Old Plank Excursion

21610 S Cicero Ave,Matteson IL 60443

09 October, 2021

Description

This ride begins at Pep Boys and heads down Old Plank Road Trail, plus "extras." OK, so you think you know ALL about Old Plank Trail, right? OK, come join a ‘scouting expedition’ that gets off the Old Plank to see Thorn Creek, the Sauk Lake loop, a Mexican bakery (yeah, donuts), a two-story riding climb on a train viewing tower, Hickory Creek Forest Preserves, a lunch stop in Mokena, and a return to Pep Boys. Seen all that? Well if not, come for a ‘scouting expedition’ on Saturday, October 9 at 10:00 AM. The pace will be casual, no drop, for those who don’t want a ‘road dawg ride.’ There will be time to stop and take selfies of you and the tower, or you and the lake, or you and the bakery. Departure Time: 10:00 am SHARP End Time:  ~2:00 pm Start Location:  Pep Boys parking lot 21610 S. Cicero, Matteson, IL  Distance:  20-40 miles for the tour (with the option to bail out at your car at the 20-mile point) Average Speed:  10 -`12 mph Absolutely a NO DROP ride - no one rides alone. Ride leader - eD Dixon (312) 203-8664/[email protected] Additional information: This ride is a no pain ride, *except maybe the Hickory Hills excursion and the two-story tower climb. (Both are optional). RIDE RULESHELMETS ARE REQUIRED ON ALL MAJOR TAYLOR CHICAGO RIDES! http://majortaylorchicago.com/riderules/ WHAT TO BRING TO AN MTC3 RIDE: Part of being a good cyclist is having the tools and accessories necessary to be self-sufficient, safe, and ready to ride. Below are a general list of items to bring and a to-do list to be ready for an MTC3 ride.  Gear Bag: buy a gear bag (saddlebag is recommended) and stock it with the basics – extra tube, tire tools, a small multi-tool, and either a mini-pump or a CO2 cartridge set.  Tire Pressure: pump your tires up before coming to the ride, or bring a floor pump that you can use in the parking lot before the ride. If you need help, MTC3 ride leaders will be there to help you learn.  Your bike: Give it a quick inspection. Spin the wheels to make sure they are not rubbing. Do the gears shift accurately and easily? Does everything seem to be in order? This is called an ABC check. (Air, Brakes, and Chain)  Hydration/Food: Remember to bring water/sports drink and maybe an energy snack (bar, gel, banana, etc.).  Optional items: The following will make your ride more enjoyable, but are not absolutely necessary. Cycling gloves, sunglasses, cycling shoes and clipless pedals, padded cycling shorts.  Be on Time: MTC3 rides leave promptly at the advertised time. Get to the start of the ride with plenty of time to get yourself and your bike ready to roll with soul! As always... check the MTC3 Listserv on the day of the ride for any updates on weather, etc. To join the listserv, sign up for our Yahoogroup! The Major Taylor Cycling Club Chicago invites you to join us on a variety of rides and events. Organized in 2008, we are a club made up of all ages, cycling disciplines, and cycling abilities.   Active members enjoy riding together year round in a relaxed and friendly group atmosphere.   Various Types of Rides Our rides range from short, easy trips for beginners, to moderately-paced tours with snack breaks, to fast, challenging rides for the more competitive minded.   Volunteer Ride Leaders Volunteer club members organize group rides, leaving from various locations throughout Chicago and Northwest Indiana. Their routes provide us a wonderful variety of places to tour and explore. Some months there are 30 or more rides to choose from!   Ride Length Varies Rides can be anywhere from 10 to 100+ miles, with different degrees of difficulty and speed. Therefore, we grade rides by distance, speed, and terrain so you can choose the ones you will be comfortable with.   Popular rides tend to be 25 to 50 miles, usually with a lunch or snack stop. Whether your focus is a fast, challenging ride or something more leisurely, come see what fun club riding can be. Our rides are free, and non-members are welcome to try us out.   Charter Members Major Taylor Cycling Club Chicago appreciates the special financial and personal contributions of our Charter Members who helped launch our club. Thank you. The Charter Members are: Beth Burns, Katrina Dawkins, Ed Dixon, DeWayne Ferris, Keith Holt, Charles Irven, Stan Jones, Robert Nathan, and a special thanks to lifetime member Jesse Williams. HELMETS ARE REQUIRED ON ALL MAJOR TAYLOR CHICAGO RIDES!   http://majortaylorchicago.com/ride-rules/