Area Riding Club Activities
From Ann Arbor to Fremont to Findlay to Defiance, the Lake Erie West region is home to more than a dozen riding clubs with more than a thousand riding members. In addition, several local bike shops offer rides and events. There's always a ride going on somewhere.
The More the Merrier
It really is more fun riding with a group. If you're new to cycling, try riding with one of the many area riding clubs or rides sponsored by a local bike shop. You'll meet new friends, learn much more about biking and have a better time! And, of course, you'll eventually want to ride in one of the many event rides sponsored by area clubs and non-profit organizations, like Bike to the Bay. Take a look at the regional clubs listed below and the activities they offer - you're sure to find one which fits your needs and abilities in biking.
Try Something New
Are you a regular rider but tired of the same old, same old? Try riding with a different club on a new route occasionally. The bike clubs all welcome guests on their regular routes. Make some new friends and take in some new scenery!
Local Riding Clubs
Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring Society | Ann Arbor
The Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring Society (AABTS) organizes daily group rides for road and mountain bike enthusiasts—view our bimonthly ride calendar for details. We also participate in a variety of in- and out-of-state tours. We publish a member and host potluck dinners. Annual dues are $20 for single and $25 for family. Membership includes discounts at area bike shops and mileage recognition patches for 500 miles/year or more. There is no charge for non-members to participate in individual rides.
       Visit our join/renew page for membership enrollment options. New club memberships purchased after September 1 of any year are good through December 31 of the following year. Visit our Information Center for the latest on ride captain instructions, rules of the road, club history and more. If you're new to the area or new to cycling, our AABTS FAQ page can help answer your questions.
Black Swamp Bicycling Society | Bowling Green
The Black Swamp Bicycling Society, riding from Bowling Green, has been reactivated so like minded riders can get together for a variety of rides.
      With more than one hundred members, we welcome riders of all ability levels to this group, from those who want a leisurely ride to those who prefer a hard workout. We offer rides starting from City Park at 9am and Wednesday afternoon and evening rides. We divide into 2 or 3 groups according to ability level. Interested? Email your name, email address and anything else you'd like to say about your biking ability and interests to Russ Frye: rfrye1@gmail.com.
Cascades Cycling Club | Jackson MI
The Cascades Cycling Club supports both road cycling and mountain biking. Our club supports cycling in Jackson, Michigan, and the communities in the surrounding area. Jackson is a mid-sized city in south-central Michigan, U.S.A., and a great place to bike. The trails in Jackson are suitable for hiking, running, and mountain biking. Though not as extensive as some trail systems, they provide a wide range of challenges and can provide a great workout.
Defiance Cycling | Defiance
Defiance Cycling is a loosely organized group riding out of Defiance from Triangle Park on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Three groups ride: A group is for speed demons; B group averages 17 mph; C group averages 13-15 mph. Rides take place from April through October.
Downriver Cycling Club | Southeast Michigan
Established in 1978, to serve cyclists in the southeast corner of Michigan, Downriver Cycling Club (DCC) promotes bicycle safety, education and all forms of cycling. DCC is affiliated with the League of American Bicyclists and the League of Michigan Bicyclists.
      DCC holds its annual Metro Grand Spring Tour (MGST) on the first Sunday in May. Our 28th Annual MGST will be on May 1st, 2011.
       Members receive a monthly newsletter, The Spoke'n Word, and Club voting privileges. Some of us ride a bit too. Click on the Newsletter page to see upcoming events and our ride calendar. Our club list-serve e-mail list may be joined on site. This list is the place for SE Michigan (Downriver) to post information about local riders' recreational cycling.
Flatlanders Cycling Club | Fremont
The Flatlanders Bicycle Club was created in the spring of 1998 and is based in Fremont, Ohio. The club's purpose is to promote cycling and bicycle safety for all levels and abilities of riders. It is a non-profit group which supports local rails to trails projects and other community activities.
      Monthly ride calendars are posted in the Schedule section of our forum from March until November.
Riders can choose from four riding levels:
A  - Average speed greater than 16 mph; B  - Average speed between 13 - 15 mph; C  - Average speed less than 12 mph; Cruiser Ride- slow and easy sight-seeing.
      In August, the club hosts The Flatlanders Bicycle Tour. Riders from not only Ohio, but other states, have participated in this event. Four 25-mile loops are available, along with a shorter 13 mile loop. We have had good reviews for this event. This is the clubs main event and our members work to make this a safe and fun cycling event.
      In January the club has an annual meeting for all members. A potluck is also held at this meeting.
In addition to the monthly rides, and the Flatlanders Tour, the club strives to have a group ride at least once each month. All rider levels can participate, with a social  function at the end. We have had both ice cream and watermelon provided by the club during past rides. Other times, we may just meet at the local ice cream house.
      For more information of club activities, you can contact Fremont Cycling and Fitness center (FCAF) at
419-332-4481 or e-mail us at Flatlandersbikeclub@yahoo.com.
Check out our monthly ride calendar in the "schedule" section of this forum. Come ride with us and experience some of the best roads in Northwest Ohio, you'll be glad you did! Non-members are welcome to ride. Helmets are required on all club rides.
Hancock Handlebars | Findlay
The Club began in the late 1950's as a loose-knit group of bicycling friends, eventually becoming affiliated with the American Youth Hostelling organization. We have rides every day of the week - some days there are as many as six different scheduled/organized rides. Our most popular rides are our family rides on Monday, wednesday and Friday evening (we always try to include an ice cream stop here), and our fitness rides on Tuesday and Thursday evenings (no ice cream stop here).
      We have more than 300 members who logged more than 140,000 miles in the 2007 season. We still have some of the club's original members participating: one in his 90s is still riding well over 1,000 miles per year.
      Our goal is to promote bicycling as a form of fitness and leisure activity for the whole family as well as the go-fast group, while promoting all types of bicycling advocacy organizations. We partner with the Hancock Park District on many projects. We would like to see safe bicycle routes throughout our area so everyone can ride safely, so our children may one day be able to ride their bicycles to the parks and to school safely, instead of being squired around in a car playing video games.
      Our major club event is the Hancock Horizontal Hundred, which we have been hosting on the first Sunday after Labor Day every year.  This will be the 40th year.  
Maumee Valley Adventurers | Toledo
MVA has taken the best of Hostelling International-Toledo Area Council and created a new organization, Maumee Valley Adventurers. MVA will continue a 40+ year tradition in northwest Ohio, with programming such as:
-  The 13-week winter Travel Circle series in cooperation with Metroparks
-  Bike tours, which are also our main fundraisers
-  Weekly hikes or group rides
-  Support of youth groups interested in travel and cultural exchange
-  And a full calendar of social activities to bring people together
MVA started in July 2012 when the former HI-Toledo Area Council was dissolved in a national reorganization of Hostelling International USA. We wish our friends at HI-USA all the best with their new, unified organization, and we hope to partner with them in the future as a local “Friends of Hostelling” organization.
Maumee Valley Wheelmen | Toledo
Since 1969, the Maumee Valley Wheelmen has been a strong sports club in the Toledo area. The club is affiliated with the United States Cycling Federation and has long-term connections with other area clubs such as the Team Toledo Triathlon Club, the Toledo Road Runners and the Toledo Area Bicyclists.
      The club consists of about 100 members ranging in age from 12 years to 75, and average in the mid-30's. A strong student group looks good in local and USCF races, with a powerful masters contingent pushing them on to glory. Some members have racing in their blood, others focus on recreational riding and get a kick out of helping with racing and training. Want to see what we look like?
      Only members can race, but everyone is welcome on informal training and recreational rides during the week and on weekends. Membership dues are $40/year, $50 for a household. Print an application on line for membership.
       From April through September the club schedules races every Thursday evening. Members compete for points in 3 race categories. Everyone shares in working at the races. Courses for road races and time trials are on country roads, criteriums and track-style races are on an industrial park circuit.
      All year around members utilize the Informal Training Rides that aren't club functions, but serve as great training. E-mail at our site for more information. Members go together to USCF races and to local tours (especially the annual Columbus Fall Challenge.)
      Every Sat. and Sun. we offer the unofficial "Breakfast Club" ride. The group leaves Ft. Meigs in Perrysburg, unless it's slippery or colder than 15 F. A few show up whatever the weather. All ride 16 to 25 miles to Grand Rapids for breakfast, then on.
      We publish a monthly newsletter, have an annual banquet, do other social things as most clubs do. But we seem to enjoy each other's company more than most such organizations.
Northwest Ohio Pedalers | Defiance
The Northwest Ohio Pedalers is group that has Saturday morning breakfast rides.  There is a different start location and a different restaurant each week This group meets all over NW Ohio. They ride at a moderate pace. The 2011 ride schedule will be published soon.
Team Defiance | Defiance
Team Defiance is a racing team riding out of Defiance. Our main sponsor for the next 2 years is the Defiance Regional Medical Center. Our new jerseys and shorts will reflect that. You should see them in late March 2011. Also, we will be working to attract triathletes in the coming season. Several of us already do tri’s and we would like to see more people give a try to the “Tri” side of the team.
      Switzer Realty is sponsoring the Defiance Triathlon in late July. Watch for more on that on our web site. Events for the season include: Colavita / Zipp Speed Weaponry Time Trial Series – all through 2011 starting in late March | Defiance Regional Medical Center – Helmet Give Away / Youth program – May 21st. | Colavita Zipp Time Trial here in DEFIANCE at DRMC June 26th. | Defiance TRI – July 23 OR 24. | Team DEFIANCE Race Series. Schedule will come out in March.
Team Toledo | Toledo
Team Toledo is a triathlon club which conducts triathlon and social events throughout the year. We have more than one hundred members at all levels. Camaraderie amongst members is a focus and the club has plenty of it! We welcome the fitness jock as well as the die-hard competitor. New members with a wide variety of goals quickly discover a pool of friendship and training savvy. Our summer program is the most popular with training events such as open-water swims and mini-triathlons. There are a host of benefits to membership; you can apply on line.
Toledo Area Bicyclists | Toledo
Toledo Area Bicyclists (TAB) is an organization of people who love bicycles and bicycling. The membership is very diverse, including individuals and families, encompassing a wide range of ages and cycling ability. The primary purpose of TAB is the promotion and encouragement of group cycling as a means of healthful exercise and social interaction. Our main focus is recreational riding - not racing - at paces to suit most riders over a wide variety of cycling routes.
      Most of our members have road or touring bikes, but mountain bikes are welcome too! Mountain bike riders who enjoy off-road riding can take advantage of our mountain bike (MTB) special interest group (SIG) off-road rides. Our regular calendar of rides offers something for everyone, from slow to fast, short to long. Periodically through the riding season members are also encouraged to take part in the “TAB Team Train” to rides in other states as well as other parts of Ohio.
      Our official ride schedule runs from May through August, with at least one ride every day except for Fridays, at locations throughout the greater Toledo area.  Unofficial rides are organized by club members during the other months of the year. With TAB, you will find new ride partners who ride at your pace. Get help and advice on riding, clothing, equipment, touring strategy, commuting, and even fine dining everywhere.
      Come on out and participate with enthusiastic cyclists who share great rides, have fun with new and old friends, meet new ones, and enjoy the camaraderie of fellow cyclists.
      Club membership is open to all.  Club activities include an annual banquet - usually in late January, and a club picnic - usually in July/August. We publish an on-line newsletter for members. Membership dues are: new individual membership: $12.00/year; new family memberships: $18.00/year
Local Bike Shops Offering Organized Rides
The BikeWorks | Toledo
Sunday morning rides leave from Ft Meigs parking lot at 8am. Two groups, avg. speed 20mph and 25mph. Monday evening rides for triathletes begin at 6pm at Tam O'Shanter on Sylvania Ave. Tuesday night rides begin at 6:30pm at Sylvania Southview front parking lot, with avg. 25-30mph.
Jack's Bike & Fitness | Monroe
Every Wednesday night during the summer months, we get together and ride from our shop in Monroe out to Dundee, MI and back.  The trip is approximately 30 miles.  We have two groups, a slower one (15 mph +) and a faster one (22 mph +).  We leave from the parking lot at 6pm sharp.  If you have any questions, call us at (734)-242-1400 and we'll be happy to give you more information.
Note: We are in need of ride leaders, particularly female ride leaders to guide groups of women who prefer a slower pace. Contact Scott on our Facebook page.


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