2013 News
11-27-13
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Hello Friends...........
This is the season to give thanks and the FMCPT Board would like to thank you for your donations, memberships, event participation, and your many words of support throughout the year.
Join us at Old Fashioned Christmas in London this Monday. Festivities begin at 5 p.m. along Main Street in the Historical District. There will be horse drawn carriage rides, singing, music, and of course Santa. Look for us in the old London Grill building and enjoy some free bicycle cookies and hot chocolate. A shining red refurbished bike will be raffled off at 7 p.m.
Camp Chase Trail construction continues to move along. Metro Parks plans to open the section from Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park to Galloway by the end of the year (may still be in gravel for the winter). The bridges at the eastern end of the trail will be dedicated on December 6th at 10 a.m. Consider attending the next Camp Chase Trail Friends meeting on January 9th at 6:30 p.m. in the Haydocy Automotive Community Room.
The regular monthly meeting for FMCPT in December has been cancelled. You are invited to the Annual Members Meeting on Wednesday, January 15th at 7 p.m. at the Madison County Senior Citizens Center in London. Captain Blue will be the guest speaker talking about his adventure hiking across Ohio on the Ohio to Erie Trail.
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10-02-13
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Hello Friends...........
As another section of the Camp Chase Trail will soon be completed, we encourage you to consider joining the new Friends of the Camp Chase Trail organization which will be having its first organizing meeting on Thursday, October 10 at 6:30 p.m. at Haydocy Automotive Community Room. Your help to make this trail the best it can be will be most appreciated. For more details about this meeting, see this Consider Biking article.
Congratulation to Carol and Guy for their Ruby Award nomination from the Ohio Travel Association for their igotabike.com guide for the Ohio to Erie Trail. If you're looking for a good guide to help you navigate the Ohio to Erie Trail, this is it!
The last Full Moon Ride for this riding season is coming up on Friday, Oct. 18th at 7:30 p.m. Enjoy this free evening adventure with your friends to help get you in the mood for Halloween!
The Deer Creek Fall Color Ride will be on Saturday morning, Oct. 18th. This budget tour has two optional rides; a 38-mile route and a 77-mile route. This is a pretty ride through the Deer Creek River valley. You might consider coming for the Full Moon Ride on Friday and stay over at Alexandra's Bed & Breakfast and go on the Deer Creek Fall Color Ride in the morning. Your significant other would appreciate the wonder facilities there, or invite the whole gang and stay at their Youth Hostel - it's a win-win!
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08-30-13
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Hello Friends...........
Join us in the Ox Roast Parade this Saturday in West Jefferson. The parade theme is "Fun in the Sun". Line up starts at 11:00 a.m. with bicycles gathering at Eastgate Ave. in West Jefferson. The parade starts at noon. Hope you can make it for this fun parade!
Check out Pedal for Pets coming up on Saturday, Sept. 14. This is a CHA Animal Shelter fundraiser. They also have an online registration form available.
If you ever wanted to know a little more about the prairie plants along the Prairie Grass Trail, see the new Prairie Remnant Management Program section on the FMCPT website. Many thanks to webmaster Dan O'Kelly with assistance from Julia Cumming and Prof. John Silvius for putting this together. Don't miss the further learning opportunity created by Prof. Silvius at the Resources link at the bottom of the page for additional photos of plants living along the Prairie Grass Trail.
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08-14-13
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Hello Friends...........
Thanks to all that participated in the recent Rib Tickler Ride during the London Rib & Jazz Fest. The winner of the new Giant commuter bicycle was Paula Stonecipher. Her husband Tim purchased the ticket as a surprise to her - just in case! Needless to say, both were caught a little off guard when the winning ticket was announced! Best wishes for the both of you for many enjoyable hours along the trail.
One of our sister organizations is having a ride this Sunday, August 18th starting between 7-9 a.m. Mark your calendar for The Tri-County Triangle Trail Cookie Ride! More details about the rural roads and trail ride is available on their Tri-County Triangle Trail, Inc. webpage.
Join us for the next Full Moon Ride on Tuesday, August 20th at 8:30 p.m.
Another one of our sister organizations, the Simon Kenton Pathfinders, will be having their 14th Annual Fund-raiser Bike Tour September 8th with registration 8-10 a.m. at the Depot Coffee House, 644 Miami Street, Urbana, OH. The event includes a Metric Century, a Metric Half-Century in scenic Champaign and Logan Counties, and a 15-mile Family ride on the trail. Come experience The Ruth I. Bentley Memorial Ride.
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07-19-13
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Hello Friends...........
We are please that the Ohio to Erie Trail is being featured in the current issue of the national Rails to Trails magazine. The article has a piece about London and includes a photo of the popular London sign at the Prairie Grass Trailhead.
Join us for the Full Moon Ride on Monday, July 22nd at 8:30 p.m.
There is still time to get your pre-registration discount for the upcoming Rib Tickler Ride. The discount is good through Saturday, July 27th. It's easy to pre-register online and use PayPal or a credit card to pay. You can also pre-register by printing off the form and sending it in with your check. Pre-registration helps us to be sure there is plenty of food at the two rest stops. This is intended to be a relaxing tour with only 31 miles and two food stops. Then, the Rib and Jazz Fest awaits you on your return to London! No need to pack up that bike when you return, just store it in the secured corral while you enjoy those delicious ribs and ice cold beer! And yes, after you relax for awhile and listen to the band, the Bakery tent may call out your name! Your donations for the home-made baked goods will be split between the Madison County Senior Citizens Center and FMCPT. And don't forget to get your raffle tickets for the brand new Giant commuter bicycle – it will be raffled off at 6 p.m. (no need to be present to win.) Hope to see you there!
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06-10-13
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Hello Friends...........
The weather was beautiful last Saturday for the Strawberry Festival Bicycle Tour! We had 165 riders participating in the tour and everyone seemed to have a great time. Come out to the London Strawberry Festival June 20-22 for some strawberry shortcake and see the largest Cobra Sports Car Show in the world.
If you have not seen it yet, be sure to check out the new Ohio to Erie Trail - Trail Guide available through igotabike.com. Carol and Guy have done a lot of research to gather information and have put together a helpful guide. We encourage you to download it, use it, and give your feedback about it.
The next Full Moon Ride will be here soon. It will be starting a little later this time on Sunday, June 23rd at 8:30 p.m. due to the longer days. If you haven't tried this free ride, this is an opportunity for an interesting evening.
Save the following date for a new experience on the trail. John Silvius, Ph.D, Professor of Biology, will be leading a "rolling" class about native prairie restoration and plants along the Prairie Grass Trail. The class-ride is free and will be on Saturday, July 13th. More details will be coming about the Prairie Bike Ride.
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05-26-13
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Hello Friends...........
Come join us at the Miami Valley Cycling Summit on Friday, May 31st in downtown Springfield. See their website for an exciting day of speakers and activities.
We encourage you to particpate in the Ohio Bicycling Awareness Day on June 4th at the Ohio Statehouse Atrimum sponsored by the Ohio Bicycle Federation.
You still have a few days to sign up for the Strawberry Festival Bicycle Tour and get $5 off the regular registration price. June 1st is the cut-off date for pre-registration. (You can always register the day of the ride (June 8th) for the $20 registration fee.) A fourth route was added this year due to popular demand.
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04-12-13
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Hello Friends...........
Please be aware of a potential prairie grass burn during the next few days (weather permitting) at five sites along the Prairie Grass Trail in western Madison County between
London and Botkin Road. Signs will be posted on the trail on the day of the burn. A by-pass route would be U.S. 42.
The next Full Moon Ride is scheduled for Thursday, April 25th at 7:30 p.m. (weather permitting).
Join FMCPT and many organizations and businesses at the 8th Annual Madison County Community Expo on Saturday, April 27th. We will have a display of unusual bicycles, bike maintenance and safety demonstrations, bike raffle, and local trail information.
Bike-Ohio is starting their Spring Classic series in a couple of weeks. FMCPT will be providing the volunteers for the London 100 ride on Saturday, May 4th. Read more about the Spring Classic and register online at
the Bike-Ohio website.
Take advantage of the new FMCPT Fridge Poster for a quick reference about upcoming rides. Also
see the FMCPT calendar and Events tab for rides and even a 5K run.
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02-25-13
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Hello Friends...........
Before spring arrives, take a moment and refresh your understanding of cycling laws by reading Steven Magas' Summary of Ohio Bike Laws. Also, be prepared for potential aggressive behavior by motorists, see the Rural Riding Recommendation by Jeannie Martin in the February 2013 Consider Biking E-news.
Save the date for the upcoming Miami Valley Cycling Summit on May 31st in Springfield. More information below in the Miami Valley Bike Trails Quarterly newsletter.
Weather permitting, we're planning the first Full Moon Ride of the season on March 27th at 7:30 p.m.
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02-03-13
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Hello Friends...........
Only a few days left until the 8th Annual Pancake and Sausage Breakfast! Join us this Saturday, February 9th at the Madison County Senior Center. All the pancakes you can eat from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.! Check out the Silent Auction while you're there. Get your tickets for the brand new Giant Cypress Hybrid bicycle that will be raffled at a later date. A refurbished bike will be raffled on Saturday.
You still have time to enter a bluebird house in the Bluebird House Decorating Contest. Prizes for the top six contestants. Entries must be submitted by February 7th. Judging will be done at the Pancake and Sausage Breakfast and winners will be announced. See the link for details.
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01-09-13
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Hello Friends...........
Hope all of you are enjoying the New Year! Six members: Gene Pass, Mike Groeber, Danny & Yung Holt, Willie McCormick, and Wayne Roberts kept the FMCPT tradition going of cycling on January 1st. to start the New Year off right! (A big thanks to Danny & Yung that got up early and plowed the snow along Roberts Pass for several miles!)
Thanks to many of you that have renewed your 2013 FMCPT Membership. Several people decided to renew as Sponsor Members this year which greatly helps our ability to maintain and enhance the trail in Madison County. If you have not renewed your membership yet, it's very easy. Just click above to renew using PayPal or a credit card - that's the easiest way; or, just print off the membership form and mail it in with a check.
You are most welcome to attend the 2013 Annual Members Meeting on Wednesday, January 16th at 7 p.m. at the Madison County Senior Citizens Center (please enter through the east entrance doors which open directly into the meeting room). The guest speaker this year is Julia Cumming from the Madison Soil and Water Conservation District. She will give a presentation about the Little Darby State Scenic River Preserve and the future London Nature Preserve. FMCPT volunteers have been involved with both of these preserves as we continue to help support the Madison County Park District and the City of London. Also at this meeting, Board Members will be elected to fill positions that are up for renewal. Light refreshments will be available.
The 8th Annual Pancake Breakfast is coming up on Saturday, February 9th from 7 a.m. - 11 a.m. at the Madison County Senior Citizens Center in London. This is a fundraiser for FMCPT and the Senior Center. A Silent Auction will be held during the breakfast. If you would like to donate new items for the auction, that would be appreciated very much! (You can reply to this email with questions, contact any Board Member, or call 740-506-0521 or 614-205-6754.) If you would like to pre-purchase tickets for the breakfast for family or friends, they are $6 per adult and $4 for children age 12 and under. Tickets can be purchased via email or through any Board Member. (It is not necessary to pre-purchase tickets for the breakfast.) Come over and enjoy this fun, family-oriented event and bring your family and friends.
Help the Bluebird population along the trail! Consider entering the FMCPT Bluebird House Decorating Contest. Better yet, help a child or grandchild decorate a Bluebird House and enter it in the contest. Details are on the flyer, but the bottom line is: entries must be submitted to Sheffield Veterinary Hospital in London by February 7th and will be judged at the Pancake Breakfast on February 9th. The top six winners will receive a financial award plus be able to display their Bluebird House along the trail for one season.
Enjoy your local parks and trails all year long!
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