Cyclists especially, but also runners, and others who legally share
the road, please participate in this important event!

Event: The Ride of Silence
When: May 21, 2008, 7pm
Where: Holland Farmers Market / Civic Center parking lot (between 7th and 8th Streets, just west of Pine Avenue
Why:

• To mourn cyclists already killed by motorists
• To raise awareness(among motorists, police, and city officials)of cyclists on the road
• To have motorists know we only want to share the road we ride on
• To show that cyclists are not going away

Please lend your support to this important event
Tom Ayres

Hot on the heels of the Monday Night Ride, the club will be starting up the Sweet Roll Ride this Saturday morning. As an added incentive to get you out of bed this weekend, your MCC President is buying the sweet rolls this week! The ride details are listed below. Throw me an e-mail if you have any questions, otherwise we will see you at 8am this Saturday morning. 
 
Ride Name: The Sweet Roll 
Ride Starting Date / Time: Saturday mornings, 8:00am May 10 (weekly thru September) 
Starting Location: West Ottawa High School - South / Athletic Building, located next to Great Lakes Elementary School, parking lot next to tennis courts (152 St. between Riley & Quincy Streets) 
Ride Midpoint Stop Location: Morning Star Cafe (711 Washington Ave., Grand Haven) 
Total Ride Miles: 36 miles 
Ride Speed: May - 16-17mph average, June-September - 18 mph average 
Note: In the case of bad weather a message will be posted to the Club Ride page on the Forum by 7am each Saturday morning if the ride is cancelled. No message there means that the ride is on! 
 
Tom Ayres 
Macatawa Cycling Club 

Hello all you MCC members. The Monday Night is coming soon, this May 5th at 6:30, 6:31 and 6:32.

We have made changes for the MNR to help boost member participation. Please check out the details on the MCC homepage.www.macatawacyclingclub.org

One change is being made for the “Race” group. Some members were worried about the average mph (23) and that it was too close the Independent Ride leaving at 6:15 pm and thus we had some overlapping. So we are adjusting the Race group to average of 21 mph and wanting the Race group to stay together as much as possible. We hope this change allows more MCC’ers to try the faster group with the knowledge the Sport group is behind them if they want or need to leave the Race group, and it gives a big enough gap between the two rides so they are distinctly different.

Also, if you haven’t received a bottle/socks for joining the club either this year or in the past. I will have some of both at the MNR. Please find me and we’ll get them to you.

Marshall and Marci

To All MCC Members,

The new and improved MCC Monday Night Ride is just a week away. We have had very positive feedback regarding the proposed changes and are looking forward to making this years’ ride the best yet. That being said, we need members to step forward and volunteer as ride leaders and sweeps. Its not a big commitment, we are looking for you to take one turn a month as a leader or sweep supporting the ride of your choice. You know you are going to ride anyway, so why not help once a month? If you care about making the MNR a success then we need you to do your part and help out with the ride duties. If you are ready to help out please e-mail me. Thanks for stepping up and pitching in. See you next Monday!

Tom Ayres 

The MNR is now in it’s 5th year and remains one of the best attended weekly rides in west Michigan. Some changes have been made for this year’s MNR so please read everything and e-mail with any questions.

The “A” group is being split from the main MNR ride and becoming an Independent Ride, not associated with the regular MNR or MCC. Why? Well, the “A” group was allowing a poor perception of the MNR to many members; too fast, not friendly, everyman for themselves, no leader etc…. This was stopping many members from even trying the “B” group, and that wasn’t right. Also, we had a “C” group for a few weeks last year that was well received.

The new Independent Ride will leave at 6:15 pm starting the first Monday in May until the last Monday in October. If you liked the “A” group then this is your start time.

Here’s the breakdown for the real MNR from the Macatawa Cycling Club
The MNR will run from May through October every Monday night, other than Memorial Day and Labor Day, when the ride will be held in the morning. There will be three start times every Monday. Distances will vary according to group with miles added later in the summer for the Sport and Tour groups.
Routes will stay the same as traditionally ridden. The section of Old Allegan Road has been “improved” and is ready for 2008

There will be three groups. Race, Sport and Tour.
TOUR

• Start time of 6:32 pm sharp.
• A ride leader will help direct the group and will also provide a sweep service. He or she might have a spare tube or limited tools, but every participant should plan on carrying their own.
• The idea is to ride together with limited splitting of the group
• Speed for the Tour group is Average of 14 mph, 20 miles

SPORT

• Start time of 6:31 pm sharp.
• A ride leader will help direct the group. He or she might have a spare tube or tools but participants should plan on carrying their own.
• Speeds will average 17 mph, but can be higher. Limited splitting if possible and ridding together is the main idea. 35 miles

RACE

• Start time of 6:30 pm sharp
• No ride leader is provided.
• The Sport group is the sweep for the Race riders if flats or mechanicals occur.
• Participants should be able to ride a fast pace 21 mph average and be well versed ridding in groups.
• Speeds will be fast so expect a good hard ride, but not one to demolish the whole group.

The Race group is not an actual “race”. We want as many riders to finish together and have fun, but some splitting of the group may occur. If you are dropped the sport group will be coming up behind.
MCC plans on painting route markers for all three groups. It is hoped that these new ideas and groups will get more members on the MNR. It’s a great ride and we want as many members come out.