Newsletters - CycleNuts' occasional What's Happening

 

What's Happening - April 2023

What's Happening -  April 2023 Hello all, A flurry of activity. That is what is happening. Sometimes flurries amount to nothing. Sometimes they do. Aware of the possibility that I am overcompensating for a massive missing of my beloved Kitty by staying busier than is normal, I may be less concerned with what actually comes of the busyness and moreso relieved by how it distracts me from my loss. And, what a flurry it is!    DEVELOPING AS IT ROLLS ALONG - CYCLENUTS TALK CycleNuts Talk is a podcast in the making. As it rolls along, it is developing. The idea - thus far - is for the podcast to be a spot where CycleNuts have a voice through a call-in line and through in-person and on-line interviews. Every cyclist has a story to tell and cyclists love hearing cyclists talk about cycling. The podcast will, hopefully, expand that opportunity for story telling and hearing when it is most convenient for the listener via podcast. If you would like to add your voice to CycleNuts Talk, call the CycleNuts Talkline and leave a message. Each week a new topic or question is presented for you to respond to... if you dare or care to share. The CycleNuts Talkline number 980 449-4490 can always be found on the front page of CycleNuts.link  WHAT ABOUT FREE RIDES? Everybody wants something for nothing. Or, so it seems. Which, I suppose, is okay.   Here is what's happening with CycleNuts Free Tours.    CycleNuts is what I do for a living. It is how I keep the lights on and creditors paid. The Selfie Cycle Tours are successfully selling in several states. I will probably not get rich with CycleNuts, but I do enjoy it. If a person enjoys what they do for a living, then is it working? Brings to mind a BTO song - Takin Care of Business  - "If you ever get annoyed, look at me I'm self-employed. I love to work at nothing all day. I've been... taking care of business and working overtime, work out". Yeah, I know it's old - so am I. Working on CycleNuts is working at nothing all day to me because I love every aspect of it. Creating and maintaining the website, the tour routes, the merchandise, and soon to come the podcast and the races. I simply love doing this stuff. I am certainly not getting rich at it. I live in a dumpy old trailer home I paid cash for, I drive 2 dumpy old minivans that keep my hands grimy fixing them, I have a couple of teeth missing and not quite sure what to do about filling in the gaps without busting my budget, I wear a handful of the same clothes every week, don't own a suit or tie or even a pair of shiny shoes. And being a typical American, I am up to my ass in debt, much of it related to CycleNuts.  All this said, recently, it came to my attention that the consensus of some CycleNuts is that they will not pay for CycleNuts Selfie Tours. I find that interesting because complete strangers to CycleNuts will pay for Selfie Tours - and thus, become new members of CycleNuts (which is free) yet there are CycleNuts who signed on years ago when I was footing all the expenses for them to tour for free don't want to even pay the price of a Big Mac meal to buy a tour ticket. I just find that interesting. Maybe I should buy everybody's lunch, too, when we tour together? I would if I could. But I am fairly poor and unable. CycleNuts is what I do for a living. Like any business, if you give away your services or merchandise for free, then you will eventually be out of business. Nevertheless - FREE RIDES ARE AVAILABLE. There are several ways a CycleNut can tour for free with CycleNuts: 1. Watch for a Free Tour to be announced or an invitation to test a new Selfie Tour route to be announced via email. 2. Join a Selfie Tour that another CycleNut bought who is inviting others to join in for their ride. When somebody buys a Selfie Tour - which ranges in price from $11 to $47 - they can invite whoever they want to ride with them. Or just ride it their self. You can buy a Selfie Tour and invite your peeps along and ask them to share in the cost of the ticket. That makes the tour dirt cheap - and these are not crappy tours. These are the very same tours that I have led you on over the years - and new tours are constantly being added.  To make inviting other people to your Selfie Tour easier, CycleNuts now has a TOUR POSTING BOARD on the home page. It is free to use. A bit clumsy. But it is what it is - an old-school posting board.    3.Become a sustaining member of CycleNuts through Buy me a Coffee and receive different levels of tour discount promo codes. Yes, I have become a begger for your benefit and created a Buy me a Coffee profile for CycleNuts. Besides being a podcast host site for CycleNuts Talk it also serves as a spot for those interested in supporting my work apart from purchasing Selfie Tours or CycleNuts Stuf merchandise.    Speaking of CycleNuts Stuff merchandise... CycleNuts Stuf Store is the place to get your CycleNuts look on . There is the usual assortment of clothing, household items produced by Zazzle's quality suppliers.  and.... in the flurry of things... a new jersey design coming along through Owayo for 2023. The jersey is not available yet - images are representatvie of the final product (which will be without placement shadows)      CycleNuts Custom Tour Building         A new chatting area has been created for the purpose of CycleNuts getting in contact with each other. This beats Facebook, Instagram, and any other general public social network for one very important reason - 50% or more do not use the aforementioned social medias. That means, half of the people who might be interested in getting in contact with you are unavailable unless you already have their personal digits. And, speaking of personal digits and keeping them private, GroupMe does just that. It allows strangers to get in touch without giving up their private phone numbers or other contact information.  If you are looking to get in touch with CycleNuts to invite them to a ride of yours - this is the place. Forget Facebook and the rest of those cancel-culture platforms that only reach half of the people who might be interested in joining you for a ride. Sign in to CycleNuts GroupMe. It may take some time to populate it with CycleNuts members, but I think it will be a game changer for a lot of you who are tired of riding alone when there isn't a tour happening. The link to CycleNuts ChitChat can always be found on the home page - CycleNuts.link Speaking of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Eventbrite, Meetup, Craigslist   These are NOT the places to keep up to date with what is happening with CycleNuts. These are all after-thoughts to post to and, frankly, a time-wasting nuisance for me. Often... I even forget or do not even want to deal with opening some of these (Facebook. Instagram). For the latest CycleNuts news the best source is What's Happening... CycleNuts' monthly newsletter. It is free. All you need to do is subscribe at CycleNuts JOIN.     FIVE NEW SELFIE CYCLE TOURS   1 11-day Ohio-to-Erie Trail Smart-guided Selfie Tour - OTET'S BEST Experience This is the complete tour plan with all the bells and whistles of an everyday person's tour. More than making it from A to B, much more!   2 Heart of Ohio Smart-Guided Bikeway Tour - CycleNuts LosT Selfie Cycle Tour Do it all. Or do half. End to End a beautiful bikeway smart-guidedcycle tour on the Heart of Ohio Trail to the Center of Ohio Boulder.   3 Cleveland, Ohio - Emerald Necklace Overnight Cycling Tour - western loop Experience Cleveland's Nationally Awarded Emerald Necklace Parkway by bike! Do the tour as a metric century or as an overnight adventure.   4 GravelNuts Century - Smart-guided Selfie Cycle Gravel Tour - Central Ohio Gravel is king! If that is you, this tour is yours - 100 miles - do it in one day - or overnight bike-camp it. 70% gravel - 8,440 ft elev.   5 Huntington, WV - Floodwall Bikeway Loop - Smart-guided Selfie Cycle Tour When is the last time you rode on a floodwall? This Selfie Cycle Tour takes you along the Ohio River atop the Huntington WV Floodwall.   Cyc.leNuts is getting into some gravel.. Introducing    GravelNuts Gravel road Selfie Cycle Tours   And.... stay tuned.... a race may be happening along the way.     That's it for What's Happening this month. A flurry of activity. Some of it may stick. Some of it may fizzle away. Needless to say, your reaction to the activities in the flurry creates a reaction for me to keep on keeping on with what is getting a good response. Bottom line for me is the fun factor. That certainly trumps profit. I live a simple life. It does not take much for me to meet my burden of existence. Because of that, fun is a luxury I can live with. I thank all of you for your financial assistance in helping me to meet my goal of fun living. It does not take much! Your support in buying a tour ticket once in a while, or something from CycleNuts Stuf Store, and now, the option of contributing to my fun life with Buying me a Coffee, either as a sustaining monthly member or even a one-time contribution, is so greatly, greatly appreciated. Thank you all! Adventure awaits, Jef

 

What's Happening In March

What's Happening in March Experiments! CycleNuts now has a group chat area called CycleNuts Chitchat. This area is for CycleNuts cycling chatter, tour talk, peddling pals, friend forming, and all things cycling. It is based on Groupme (thank you, Lorrie Heist, for turning me on to that format in 2021) and is cool because participants can communicate without giving up their private digits. CycleNuts Chitchat can be accessed from the main CycleNuts site www.CycleNuts.link.  CycleNuts now has a tour posting board called CycleNuts Members Tour Posting Board (not very clever, I know). ​This message board is for you if you have purchased a CycleNuts Tour ticket and would like to invite others to join you for the tour... OR if you are planning to buy a CycleNuts Tour ticket and are looking for others to join in with you on the adventure... OR if you are looking for a tour to join.    The direction I hope these two new formats takes CycleNuts is towards members making connections with members, making plans, and making time for each other to make lasting memories. Many of you have other tour groups you ride with, some have even started your own tour groups, and many of you ride alone because you have not been able to make connections with other like-minded touring cyclists. The goal of these two new formats is to help all make cycling connections.  CycleNuts Group Tours CycleNuts Group Tours, as they were, will not be resuming on a regular basis. However, there will be invitation opportunities for a handful of CycleNuts to join me in testing new Selfie Cycle Tour routes, near and far. These test invitation tours will be posted on the Tour Posting Board as they develop. And, there may be a group tour in central Ohio some time this summer. Also... with the new CycleNuts Chitchat and Tour Posting Board, it is hoped all will make connections, gather together, and continue to tour together to destinations near and far! As for the test invitation tours, there are two, maybe three, coming through soon. One is an all bike-packing 3 day camping loop in northeast Ohio; another is a several day 'ladle' shaped in and out mixed stay starting in Cleveland and looping in Amish country. Oh... and then there is the new 11-day OTET's Best Experience that just posted today (this one is already posted on CycleNuts Tour Posting Board). For each of these - and most of the other test invitations - I am looking for 3 participants. New Selfie Tours Posting Soon Two new Selfie Tours will be posting soon: Huntington Flood Wall, West Virginia, and the Heart of Ohio Trail, Ohio. What can you do with the Selfie Tours? You can easily make your own group tour with your favorite peeps. Tour how-to: You pick the date and time, buy the tour ticket, invite your favorite biking peeps, follow the smart-guide on tour day, and have fun! Use the TOUR POSTING BOARD to invite CycleNuts to your adventure   Best Selling Selfie Tours last couple months Cincinnati, OH; Ocean City, MD;  Stavich Trail, OH; Assatague Island Seashore, MD; Paint Creek Trail, OH;  A Christmas Story - Cleveland, OH; LOL Columbus, OH; Christmas Lights Tour, Grove City, OH; Newport, KY Thank you to all for your patronage! Thank you all for your kind support. Your outpouring of genuine sympathy and heartfelt words over my loss of Carolyn touched me deeply. Kitty is sorely missed. A day does not pass without many tears. I'm sure I have not yet thanked each of you individually for your support. I will. In the meanwhile, thank you all.  Adventure awaits! Jef

Hotel Discounts With CycleNuts Tours!

What’s Happening in January…

New for 2023 A nice pair of discounts 15% off hotel + 38% off tour

There are a lot of great reasons to stop by in The Villages, Florida. Add a CycleNuts Selfie Cycle Tour with a nice pair of discounts to your agenda - or make the tour your agenda. Get 15% off your hotel stay and 38% off your cycle tour! Either way, these bikeway routes will get your wheels on the renowned cycling infrastructure of The Villages, Florida. Never see the same thing twice on these Long One-way Loop (LOL) tours. Feeling adventurous? Easily add miles to the route by detouring on any number of bikeway spurs throughout The Villages. This is a great way to explore what The Villages has to offer for those looking to relocate in “Florida’s friendliest retirement hometown, touted by many as America’s best and most popular retirement community” (The Villages Florida, 2023). These LOL tours start where they end - either at your choice of Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton, or a waterfront tasty spot on Lake Sumter (the discount applies only to either of the hotel tours). The Villages put an extensive effort into creating a city-wide trail system for alternative forms of transportation - like bikes and golf carts, which share the trails. Through tunnels, on well-marked bike lanes, on dedicated trails, and through bicycle friendly communities these LOL tours will take you along picturesque golf courses, manicured parks, through entertainment districts, and beautiful retirement neighborhoods. The route is 92% bikeway and comes with CycleNuts' 50% downhill guarantee.

Learn more - Click here

Hottest tours in December

December was an active month for Selfie Tours. The weather wasn’t too frightful so the trails were quite delightful. Besides the best selling list below, Cleveland’s Best, The Villages Bikeway, and Cincinnati’s Ohio River were on the list of tours wanting to do.

Ocean City, Maryland Smart-guided Bicycle Tour - Assateague Island Seashore Orlando, Florida Smart-guided Cycle Tour - Cady Way & Cross Seminole Trail Cleveland, Ohio A Christmas Story House Smart-Guided Selfie Cycle Tour Grove City, Ohio Christmas Lights Selfie Cycle Tour on Community Bikeways Dayton, Ohio Selfie Cycle Tour - Wright Brothers / Air Force Museum / more

Thank you to all who have toured with CycleNuts! If you have a moment please write a review of your adventure. In appreciation, you will receive a nice discount off of your next tour. Share your CycleNuts Selfie Cycle Tour experience (pictures, too!) at: MySelfieCycleTourReview@gmail.com

Cold Weather Riding

Yes - I like it… when I can stand it. Which isn’t always. The biggest problem for me with cold weather riding is that I do not like to be cold. So, it takes a bit of prying to get me out of my comfort zone - that is, being warm. Nevertheless, I have done a lot of it. Where there is snowfall, winter cycling on bikeways is quite spectacular! A winter wonderland sparkling in the sunshine where every normal green thing is now a frozen sculpture. The crunch of snow under tire, the mostly abandoned parks, the quiet, the crisp air, and the bragging rights all add to great reasons to give cold weather touring a spin. My two cents of advice for cold weather attire. I wear what I normally wear in the winter - layers of lighter tees and long sleeves under a winter liner and a wind/water resistant hooded heavy outer layer (with reflective piping, of course). At the minimum, my bike will have a rack to stow peeled away layers (usually I have a pannier... or two). Footwear below 20 degrees Fahrenheit is merino wool socks and regular winter waterproof boots. Above 30 degrees, merino wool socks, jogging shoes, and slipover windproof guards. Pants are the one specialized item that I use. They are cold weather cycling pants that have a thick water-resistant front side and a thin breathable back side - highly recommended. Gloves, below 20 are ski gloves. Above 30 I use lighter cycling gloves or none at all. And my head and face are usually just a knit hat above 30 and colder than that I wear either a heavy hat with full ear flaps or the winter coat hood gets pulled over and a face mask covers my nose, mouth, and throat. In truth, within minutes of riding in the cold, if properly dressed, I am not cold - and usually peeling off layers. It is just those first few minutes, like when getting into the water, that it seems cold, but then it feels great. That is how it is with cold weather riding. If you haven’t tried it, try it. You may find that you really, really like it. And, if not, there are always warm weather destinations to get in a bit of winter riding. Yes - I like that, too… when I can make it. My two cents of advice for warm weather cycling - I wear flipflops, shorts, and tank tops if it is above 80. And a sun hat if it’s sunny. Cooler than that, I wear what I normally wear every day. Most of the time when I am riding, I am touring, as in sightseeing. So, wearing regular clothes is more comfortable for me. As for the type of bike I use for winter riding, I use all of them – road bikes, mountain bikes, tour bike, parade bike, fat tire bike. All have seen winter touring action. Of course, those with wider tires are a bit more stable on the ice and snow, but I would not refuse to take any bike out for a cold weather ride.

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What's Happening In December 2022

Merry Christmas to all of you wonderful CycleNuts! The holiday season is an amazing opportunity to get out for a ride. Everything about riding in cooler (colder) weather - for those of you who live where it gets cold in the winter - is so different than fair weather riding. And, it actually can be quite enjoyable! Dress for the occasion. Plan a shorter distance. Ride slower and be aware of the ground conditions. Have fun! A long time ago - decades - for Christmas I got my first 10-speed. Yes... I am that old. It had drop down bars, dual lever brake handles, cage pedals, and for the life of me I cannot remember what color it was or what brand it was or much about that bike except for two things - maybe three. 1. It was Cleveland and there was snow on the ground and I did not care - I was ready on Christmas Day to take it out for a ride! 2. Well, my parents let me take it up the street and back, through the snow, and that was all. But it felt awesome under me. It glided along smooth and fast and I knew I was going to put a lot of miles on that bike (strange.. I cannot remember what color or brand it was). 3. It mysteriously got a flat tire by evening and my parents had put it out in the garage until my dad could get around to patching it.  There was not anything wrong with that tire that an air pump could not fix early that next morning. One of them - my mom or dad .. or both of them.. took to sabotaging that bike so that I would not take it out riding in the snow. I guess they thought I was going to crash and break something or freeze something from the cold. They were wrong. When I returned later in the afternoon from my first ride in the snow on my ten-speed neither of them had much to say about the mysterious flat or my early morning adventure. I suppose they realized at that point that I was simply a CycleNut and was going to do what any CycleNut would do with a new bike and a new day to explore - adventure awaits! Have fun. Be safe. Enjoy your winter cycling adventures! I have not been everywhere, but I have been around. When it comes to community bikeways I take notice. Things like, do they connect people to places that people need or want to go? Like, from home to work, or to a shopping area or a park. Or maybe just to a tasty spot to grab a bite and then over to the movie theater.   And there is something else to take notice about community bikeways - are they complete or do they just dead end in somebody's front yard? Or do they consist of painted lines on busy streets with imaginary barriers to protect cyclists from tons of motor vehicles? Are they reasonably lit at night? Are they even 'open' at night or are there signs saying 'this bikeway closes at dusk'? Does the bikeway go through sketchy criminal-like areas? Are the bikeways in good repair? From where I have been on community bikeways, in seven states at this point, it is my honor to award the very city that providence brought me to almost a decade ago - Grove City, Ohio - with CycleNuts' first annual Best American Bikeway Community Award. If you have not experienced Grove City's community bikeways then you have not experienced the best. But now you can - and you can also experience a free CycleNuts Selfie Tour, too, if you have not yet had the opportunity as a Christmas Present from CycleNuts to you - Christmas Lights Cycle Tour on Community Bikeways - Grove City, Ohio Merry Christmas!  Your Christmas present promo code is Merry_Christmas_2022  This code will be good through January 15th to get your free Selfie Tour ticket. Simply enter the code during the checkout process. Any problems with it... please get in touch. Jef@CycleNuts.link Christmas Lights Cycle Tour on Community Bikeways  Grove City, Ohio Get your lights on - both to see where you are going and to decorate you and your bike (optional) - and hit the Grove City community bikeways for some of the best Christmas lights and decorations anywhere around! If you have not experienced the community bikeways of Grove City then you are in for a real treat. This is a city that knows how to lay out bikeways that work for the community. Its award-winning trails connect communities, parks, workplaces, markets, entertainment districts, shopping centers, and more! This cycling adventure will take you through several neighborhood communities in Grove City connected via a well maintained bikeway network. The majority of the route is well lit but there are a few segments where you will need good working headlights (if riding at night). There is a midway stop scheduled at a CycleNuts tasted and approved tasty spot where you can grab a bite, a beverage, or just a rest moment before continuing on with the tour. The smart-guided 13 mile route is 56% bikeway and comes with CycleNuts' 50% downhill guarantee. The segments that are not bikeway are predominantly low traffic neighborhood side streets. If you are more comfortable using sidewalks in these areas, then you will find Grove City to be a city that has it all in place - sidewalks on every street. The route follows the topography of Grove City, which is mostly level. There are a couple of segments where you might use a bit of bike gear, but nothing to work up a sweat over. Speaking of sweating - it's optional. You set your own pace, starting time, and touring agenda with CycleNuts' expert smart-guided cycle tour pattern. Points of interest on the route: Neighborhood Christmas lights and decorations. Easily, with the smart-guide you can wander away from the planned route to get a better look at decorations you find along the way. The smart-guide will get you back on the route when you are ready. HERE'S THE PLAN: You bring the bike and smart phone. CycleNuts provides the smart-tour guide! Learn more - get your free ticket - use your promo code Merry_Christmas_2022 - Click Here Here is what happened with Selfie Tours in November The most popular areas for Selfie Tours in November were both in Ohio - Cincinnati and Cleveland. With the onset of wintery weather soon approaching I am guessing that most of the tour action will shift to Florida. But, then again... there is just something special about rolling through snow covered trails. I love it!

What's Happening In November 2022

New tour for 2022... A Christmas Story House Smart-Guided Selfie Cycle Tour  Cleveland, Ohio

Tour the iconic "A Christmas Story" movie house and neighborhood, Cleveland's festive Public Square, and more on this short 7 mile bike tour. "A Christmas Story" house and museum are open year round, but even more festive during the Christmas season with Cleveland all decorated up for the occasion! This tour starts at a free parking area at Irishtown Bend, takes you on a short tour of Cleveland's East Flats entertainment business district along the Cuyahoga River, past the Moses Cleaveland marker (founder of Cleveland - yes... somehow the 'a' got lost when the city was named after him?), up under the historical Main Ave Bridge, the "longest historic bridge in Ohio" on old Main street into and through downtown's west side warehouse entertainment residential district to Cleveland Public Square (the heart of Cleveland), which is festively decorated every year for Christmas. From there, the tour takes you across the historical Hope Memorial Bridge into the Tremont neighborhood and to A Christmas Story House, which is the turnaround spot. Along the way there is a photo opportunity at the Tremont Cleveland Script sign. Learn more - Click here Tied Top Selfie Cycle Tours for October... NORTH COAST LAKESHORE  DAY TOUR -  CLEVELAND, OHIO TOUR DE SEASHORE - OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND TO BETHANY BEACH, DELAWARE Fall is Festive and Fun for Cycling! If you are a seasoned touring rider then I certainly do not need to tell you that. So, this little bit of encouragement following is for those of you who have not taken to the idea of dressing warmer and riding a bike with luggage capacity, wider tires, and a more appropriate riding position. One for casual cycling while pragmatically dressed for often changing weather conditions.  Many of us CycleNuts have more than one bike. Maybe you have a hot rod (that weighs less than a serious sack of potatoes), a mountain bike (to get down and dirty on some local single tracks), a BMX (great for giving the ramp parks a workout), or some sort of parade bike (well... who doesn't?). But do you have a dedicated touring bike? One that is durable for heavier loads (wider tires - stronger frame); comfortable to ride for 30 plus miles; that can carry lots of important things like extra clothing, repair stuff, food and water, souvenirs, and maybe even pets? A bike that goes over stuff stress-free like curbs, ruts, branches, black walnuts, and various sorts of junk encountered along the way. A tank! If you do not have a 'tank' yet, please give it a thought, especially for serious cycle touring. They are a game changer! And, can be quite affordable as most are the 'less desirable' steel framed, wider tired, old-school geared bikes that can be found at your local big-box store or pawn shop for a song and a dance. With a 'tank' you get durability and practicality that will take you places you may never dream of going on your hot rod, or MTB or BMX or parade bike. And... if it is ugly enough... chances are it is the last one stolen from a rack of bikes you locked to while grabbing a cheeseburger and brew at some tasty spot you popped into along the way. As for dressing warmer for the cooler weather, there is a world of Google results that will keep you reading for as long as you keep on wanting to read. Here is my 2-cents of advice: Get a pair of riding pants that are made for cycling. The front will be protected with a thicker layer of wind proof material and the back will be thinner and vented... these work great when the temps drop below 50 degrees and  even into sub-freezing temps! Above 50 degrees... are we really even considering wearing anything but a nice pair of comfortable, loose fitting MTB shorts?  Topside = layers. Yes, bring along that wind-proof, water-proof heavier hooded coat if there is any chance of it raining on an ice cold day. Otherwise, any wind-proof, water-proof loose fitting jacket will do... the kind that will easily fold up into a pouch when stored, but will as easily fit over anything else you are layering to stay warm.  Feet are essential to keep warm and as dry as possible (sweat happens). I like regular ol' hiking snow boots if it is like really going to be nasty, cold, snowy or wet. Black, of course... gotta stay stylish with my black pants and jacket or coat - yes - they all have reflective strips for night riding. But if the weather is not so nasty, then a regular pair of slip on wind resistant shoes (not quite like slippers, but kinda?) are my go to shoes. Or, sometimes, just a comfortable pair of running/walking shoes does the job (they used to be called tennis shoes... but I guess they aren't called that anymore?). Oh... socks.. that is a big deal discussion for many serious cycle tourists. I do have a wool pair of riding footies that work well for everything but minus 20 deep winter riding. In that situation, I go with a pair of full length wool socks. Hands are an individual thing it seems. There are all kinds of contraptions to keep hands warm - even battery powered electric gloves. For me... usually the gloves come off after a short while of riding, unless it is below 20 degrees. Then, I have a pair of light ski gloves that I might tolerate for a bit, or, if too warm I have some wind resistant cycling gloves I can switch to (if I remembered to pack them).  And lastly, the head. I usually just wear a knit hat, unless it is really cold, like below 20. Then, I have a thick hat with ear flaps that snap under my chin, and a neck contraption that snaps around my neck and face. These things hardly ever get any use... but I do bring them along. They are packed into one of my panniers and that's where I leave them because otherwise I would forget where I put them if I were to put them anywhere else... or... I would forget to bring them.  I can recommend any of the things I have personally used... and continue to use. Listing them here would be rather lengthy, and perhaps a bit of a yawn for you, the reader. However, if you are interested in details like brand or where to buy them, just get in touch with me and I will get back to you. jef@cyclenuts.link   Got questions? Get answers!  CycleNuts FAQs page Adventure awaits!

What's Happening - October 2022 Autumn is a great time for cycle touring! It is cooler, colorful, and chock full of creative festivities to tie into your adventure.  Just about any of the CycleNuts Selfie Tours in Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, or West Virginia is an excellent choice for an Autumn tour if you are wanting to experience the dazzling change of season display of colors. Nature even dazzles the Autumn scenery in Maryland and Delaware. As for Florida - regarding the horrendous hurricane damage it has recently experienced - it may be some time before it becomes a suitable tour destination.  This time of the year is full of festivals and events! Perhaps you would like to bike to an Octoberfest, or a fall festival, or a Halloween event? Many of the tour routes can be travelled along into the evening, but be informed that many of the trails or the parking lots for the trails are 'closed' after dusk or at specific times - check with the local community trail guidelines for more information.  To customize a tour to include a festival or event or a particular neighborhood that you are interested in simply insert the location of the desired destination into the Google directions list. The app will smartly guide you along a bicycle friendly route to detour to the event - and when you are ready - back to the original tour route.

New Tour Posted

Richland B&O Trail À La Cart Tour  In one of Ohio's most scenic areas this level grade picturesque tour includes optional campground, a mansion with gardens, and a carrousel. Pick your points - 5 miles or 40 miles or anywhere in-between.   Crossing over 18 bridges this very picturesque trail passes through wooded areas, open fields and farmland, and alongside small towns. Your bike's gears will not see much use on this level rail-to-trail bikeway. It is about fifty percent shaded, well maintained, and conveniently dotted with rest rooms along the way. The Richland B&O Trail in north central state takes you through some of Ohio's most scenic areas - and even more so spectacular during Spring and Autumn change of season colors. This is also a great trail for bike camping, camping with a bike, or going the bed and breakfast/Airbnb option . It also offers opportunities for winter fat tire snow riding - and even cross-country skiing during the snow covered months. POINTS OF INTEREST: Richland B&O Trail, Kingwood Hall Mansion and Kingwood Center Gardens, Richland Carrousel Park, the city of Mansfield and the villages of Bellville, Butler, and Lexington, Clear Fork Mohican River, River Trail Crossing campground, and Coney Island Diner (a CycleNuts tasted and approved tasty stop).

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September 21, 2022 11 tips for cycling in the fall 11 tips that will keep you out on your bike through wind or rain. Written by: Geffen Semach The fall season is a time of change. Some of it great – the leaves changing color, a new season for new endeavors, and a welcome relief from the heat. But that change also brings with it some new challenges... Click for full article   In Geffen's article rain is mentioned as an additional Autumn concern. Possibly in his location that is the case, but in most of the areas where CycleNuts Tours are currently available Autumn is typically a bit drier then the other 3 seasons - a plus. However, it is also the time of the year that Black Walnut trees drop their goodies - those large round green balls that litter many trails. It is best to slow down and avoid     these tricky nuts. They may look soft and mushy, but at the core they are as hard as a slippery rock and could cause you to lose control!  Wet leaves - or just leaves in general - are another obstacle to pay attention to and avoid, if possible. Especially, large clumps of them. Perhaps the best practice is just to slow down a bit while touring in Autumn... maybe that is why Autumn is also known as Fall? Something to keep in mind while enjoying the spectacular displays of changing colors.

September Selfie Tour Summary Summer Selfie Tour activity concluded in September with Cleveland, Ohio and Ocean City, Maryland tours leading the list of most popular picks. Thank you to all who toured these and other areas! Remember to take advantage of the discounts available on future tour purchases with your CycleNuts Selfie Tour review.

Bicycle Touring - a game changer that can enrich your life! As a kid, my first bike was my first taste of freedom - of independence - of adventure - of a whole new realm where wheels would take me places where imagination of where I could go mixed with the reality of a stern lecturing at home if I were late for dinner. I was fortunate to be in an area with a great mix of places to explore by bike - Cleveland, Ohio. Every street has a bordering sidewalk ideal for young adventurers heading to one of the numerous city parks or to one of the many wooded 'wild' areas - unclaimed, undeveloped, and riddled with critter trails throughout just beckoning to be explored. And, explore I did, on many a different bike. My favorite, a 20" 3 speed banana seat high rise handle bar Columbia - it even had a 3-on-the-tree shifter on the top tube!  I have never been a competitive cyclist - a racer, that is. Although I have enjoyed an occasional 'race' against a friend, or even, a complete stranger along the way, most of my riding has been recreational. However, there were several seasons in life that found me using a bike to get to work. By necessity, or just economically, biking to work in all four seasons was just what became the norm. Being in Cleveland at the time winter riding was especially interesting, often arriving at work in the morning after a 7 mile ride with my foo man choo mustache now ice chops dripping as it thawed once out of the cold.  Decades later, utility riding is not so much a necessity but an enjoyable activity, especially with Kitty along as we head to the grocery story or local tasty spot for a treat. Recreational riding is now a mix of load up the bikes and head for a local trail for a short day tour or to a far away destination with trails waiting to be explored - destination tours, my favorite!  Bicycle touring has enriched my life beyond measure, as I am confident is your story, as well. My wish, my hope, my desire is that in some way CycleNuts has helped to enrich your cycling experience and created many, many lasting memories as it has for me. I am sharing the following article and link to a cycle touring guide created by a couple who, too, believe in the enrichment that cycle touring can bring.    Wondering if cycle touring is right for you? We’ve cycled more than 15,000 miles in 22 countries. In this guide, we share the joys and challenges of bike travel so you can decide if it’s right for you. Cycle Touring Basics – A Beginners Guide to Bike Touring

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What's Happening September 2022

Earn Selfie Tour Discounts Get a 38% tour discount for your review and pics Creating lasting memories naturally happens on cycling adventures. Share yours of your Selfie Tour with the CycleNuts community and be rewarded with a 38% discount code good for a future Selfie Tour of your choice. Write a review of 29 words or more and include at least 1 picture. Reviews can be posted directly to CycleNuts Community Blog as a comment post, or emailed to MySelfieCycleTourReview@gmail.com  The discount code will be sent to your email address on file with CycleNuts. Adventure awaits!   CycleNuts' Sixth Anniversary Month-long Celebration exceeded expectations - thank you to all for participating! The hottest selling tours were in Cleveland, The Villages, Cincinnati, and Columbus. Lots of great memories made and adventures had! Starting this month, CycleNuts will reward sharing your Selfie Tour memories through pictures and reviews with a 38% discount on your next Selfie Tour purchase. Your contributions will be shared with the CycleNuts Community at the Archives found in CycleNuts' website - www.CycleNuts.link. This is the spot where six years of past tour pictures and reviews can be found. Steadily, all of the tour pics and posts previously found on the CycleNuts' Facebook location are being populated in the more enduring CycleNuts Community Blog location. Fear not - past pics and posts on Facebook are not lost, just being relocated to a longer lasting spot. It is anticipated that the memories created and shared through CycleNuts will be a lasting legacy for generations to come. Upcoming Group Tours are still on hold. For any of you who are in the insurance industry, let me apologize in advance for expressing my aggravation at the insurance industry for the bulk of the blame in CycleNuts' being unable to responsibly organize group tours. Apparently there is still a disconnect between what particular types of e-bikes cyclists are favoring and what types the insurance industry is willing to reasonably insure. This disconnect leaves cycling organizations with the options of lying to their members (and holding their breath that an injury or death claim is not placed), or banning members from bringing the 'wrong type' of e-bike on tour (that is an awkward position to place a tour guide in!), or jacking up the tour participation costs sky-high (yes... I did find one underwriter who is charging 4 times the regular rate - and - mandating all attendees to wear helmets... hah... those who know me know just about how far that application got!) In response to this ridiculous insurance riddle the idea of CycleNuts Selfie Tours was born. And it has been a smashing success! I love creating bikeway cycling tours. Not being able to responsibly share the creations in person, sharing the adventures with Smart Guides is the next best thing for me! I hope all of you who have experienced a CycleNuts Selfie Tour have had nothing but the best of an adventure. And, I am really looking forward to your feedback with reviews and pics. Adventure awaits! Jef CycleNuts Stuf Store   You wear what you are! Be a CycleNut... Get the stuf here! Triple LoST Tour Tanks & Tees Only you know how far you rode on this epic bike tour! Impress your peeps - let them know what an animal you are taking on untold numbers of miles! Or, just get this T-shirt because it's cool... just like you. Womans Tanks and Tees Mens Tanks and Tees Get off the roads and on the trails with CycleNuts! image credit Jasoprakas Debdas The average motorcycle weighs 600 pounds. The average car weighs 4,000 pounds. The average pickup truck weighs 6,000 pounds. The average elephant weighs 14,000 pounds. The average bus weighs 35,000 pounds. The average semi truck weighs 80,000 pounds. The average cyclists weighs 150 pounds! Any person or organization who encourages cyclists to wear a helmet... and does not discourage them from riding on roads... well... seriously - just what is their agenda (or is it just ignorance)? It certainly is not about the well-being of cyclists. Helmets offer no protection against massive elephants - or vehicles.   Get off the roads and on the trails with CycleNuts!  CycleNuts Selfie Cycle Tours 28 tours available in 7 states... and growing   CycleNuts Selfie Tours tie together fun, interesting, scenic, historic, tasty, and refreshing points of interest along a bikeway focused tour route where you ride at your pace and your pleasure. You are the tour boss. With these smart-guided bikeway cycling adventures you bring the bike and smart phone, and ​CycleNuts provides the Smart Guide. The Smart Guide gives you voice and visual turn-by-turn instructions along an expertly designed and tested tour route.  Do the tour solo or bring along your crew. Easily stop anywhere along the way to visit attractions or refreshments and the Smart Guide will continue the route from wherever you are when you are ready to roll.  announcing a new Selfie Tour...  North Coast Inland Trail, Ohio  Lorain & Huron Counties Go long - go short - or go in-between. 3 options on this LoST Tour with 1 tasty turnaround spot on a history making northeast Ohio bikeway.   This is a CycleNuts Triple LoST which is an acronym for Long or ShorT Tour - a CycleNuts Tour Group favorite. Because it has three lengths, we call it a Triple LoST. Go all the way or part of the way. Rider's choice! 37, 22, or 12 miles on this beautiful countryside rail-to-trail bikeway. 3 starting spots - 3 tour lengths - 1 CycleNuts tested and approved tasty turnaround spot! Your choice - ride 12 miles, or 22 miles, or 37 miles.    Learn more - Click here   The CycleNuts website is at www.CycleNuts.link where you can find ARCHIVES, FAQS, SELFIE TOURS, and STUF STORE

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NEWSLETTERS 

CYCLENUTS OCCASIONAL

WHAT'S HAPPENING - AUGUST 2022 Save big all August long... CycleNuts 6th Anniversary Appreciation Celebration Over 20 tours in 7 states to choose from! Thank you for being a part of CycleNuts 6 years and rolling strong Adventure awaits! 47% off - All month long - All CycleNuts Selfie Tours CycleNuts Selfie Tours tie together fun, interesting, scenic, historic, tasty, and refreshing points of interest along a bikeway focused tour route where you ride at your pace and your pleasure. You are the tour boss. With these smart-guided bikeway cycling adventures you bring the bike and smart phone, and ​CycleNuts provides the smart-tour guide. The smart guide gives you voice and visual turn-by-turn instructions along an expertly designed and tested tour route. Do the tour solo or bring along your crew. Easily stop anywhere along the way to visit attractions or refreshments and the Smart Guide will continue the route from wherever you are when you are ready to roll.  21 tours in 7 states to choose from Do it once or several times over Ride solo or bring your crew No purchase limits - buy one or buy them all with this discount code: CycleNuts6th (enter or copy-and-paste the above promo code in your Eventbrite purchase - code valid August 1st to 31st, 2022 - valid for Selfie Tours only) Find Out More ........................ WHAT'S HAPPENING - JUNE 2022 New for 2022... CycleNuts Selfie Cycle Tours SELF-GUIDED CYCLING TOURS Tickets now available - get yours today! ​ You bring the bike and you. ​CycleNuts brings the tour pattern to you! HERE'S THE PLAN CycleNuts provides an expertly designed and tested tour route pattern to you via email. You simply click on the emailed link and follow the expertly designed Selfie Tour route using your smart phone. Do the tour solo or bring along your crew.  Self-guided route focuses on bikeways and comes with CycleNuts' 50% downhill guarantee. ​Sweating is optional. You set your own pace, starting time, and touring agenda with CycleNuts' expert self-guided cycle tour pattern.   Learn more - see the list of available tours - get your Selfie Cycle Tour Ticket at  www.CycleNuts.link/SelfieTours ........................ WHAT'S HAPPENING - SEPTEMBER 2021 Criminal activity on bikeways ...Friends don't let friends ride alone.   August 26th, 2021 - Man robbed on Columbus bike trail, police look for two suspects https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/columbus/man-robbed-on-bike-trail-police-look-for-to-suspects/ It certainly is not news that riding solo on bike trails comes with an elevated risk of assault, robbery, and potentially worse criminal activities. Is it possible that criminal trail activity is increasing? Perhaps, depending on what source you choose for your news. One cannot help but notice in the above NBC news report an omission of any helpful information that may either lead to the arrest or avoidance/awareness of the trail thug identities. No description, whatsoever, except for it being two males on the Alum Creek Trail.  July 18th, 2021 - Man with mallet waiting for a victim beats and rapes a woman on bike trail in Centerville https://www.whio.com/news/police-suspect-centerville-bike-path-attack-was-there-looking-someone-attack/237170da-2f68-44bc-8916-ef1d40e1338f/  Not just in inner cities, but out in remote areas criminal activity on bike trails is more common than reported. I can say this because of the numerous reports told to me by many of you! And, like the many of you, very few victims make official police reports.  Off the top of my head within the past year I have heard of numerous criminal and scary encounters on bikeways - both within city limits and out in the rural areas! Camp Chase Trail, Prairie Grass Trail, Roberts Pass Trail, Lower Scioto Greenway Trail, TJ Evans Trail, TJ Evans Panhandle Trail, and the Alum Creek Trail are all bikeways that I have heard firsthand stories of criminal encounters from the many of you. It is true - criminals live off of bike trails - some even in makeshift campsites/camps - in both urban and rural areas.  July 20th, 2021 - Victim cycling along a nature trail in a park when he loses control and falls down an embankment into water, where he was grabbed by an alligator that was about 9ft long  https://news.sky.com/story/florida-cyclist-seriously-injured-in-alligator-attack-after-falling-down-embankment-12359685 And it is not just two legged predators on bike trails that cyclists need to be wary of! Stuf happens! when you least expect it! And if you are solo and end up in the jaws of a nine foot gator... well...  April 16th, 2021 - Driver sentenced to jail, probation for striking cyclist on Foothills bike path https://www.dailycamera.com/2021/04/16/driver-sentenced-to-jail-probation-for-striking-cyclist-on-foothills-bike-path/ As well, riding solo may leave you without a partner to call 911 when a random motorist finds a way onto the bikeway you're 'safely' riding along and runs you over! His "vehicle had to go to get across the median, across the northbound lanes of Foothill Parkway and then through the grass to the bike path."  A Google search will confirm what many of you already know - criminal activity on bikeways goes mostly unreported. If you did not already know the risk you are taking when you ride solo - day or night - on any bikeway - urban or rural - regardless of whether you are equipped with a fast bike, a cheap bike nobody wants to steal, a degree in martial arts, a whistle, a horn, mace, pepper spray, club, knife, pistol, rifle, shotgun, explosive device or any combination of these protective devices...well....hopefully, now you know. Solo riding on bike trails - rural or urban - is very risky! Friends, don't let your friends ride alone. UPCOMING TOUR LIST The eBike Controversy Impacts Cycling Clubs Nationwide   Politics just has to get its fingers into everything! This past week, a notice was sent to cycling clubs nationwide who are members of League of American Bicyclists and insured through their affiliation with American Specialties Insurance. Most notable in the notice - "Based on the language from the insurance policy, losses arising from the use of a Class 2 electric bicycle would not be covered under the League’s club insurance program." Since the majority of eBikes now in use are Class 2 - both in CycleNuts and across the worldwide eBike industry - both American Specialties Insurance and the League of American Bicyclists have made their services obsolete and useless to the needs of CycleNuts.  Thus, the search is on to find both a bicycle advocacy group and an insurance company that align with the CycleNuts all inclusive cycling policy - WTV it is... Ride it! To E or not to E - that is the cyclists' choice! The good news, thus far, is so far the search for a more appropriate insurance provider has proven great! Less expensive and more coverage! As for affiliating with a different bicycle advocacy group - well... being a bare-headed biker myself and having to deal with the helmet-headed political mentality of LAB has been a long and exhausting exercise in  tolerance. I am looking forward to affiliating with an advocacy group that is politically aligned with CycleNuts. CycleNuts 2021 Apparel is still available Get your CycleNuts Stuf here! ARE MASK MANDATES RETURNING? Ugh! Like many of you, I took the shot so I would not need to fuss with wearing a mask.  But now.... there seems to be a lot of leadership confusion (hmmm... is that something like being leaderless... or like maybe a peaceful anarchy in the making?) as to whether or not the shots work; whether or not we are our brothers keeper; whether or not the First Amendment actually means anything anymore; whether or not science is for sale to the highest bidder; or whether or not aliens are actually among us and eager to serve man!  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_Serve_Man_(The_Twilight_Zone)  Regardless of the politics/science/personal viewpoints held by any and all, if at all possible, could all on tour please bring a mask along just in case a vender or venue requires/prefers? Myself... I don't mind stating that I do not like or agree with the whole mask thingy - but I do very much like and agree to wear one if the one I am with or where I am at would like me to wear one. Now helmets... that's a whole 'nother story... :D  Did you know that CycleNuts has a website?   It is a great place to see the latest tours on calendar, learn what or what not to expect on tour, find cool CycleNuts merchandise, and get your questions answered on our dynamic FAQs page!   www.CycleNuts.link WHAT'S HAPPENING?      MARCH 2021                                     In the Ohio area March can be a tease when it comes to fair weather for riding. At this moment, there are not any tours scheduled for this month. But keep watch - last minute tours may pop up on the calendar. CycleNuts Monthly Many of you ride through Winter – maybe even look forward to it! This is the first winter season in a long time that I have not yet found myself out enjoying that crispy frozen theater. There is still time! March can, at the least, be good for a snowy day or two in the Columbus area. How lucky all of you are in the northern more areas! That is, if you enjoy winter riding.

It may yet happen – a Winter tour may post. If you are interested in such an adventure, then please chime in your interest or suggestions such as city and/or trail. Watch for a tour announcement by email. If it happens it will be a freebie tour. Lots of ifs in this post. Maybe something will come of if. What about the Covid-19? The Covid-19 pandemic is changing the way cyclists tour. It is an ongoing intrusion in our lives regardless of how each of us regard this pesky virus and the everchanging litigation it presents. Masks may continue to be a part of our lives through to 2022, or beyond. The vaccinations may or may not make our lives resemble what they were prior to 2020. With all that in mind it is CycleNuts' wish that all be kind to one another and respectfully err on the side of caution while touring together. More on this and the manner in which we wish all will heed while on tour is mentioned on our FAQs page.  What about the Covid-20? What? Wait! Now there is another Covid to fret about? Yes - in a manner of speaking - there is. I have been stricken by it. The Covid-20, as in twenty extra pounds, has hit me hard! I have picked up this extra weight over the past year due to a severe decrease in cycling activity. Has it hit you, too? I am aghast at the size of my waist! And quite concerned, too, that this extra weight is going to drastically affect my cycling range and performance.  To help ease (or realize) these concerns I am aiming to get a couple of short freebie shakedown tours on the calendar prior to the longer tours that come about with the warmer weather. These shakedown tours may help some of you, too, who are suffering the Covid-20 effect. Keep watch for emails if/when these shakedowns get posted. What about E-bikes? Yes - glad to touch on this topic. CycleNuts tours are about touring on whatever cycling conveyance is preferred - unicycle, bicycle, tricycle, bent, E-bike, quad. Our motto - WTV it is, ride it! All are welcome to join along. On the matter of E-bikes it had not occurred to me that some of these are limited to shorter tours - less than thirty miles. Or, are they? Someday this fat E-bike I have been eyeballing online will become one of my cycling options (one can never have too many bikes...right?). It has a stated range of seventy five miles. But I am skeptical. Most of the reviews I have read on E-bikes state thirty miles or less on a full charge. I would like to get some feedback from you E-bikers out there - what kind of range does your bike have? This information will be helpful in planning out future CycleNuts tours that are E-bike friendly.  Did you get your Free Ride 2021 ticket? Most of us probably can share this similar story through 2020 - not as much riding as in previous years and kind of bummed out about that. So, to try to cheer us all up just a wee bit, and get us touring together as a group again, all who have been a CycleNut rolling into 2021 are getting a free ticket promo code. To get your code you must reply to this email asking for your Free Ride Promo Code. When your email is received a promo code will be emailed back that can be used for any ticket through the next fiscal year (which ends May 1st, 2022). QUESTIONS? - ANSWERS! Q. I’m new. Just what are CycleNuts tours all about? Are these like guided bicycle tours or just neighborhood rides or something else? How many people ride? A. Great questions!  The plan: Riders of all ability join together to ride together. The tours primarily explore bikeways – near and far. Tours may be for a couple of hours or for a couple of days (longer tours are in the planning). The pace is relaxed. Several stops may take place for sightseeing, eating, and other such touristy stuff. The tours are self-supported – no sag; relaxed itinerary; a group effort to create a lasting enjoyable memory with some new friends. No more than 50 can register for a tour. More common is for a handful – less than a dozen – to attend a particular tour. More details can be found at the FAQs page at www.CycleNuts.link THE CYCLENUTS LEADERSHIP TEAM Not enough good can be said for this group of volunteer CycleNuts who put great effort into organizing and leading tours for our benefit. It is a lot of hard work! Each one brings their unique ideas of cycle touring to blend within CycleNuts' tour framework for our enjoyment experience. Thank you EO Team!  Brenda – Event Organizer David – Event Organizer Ed – Event Organizer Penny – Event Organizer Sally – Event Organizer   Get in touch with the team Upcoming Tours If… You like free tour tickets then – 1. Keep an eye out for free ticket tour email announcements 2. Register your birthday with your subscription (see FAQs on how to do that) 3. Watch for upcoming contests.   You have some ideas for trails that you would like to explore with CycleNuts then  get in touch by email with your plan (you may win a prize if your idea becomes a tour). You can contribute pictures/videos of a CycleNuts tour you attended please do so here. Creating lasting memories for CycleNuts is one of our favorite things to do! You want to become involved in planning/leading/organizing CycleNuts tours then please get in touch with a short message including your local area and leadership experience. DID YOU KNOW YOU CAN LOOK LIKE A CYCLENUT, TOO? That’s right! CycleNuts has some clothing, kits, and stuff that will help you look like the CycleNut that you are! Learn more here!   INFORMATIVE AND ENTERTAINING  The bicycle touring community is rich with informative and entertaining sources. A couple of my favorites are The Bicycle Touring Pro on YouTube and The Pedalshift Project bicycle touring podcast. If you are into binge watching or listening to bicycle touring related topics then you may enjoy these two. ...................... WHAT'S HAPPENING - AUGUST 2021 What's Happening in August calendar of events Cycle touring is an expression of the soul. CycleNuts is here to create and give opportunity for those who seek to share alternative cycling adventures on bikeways near and far. Check out some of the up-and-coming tours, and as well, check in with your bikeway touring ideas - near or far - in the link provided below. August Tours Helpful reminder: For those going to Tour de Seashore in Maryland in September - or seriously thinking about it - please get in touch with any questions you may have about overnight accommodations, getting to and from, or any other tour questions.  SET There are three Special Event Tours this month (well... last day of July, too): 7/31 SET to The Bicycle Museum of America in Auglaize County, Ohio; 8/1 SET to The Buckeye Lake Museum in Buckeye Lake, Ohio; 8/21 CycleNuts 5th Anniversary Tour - SET on Bike Aboard the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railway in Akron, Ohio.   LoST There is a Long or Short Tour this month - and it is a triple LoST Metric!: 8/14 Triple LoST Metric Century on the TTT/Paint Creek Trail in Chillicothe, Ohio. R&R Three Ride & Refreshment tours are posted for August:  8/7 R&R on the Simon Kenton Trail in Urbana, Ohio; 8/15 R&R on the Fairfield Heritage Trail in Lancaster, Ohio; 8/22 R&R on the Freedom Trail in Akron, Ohio.   DR This month has a tasty Donut Ride tour: 8/24 DR bike tour on the Heritage Trail in Hilliard, Ohio   ET In August, three Evening Tours are happening: 8/8 ET on the Westerville Bikeway in Westerville, Ohio; 8/12 ET on the Hockhocking Bikeway in The Plains, Ohio (with a free outdoor concert midway); 8/26 ET on the TJ Evans Trail in Johnstown, Ohio. and more... CycleNuts tours are also posted in September for Ocean City, Maryland / Fenwick Island, Delaware; London, Lima, Lorain, Cleveland, Elyria, Nelsonville, and Columbus in Ohio; and Buffalo/Niagara Falls in 2022. Watch for more local and destination tours posting soon. We are what we wear! The 2021 CycleNuts Jersey and many more clothing items are available at CycleNuts Stuf Store CycleNuts made the press! Where do you want to go with CycleNuts? Check in here with your bikeway touring ideas - near or far - and we will put some thought to putting that tour together for CycleNuts to enjoy.    Remember - please keep it tied to a bikeway. What is it about cycle touring that is so compelling? This may not be your question... you know... that life wisdom question that orbits about in ones mind who is enraptured with thoughts of packing up a little bit of stuff for a whole lot of cycling adventure. Then again, since you are reading this in the monthly newsletter of CycleNuts, maybe it is.  This may be your question. And your answer may be so different than anybody else. It probably will be - because you're you! I have taken to reading and viewing the thoughts of others about how cycling has completely changed their lives. For a minute, I thought maybe that I could share with you how cycling has changed mine. But, I can't. The change is still happening. I wonder if that is how it is with most cycle tourist? Is that how it is with you?  We are all so different, yet how amazing it is that for a short couple of hours we are all linked by one common contraption and goal - to tour together on our cycles. It would be fair to venture it possible for complete strangers anywhere in the world to cycle tour together with a sense of real comradery.  These thoughts of Johnny Lam, a fellow cyclist, mirror much of what I would say if trying to pinpoint just what it is about cycle touring that is so compelling. He wrote, There are just too many benefits to ignore when it comes to bike touring. Too many things I want to see and explore on the bicycle. I can’t think of any other way better than a bicycle. Not a car and not by foot. So I warn you if you are thinking about embarking on this journey. You may get sucked in like I did and never come back. It may change your life as much as it has changed mine. Perhaps that’s a good thing! (source: How Bike Touring Changed My Life) I especially liked his 'warning'.  I am looking forward to touring with each of you over the coming years. The memories we share of years past are treasures. Please feel free to respond to this post with your thoughts on the compelling nature of cycle touring. See you on tour! Jef Crew - AO Got questions? Get answers! CycleNuts FAQS CycleNuts on YouTube CycleNuts on Facebook v .................... WHAT'S HAPPENING ...MORE - JULY 2021 Our Event Organizers have been busy creating fun and interesting summertime tours for us! Scroll down to have a look at the latest creations - or just go to our Eventbrite tour list to see all of the tours posted on CycleNuts calendar and easily sign on.   See the Complete List of Tours Cycle Tour to Outdoor Free Rock Concert - ET on Hockhocking Bikeway - The Plains Thu, Jul 15, 2021 6:30 PM  Event Organizer - Jon Salzwedel Evening Tour on the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway to Stuart's Opera House Free Summer Concert at Robbins Crossing featuring Dawna. The tour route is a rail-to-trail level 11 miles each way.  Donut Ride (DR) Bike Tour in Westerville, OH - a tasty bikeway adventure! Tue, Jul 27, 2021 9:00 AM   Event Organizer - Ed Hara Join in on this Donut Ride (DR) Tour - it's almost like... medicinal! An early midweek bike ride along Westerville bikeways and neighborhood streets to a tasty midway donut stop. Fun, healthy, and delicious! The tour route is 25 miles roundtrip along the Ohio to Erie, Sandel Legacy, Galena Brick, Hoover Scenic, Genoa, Westerville, Big Walnut, and Towers Trails. R&R Cycling Tour on the Simon Kenton Trail - Urbana, OH Sat, Aug 7, 2021 1:00 PM Event Organizer - Jon Salzwedel Ride and Refresh! on the Simon Kenton Trail from Urbana to Bellefontaine, Ohio with a tasty midway spot. The tour route is 36 miles roundtrip and is  rail-to-trail level. As always, the tour comes with CycleNuts 50% downhill guarantee. The midway turnaround spot is the refreshing tasty stop. ET in Westerville - a fun Evening Tour cycling on Westerville's bikeways Sun, Aug 8, 2021 5:00 PM Event Organizer - Jef Crew Evening tours in the summertime!  That's the ticket! Dodge the heat of the day on this fun evening bikeway tour on Westerville's most excellent bike trails. Experience not just one, but five bikeways along the way -Galena Brick Trail, Genoa Trail, Sandel Legacy Trail,  Hoover Scenic,  and the Ohio to Erie Trail. The tour route is a comfortable 20 miles roundtrip and comes with the CycleNuts 50% downhill guarantee.  These trails are mostly level with just a few ramp segments to give your derailleur a little action (if you have one). Cycle Tour to Outdoor Rock Concert - ET on Hockhocking Bikeway - The Plains Thu, Aug 12, 2021 6:30 PM Event Organizer - Ben Foulk Evening Tour on the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway to Stuart's Opera House Summer Concert at Robbins Crossing featuring Old Time Music Social. The tour route is a rail-to-trail level 11 miles each way on the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway and comes with the CycleNuts 50% downhill guarantee. "The Hockhocking Adena Bikeway is one of southeast Ohio’s hidden trail gems." Triple LoST Metric Century Cycle Tour TTT/Paint Creek Trail Chillicothe OH Sat, Aug 14, 2021 9:00 AM Event Organizer - Jef Crew 1 starting spot - 2 starting times - 3 total distances!  Your choice - ride  28 miles , or 36 miles, or 65 miles  Triple LoST means a Long or Short Tour plus! Ride short - medium - or long! How LoST Tours work.  The 65 mile and 36 mile groups start the earliest at 9AM and ride to and from the tasty turnaround lunch spot back to the starting spot by 3PM. Then, the 36 mile group is done and depart for home. (unless they are ready to go the 65 mile distance) At 3PM the 65 mile and 28 mile groups ride to and from the tasty turnaround dinner spot back to the starting spot by 8PM. And then, depart for home. The Paint Creek Recreation Trail is the flagship pathway of a planned trail network in the Ohio counties of Fayette, Ross and Highland. R&R Cycling Tour on the Lima Bike Path - Lima, OH Sat, Sep 18, 2021 1:00 PM Event Organizer - Jef Crew Ride and Refresh! on Lima's scenic Bike Path as it winds along several waterways and parks. Visit Lauer Historical Farm in the Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan Park District and enjoy a tasty meal at a historical Lima restaurant. The tour route is 27 total miles  and about 92% bikeway. The unofficial Lima Bike Path is a hodgepodge of several short bike trails that follow the lay of the land (Rotary Riverwalk, Ottawa River Bikeway, Lima Bikeway, and Ottawa Metro Park Loop). Cycle To 7 Floors of Hell - A Premier Haunted House - SET in Cleveland, OH Sat, Sep 25, 2021 5:00 PM Event Organizer - Jef Crew Get SET (Special Event Tour) tickets and cycle to the 7 Floors of Hell Haunted Scream Park! 7 Floors of Hell is one of the leading attractions in the country. As well as one of the top rated haunted houses in the nation - 7 haunted houses at 1 location, world-class make up special effects. A monster midway with food, games, merchandise, and so much more! This 92% bikeway tour route on the Big Creek Parkway and Lake to Lake Trails is 8 miles each way.   See the Complete List of Tours ........................ WHAT'S HAPPENING - JULY 2021 Are you into destination touring as well as fun local rides? ...then CycleNuts is the place to be.   There is certainly no shortage of riding events put on by multitudes of bike groups in the summertime! But if you would like to do something just a bit different, then you are in the right place. Besides fun local bike rides CycleNuts is going to take you out of town on trail tours near and far, and for far less than conventional bike touring companies will charge!  Upcoming this weekend is an Overnight Tour in Cleveland on the 4th of July weekend. CycleNuts is also on schedule for a 3 day tour in Maryland/Delaware in September over the Labor Day weekend. Attendees are always welcome to attend just 1 or 2 days of these 3 day tours.  Planning ahead, an Overnight Tour to Niagara Falls is still on the calendar for 2022. Plans for other destination tours are also on the drawing board for Cardinal Greenway trail, Indiana this autumn; Tour de Gulf trails in Florida, Silver Comet Trail, Georgia and Chief Ladiga Trail, Alabama this Winter; the Ohio to Erie Trail, Great Alleghany Passage Trail in Pennsylvania/Maryland, and C&O trail in Maryland in 2022.  Locally, fun theme tours are within a short drive for many. Besides regular R&R (Ride and Refreshment) Tours and DTs (Day Tours - including CycleNuts 5th Anniversary Tour on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad in August), Special Event (SE) Tours have been added - museum themed tours including the Bicycle Museum of America and the Buckeye Lake Museum. DR (Donut Ride) Tours are something some say are medicinally beneficial as well as a short sweet midweek break for many who are looking for a weekday morning ride. Added this year, also, are Concert ET (Evening Trail) Tours - a fun way to break up the week with short trail rides to free outdoor evening concert events. CycleNuts is constantly evolving in response to tour attendee interests. Seemingly, summertime would be the time where more show up for tours. But, quite the opposite is found to be true for the Ohio region because summer is also the season where folks travel on vacations, visit friends and family, and just plain recreate in so many varied ways. In response, expect fewer local CycleNuts tours through this season. Click to view the CycleNuts Tour Calendar.   WTV it is.... ride it! The acronym WTV stands for “whatever.” (source: the wordcounter.com). Being from Cleveland, I just assumed everybody knew that WTV means 'whatever'. So, I am glad that some of you have asked me what WTV means in CycleNuts motto - WTV it is...Ride it! Which means, CycleNuts welcomes all sorts of cycles on tour. I just thought it was as common an acronym as our M-F Midday Tours... which means Monday-Friday midday tours. :) Glad we got all that straightened out! Speaking of WTV it is... many are adding the big E to their cycling stable - including me. I like it. CycleNuts is about cycle touring. E-bikes increase touring possibilities for those who formerly were limited by their cycling ability to overcome distance, headwind, and hills - especially if lugging additional touring gear. My e-bike has opened touring opportunities. I am sure yours will, as well.   CycleNuts' newest Event Organizer Jon Salzwedel Jon brings outstanding enthusiasm and years of leadership experience to the CycleNuts team of Event Organizers, along with his 'bent' perspective of cycle touring! 'Bent' that is, as in recumbent trike, which he recently converted to an e-recumbent. With his wife Beth by his side, this dynamic cycling duo are looking to add both local and destination tours to the CycleNuts calendar.  A native of the west coast, Jon found Beth many loving years ago to be a heartfelt reason to relocate to the great state of OH! And now, CycleNuts will be the benefactor of their love for one another and their love of cycle touring. Thank you Jon for volunteering as a CycleNuts EO! Where to Share? You did the tour. Took great pictures! Got videos. Have some great memories to share with the group! But where to share?  Great question! If you are a Facebook person, then simply post your pictures, videos, and/or stories on the CycleNuts Tour Scrapbook. However, if you are not a FB person - well - do not despair. Simply send your shares by email to CycleNutsUSA@gmail.com and they will be drafted into a future CycleNuts project on CycleNuts' Website Archives page. There is a rumor that CycleNuts now has a mascot - Pete, the poodle. ....maybe? But, for sure, if you have a furry traveling partner that would travel well on tour with CycleNuts like Pete, then feel welcome to bring them along. CycleNuts Stuf Store Did you know that you, too, can get cool looking CycleNuts clothing and gear?  Well.... it's true!  You, too, can look like the CycleNut that you are! See what I mean at CycleNuts' Stuf Store. Click Here to go there.   Watch for New Tours hitting the Calendar soon! The place to find the tour calendar is at the CycleNuts website - www.CycleNuts.link Watch for email announcements, too. And Facebook announcements. WHAT'S HAPPENING - JUNE 2021 What's Happening with CycleNuts - June 2021 Just in time for great riding weather, the national pandemic restrictions are falling by the wayside making group gatherings once again a government approved activity. In Ohio, "Gov. Mike DeWine (R) announced most health orders related to COVID-19 will end June 2. Capacity restrictions for indoor and outdoor events, social distancing guidelines and the mask mandate will be lifted" (source: https://www.aarp.org/politics-society/government-elections/info-2020/coronavirus-state-restrictions.html - see also latest health orders state by state). It feels just plain weird - and nicely so! - to not have a mask constantly plastered to my face. Even so, if you are wanting to continue to wear a mask, there will be NO mask shaming in CycleNuts. Mask - no mask. Helmet - no helmet. E - no E. It's your thing and all good with CycleNuts. New Tours are on the calendar. Announced by email - and on Facebook - when they are posted, there is no sense in being redundant in re-announcing each of them again here. Kinder for me to just remind all to regularly check the calendar on CycleNuts' website at www.CycleNuts.link.  Free Tours will continue on. Along with the Free Shakeout tours, other free tours will also popup on occasion. If you have not asked for your Free Ride 2021 promo code for a free ticket... then watcha waiting for? Ask and you shall receive - and remember to update your birthday with CycleNuts to get your Free Birthday promo code, as well. What if you are already All In for 2021, you ask? A: Great question! Yes - even though you do not need it to get a ticket for yourself, you can use it to get a ticket for somebody you invite along on a tour. Simply give them the code and help them to use it, if necessary. Glitches - both technical and human - have been plentiful this past month! As convenient as all of the event, email, and social marketing apps are for organizing and announcing tours, they can also be a train wreck waiting to happen, especially when one or the other makes a change to the way they interact with one another. That leads to human error - mine - in not catching their changes in behavior. Bad/broken links to tours and CycleNuts Stuf merchandise is frustrating. The fail safe solution is always the website - www.CycleNuts.link Having a problem getting a tour ticket or that really cool CycleNuts shirt? Then please try the website before giving up. Hopefully, I have or will have sorted out the latest batch of glitches. And, as always, feel free to reach out at 9802925368 or CycleNutsUSA@gmail.com Where exactly is the Starting Spot? (a common question that is answered on CycleNuts FAQS page) XXIII. Help - Where is the actual starting spot found on the ticket? (FAQS #23 at www.CycleNuts.link) A: Great question! The starting spot is contained in an email from Eventbrite that you receive the moment you purchase your ticket. Simply scroll down through that email until you reach the section of the email/ticket called Additional Information. Important to note: 1. Copy and paste the starting spot details into the Google Maps app on your smart phone. Doing so will take you directly to the starting spot. Using any other mapping app may not (usually does not) produce accurate results.  2. If lost or running late please call or text CycleNuts' phone number 9802925368. Using email, Facebook messenger, or any other type of communication system may not (usually does not) produce immediate results.  Announcing CycleNuts' newest Event Organizer - Ben Foulk! The open invitation for interested CycleNuts to become Event Organizers is producing solid results! This month CycleNuts proudly introduces Ben Foulk as the newest member of the CycleNuts Event Organizer team. Besides having a really positive outlook on life, Ben brings along decades of leadership experience with the heart of a servant! Based in the lower south central area of Ohio, Ben will be developing tours near to home, as well as destinations where deserving trails are just waiting for CycleNuts to explore.  NEW - CycleNuts Tour Scrapbook - CycleNuts now have a spot on Facebook dedicated to sharing memories of tours they've attended - a place to post stories, videos, and pictures. It is a private Facebook group which requires membership before posting (just the standard membership requirements). Only members of this Facebook group can see who's in the group and what they post. I totally understand those who do not do the Facebook thing - several times, myself, I have quit it. Unfortunately, if you are not a Facebook member and a member of this group you will not be able to view or contribute to it. Nevertheless (and maybe, unfortunately), it is the most universal social gathering app where people can easily share, so hopefully, it is a good fit for a CycleNuts Scrapbook. Fear not - those not on Facebook - CycleNuts will continue to add pictures and videos (time permitting) to the CycleNuts Archives. Don't have or do Facebook, but have pics you wanna share? Then please continue to email them to CycleNutsUSA@gmail.com where they will be added to the CycleNuts archives. Bike Locks - Bike thieves love cable locks - of any sort. "Any cable that fits in the jaws can be cut, and this tool fits in ones pocket." (source: Josh Moss) Quietly, in less than a minute, generally unnoticed, your expensive bike is gone. Sure, cable locks are light, compact, and easy to use. But they are, also, practically useless as your primary defense because they will fail - silently and swiftly - to any $10 pocket sized cable cutter. I do use a cable, but only to supplement my U-bolt by running it through my front wheel and/or pannier handles. However, it is the U-bolt through the frame (and not all U-bolts are the same, either - some are downright easy to defeat) to a stationary point that makes stealing any of my bikes more trouble than its usually worth to the common bike thief.  I also use a Kryptonite Chain Lock, an anti-theft bike alarm, and a Master Lock Street Cuff. Not always all at the same time - but I might, depending where my bike is being left! Are these locks heavy? Heck, yeah! But I ride heavy anyway (great for exercise) and the extra weight is seriously, not noticeable. Bottom line, being on a destination tour and having your stuff stolen is one very noticeable bad situation. But having your bike stolen, too, usually means a very noticeable and even worse situation... like the end of your cycle touring adventure! Note: local CycleNuts tours are a great opportunity to shakeout your destination tour security strategies.  Attendance Matters and attendance has been great! Many tours in May had 100% attendance with even the crummy weather tours showing attendance numbers of 70%. One thing to keep in mind if you cannot attend a tour that you registered for is to call 9802925368 as soon as you know you are not going. For your courtesy, you will get a promo code for a replacement ticket on a future tour - plus you will not hold up those in attendance who may be waiting for you to show. At some point a free tour promo code perk may be awarded for best attendance members - a contest of sorts. CycleNuts Stuf Store - problems reported - There have been reports of bad/broken links to the merchandise on CycleNuts Stuf Store. I haven't sorted out just what the problem is, yet. Nevertheless, rest assured for those wanting to look like the CycleNut that they are, the CycleNuts Stuf Store is up and running complete with all sorts of merchandise to choose from - CycleNuts Stuf Store Wrap Up - With the pandemic restrictions being lifted the riding season is developing nicer than earlier expected. May tours were a success with a lot of new and seasoned CycleNuts getting together for the first time in destinations near and far. The June calendar has a nice collection of tours posted with an expectation of more to be added soon. Watch your email for tour announcements or regularly check the calendar on the CycleNuts website for tour updates. Thank you everybody for being a part of CycleNuts! Adventure Ahead! Jef Crew - Administrative Organizer WHAT'S HAPPENING - MAY 2021 Hi all - What a solid start to the 2021 touring season for CycleNuts!   Each of you who have taken part in a CycleNuts tour play an important role to the success of our cycle touring group! There are so many bikeways and trails across the country just begging to be appreciated. At some point in time there was an inspired person who thought, 'this would be such a great place to build a multi-use trail or bikeway'. We - all of us who make use of these inspirations - are the community for which these inspired people put so much effort and energy into creating safe, enjoyable, functional, and beautiful ways for us to adventure upon. Each year new trails are built and begging to be explored - so many trails and so little time! Expect some out-of-state (Ohio) tours to be posted this year - hopefully on the calendar sooner than later. Not all can make it. Actually, only a few may be able to fit these tours into their schedules. But for those that can - and do - attend there will be an adventure waiting no more or less than the fun and frolic found on all of CycleNuts' tours.  Several short shake-out (or is it shake-down?) tours are on or soon coming to the calendar. These fun little rides are a great opportunity to gauge what a year of Covid-19 has done to your riding ability (also known as the Covid-20 effect). It is reported that the average American has put on an additional 20 pounds over the past year. I believe it - my scale confirms it! Getting together for these shorter tours allows us to ramp up to our previous level of cycling ability and, maybe as important, introduces many of us to one another. Currently there are 210 active CycleNuts with more joining in each month. That is a lot of like-minded cyclists who may become part of your cycling community of friends. I am looking forward to many miles of cycling adventure with all of you. 2021 is proving to be a great year for CycleNuts! Jef Crew - Organizer Adventure is worthwhile! ~ Aesop Bare-faced cycling is back! Yes - the news is out - the CDC announces if you have been fully vaccinated that "You can gather or conduct activities outdoors without wearing a mask except in certain crowded settings and venues."  That certainly doesn't mean that you can't wear your favorite mask or buff if you want to. I actually have grown to like wearing a buff or scarf, especially into the evening hours when the bugs come out flying. It keeps me from having to dig bug legs out from between my teeth, or choosing whether to swallow or spit the little critters out along the way. Do bring a mask along, however, because what CycleNuts tour does not usually have a tasty spot to stop for delicious bites and beverages somewhere along the way?    Image source: How to crash your bike with dignity and (hopefully) keep your teeth Tips to deal with the four most common types of bike crash   Friends don't invite friends to ride unprotected The importance of not inviting people along without their registering as a member.   FAQ IV - Can I just bring along or invite a guest to a tour?  That is a big NO-NO. All attendees are to be a member of CycleNuts - it is SO EASY to join that there is no excuse for anybody to not take a minute to sign up - CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP - IT'S FREE! Non-members are not covered by CycleNuts' Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance - period! Also, CycleNuts tours are limited to a number of attendees. It is not fair to an invited non-member to participate uninsured and uninformed of the potentially grave dangers of cycle touring.  Inviting non-members may result in membership penalties against the inviting member (not to mention, the potential legal/penal liability assumed by the person doing the inviting against CycleNuts membership policies). Upcoming & New Tours for May Bike Ride with Critical Mass Columbus - April 2021 Fri, Apr 30, 2021 6:00 PM Cycle the Richland B&O Trail - Spring Flower Tour - Butler / Mansfield OH Sat, May 1, 2021 11:00 AM Sunday Social Cycle Tour - Westerville OH - A free shake-down bikeway tour Sun, May 2, 2021 1:00 PM Spring Cycle Tour on The Kokosing Gap Trail to the Bridge of Dreams, Ohio Sat, May 8, 2021 11:00 AM More CycleNuts tours can be found at www.CycleNuts.link    Ooops - you can't make it? If you cannot attend a tour that you have registered for simply call/text 9802925368 to let us know. Yes, we do keep attendance. No, we do not give refunds but, yes, we do credit free ticket promo codes for a future event to those who notify us a day in advance. No shows / no calls go on a no-show list - six no-shows may result in a consequence. (...because CycleNuts tours are limited to a number of attendees). You wear what you are! (said someone) BE a CycleNut - Get your stuff here at CycleNuts Stuf Store Get this 2021 CycleNuts Tank Top here  or  See more CycleNuts Stuf here Start Shopping Attending a far away tour? Get a far-out place to stay! CycleNuts tours go to where the trails are - and some of those places are far away from where you stay! Besides camping and hotel/motels, there is the option of staying at an Airbnb. Easily create an  Airbnb account by CLICKING HERE! Or... just get that cool NEWS CycleNuts button (available in different sizes or even on different merchandise) at CycleNuts' Stuf Store on Zazzle.  You can look like the CycleNut that you are! Lots of options - Jerseys, T-shirts, Tanks, and more Learn more - Click here New for CycleNuts Gift Tour Tickets and Annual Tour Passes You asked for it and now you can have it!   Instead of purchasing a ticket for every tour you can now make a one-time purchase of an annual All In pass for 2021.  And - just because you asked - you can now purchase free ticket promo codes for your favorite peeps! They will still need to join CycleNuts (that's free) but they will be able to use the promo code you give them to get their free tour ticket (tickets.... if you're really generous).  All of this happens here at www.CycleNuts.link - JOIN   Where to post/share tour pictures?   That is a great question! At present there are several ways that you can share your tour pictures, but a unified platform has not yet been secured. Formerly, CycleNuts were able to post their pictures on Meetup. But, when Meetup was fired as CycleNuts platform host, that option also went by the wayside. CycleNuts does have a Facebook group where pictures can be posted. And CycleNuts does create tour albums to post on CycleNuts' Facebook page. If you have pictures or videos or visual creations you would like to share then please send them to CycleNutsUSA@gmail.com. At some point, an easier system will be developed for everybody to contribute first hand. Ideas/suggestions are very much appreciated. WHAT'S HAPPENING - APRIL 2021 So is it safe... or not... to group tour? Seriously, I do not even want to mention this doggone elephant on the road anymore - I am sick of it! Yet, it would be irresponsible of me not to. The news reports that 20% of the USA population is fully vaccinated. However, a growing concern in the community of medical experts is of the Covid-19 mutating within the 80% to a degree that defeats the current vaccines. "Even if we vaccinate all 332 million people in the United States tomorrow, we would still not be fully safe from the virus, not while it’s still replicating around the world and turning into new variants that could easily come here and spread across our communities again," ~ Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Somewhat alarming - if it is, in fact, true - is the increasing number of Covid-19 cases despite the increasing number of fully vaccinated people. "The average number of daily COVID-19 vaccinations nationwide has risen to 3 million, a new record for the sixth week straight." ~ Healthline. I don't want to believe that the vaccination I received is going to be obsolete in a matter of months. More importantly, I do not want us to let our guards down! The chances of being exposed to somebody with a mutant strain while cycling along widely dispersed on a group tour seems slim - but not inconceivable. More likely, the chance of exposure will happen off the bike - while gathering for a picture, a bite to eat, chatting around a campfire, or some other stationary type of activity. Even beyond the mutant strain, there may be many of you who have not yet received any vaccinations (80% exposure at this point - April 11th). With all that in mind, CycleNuts is keeping our tours basic and observing social distancing recommendations. Hopefully, in time, data will support a relaxed social protocol so we can plan some fun tour events like festivals, train/boat rides (yes... there is one on the calendar later this Summer), bike camping, out of state and overnight tours, museums, etc. Your well-being while on tour with CycleNuts is the top priority of our Event Organizer team.     UPCOMNG TOURS - RSVP TODAY Saturday, April 17th Cycle Tour on the Holmes County Trail, Ohio Event Organizer - Sally Enjoy this 17 mile tour along the Holmes County Trail. Part of the Ohio to Erie Trail this segment passes through the towns of Millersburg, Killbuck, and Fredericksburg, Ohio (a total of 34 miles). It is a rail-to-trail so it should be quite level. As always, this tour comes with CycleNuts 50% downhill guarantee. A tasty stop midway will refuel us for the return ride. Points of interest: Ohio to Erie Trail (segment), Holmes County Trail (first recreational trail in the country designed to accommodate Amish buggies), Hipp Station (a beautifully restored historical train depot, which serves as the trail’s headquarters with a visitor center), Salt Creek, and Killbuck Marsh Wildlife Area.  STARTing spot and tasty midway stop details are revealed with your ticket purchase - click here. Saturday, May 1st Spring Flower Cycle Tour on the Richland B&O Trail - Butler / Mansfield OH Event Organizer - Ed The Richland B&O Trail is a scenic rail-to-trail bikeway that passes through countryside, small towns, and farmlands between Mansfield and Butler, Ohio. This tour features a stop at Kingwood Center Gardens (*$5 admission fee) - "a historic estate and garden which features 47 acres of landscaped gardens, greenhouses, hiking trails, and tours of the mansion". ~ Trip Advisor The 36 mile route (18 each way) is 90% bikeway. Being a rail-to-trail it is quite level and comes with CycleNuts' 50% downhill guarantee (as usual). Points of interest: The Richland B&O Trail and Kingwood Center & Mansion. STARTing spot and tasty midway stop details are revealed with your ticket purchase - CLICK HERE Saturday, June 26th Ride & Refreshment bike tour on northeast Ohio's Maple Highlands Trail Event Organizer - Ed 40 mile round-trip tour - Chardon to Middlefield, OH - 94% bikeway with CycleNuts' 50% downhill guarantee. "A majority of the trail follows an abandoned Baltimore & Ohio Railroad corridor through a mostly rural landscape, heavily wooded in places"' ~ TrailLink This beautiful scenic trail is divided into 3 connected sections, North, Middle & South. It goes through the charming town of Chardon which features a quaint public square. The trail goes through wooded areas as well as 5 covered bridges. Points of interest: Mountain Run Station, Headwaters Park & Swine Creek Reservation, Maple Highlands Trail, and 5 covered bridges. STARTing spot and tasty midway stop details are revealed with your ticket purchase - CLICK HERE Saturday, August 21st CycleNuts 5th Anniversary Tour - Bike Aboard Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railway Event Organizer - Jef This tour celebrates CycleNuts' 5th Anniversary aboard the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad in N.E. Ohio. On the CVSR Bike Aboard our bikes get loaded with us for a scenic train ride through Cuyahoga Valley National Park. At the end of the line we depart to a nearby spot for tasty bites and beverages. And then we bike back to the starting station. Our 27 mile return ride is along the historic Ohio-Erie canal on the towpath trail, which is mostly crushed stone (messy but hard enough for road bike tires). Those that cannot make the whole 27 mile return ride have the option of flagging down the train at several stops along the towpath trail ($5/per person/bike). Train ride is paid at time of loading - $5 - arrive early - train leaves at 11:00 AM sharp! Points of interest: CVSR, scenic Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio-Erie Canal and locks, Cuyahoga River, and downtown Akron. STARTing spot and tasty midway stop details are revealed with your ticket purchase. CLICK HERE Thursday, February 29th, 2024 Short One-way Loop on Leap Day in Columbus, OH! Event Organizer - Jef Tour begins and ends at a contemporary, low-key spot offering craft beers, cocktails & classic pinball, arcade & video games. Tasty food options nearby (next door) and permitted to carry in. 14 mile route is 85% bikeway with CycleNuts' 50% downhill guarantee. With some kind of luck the weather may even resemble Winter - dress appropriately if riding. This event is for those riding and not riding. If not riding, take note that those riding will return at about 2:30 (just in case you wish to hang out and hear them spin tales of cycling adventures through the wintry mix). Points of interest: Winter riding, Olentangy Trail, Lower Scioto Trail. STARTing spot and tasty midway stop details revealed with your ticket. CLICK HERE Someday, Soon, 2021 CycleNuts May Be Coming To A Trail Near You Event Organizer - CycleNuts With an eye to what our government determines as best course of action to take (regardless of whether I do or do not personally agree - what do I know? I'm just a CycleNut) it is hoped that a collection of short tours will be on the calendar sooner than later. In the meanwhile, get out there and enjoy this beautiful weather - and please be socially responsible and respectful of each others welfare.  OTHER CYCLING TIDBITS   Did you get your Free Ride 2021 promo code?  If not, simply reply to this email and ask for your Free Ride 2021 code. Learn about this and more on CycleNuts' website at www.CycleNuts.link   How puncture resistant is your gear? There is nothing like the confidence that good puncture resistant tires can give a cyclist. However, it is good to remember that even though the tires may withstand the attack, the rider may not come away unscathed. It was reported that this cyclist did not suffer serious injury.  Have you thought about your bike lock lately? Imagine...in less than 10 seconds your bike is gone - your tour is over. Make it tough on crooks - get a lock that needs a grinding wheel, 3 minutes, and an awful amount of noise to remove. Learn more about how fast your lock will be defeated by a common criminal with simple tools - LOCK PICKING LAWYER AND BOSNIAN BILL AND CITY OF LONDON POLICE WHAT'S HAPPENING - MARCH 2021 WHAT'S HAPPENING?      MARCH 2021                                     In the Ohio area March can be a tease when it comes to fair weather for riding. At this moment, there are not any tours scheduled for this month. But keep watch - last minute tours may pop up on the calendar. CycleNuts Monthly Many of you ride through Winter – maybe even look forward to it! This is the first winter season in a long time that I have not yet found myself out enjoying that crispy frozen theater. There is still time! March can, at the least, be good for a snowy day or two in the Columbus area. How lucky all of you are in the northern more areas! That is, if you enjoy winter riding. It may yet happen – a Winter tour may post. If you are interested in such an adventure, then please chime in your interest or suggestions such as city and/or trail. Watch for a tour announcement by email. If it happens it will be a freebie tour. Lots of ifs in this post. Maybe something will come of if. What about the Covid-19? The Covid-19 pandemic is changing the way cyclists tour. It is an ongoing intrusion in our lives regardless of how each of us regard this pesky virus and the everchanging litigation it presents. Masks may continue to be a part of our lives through to 2022, or beyond. The vaccinations may or may not make our lives resemble what they were prior to 2020. With all that in mind it is CycleNuts' wish that all be kind to one another and respectfully err on the side of caution while touring together. More on this and the manner in which we wish all will heed while on tour is mentioned on our FAQs page.  What about the Covid-20? What? Wait! Now there is another Covid to fret about? Yes - in a manner of speaking - there is. I have been stricken by it. The Covid-20, as in twenty extra pounds, has hit me hard! I have picked up this extra weight over the past year due to a severe decrease in cycling activity. Has it hit you, too? I am aghast at the size of my waist! And quite concerned, too, that this extra weight is going to drastically affect my cycling range and performance.  To help ease (or realize) these concerns I am aiming to get a couple of short freebie shakedown tours on the calendar prior to the longer tours that come about with the warmer weather. These shakedown tours may help some of you, too, who are suffering the Covid-20 effect. Keep watch for emails if/when these shakedowns get posted. What about E-bikes? Yes - glad to touch on this topic. CycleNuts tours are about touring on whatever cycling conveyance is preferred - unicycle, bicycle, tricycle, bent, E-bike, quad. Our motto - WTV it is, ride it! All are welcome to join along. On the matter of E-bikes it had not occurred to me that some of these are limited to shorter tours - less than thirty miles. Or, are they? Someday this fat E-bike I have been eyeballing online will become one of my cycling options (one can never have too many bikes...right?). It has a stated range of seventy five miles. But I am skeptical. Most of the reviews I have read on E-bikes state thirty miles or less on a full charge. I would like to get some feedback from you E-bikers out there - what kind of range does your bike have? This information will be helpful in planning out future CycleNuts tours that are E-bike friendly.  Did you get your Free Ride 2021 ticket? Most of us probably can share this similar story through 2020 - not as much riding as in previous years and kind of bummed out about that. So, to try to cheer us all up just a wee bit, and get us touring together as a group again, all who have been a CycleNut rolling into 2021 are getting a free ticket promo code. To get your code you must reply to this email asking for your Free Ride Promo Code. When your email is received a promo code will be emailed back that can be used for any ticket through the next fiscal year (which ends May 1st, 2022). QUESTIONS? - ANSWERS! Q. I’m new. Just what are CycleNuts tours all about? Are these like guided bicycle tours or just neighborhood rides or something else? How many people ride? A. Great questions!  The plan: Riders of all ability join together to ride together. The tours primarily explore bikeways – near and far. Tours may be for a couple of hours or for a couple of days (longer tours are in the planning). The pace is relaxed. Several stops may take place for sightseeing, eating, and other such touristy stuff. The tours are self-supported – no sag; relaxed itinerary; a group effort to create a lasting enjoyable memory with some new friends. No more than 50 can register for a tour. More common is for a handful – less than a dozen – to attend a particular tour. More details can be found at the FAQs page at www.CycleNuts.link THE CYCLENUTS LEADERSHIP TEAM Not enough good can be said for this group of volunteer CycleNuts who put great effort into organizing and leading tours for our benefit. It is a lot of hard work! Each one brings their unique ideas of cycle touring to blend within CycleNuts' tour framework for our enjoyment experience. Thank you EO Team!  Brenda – Event Organizer David – Event Organizer Ed – Event Organizer Penny – Event Organizer Sally – Event Organizer   Get in touch with the team Upcoming Tours If… You like free tour tickets then – 1. Keep an eye out for free ticket tour email announcements 2. Register your birthday with your subscription (see FAQs on how to do that) 3. Watch for upcoming contests.   You have some ideas for trails that you would like to explore with CycleNuts then  get in touch by email with your plan (you may win a prize if your idea becomes a tour). You can contribute pictures/videos of a CycleNuts tour you attended please do so here. Creating lasting memories for CycleNuts is one of our favorite things to do! You want to become involved in planning/leading/organizing CycleNuts tours then please get in touch with a short message including your local area and leadership experience. DID YOU KNOW YOU CAN LOOK LIKE A CYCLENUT, TOO? That’s right! CycleNuts has some clothing, kits, and stuff that will help you look like the CycleNut that you are! Learn more here!   INFORMATIVE AND ENTERTAINING  The bicycle touring community is rich with informative and entertaining sources. A couple of my favorites are The Bicycle Touring Pro on YouTube and The Pedalshift Project bicycle touring podcast. If you are into binge watching or listening to bicycle touring related topics then you may enjoy these two. Contact us:   CycleNuts (980)292-5368 CycleNutsUSA@gmail.com www.CycleNuts.link WHAT'S HAPPENING - FEBRUARY 2021

FEBRUARY 2021

Thank you for being a CycleNut!   2021 brings challenges and opportunities for social cycle touring. The 'new normal' has yet to be defined by the pandemic. It is my belief that social cycling will continue to safely offer many an opportunity to build community and social connections - essential elements of being human. I believe in CycleNuts, what we have accomplished, and what we can achieve together moving forward. The people of CycleNuts enrich my life. When we are on tour it truly feels that we are sharing a worthwhile journey together. It is the bike and the wanting for adventure that bond us, even as otherwise, we are virtual strangers. CycleNuts tours are for me, simply satisfying.

CycleNuts changes in 2021   Big change - Meetup is gone as our tour organizing platform. Gone also are annual dues for membership. Membership in CycleNuts is free. In place of membership dues are tour dues. If you choose to attend a tour you simply buy a ticket on Eventbrite for $5. After attending 6 tours you will receive a code to enable you to tour the rest of the year for free. CycleNuts' fiscal year begins every May 1st. If you choose not to tour, no dues will be owed - that is great news for those who want to belong to CycleNuts, but are not yet ready or able to tour at this point.

HOW TO RSVP FOR TOURS Go to the Tour Calendar on CycleNuts' website www.CycleNuts.link Click on the tour that you are interested in Click on the Ticket button Change ticket selection from 0 to 1 (only 1 ticket allowed per attendee) Complete checkout information and click the Place Order button Watch for a confirmation email with the starting spot and tasty stop details

HOW TO STAY INFORMED   The CycleNuts website is our hub for information. Tours, news, FAQs, picture/video/journal, and social media links all connect at www.CycleNuts.link In addition, watch for emails with tour announcements, monthly news letters, and special promo offers.

WHEN WILL TOURS BE BACK ON THE CALENDAR? < UPDATE: FEBRUARY 6TH, 2021 - TOURS POSTED! >   Great question! Watch for tour announcement emails coming soon. Many/most of the tours that had been scheduled for 2021 are pulled from the calendar pending confirmations from those hosting. In truth, I think many are waiting to see how the pandemic vaccinations pan out. Although cycling is considered a very low risk activity, it still may be a risk too high to take for some. The trails will be there waiting when we are ready.