July 14
Once again we enjoyed an absolutely gorgeous day for riding. Clear blue skies, mid 70's and no
wind. Bill's wife, Maureen joined us with her new Bacchetta Giro. There were quite a few other
riders out on the path today. Dave Levine was plagued by flats and cut his ride short to go get
some new tubes. Other than that it was an uneventful but very enjoyable ride.
Attended:
Dave Fleck - Thunderbolt
Dave Levine - P-38
Jerry Handley - Streetmachine
Tom Barone - Speedmachine
Steve Schultz - Stealth
Ed Weiss - Vanguard
Pat Weiss - Rocket
Bill Glor - V-Rex
Maureen Glor - Giro

Bruce Raines - Lowracer
Paul Bigelow - Lynx
.
Port Dalhousie - July 7
It was sunny, warm and clear this morning. Half of the group caravaned over to Canada as planned and found
it was definitely helpful in crossing the border. Our five vehicles were through customs in less than four minutes.
Geoff rode up from Fort Erie to join us. That worked out to be a 51 k warm up ride for him. Bill had his new V-Rex that
he just picked up yesterday. Milan's Low Baron was sporting a very sharp looking set of H.E.D. aero wheels. As soon as
everyone was ready, we headed out through the town and into the countryside. Within a half an hour or so, we had
made three unplanned stops. A flat tire repair, a thrown chain and a head rest problem. After that it was clear sailing
all the way to the town of Jordan. It was 11:45, just in time for lunch.  All thirteen of us walked into the small cafe
at the same time. The girl behind the counter looked a little flustered and immediately announced, " I'm here all alone.
You're going to have to be patient." That was no problem at all. The air conditioning was a welcome change from the,
now hot and hazy environment, we had just exited. We pushed a number of tables together and relaxed for about 45
minutes. Just before leaving this quaint little village, we decided to take a longer route back to extend our riding
pleasure. We had a tailwind for most of the return trip. There was some heavy traffic upon entering Port Dalhousie.
Some inconsiderate drivers blew their horns and came closer than needed as they passed. The parking lot at Lakeside Park
was totally full when we arrived back at our vehicles. There were many cars circling around waiting for someone to
open up a spot. Milan invited everyone over to his home for some refreshments. Half the group wanted to head for home and
bowed out. Geoff had a 51 k "cool down" ride ahead. ( I later found out he ended up with a total of 212 km or 132 miles.)
In our haste in leaving the park, we somehow forgot Steve and Sara. Fortunately they found their way to Milan's with little
trouble. Mary wasn't home, but she had prepared a nice assortment for goodies for us. Fresh fruits, cheese and crackers,
four choices of beer as well as other beverages. The only thing lacking was a box of Tim Horton's. Oh well, maybe next time.
Once again, our Canadian trip turned out to be most enjoyable. Thanks Milan!!!
Attended:
Milan Demko - Low Baron
Tom Barone - Speedmachine
Rich Rash - Horizon
Pat Northey - Linear
Donna Northey - Tour Easy
Geoff Allanson - Tailwind
Joe Kilian - Stealth
Jerry Hanley - Street Machine
Steve Schultz - Stealth
Sara Schultz - Rocket
Bill Glor - V-Rex

Bruce Raines - Lowracer
Paul Bigelow - Lynx
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CCCC - June 30
An absolutely beautiful morning. Warm, calm and sunny. Greg Klas joined the group today for our weekly ride. We headed out at a faster pace than usual. Before long the group got spread out, but we all met at the rest stop in the park. We decided to lengthen the ride today because it was so nice. At the bottom of the "big hill" we went straight instead of the turning left. Eventually the group divided up into three, each taking their own route back to the coffee shop. The temperature was at 87º when we were loading up the 'bents. Andy kept us entertained at lunch by relating some old "war stories." Dan stopped by to say hello.
Attended:
Dave Fleck - Thunderbolt
Dave Thomas - Stealth
Dave Levine - P-38
Joe Fruscione - Rocket
Tom Barone - Speedmachine
Rich Rash - Horizon
Greg Klas - Horizon
Joe Kilian - Stealth
Andy Kilian - homebuilt SWB
Steve Schultz - Stealth
Sara Schultz - Rocket
Bill Glor - Stratus

Bruce Raines - Lowracer
Paul Bigelow - Lynx
Dan Mangold
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CCCC - June 23

Hot, hazy and windy today. A new rider and two new 'bents caught everyone's attention this morning. Bill Denson and his brand new Phantom joined us for our weekly outing. Bruce showed up with his new silver, high geared M5 Lowracer. Now he has one set up for flat out sprinting and one set up for the leisurely group rides. Not to be outdone, Milan arrived with his new silver Low Baron. These guys just can't get low enough or go fast enough. There were a lot of people out on the path enjoying the morning. Joe "Mr. PR" Kilian continued on his quest to get as many strangers as he can to try out his bike. When we got to the top of the escarpment the three lowracers and Tom lined up for a roll down test. Tom's tailbox and wheel covers gave him the advantage and he was the fastest down "the big hill." The ride back was into a stiff, steady wind. The temperature hit 85º as we packed up the bikes and went for lunch.
Attended:
Ed Weiss - Baron
Jerry Hanley - Streetmachine
Tom Barone - Speedmachine
Milan Demko - Low Baron
Bill Denson - Phantom
Joe Kilian - Stealth
Steve Schultz - Stealth
Sara Schultz - Rocket
Bill Glor - Stratus

Bruce Raines - Lowracer
Paul Bigelow - Lynx
Rich Rash
.
CCCC - June 9
Another beautiful morning. Sunny, warm and calm. Dave showed up with his brand new yellow T-Bolt. Newcomer Bill Glor is the proud owner of a 2002 Stratus in the nicest color I've seen RANS use on any bike. There seemed to be a lot of birds out singing today. Even the free range roosters were making a racket as we rode past them. We saw another Baltimore Oriole and many finches. Dave had the fastest time down "the big hill." Joe discovered that pumping your tires up more makes riding easier. Great food and scenery at the coffee shop.
Attended:
Jerry Hanley - Streetmachine
Dave Fleck - Thunderbolt
Rich Rash - Horizon
Joe Kilian - Stealth
Steve Schultz - Stealth
Bill Glor - Stratus

Bruce Raines - Lowracer
Paul Bigelow - Lynx
.
CCCC - June 2
Bright clear blue skies, 60º and a moderate SW wind this morning. Before setting off, we spent some time adjusting Sara's front derailleur and checking out Mike's Tour Easy clone. Nice job Mike!! The beautiful morning brought out a lot of people on the bike path. On the other hand, Akron Park was almost deserted. We saw one man out for a walk. Part of the group took the short route back through town while the rest of us headed out to the "big hill." The head winds on the way back meant for some slow going (except for Ed and Bruce on their lowracers). As always, the food and service were superb at the coffee shop.
Attended:
Tom Barone - Speedmachine
Rich Rash - Horizon
Ed Weiss - Baron
Joe Kilian - Stealth
Mike Prospero - homebuilt LWB
Steve Schultz - Stealth
Sara Schultz - Rocket

Bruce Raines - Lowracer
Paul Alico - Slipstream
Paul Bigelow - Lynx
.
CCCC - May 26

It was mostly sunny, 50º and breezy as we headed this morning.  With the roads mostly devoid of traffic, not many people on the bike path and a tailwind; we were able to keep a nice steady pace all the way to the park. Shortly after stopping at the break spot, a park employee pulled up and struck up a conversation. We had seen us an numerous Sunday mornings and was curious about the 'bents. Tom had the fastest speed down "the big hill" hitting 43.3 MPH. Back at the coffee shop, Joe (P R Director) Kilian was busy asking people if they wanted to try a recumbent. A couple of people took him up on the offer and rode the Metro around the parking lot. One person who we couldn't talk into a ride was Rich Newberg. Oh well, maybe next time. We had really good ride today and an exceptionally fine time at the coffee shop. Joe kept everyone entertained while we had lunch and talked about upcoming projects and future rides, trips and tours.
Attended:
Tom Barone - Speedmachine
Ron & Bianca Hughes - Double Vision
Ed Weiss - Vanguard
Pat Weiss - Rocket
Joe Kilian - Stealth
Andy Kilian - Metro

Bruce Raines - Lowracer
Milan Demko - Speedmachine
Jerry Hanley - Streetmachine
Enah - Huffy Mtn. bike
Paul Bigelow - Lynx
.
Niagara Recreation Trail - May 24
Waited out the rain. Had a great ride.
Attended:
Ed Weiss - Baron
Milan Demko - Speedmachine
.
CCCC - May 19
Attended:
Tom Barone - Speedmachine

Bruce Raines - Lowracer
Jerry Hanley - Streetmachine
Paul Bigelow - Lynx
.
The Seaway Trail Ride - May 11

We gathered at the Southtowns trailhead at 9:00 waiting there was a potential newbie who had trouble finding us at the Pepsi center demo last month. He had read the notice in the paper and made it down to the ride. I lent him my ride for a short trial run and he did seem interested he also got a "bicycleman card" to get ahold of Peter and see what was to be seen at his shop. We decided that a run down Route 5 was not in our best interest safety wise so we began at the corner of Rt. 5 and Old Lake Shore Rd. Interesting to note, although we did not want to ride Rt. 5 it is the Official Transcontinental Route. They tell everyone else to take it when crossing the country. Welcome to Hamburg travel at your own risk "have a nice day if you make it". We found enough parking for the 4 riders we had behind Hoag's dairy on Triangle street unloaded and left about 9:30 am heading south on the Seaway trail. The sky was totally clear blue and there was absolutely no wind to speak of with temps in the high 50's to low 60's on the ride. There are a couple good hills at the beginning of the ride as we passed huge mansions with impressive overviews of the lake and Canada. One can only wonder what the proposed bike trail will do for this road and riding along this scenic stretch of highway. Further on past the mansions we passed Derby with more modest housing but all nicely kept up with the smell of fresh cut grass and early spring flowers filling the air. Most everyone seemed to stop what they were doing and point us out as we rode by. We pressed on past the Wendt beach park to Angola where the road changes again to a lake side community built right on top of the road. The old familiar haunts of Miller's and Laerzak's are gone but there is a new Mickey Rat's club there now. All along this stretch are old bars and taverns with a million stories of summer night's of fun that are brought back to our memories as we rode past. Some were closed others were remodeled and still in operation. We pressed on thru Point Breeze and then on to Lake Erie Park? to check out the view there and on again to Evangola Park The sun was still shining brightly as we explored the park and finally wound up on the promenade by the beach and just looked at the view for quite a while. A guy came by with binoculars and we were able to check out Canada and the sights with those. It was hard to leave ..but pressing on again we stopped on the return at "Conner's" hot dog stand in Angola for a bite to eat and on for the final run back to the starting point. We decided to return to the Bike Trail Head and to "Tony's" for ice-cream which is next door. Everyone agreed to try and ride it again maybe in the Fall. I ride this ride a lot if anyone wants to try it just give me a call and we can do it anytime. The weather cooperated all day with no wind and a clear blue sky making the lake look fantastic. Wish you were there. 30.9 miles - Joe Kilian
Attended:
Joe Kilian - Stealth
Ed Weiss - Baron
Tom Barone - Speedmachine
Paul Bigelow - Lynx
.
CCCC - May 5
Finally, a really beautiful Sunday morning. Sunny and warm. The cherry and crabapple trees were all in bloom. People out riding, blading and walking. The park was very active today. A few large groups had their fires going and the smell of cooking permeated the air. The newly remodeled rest rooms were open. On the return trip we stopped and swapped bikes. Almost everyone tried out someone's else's ride for awhile. Paul made an easy transition from his Slipstream to the Lynx and Speedmachine. Half the group decided to extend the ride and added a nine mile detour. It was just to nice to quit so soon. The coffee shop was busy and their was a very talented folk duo performing. Paul showed us his designs for a group logo and for a custom jersey.
Attended:

Bruce Raines - Lowracer
Milan Demko - Speedmachine
Jerry Hanley - Streetmachine
Rich Rash - Horizon
Paul Alico - Slipstream
Paul Bigelow - Lynx
.
CCCC - April 21
Cold, overcast and breezy. Jerry arrived with his new bike. Hardly anyone out on the path this morning.
Attended:
Jerry Hanley - Streetmachine
Paul Bigelow - Lynx
.
Demo Day - April 20
Not a pleasant day for riding. Cold, damp and overcast. In addition to some old standbys, Peter had the new Bacchetta's and the LWB Burley Taiko with him today. All three of these new models were a pleasure to ride. I can see the Giro easily outselling the V-Rex. The Taiko is the only LWB I've ever ridden that feels like a SWB. We also got to try out the Pantour suspension hub. Only a few "non-benter's" showed up to check things out. One guy, we'll call him "smiling Don," didn't really want to try one. After a little coaxing, he rode off on Joe's "Russian trainer." Upon returning, he admitted that it was pretty easy to ride. Because of the lousy weather only part of the group rode down to the river.
Attended:
Phil Ricotta - Rocket
Barb Ricotta - Tailwind
Jill Ricotta - Wave
Milan Demko - Speedmachine
Tom Barone - Speedmachine
Dave Levine - P-38
Joe Kilian - Stealth
Tina Kilian - Stealth
Paul Bigelow - Lynx
Ed Weiss
Pat Weiss
Paul Martin
Rich Rash
Dave Fleck
Joe Fruscione
.
CCCC - April 14
Calm and 53º when we headed out. Very spring like morning. Lots of birds singing. Daffodils blooming along the path. Two flocks of free range chickens out strutting around. People out walking and roller blading. Stopped and removed a snapping turtle from the road. Didn't seem to bother it. Used the GPS receiver to locate the new Geocache hidden along the bike path. When we got back to the lot it had warmed up nicely. Joe had a couple of people try out his bike before heading home.
Attended:

Bruce Raines - Lowracer
Tom Barone - Speedmachine
Joe Kilian - Stealth
Ed Weiss - Baron
Paul Bigelow - Lynx
.
CCCC - April 7
The morning started out sunny and cold. We started out a little late today. Everyone had to check out Tom's new ride. He brought his custom painted Speedmachine with a carbon fiber tailbox and carbon wheel disks. The orange and black bike looks fast just standing still. Bruce filled us in on his latest purchase. He bought a frame to build up another M5 Lowracer. There was a three piece jazz combo playing in the coffee shop. I've never seen so many people here on a Sunday afternoon before.
Attended:

Bruce Raines - Lowracer
Milan Demko - Speedmachine
Tom Barone - Speedmachine
Jerry Hanley - Terra Trike
Rich Rash - Horizon
Ed Weiss - Baron
Paul Bigelow - Lynx
.
CCCC - March 31
A beautiful Easter morning for a ride. Hazy sunshine, temps in the mid 40s and a light westerly breeze. A few walkers and roller bladers out on the path. Almost no traffic at all on the way to the park. No one at all in the park. Quick ride back. The coffee shop was closed so everyone left to enjoy the rest of the day.
Attended:

Bruce Raines - Lowracer
Tom Barone - Stratus
Jerry Hanley - Terra Trike
Rich Rash - Horizon
Paul Bigelow - Lynx
.
Port Dalhousie - March 29

Except for the overcast skies, it was a great day for a ride in the country. Temps were in the 50s and there was very little breeze. Milan guided us through miles of vineyards, orchards and farmlands. We stopped for lunch at White Meadows Farms. Everything was delicious and the prices were very reasonable. Ended up with 28.5 miles.
Attended:

Milan Demko - Speedmachine
Paul Martin - Horizon
Geoff Allanson - Tailwind
Tom Barone - Stratus
Ed Weiss - V-Rex
Paul Bigelow - Lynx
.

CCCC - March 17
The temperature was 25º with an east wind at 13 mph....wind chill of 18º.
Attended:
Bruce Raines - Lowracer
Milan Demko - Speedmachine
Paul Martin - Horizon
Rich Rash - Horizon
Ed Weiss
.
CCCC - February 24
Mostly sunny and mild (40º). Phil showed up with his new Rocket today. The bike path is clear and ride able so we were back to the usual route. Passed a number of people out walking. Akron Falls was running fast due to the snow melt. The trees and rocks at the base of the falls were still ice covered. That would have made a nice picture. The Crocuses were coming up around the comfort station.  Spring is right around the corner. Ed had the fastest time down "the big hill." A very enjoyable ride today.
Attended:
Ed Weiss - V-Rex
Bruce Raines - Rocket

Phil Ricotta - Rocket
Paul Bigelow - Lynx
Tom Barone
.
CCCC - January 27
Bright, sunny, mild (50º) and breezy. All in all, not bad for January. We headed south west from Clarence Center today. The thought of having a tailwind on the return trip seemed like a good idea. We rode down into Lancaster and then through Alden, Wende, Millgrove and back through Clarence to the coffee shop for lunch. Today's route ended up being 30 miles, a little longer than usual.
Attended:
Ed Weiss - V-Rex
Bruce Raines - Rocket
Tom Barone - Stratus

Paul Bigelow - Lynx
.