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EQUINOX RELIABILITY TRIAL

  • Sunday, 19 March 2023
  • Pre-ride Check-in and Prep:  10:00am
  • Ride Start:  11:00am
  • Register Online: Maumee Valley Wheelmen - Equinox Reliability Trial
  • Location:  Hull Prairie Intermediate School, 25480 Hull Prairie Rd., Perrysburg, OH
  • Cost:  $8 per rider if you have a valid USAC racing license, $18 if you need a 1-day license (this is for insurance coverage).
  • Distance: 80.5 km (50 miles) 

    Well, Phurry Phatt Phil P. (pictured) officially announced on February 2nd, 2023, that there will be 6 more weeks of winter for 2023.  Fortunately, he is wrong about this more than half the time, so we have that going for us.....  Regardless of the weather between now and Sunday, March 19th, the Vernal Equinox will happen, so we will RIDE!  You can expect just about any weather on that day, from sub-freezing sideways gale snow/sleet/hail/rain/wind to balmy sun and temps in the 50's or 60's and everything in-between.  Regardless of the weather that day, and because we are hard people, we will RIDE!  So...., tic tock tic tock, dust off those bikes and/or get on that trainer!  Phil is already at least 500 miles ahead of you so there's not a second to lose!


    New for 2023!!

    • The course will start and finish this year from a new place, Hull Prairie Intermediate School, 25480 Hull Prairie Rd.  This is unfortunately necessary for several reasons.  The increased expansion of the residential areas of Perrysburg to the south west has resulted in heavy traffic, additional stop lights and signs and a round-about or 2, which all contribute to lowered rider safety.  Also, the Fort Meigs facility is now owned and operated by the Ohio History Connection rather than the State of Ohio.  The OHC is a private, not-for-profit organization and they have expressed that to continue to use their parking lot for events after 2022, we must submit a request and pay a fee.  In light of these conditions we've decided to move the start/finish. 
    • I've thrown in every little descent and climb that can be done with relative safety (avoiding major roads) and have scouted the course and all looks perfect! 
    • There are the usual narrow "Belgian" roads, some "loose stones" in a few corners, 8 railroad crossings (Caution: several are rough and not perpendicular to the road), and 32 stop signs that riders must obey (Caution: several cross fairly busy 2-lane roads).  The course is "mostly" out-and-back, so we've also got that going for us....
    • There was some confusion with last year's "official" route due to some unanticipated road construction in the area.  This caused a revision to the course 1 week before the actual event.  Some people "got the message" about the route change and some didn't.  If you download the route to your bike computer, please check to assure that the route is still the same a day or 2 before the ride to assure that no changes have been necessary.  The course will be marked (see below) with the correct route right before the event, so those indicators should always be obeyed.

    The Equinox Reliability Trial IS NOT A RACE.  DO NOT enter the turns as if you're riding a road race on closed, swept surface at the velodrome in Roubaix!  Riders are responsible for complying with all rules of the road during this ride.  No matter what group you ride in, please share the road with and be courteous to all other riders and vehicles.  All this said, some people will be riding this as a drop-everyone-as-soon-as-possible outing.  Ride your own bike!

     

    Important things to do as soon as possible BEFORE the ride (to avoid last minute stress, drama and/or SNAFUs that reduce everyone's enjoyment of the event):
    1. Renew your Club membership
    2. Renew your USAC license (about $90, see www.USAC.org).  Or, if you decide to just purchase a 1-day USAC license, please do so using the link to the on-line purchase in the registration link at the top of this page.
    3. Print and complete the ride waiver (see the registration link at the top of this page) for instructions.  Bring your printed and completed paper waiver to the ride and give it to the Ride Coordinator.  Failing this, there will be paper copies of the waiver available for completion before the event at the start.   
    4. Register on-line for the ride (see link at the top of this page, are you getting this?).  Please do this as soon as you can so that we know approximately how many riders to expect (and thereby how much coffee and food to bring to the event for your pre- and post- ride enjoyment)

    Le Cours - It will be marked (see below) and below is a Ride-With-GPS link to the route that I (strongly!) encourage you to load to your bike computer.  There will not be cue sheets at the start.  I hope to arrange some SAG support for those needing assistance, but please do not count on a sweeper or SAG vehicle support.  You can always arrange your own, of course.  I'm sorry to have to report that the mystic who had a shop set up on US route 25 south was recently forced to close up business (I can only assume that she saw this coming well ahead of time), so getting directions/assistance from them should you fail to make the turn northward toward the finish will not be possible as it was in years past.  

     Downloadable GPS files: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41777003



    A typical marking for this year's Equinox, this one indicating a left turn approaching.  There will be 3 of these about 100m from the corner, 2 of them at about 50m from the corner and 1 at the corner.


    Some History on the Equinox Reliability Trial (as it's officially called) - by Scott Main

    This is an event that dates back further than any records I currently have.  My first participation was in 1978.  Unfortunately, I long ago surrendered to the landfill any memorabilia I had from that early event.  In past decades Equinox was a timed event, and the finishing time of each rider was recorded and then listed in the Dirty Derailleur Newsletter.  The oldest Equinox results I have are from 1989, and at that time the Club actually generated some revenue from the event.  

    Click here to see the first page of those Equinox results (it's worth admiring the handwritten treasurer's report that was added to the newsletter!). Click here to see the second page listing the results of each participant.


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