October 19 Bulletin

A classic Bridgestone bicycle awaits its rider at the Parshallville Grist Mill aid station.

Dawn Tomczyk, Larry Weston and Joe Lisuzzo check the map before tackling the 75 mile loop.

"Rain, rain, go away!" That was the mantra voiced by members of the Howell Rotary Club during the wet week leading up to last Saturday's Tour de Livingston bicycle tour. Last year, the inaugural year of the Tour, 315 cyclists rode under sunny skies with record temperatures above 80 degrees. Of that number, nearly half registered the day of the event, no doubt after checking the weather report. Not only did the rain cause concerns about rider participation, it made marking over 100 miles of roads with directional arrows very challenging. Rotary members finished marking the last few miles of road at 7 a.m. on Saturday morning, just as registration was opening. Once again this year, Mt. Brighton was the staging site for the Tour de Livingston. Proceeds from the Tour are donated to the Livingston County United Way.

This year, members of the Howell Rotary Club hoped to exceed last year's total by 200. But two days before the event, only 241 entries had been received when online registration ended. And with temperatures projected to be only in the 50s, there was concern that even the 2008 number might not be achieved. But with sunny skies predicted at last, many more riders registered on the morning of the Tour and preliminarily it looks like nearly 400 participated this year.

Tour de Livingston routes this year consisted of a 33 mile Parks Loop that took riders from Mt. Brigthon through Kensington Metropark, Island Lake State Recreation Area, and back. There were also two routes geared for children and novice riders: the 5 mile Recreation Loop that circled through a local neighborhood and the 5 mile Family Fun Loop that took riders through downtown Brigthon to the Millpond and back. Mountain bikers were given the opportunity ride to the Brighton State Recreation and try any of the single track trails there totalling 14 miles. Serious mileage hounds opted for the Century Loop where they could choose between 25, 75, or 100 miles of paved back roads.

In the Mt. Brighton parking lot at a little past 8 a.m. Howell Rotary President, Jeff Hansen, his voice amplified by bullhorn, welcomed the riders and thanked sponsors. He also instructed riders of newly started road construction on the routes that was not reflected on the route maps issued to every rider. He wished the riders well and then it was "Riders Away" as the first pack of 200+ cyclists turned left out of the parking lot and headed south on Bauer Rd. As a member of the Howell Rotary Club, I remained at Mt. Brighton until it was clear that my help was no longer needed there and I could embark on the 100 mile route.

Of the dozens of century (100 mile) rides I have completed, most occurred while I was Co-Chairman of the WAM 300, a three day, 300+ mile fund raising ride for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan. As the only organizer that also rode the event I always enjoyed starting after everyone else each day, riding up through the pack offering assistance and encouragement as needed. So I felt at ease as I made my first pedal stroke about 45 minutes after the Tour de Livingston officially started. Within the first eight miles I encountered three riders stopped with flat tires and without spare tubes. Each had a partner riding back to the start to fetch spares and were perfectly cheerful waiting by the side of the road on the sunny, cool fall day. A fourth rider with a flat had two spare tubes in his tool pack but had failed to detect a sliver of glass still embedded in in tire, which flatted both spares! Upon my arrival he had already placed a call to one of the Tour de Livingston SAG Wagons, which was en route with another spare.

After 12 miles of country roads ablaze with fall colors south and west of Howell I came upon the first of five aid stations. This one was hosted by Howell Main Street / DDA and was located at the corner of Michigan Ave. and M-59 on the north side of Howell, where the 25 mile route and the 75 and 100 mile routes split. 25 mile route riders turned south into Howell, then east around Lake Chemung and finally south back to Mt. Brighton. 75 and 100 mile riders headed north on Oak Grove Rd.

I turned north and as I rolled past farm fields of nodding sunflowers and golden soybeans, it became apparent that I had not enough layers on my legs. My legs should have been warm and loose by then but instead were cold and tight.

At around 30 miles I stopped at the second aid station located at Mueller's Orchard for fresh cider and a Honey Crisp apple. Perfect. At this point the 75 mile route split off from the 100 mile route so I continued north on my quest for 100 miles. It had been years since I was in this part of the county. It was nice to view the open landscape from the saddle of my bicycle. This is my favorite mode of transportation. It's nice being right out in the scenery, travelling slow enough to truly appreciate its beauty.

After riding through Fenton in southern Genesee County the 100 mile route turned south. Soon I was in the rolling hills and curves around Shannon Lake. The next aid station was located at the Parshallville Grist Mill, about 55 miles into the ride. Riders seemed to linger a little longer here to enjoy the buildings and grounds of the historic mill. As with every aid station, the volunteers were helpful and enthusiastic, despite being out in the chilly wind all day.

That chilly wind increased in velocity as morning turned into afternoon. Riding west into the wind became more of a chore with time. Although my uper body was comfortably warm, my legs stayed below their optimal operating temperature. I hoped that getting out of the saddle to stand on a tall gear for the climbs would help. No such luck.

I came to the 4th aid station on the west side of the GM proving grounds and was greeted by Peter Bowen, a fellow Rotarian and avid cyclist and tri-athlete. Peter decided not to ride this day in order to be the lead SAG Wagon driver. In fact he was just loading the bike of an exhausted rider onto his Jeep as I rolled in. Ever good-natured, Peter would give this rider and her bike a ride back to Mt. Brighton.

At this point  had 80 miles under my belt and knotted legs. With an unsupported, overnight tour looming the following weekend, I decided to short circuit the rest of the route and ride back to Mt. Brighton. I arrived some 7 miles later and was greeted by lots of helpful volunteers in bright orange Tour de Livingston shirts and an awesome buffet consisting of pasta, salad and bread.

So I didn't make the 100 mile mark and settled for under 90. But I had a wonderful ride on Livingston County back roads on a cool, sunny day during the peak of fall colors. Plus I did it with several hundred happy, smiling people who were also enjoying the sights, smells, and sounds of Livingston County in the fall.

Tours and organized group rides are a great way to get out on your bike and build confidence for tackling longer distances. The best way to learn how to become a better, safer cyclist is to ride with more experienced cyclists. Howell Area Parks and Recreation hosts monthly group rides on the first Saturday of each month, April through October. They have also formed the Cycle Howell Bicycle Club. D & D Bicycles in Brighton has a group mountain bike ride Sunday afternoons and a group road ride Wednesday evenings. The road ride will come inside (bring your indoor trainer) soon as the days grow shorter. D & D is hosting its biggest shop ride ever on October 24 at 9 a.m.

Visit the Tour de Livingston online for more information and to register for next year's Tour.