CYCLING
CLUB RIDES
Cycling is the largest focus of the Wolverine Sports Club. There are group rides 6 days a week across Metro Detroit including Royal Oak, Beverly Hills, Grosse Pointe, New Baltimore, and Northville. Rides vary in distance from 25 to 65 miles with differing average speeds and are supervised by experienced ride leaders. See the WSC ride schedule below. Riders of all ability levels are welcome to join. Enjoy riding with experienced riders, and learn proper riding techniques and pack etiquette. WSC also maintains a large presence at many major cycling events.
Club Rides adhere to Group Ride rules and techniques. Download the WSC Cycling 101 and Concussion Basics below, covering the basics of group riding. All WSC members are required to review this information.
RACING
The Elite Racing team is dedicated to promoting road and mountain bike racing at the highest levels. The team places a strong emphasis on youth development, with the goal of sending young riders to National Championship races. See the Racing Qualifications download below.
Rules for all rides: Helmets and bicycles in good working order are mandatory at all times on all rides. Riders are strongly encouraged to carry personal ID and emergency contact information (such as an I.C.E. entry in your cell phone). Always carry a spare tube, tire levers, and a pump or CO2 cartridge. Ride leaders/other riders can usually provide help, but please don’t count on others to have repair items for you.
CLUB RIDE SCHEDULE
NORTHVILLE RIDES
All Northville rides start at the Northville Square Parking lot (MAGS) on the SW corner of W. Cady and S. Center streets, across from the Northville Downtown Post Office. https://maps.app.goo.gl/LvRQqLuJaweTdzdP6
Wednesday Night
Start/Finish: Northville Square Parking Lot
Departure: 6:00pm
Distance: 30-35 miles
Pace: 16-18 MPH
Leader: Morresa Meyer, msmjmsmjm@gmail.com, (248)752-3502
This is a no drop ride. The pace may build through the season. The route is mostly on Hines Drive and occurs as long as pavement is dry. Road bikes are appropriate until mid-September when we switch to Gravel or Mountain Bikes to ride via paved roads to Maybury for dirt and paved trails.
Saturday Morning
Start/Finish: Northville Square Parking Lot
Departure: 9am in April, 8am May-September
Distance: 45-65 miles
Pace: 18-20 MPH
Leader: Bill Dieter, billdieter@wowway.com
This is not an “A” group full of wannabe racers, but we’re not a slow, leisurely group either. Please know your abilities. We try to keep the group together by regrouping after hard sections, but please be responsible and know you can do the pace and distance. If you think you’re at risk of not being able to maintain the pace of the group, be prepared to navigate yourself back to the start.
Sunday Morning
Start/Finish: Northville Square Parking Lot
Departure: 9am spring & summer, 10am fall & early spring
Leader: Brian Negele, negele.brian@gmail.com
Route - Spring/Summer: 44 miles with a coffee shop stop in Ypsilanti
Route - Fall: "Dirt & Donuts" 35 miles mostly on dirt roads to a cider mill
Watch the WSC Google Group email list for start time and road surface (paved/dirt) changes. Post-ride refueling at the Northville Sports Den.
GROSSE POINTE RIDES
Sunday Morning
Start/Finish: Grosse Pointe Woods City Offices, https://maps.app.goo.gl/SjyPk5o6UqrWs4by5, parking near the police station
Departure: 10am early spring, 9am late spring & early summer, 8am hot summer months, 9am fall
Pace: 15-20 MPH Distance: 35-100 miles
Leader: Glenn O'Connor, dabrains@gmail.com, text/call 313-415-0880
Eastside Wolverine Ride Group Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/201410649881187/
All may view, only WSC members may join.
Watch WSC Google Group e-mails or the Facebook group for updates. Rides often go to Detroit with a stop for coffee and a light snack. Pace changes from slow in the spring to moderate then to fast as the year and cycling season progresses so join up early. Rides stay together and regroup as needed. This ride includes many seasoned riders dedicated to bringing novice cyclists comfortably and safely into cycling with a focus on developing group riding skills.
Special event century rides are sometimes held on Saturdays. Rides will often venture to destinations like Grosse Ile or a lap around Outer Drive, so be prepared for anything! In the fall we close out the season with some gravel rides to enjoy the changing scenery in Michigan on the dirt roads around and north of Stoney Creek Metropark, often leading us to a cider mill.
Wednesday Night
Start/Finish: Trek Store, 20343 Mack Ave, Grosse Pointe Woods
Departure: 6pm
Distance/Pace: 20-30 miles. 14-16 MPH.
Leader: Russ St. John
This ride is expected to run occasionally, not weekly. Watch the Eastside Wolverine Ride Group Facebook group for updates
BEVERLY HILLS RIDES
WSC Beverly Rides depart from the Beverly Park or Beverly School parking lots (see details for each ride below).
Ride start/end points:
Beverly PARK: https://maps.app.goo.gl/hAxjLh9RqWv1Nhfz8
Beverly SCHOOL: https://maps.app.goo.gl/dsakrCpVScbK3RKz5
Jeffrey Johnson's Rides: (Tues pm, Sat am)
Read the Blog and register for automatic email updates at https://beverlyride.wordpress.com/
Watch the Blog for notices due to weather or seasonal start time changes.
Tuesday Night
Start/Finish: Beverly School
Departure: 6:00pm
Leader: Tony Scooros
Distance: ~30 miles
Hilly fixed route at moderate+ pace. May through September. This is a drop ride with reasonable regroups.
Tuesday Night
Start/Finish: Beverly Park
Departure: 6:15pm
Leader: Jeffrey Johnson
Distance: 25-35 miles
The ride goes on a highly variable route at leader discretion. These are more beginner friendly due to route and pace.
Tuesday and Thursday Nights
Start/Finish: TBD (school or park)
Departure: 6pm or 6:15pm
Leader: Jim Kaltz
Route, Distance, Pace: TBD
Saturday Morning
Start/Finish: Beverly Park
Departure: 9:00am
Leader: Jeffrey Johnson
Routes variable at leader discretion. Includes coffee stop, normally at the Starbucks on Orchard Lake Rd at Pontiac Trail. These are more beginner friendly due to route and pace.
Leaders attempt to keep the ride compact and grouped, and the rides will stop and provide reasonable assistance for mechanical issues. The best way to see if you can handle the pace is to come and try. We work at helping novices be successful. A road bike is recommended to carry the pace.
ROYAL OAK RIDES
Wednesday night
Start/Finish: Royal Oak Library https://goo.gl/maps/3wk6XawZ4mTHpwjH7
Departure: 6pm
Pace: 16-18 MPH Distance: 32-35 miles
Leader: Kamilo Susman kdls1997@gmail.com
This is a social ride with a long history, traveling through local neighborhoods to Cranbrook in Bloomfield Hills and back. The route is consistent with some spirited route options through Cranbrook hills and around Cranbrook school. Regroup at Christ Church parking lot before returning to Royal Oak. Example route: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/120079243 Watch WSC Google Groups e-mails for updates.
Friday night
Start/Finish: Royal Oak Library https://goo.gl/maps/3wk6XawZ4mTHpwjH7
Departure: 6pm
Pace: 12-14 MPH
Distance: ~24 miles
Leader: Calvin T. Hughes, cth_jr1@msn.com
The Bridging the Gap Ride is a great ride for newer riders looking to increase conditioning, speed, and group riding experience, and for experienced riders looking for a more relaxed experience.
The route is similar to Wednesday night but is shorter and with fewer hills. The pace may increase during the season, depending on the abilities of the participants. As your speed improves you may consider the Wednesday Ride with a bit more speed and distance. Watch WSC Google Groups e-mails for updates.
Third Saturday Royal Oak to Belle Isle
Start/Finish: Royal Oak Library https://goo.gl/maps/3wk6XawZ4mTHpwjH7
Departure: 9am
Pace: 15-20 MPH Distance: ~40 miles
Leaders: To be announced (watch Google Group e-mails)
Features: May-September. Fast lap of Belle Isle at 20+ MPH followed by a regroup. Coffee and snack stop in Midtown, near the Wayne State University campus.
Retiree Rides / Fun Rides
Start/Finish: Royal Oak Library https://goo.gl/maps/3wk6XawZ4mTHpwjH7
Day and Time: various Pace: 13-18 MPH, based on the group
Distance: 30-40 miles
Leader: Mark Freedman, mfreedman1212@aol.com, 248-933-6041 (call/text)
Retiree Ride (you don't need to be a retiree!) / Fun Ride to points in Detroit, often including a stop for coffee or lunch. Ride is at the call of the ride leader via WSC Google Groups e-mail on various mornings throughout the week.
"D" Rides
Start/Finish: Royal Oak Library https://goo.gl/maps/3wk6XawZ4mTHpwjH7
Day and Time: various
Pace: 15-19+ MPH, based on the group
Distance: 35-45+ miles
Leader: Lee Hoffman, hoffmaniaks@gmail.com
Explore the City of Detroit with visits and stops at various historical and fun locations, usually with food and/or coffee stops. Routes will vary to keep it interesting. Occasional special rides of a longer length in and/or outside of the City of Detroit during the riding season. Rides are at the call of the ride leader via WSC Google Groups e-mails.
NEW BALTIMORE RIDE
Tuesday night
Start/Finish: Anchor Bay Bicycle & Fitness, 35214 23 Mile Rd., New Baltimore, MI 48047, https://goo.gl/maps/kJ8ly
Departure: 5:30pm
Pace: ~20 MPH
Distance: ~40 miles
Leaders: Steve & Deb Angst, s_angst@yahoo.com, 586-524-3657
From May through September, join Steve & Deb for a road ride from New Baltimore, through Algonac, to Marine City, and back. Roads are flat, fast, and smooth, with a good stretch by the water. If it is warm enough, there may be a short ice cream stop at the 26 mile mark.
Steve & Deb also lead Memorial Day, 4th of July, & Labor Day rides. Watch the WSC Google Group emails for details.