'Giving' ride recap

{Ed note: Thanks to ride leader and guest blog post contributor Rob Hendricks!}

Saturday's ride was one of the longer ones this year, but the weather was so nice it was hard to tell (60s, say what?!)!

From Whole Foods Market on Lane Avenue we rode our loaded cargo bikes, recumbents with full trunks, commuters with full panniers, and every other type of bike imaginable, and headed southwest to Lutheran Social Services' West Side Food Pantry. They had to bring carts out to haul the food our riders brought to donate!

After some miles and a few climbs, we came across the Charity Newsies volunteers at an intersection. Riders were quickly pulling out their wallets and handing over donations before the light could turn green.

We continued on to WCMH NBC4 Studios on Olentangy River Road, where Firefighters for Kids was having a massive toy drop off campaign. We rode our bikes through, dropping off a large number of toys and meeting the Channel 4 news team. Jim Ganahl expressed amazement at all of the different types of bikes!

We then headed back to Whole Foods to enjoy their hospitality, with food and drinks, one last time. Thanks for the memories, Whole Foods Market Lane Avenue! We'll miss you, but we're looking forward to a new start at the Easton store next year.

'Biology class' ride recap

November’s “Biology Class” ride was a great success! Thanks in part to the nice weather (sunny and fairly warm for this time of year) we had a strong turnout with an estimated 59 riders. Participants on the ride were able to visit two destinations involved in biological research and preservation and make use of two pieces of bike infrastructure—one of which is closely tied to the biological theme.

Our first stop was The Wilma H. Schiermeier Olentangy River Wetland Research Park, where riders were hosted by volunteers from the facility. We were given an overview of their mission, which includes education and research about environmental sustainability as well as community outreach. We were also given a guided tour of the research park, including the wetlands themselves (which are not generally accessible to the public).

After departing the wetlands, the group made their way downtown via Summit Street, where riders had the opportunity to ride the newly-completed protected bike lanes between Hudson Street and 11th Avenue.

Our lunch stop was Cafe Bríoso, a bike-friendly destination familiar to Year of Yay riders.

The ride’s final stop was the Scioto Audubon Metro Park, where riders had an opportunity to tour the Audubon Society’s facility as well as the grounds themselves, which function as a fragile oasis, a tiny jewel, a haven for wildlife. This park is unique in its proximity to a large city.  

Finally, riders made use of the beautiful Scioto Greenway, which had been officially opened just a few days prior. The greenway project is the result of a returning of the Scioto River to a more natural state as well as creating 33 acres of greenspace downtown. The ride went along the riverfront park downtown before continuing north and back to Whole Foods.

'Get out the vote!' ride recap

[Ed note: Special thanks to October's ride leader and special guest blog contributor Bambo Francis!] It was a beautiful fall day in October and cyclists were about to enjoy a most incredible day on their bikes.  We'd be listening to an Upper Arlington City Council member, various electoral volunteers and the Director of the Franklin County Board of Elections.

Before going any further I must say that, the events of this particular day will not have been possible with the army of selfless volunteers, staff and board members of Yay bikes! they come up with theme ideas for these monthly rides.

We rolled through some of the most picturesque autumn streets, the arch of golden fall color trees formed a corridor on our way towards the Upper Arlington Municipal Services Center to hear Mike Schadek talk about the importance of all local elections, how all elections are important but the local ones are the ones that have direct impact on our day-to-day lives.

Onto our second stop we wound through the streets of Upper Arlington toward the outskirts of the University  mingling with the game day (OSU football fans) traffic then an uphill climb on Arcadia Ave. It was fun to see 40+ cyclists smile as they got the top of the hill knowing the most challenging part of the ride was done. By the time we got to the Franklin County Board of Elections, we had been on a few of the very busiest roads in Columbus (Indianola and Morse).

Sherry Girves and Carole DePaola spoke about the importance of early voting and voting in general. Franklin County Board of Elections Executive Director, Bill Anthony Jr wanted everyone to make voting a family affair and absentee voting was one of the many ways we could achieve this goal.

Our third and final stop was the Bosco Center, it was the farthest part of the ride.  We ventured mostly on Cleveland Ave.  I believed riding on Cleveland Avenue would be unfriendly and frightening,  but all together it was a pleasant interesting segment as we made our way to the Bosco Center.  Yay Bikes! will be co-hosting a mayoral debate in days to come. Catherine Girves talked about the upcoming debate to be hosted in the Bosco Center.  It provides a good venue to see some of the local candidates.

It was good day in the Saddle and I will like to mention a few of the volunteers who helped vet the route.  Here's a shout out to Kathleen, Shyra, Catherine, Cassie, Deanne and Rahel. I appreciated your efforts for making this a wonderful ride.

'Architechtouring' ride recap

[Ed note: Special thanks to September's ride leader and special guest blog contributor David Curran!]

First of all - a big thank to the almost 70 riders who showed up for the September Year of Yay! ride! I hope everyone enjoyed themselves.  I thought the ride went well despite it going long and having what I was told was a record number of flat tires and maintenance issues. This was not a record that I had hoped to break.

A big thank you to Molly Patterson and Columbus Architectural Salvage for hosting the first stop on our ride.  It was great seeing so many bicycles scattered all over the front lawn.  Some of my favorite comments were "I had no idea Columbus had something like this" and "Discovering this place is going to cost my husband and I a lot of money". This shop is really unique and I wish more people in Columbus were aware of it.

Maddy Davis was our guide for the tour of MAPFRE Stadium. Another big thank you to Maddy for cheerfully leading a group that was almost double the size I guessed it would be. It was an interesting experience to be in the stadium without the crowds and the noise of a game day. Getting to tour the locker rooms and stand on the pitch was a real bonus. Since the tour went long, some opted to head back after this stop.

One funny highlight of the ride for me was on our next leg through east campus.  While going down 11th Ave, we passed a pre-football game college party on the front lawn of a house. They saw us coming and several came to the streetside and jokingly held out their red solo cups as an impromptu beverage station for the bike tour going by.

The ride got longer as we had more maintenance issues on the next leg of the ride and had an extended stop on Michigan Ave.  Kudos to everyone who helped out with maintenance. Additional thanks to everyone for their patience as we worked to get going again. Since the ride's progress was slow at this point, more opted to head back after this impromptu stop as well.

Once we got going, the final 12 continued to the Toledo & Ohio Central Railroad Station at Broad and Starling. This is the last remaining downtown station in Columbus. Since we weren't able to tour the inside, I would encourage everyone to visit it if they are ever downtown during the day and have a few minutes to walk in. It's been well taken care of and the main waiting room has the original ticket windows and some railroad memorabilia and photographs.

The final 7-mile leg back to Whole Foods was without incident and was quickly followed by a well-deserved refreshment.  Thanks to everyone who helped out as leads and sweeps and to Ken for planning a great route!

'Food incubators' ride recap

Cyclists sample some delicious OH! Chips during a stop on the ride. Photo credit: Bryan Barr

Already warm, the day started as a typical August morning. Despite the heat, about 70 cyclists were gearing up for the monthly themed ride Year of Yay! has become. Amongst us were children and some Year of Yay Bikes! first-timers. 9 miles later, we arrived at Food Fort. Several food trucks were heading out to start their day as we arrived. Jen Gable, Food Fort Administrator, opened up one of the garage doors allowing us the cool of inside and an opportunity to replenish our water bottles. Jen described how Food Fort and ECDI rent out storage and prep areas for the businesses, as well as providing business loans to get them off the ground. During the kitchen tour, Jesse and Katie of Nellie's Natural Ice Pops were in there readying a batch of popsicles. We would be seeing them and sampling their wares at the last stop!

Onward to our next stop which took us through central city to Franklinton. In a small unassuming building next to Franklinton Gardens, some of the town's tastiest potato chips are born. Brian Thornton, founder/creator of OH! Chips, welcomed us with his traditional pirate flag and bowls of chips for sampling. He walked us through the chip-making process—100 pounds of potatoes comes out to a surprisingly small amount of chips after all is said and done. Also on display was his first fryer—a donut fryer he bought off Craigslist. He had started off at Food Fort with that fryer until demand outstripped his capacity there, necessitating the need for the factory.

The final stretch of the ride was almost entirely on the Scioto Greenway Trail. The shaded portions and forested quiet was a welcome change of pace from the streets. In front of The Commissary, Asian Persuasion Food Truck, one of Columbus' newest trucks, was ready with some delicious Filipino food. Jesse and Katie were back with a cooler full of popsicles in refreshing flavors. Inside, JC's Just Chili had dropped off a tureen of amazing gazpacho for anyone to try.  It was delicious. Karen (filling in for Commissary founder Kate Djupe, who was on a much needed vacation) invited the group to explore the space and explained some of the upcoming events and cooking classes.

Finally the group returned to Whole Foods, where more eating, drinking and good camaraderie took place. It's going to take a couple of rides to work off all that was eaten that day...yet another successful Year of Yay!  Thank you, John.

'Keeping it cool' ride recap

[Ed note: Special thanks to July's ride leader and special guest blog contributor Kathleen O'Dowd!]

It can be"hot in the city", but we knew how to keep our cool and find ways to stay cool! With around 70 cyclists in tow, we headed out from Whole Foods with confidence that relief from the heat was in sight.

Our first stop was the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center, where we learned that Ohio State is a major player in this field of research. Thanks to Geoff Dipre, PhD student at the center, who helped coordinate our tour. We learned about the ecological stories that ice cores tell, and were very tempted to sneak into the room-sized freezers to cool off! Many of us plan to make a return visit for a more extended tour of the facility, and to see the ice cores first hand. After sharing their research efforts, Geoff and a fellow climate researcher joined in the rest of the Year of Yay ride!

7 miles later, it was time to refresh with a dose of Graeter's Ice Cream. Cyclists were invited to take a self-guided mini-tour, to learn about the Graeter's process for creating their Strawberry Chocolate Chip ice cream, or whatever flavor they care about. . . but who cares about anything but Strawberry Chocolate Chip. . . shrug! Mostof the group chose to simply indulge in some creamy goodness. Thanks to the crew there who stepped up to serve us.

Next stop was Zauber Brewing Co., and a tour with brewer and fellow cyclist Geoff Towne. (Is this the cycling tour of the Geoffs?) Initially opened as a small alley-side growler fill station in 2012, it expanded into a beautiful bar. Bike friendly, there was plenty of room for the almost 70 bikes that invaded the Grandview patio space. We even "lost" a few cyclists at the brewery, after they decided to relax there for a few.

The rest of the Year of Yay crew returned to Whole Foods. We gathered over pizza and Zauber beer on tap, brought to you by Year of Yay! A fun time. . . well, a fun time was had by all. Oh, and we stayed cool!

'Oddities' ride recap

With all due respect to Tom Robbins, as there were no flea circuses or orangutans on today’s trip, more than 70 riders set out to see another roadside attraction during the Yay Bikes June ride. This month’s Year of Yay ride is the 42nd since the program began. The theme of the June Year of Yay ride was Oddities and Craig Clark led the way.

The ride set out under sunny skies from Whole Foods in Upper Arlington. We meandered through Upper Arlington, diverting from out original planned route alongside Griggs Reservoir. The first stop was a true roadside attraction, The Bill Moose Memorial. Bill Moose was the last of the Wyandot Indians that lived in Ohio. His Memorial and gravesite is in a small park at the corner of Lane Road and Riverside Drive.

We left the Bill Moose memorial and headed east on Lane Road, making a right turn after a small portion of the hill that seems to never end. Riding through the old Shelbourne Height and River Lawn neighborhoods of Upper Arlington we passed by another oddity, but did not stop, a chainsaw carved Golden Bear on oxford Drive. We regrouped at the corner of Fairlington and Fishinger, where an officer from the UAPD stopped traffic for us on Fishinger. Thanks!!!

We crossed the Scioto River on Fishinger, headed up the hill to one of our greatest challenges, getting 70 people across I-270 at Fishinger and Cemetery Road. We, riding as a group took the lane and made it over the bridge with no incidents. After a quick stop at Speedway to refill with water, we rode the last two miles to second stop.

The Early Television Museum in Hilliard was the next top of the day. A special thanks to Steve McVoy for opening his collection to the public. There are a couple of hundred sets on display and several more that are still in storage. Some of the favorites of the Yay Bike crowd were the Kuba Komet and the news truck.

We left the museum to make the return trip back to Whole Foods, other than a roundabout and a railroad bridge we were obstacle free on the way back. The skies finally opened up on us once we got to Cambridge Boulevard. We only had to ride the last 2 miles wet and by the time we returned the sun was shining again.

'Up & coming neighborhoods' ride recap

Crossing the bridge into Franklinton. Photo credit: Keith Lugs

It's 10:00am on April 11, 2015. There are 80+ bicyclists outside of Whole Foods ready for 3 stops and 1 mission: to tour the up and coming neighborhoods of Columbus.

April’s Year of Yay Ride was a collaboration between Yay Bikes! and CRPSA, the City and Regional Planning Association at Ohio State University. Devin and Will, both board members of CRPSA, created, tested, and coordinated the stops and 18 mile route. After a brief safety message and notes about upcoming Yay Bikes! events from executive director Catherine Girves we were off!

The route to stop number one took the group through Upper Arlington and Grandview. On the way, the group spotted signs of construction at the new Grandview Yard development and took a test ride on the Goodale Street Olentangy Multi-use Trail Access Ramp. The route progressed as planned until the group exited the Olentangy Trail and headed into Franklinton. A road closure near the intersection of Souder Avenue and McKinley Avenue forced the 80+ Year of Yay-ers to a detour on a nearby trail.

At the eastern side of COSI, the group took a quick stop for a group weigh-in on the outdoor giant scale. Our 14,000+ lb total weight confirmed what we already knew – it’s time for everyone to invest in a lighter weight bicycle…or maybe time to ride! We headed west to the Columbus Idea Foundry, the ride’s first stop. Alex Bandar, Founder & CEO, greeted us and provided a brief tour that included a stop in the Foundry’s new upstairs presentation space. Members of the Idea Foundry have 24/7 access to the facilities, which include metal working equipment, 3D printers, and other tools to create almost anything.

On the way to Stop #2, the group pedaled through East Franklinton, one of the major up-and-coming neighborhoods in Columbus. In 2012, the Columbus City Council adopted a new plan for the area that forecasts and plans for 4,000 new residential units and over 500,000 square feet of arts, retail, office, and incubator space over the next 20 years. After crossing the Main Street Bridge, the group continued east through downtown into Olde Town East, the second up and coming neighborhood in Columbus.

Central Community House was our second stop. The organization’s mission is to provide a source of support and a community center for families in the Olde Town East neighborhood. The group was able to tour the facilities with Jackie Calderone, a member of the Central Community House leadership team and director of the Transit Arts program. Chloe Green, the president of CRPSA, spoke about her personal work with the Transit Arts program and its impact on teenage students in the area. Area students can also join other after-school programs and take classes about topics that range from public speaking to spoken word performance.

The route took the group west down Bryden Road and past the new Columbus Museum of Art expansion, which will nearly double the museum’s exhibit space. Passing under the Columbus College of Art and Design’s ART sculpture, the group continued down Gay and Front Street, passing by numerous construction sites on the way.

The third stop of Year of Yay! April 2015 was Ohio State University’s north campus residential project. In conjunction with the OSU Second-year Transformational Experience Program (STEP), the OSU north campus will see the net addition of 3,200 bed spaces, 11 new buildings, and 2 new dining facilities. Jennifer Evans-Cowley, OSU professor and Vice Provost for Capital Planning and Regional Campuses, provided a presentation on the details of the project – scheduled for completion in Autumn 2016.

Back at Whole Foods, the group rejoiced in a great ride full of optimistic thoughts for the summer season of bicycling. Will Yay Bikes! collectively reach our end-of-year weight loss goals? Surely a beautiful summer of Year of Yay! rides will begin to have an impact on our upcoming end of the season weigh in! See you in May for another great ride. Yay Bikes! (article written by Will Hughen)

'Underground Railroad' ride recap

By guest writer Shyra Allen, this month's ride co-leader

From gardens, parks and riverbeds, to burial places, beer mills and shops, we’ve got hundreds of places yet to explore, treasures yet to unearth and fascinating facts yet to discover. And whatever the weather, Yay Bikes! will find fabulous ways to make a day with us one to remember. After weeks of preparation we’d begun laying odds on Facebook the night before the ride on how many members would brave the weather. Bright and early—well…10 A.M. on March 14, 2015 with the storm building and the rain beginning to pour down in earnest from the skies over Columbus, while most people leaned back on their pillows and headboards of their beds and watched the fury, we gathered. Forty strong—for us Yay Bikes! members there’s no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothing, so we grabbed our willies, waterproofs and bicycles headed out for some wet weather fun. We were going underground…The Underground Railroad that is. Come rain, shine or snowstorms, setting off from Whole Foods with Yay Bikes! members, weaving our route—leaving the roads of Upper Arlington there is always a sense of warmth, comradeship and an awe-aspiring sense of adventure regarding our pending destinations. Today was no different—even better, we knew that rainy weather meant quieter roads and less chance of cars clogging our way and Maya and I were leading. With every turn of our pedals our smiles widened.

Saddle worn, wet, but in high spirits we arrived at our first stop in retracing The Underground Railroad. It was the Southwick-Good & Fortkamp Funeral Chapel at 3100 North High Street. Our speaker, his voice soft and shrouded in mystery, informed that it was erected in 1838 and called the Clinton Chapel. During the forty-four years it was used as a church, Clinton Chapel had an eventful history. The church served as a regular station of the Underground Railroad. The owner shared that The Underground Railroad was a secret (and sometimes not-so-secret) network of Good Samaritans, community activists, and family members who helped people escape from slavery before the Civil War. They sheltered, shepherded, and protected total strangers who came to them for help. He couldn’t or wouldn’t confirm or deny the role that his family played. He pointed out a darkened hallway. We peered in awe. He spoke of some suppositions…and then we all began to imagine this scenario today. Total strangers come to our house, seek food, shelter, and help moving to another sanctuary—and helping them is illegal. If caught, we could be fined thousands of dollars and be sent to prison. How many of us would help someone in such a situation today, no matter how worthy the cause or how destitute they were?

As we headed out for our next destination the rain had stopped, the sun was peeking from behind the clouds, we were warmed up and doing what we do best. Talking, laughing—the environment relaxed, people forming new acquaintances. I think I over heard a recipe exchange! It would have been so easy to bask in it all, but we needed to stay on schedule and there was more fun to be had.

Inhaling that after-the-rain-smell we peddled on. This was perhaps the best way to truly experience the landscape of northeast Columbus—the potholes, the smell of flowers and ripening trees, the sounds of dogs barking, the people and hidden treasures of an awakening street. I was reminded of the words of Ernest Hemingway: “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.”

We made it to our next stop. Maya spoke. Everyone listened as if nothing else were more important in the world. As we mounted and rode toward our next stop that promised an opportunity to eat snacks Yay Bikes! members were very enthused and inspired and it goes to show that bicycling doesn’t always have to be speed and cool outfits. It can also and does connect folks socially and spiritually too.

Up a steep hill and along long stretches of road we traveled toward the Ohio History Center at 800 East 17th Avenue, where Deanne added to her selfie collection and we sat for a short lecture on John Rankin. He was an American Presbyterian minister, educator and abolitionist. Upon moving to Ripley, Ohio (road trip!) in 1822 he became known as one of Ohio's first and most active "conductors" on the Underground Railroad. While I’d looked forward to the lecture it turned out to be an absolute gem!

The impact this leadership role had on this day and on my life will be everlasting. Even in the little moments I felt like I was doing something—from making it to the top of the hill without stopping to our successfully navigating the five-mile stretch of road in twos. As we headed back toward Whole Foods happiness snuck in through doors I didn’t know I’d left open. A good message about not just bicycling to be a bicyclist but to have an impact on people and to be impacted myself.

'Valentine's Day' ride recap

Wheel you be my valentine? The forecast did not answer that question with certainty,  predicting frigid temperatures, snow and 40 mile-per-hour winds. Despite this, the question was answered by an astounding 43 riders who showed up at Whole Foods on February 14, 2015. What they did not know was that the ride leaders, Jennifer Cowley and Kathleen Koechlin, along with other Yay Bikes! members spent the previous week, evening and early morning working to determine the best course for a safe, successful and fun ride, given the weather. At 10 am, the weather was mild and promising and after announcements by our fearless Yay Bikes! Executive Director, Catherine Girves, and an explanation of the ride by Jennifer Cowley, we headed out towards The Ohio State University (OSU). We wove through the streets of Upper Arlington to pick up a trail off of Guilford and North Star that led us to campus and the OSU Ornamental Pant Germplasm Center.

Dr. Pablo Jourdan met us there to share his passion for the genetic diversity of floriculture. The best explanation of what is done here is on the Center’s website which states, “Our mission is to conserve genetically-diverse herbaceous plant germplasm and associated information, conduct germplasm-related research, and encourage the use of germplasm and associated information for research, crop improvement and product development. Our goals are to acquire, document, maintain, characterize and distribute herbaceous ornamental genetic resources and associated information for conservation, and to enhance scientific research as well as the floriculture and nursery industry.” Dr. Jourdan also gave us a tour the greenhouses. It was interesting, educational, warm experience and offered our first gift of Valentine’s Day…..flowers!

While the weather was holding we decided to continue towards our second stop. We rode through campus, via Hunter Ave and through Victorian Village where Third Ave took us east to the Short North, and The Garden. After all, why not lingerie on Valentine’s Day? The Garden is an adult emporium with two levels. The first floor features shoes, boots, stockings, lingerie and costumes. For those seeking a more adult Valentine adventure, the basement level had everything you could need. It was all presented in a respectful way. The staff was friendly and informative, and the atmosphere was comfortable and inviting. 

Leaving The Garden was where the true adventure began. Snow began to fall with enthusiasm, and visibility diminished. We found ourselves in a serious white out! We decided to skip our 3rd stop, the chocolate shop (not to worry...there was chocolate later...stay tuned), so onward to our 4th stop, which was on the way back to Whole Foods. This part of the ride was amazing in so many ways. The snow was coming down in big, beautiful flakes and the gusting, 40 mph westerly blew the snow sideways fogging our glasses and goggles. A number of riders had never ridden in these conditions before, so there was a feeling of uncertainty along with exhilaration and pride. It served to remind us of the hardships those who have no other form of transportation endure. Caution was exercised and we looked out for one another. As John PC later wrote, “What's interesting to me is that during the worst of the storm, everyone was going about the same speed due to visibility and the condition of the road. For those few minutes, I felt safer and less worried about being rear-ended than I did during other parts of the ride.”

We soon arrived in intact at Weidinger Jewelers and the French Loaf on Grandview's  Fifth Ave. Weidinger Jewelers is the shop of William A. Weidinger, who has designed and created original jewelry for over 40 years. His shop has 24 showcases highlighting his designs with platinum, gold, and gemstones. There were beautiful gifts for a well healed Valentine! While some riders perused the many elegant jewelry pieces on display, others went into the neighboring French Loaf to warm up with hot coffee. Some refueled with delicious baked goods, some of which were Valentine themed! We returned outside to find our bikes covered in new snow, and the visibility and the road conditions were getting even more bleak. The wind had picked up, and at times was a challenge to stay upright! Again the route was altered as we moved off 5th Ave as soon as possible. We chose to head north on the lesser traveled North Star and wound back through Upper Arlington. No riders were left behind. In fact, even more camaraderie was displayed during this last leg. The cross wind was relentless and a couple of first-time Year of Yay! riders chose to walk their bicycles. Several seasoned Year of Yay! riders dismounted and walked alongside them to be assure they felt comfortable and made it back safely.

Back at Whole Foods, we became prideful. Many of us had successfully negotiated our first snowstorm, but the day still promised surprise. Because the forecast was so uncertain and stops might have to be abandoned, the leaders provided a drawing for items representing each stop. There was chocolate for all (Dove dark chocolate hearts wrapped in red wrappers) and names were drawn for items representing The Garden and Weidinger Jewelers. These token items made for a lot of laughter and fun. Many stayed to enjoy a cold beverage or two and a meal. The bond had been set as we all felt stronger for having weathered the weather through a significant storm together. In fact, there are aspects of this ride that will forever connect us—suffice it to say that sometimes what happens on Year of Yay! stays on Year of Yay!. Jeff Gove summed the ride up perfectly in his post. “For me, Saturday's ride was a tribute to everyone's common sense, concern for their own safety and those around them, awareness of weather conditions and all vehicles, etc. The fact that it sprang up on everyone and we banded together so well and so naturally proves that motorists and cyclists can co-exist, should co-exist and need to for the health of our community.” It was a total winter blast.

'Crafty cyclists' ride recap

10:00 a.m. on a chilly Saturday morning, 54 eager riders were called to attention to hear Rahel Babb talk about the morning's tour, highlighting the craft locations we would be experiencing. Executive director Catherine Girves (in her new, cycling-specific jacket) updated the crowd on the latest Yay Bikes! news. Shortly thereafter, we were enroute to the Ohio Craft Museum. Meandering through central Upper Arlington toward Grandview, we arrived at our destination. There was ample parking, and as always several cyclists remained near our steeds to ensure they'd be there when we returned from this stop. The museum was filled with affordable goodies at a perfect time for last minute Christmas acquisitions. It wasn't long before riders were stashing their booty. Riders without carrying capacity were invited to stow their purchases with those who rode with bags and panniers for the duration of the tour.  

The morning's chill was going to be stayed by a promising warming up at Luck Bros coffee. Steaming specialty coffees and hot cocoa for all. It's amazing how pleasurable enjoying such water solubles can be in company of cycling friends. Onward through the neighborhoods of lower Grandview Heights, through Harrison West, around the circles adjacent to Battelle, and past the OSU Campus area to our friends at Wild Goose Creative, where another group of local craft people were showing/selling their wares via their Crafts Gone Wild Craft Fair. Parking our bikes on the roof of the building was a uniquely elevating experience.

Our final stop was back at Whole Foods. We cruised across High Street through the Buckeye Village family housing neighborhood, past the Jesse Owens Memorial stadium, Bill Davis stadium, and both sections of Chadwick Arboretum. Whole Foods had invited riders to leave coats and hats in the main café, grab a cup of hot cocoa and get a personally escorted store tour (free samples galore). We were shown a number of hand-crafted items available at the store, including locally made soap, baskets, cheese, bakery items, and sausage.

A large numbers of riders stayed on for food, drink and camaraderie. We talked of our ride, our plans and the enjoyment cycling has brought to our lives. Another successful tour of place was offered and had by all.

A Very Merry 2014 Year of Yay!

When you support Yay Bikes!  >>  A Year of Yay! happens!

• 12 months
• 12 rides
• 31 cash bombs
• 35 volunteers
• 56 stops
• 213 unique riders
• 538 total riders

Throughout 2014, Yay Bikes! continued to offer Central Ohio's premier backstage pass with our monthly themed Year of Yay! rides. These urban adventure rides provide a low-stakes way for inexperienced cyclists to gain confidence riding city streets, and give all riders new mental maps of workable routes for their everyday trips. They also support local organizations and businesses with 'cash bombs' from our riders, helping create a vibrant community full of cool places to ride! And the rides, which have been created and supported by a dedicated crew of volunteers, are one of the key ways we are developing leaders within the bicycle community who manifest our core values of kindness, integrity and excellence. 

Announcing 2015's Year of Yay! themes & button artist

2015's themes

Mark your calendars for 2nd Saturdays throughout 2015! Our themes will be:

• Jan = Winter Comforts, led by Catherine Girves
• Feb = Valentines, led by Jen Cowley & Kathleen Koechlin
• Mar = Underground Railroad, led by John Wyman
• Apr = Up & Coming, led by OSU City & Regional Planning students
• May = Bike to Work, led by Julie Walcoff
• Jun = Oddities, led by Craig Clark
• Jul = Cool It, led by Kathleen O'Dowd
• Aug = Food Incubators, led by John Cresencia
• Sep = Architecture, led by David Curran
• Oct = Get Out the Vote, led by Bambo Sanusi
• Nov = Biology Class, led by Rick Ucker
• Dec = Giving, led by Trace Hendricks

2015's artist: Devin Carothers

Devin Carothers is a Planner at OHM Advisors dedicated to strengthening communities through collaborative public engagement, intuitive design and creative problem solving. Devin is currently completing his Masters of City and Regional Planning with a specialization in Physical Planning and Urban Design at The Ohio State University. He serves as Vice President of the City & Regional Planning Student Association and has ridden Pelotonia for several years as a proud member of Team Buckeye. Welcome to the YB! fold, Devin, and thanks for your delightful designs!

2015's sponsor

We are pleased to report that Whole Foods Market in Upper Arlington will return as our Year of Yay! sponsor in 2015, and all rides will continue to begin and end at that location. HUGE UPS to Whole Foods Market for their ongoing support of Year of Yay!.

'Superheroes' ride recap

Cyclists? Or comic book superheroes?

Aliceanne Inskeep, with assistance from Jeff Gove, put together a fabulous adventure for the November, 2014, chapter of Year of Yay!  Their inventive take on a super heroes theme landed us in some interesting and unusual locations.  They are pictured here after having successfully consulted with Zeus, the Greek god of the sky.  They were able to negotiate some superb, fall weather. After learning about what's new and happening at Yay Bikes! from our executive director, Catherine Girves, and briefs about safety and the route, we began our journey out of Whole Foods towards our first destination.

St. Stephens Community House was originally established to assist Catholics immigrating to Columbus from Italy, Hungary and Yugoslavia, following the great war. The Barthman Avenue Catholic Community was formed in 1919, and  later morphed into St. Stephen's CommunityHouse. It served new immigrants to acclimate to their new home and gain citizenship.  Moving from its South Side origins to the Linden area in the early 1960's," the organization established itself as a much-needed resource for the neighborhood.  Since 1965, St. Stephen’s has focused its service in the Greater Linden area, weaving itself into the fabric of the community."  We were received warmly with a reception from the staff who gathered our donations, served a variety of hot teas, and gave us a tour of the facility and numerous programs designed to serve the Greater Linden area.

We left St. Stephen's knowing we had just experienced a place of heroic standing for so many in the community and headed towards our second destination. We traveled west by northwest through part of the Linden area business district on Hudson Avenue. We wound our way around the University district and Clintonville's Overbrook Ravine as we neared the legendary Laughing Ogre, where super heroes are immortalized on the written page and in the illustrated form. Riders couldn't help but be impressed by the variety of products. This was a first for many of us who had not ventured into an establishment selling comic books since we were children. The industry has come a long way, and the art has taken on greater depth.

Stomachs began to grumble, so in the nick of time, we headed on to nourishment and our next super-hero stop. It was destined to please. Just south of the Park of Roses, on quiet streets,  piled high with the colorful leaves from ancient trees, we were beckoned to the home of Aliceanne's mother, Joanne Inskeep for sweetsfrom Buckeye Donuts and Cider from Ohio apples. We basked in sunshine and each other's company replenishing ourselves for the remainder of the afternoon's destinations. We were just west of the Olentangy River Trail as we began moving around the Webster Park neighborhood to our next super-hero stop.  We traveled across High Street, to the Clintonville home of Artist Paul Volker.

This was one of our tour director's undergraduate art school super heroes. Paul started painting in elementary school where he had to be separated from others as his drawings distracted class-room students. Probably most well known for his "wild beast" paintings, Paul is now working on larger scale works, including the use of 3D elements in painting.  A number of Paul's works were on display including his cards with a number of his well-known images on sale and discounted for riders.

Meandering away from Paul's house, we proceeded through the north part of the University Area district, past North Campus to the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum, located in Sullivant Hall at The Ohio State University. "The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum houses the world’s largest collection of comic strip tear sheets and clippings. It also is home to unique, original art and manuscript materials...The library has had several former names: Milton Caniff Reading Room, 1977; Library for Communication and Graphic Arts; Cartoon, Graphic, and Photographic Arts Research Library; Cartoon Research Library, 1989; Cartoon Library and Museum, July 2009; and the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum, September 2009."

From here we ventured through South Campus and cycled our way back to our starting point. A number of riders stayed on at Whole Foods to enjoy the company of fellow travelers and talk of our experiences and a new sense of place. In conclusion, it was a great day with memorable destinations enjoyed by all. Thanks to Aliceanne and Jeff and to all those who volunteered to make this twenty-one mile tour a truly big bucket O' riding fabulousness.

'Spooooookay!' ride recap

Could we have asked for finer weather? No! The spirits were with us the entire day, they escorted us, and we appreciated them guiding us through what might have been a truly frightening experience. Cherie Antonia, our ride leader, took us out of the Whole Foods parking lot a little after 10 am on this spirited, beautiful, fall morning.  

With a mild nip in the air,  we meandered through Upper Arlington, Grandview and Marble Cliff. We picked up the lower Scioto Greenway adjacent to Riverside Drive and crossed the bridge over the River into the community of Valley View. We headed southeast towards our first possessed destination, Camp Chase Cemetery. Camp Chase was a military staging and training camp established in Columbus, Ohio in May 1861 after the start of the American Civil War. It also included a section for use as a prison camp for confederate soldiers during the American Civil War. The camp was closed and dismantled after the war, and the site has been redeveloped for residential and commercial use, except for the Confederate States Army cemetery containing 2,260 graves. Tales are told of a lady in grey weeping quietly over the grave of one Benjamin F. Allen, a private in the 50th Tennessee regiment company. While leaving several riders claimed to have witnessed an ethereal,  melancholy presence. Some said they could hear a very low and soft moaning as we quietly exited grave side.

Undaunted, we cautiously proceeded to our next ghostly destination. Cherie expertly navigated us through the West Side of Columbus toward the Green Lawn Abbey. This allowed us to approach the Green Lawn Cemetery from its southern end and gave us an uncommon glimpse at what birders around the country know to be premier and sacred land. Along with a vast number of dead people are some ancient and notable trees residing in this cemetery. It is those trees that host those many birds and make Green Lawn the National Geographic and Audubon acclaimed treasure that it is. Arriving at Green Lawn Abbey exposed us to yet another strange and exciting experience. We were greeted by a volunteer docent who shared the remarkable tale of this crypt (Listen Here). Built in 1927 by the Columbus Mausoleum Company, It was the finest and largest in the area with room for 600 interments (aka dead people). The Columbus Mausoleum Company built numerous other mausoleums in the surrounding area but this was was their showpiece. Built to last forever and to inspire awe, it had 1½“ thick granite walls, marble interior and an imported tile roof. Everyone enjoyed occasionally recognizing some of the names of those persons who left their marks on Columbus and its neighborhoods.

As everyone knows, it takes a lot of energy to journey into the world of spirits and ghosts. Although the spirits mentored us throughout as we journeyed, they did not feed our bodies, so we made our way to the Hills Market downtown for physical nourishment.  On a ride we did not too long ago, Yay Bikes! member John Bannon shared that the part of long rides he loves the most are the stops. No truer point could be made on this day. We shared camaraderie, and fueled our bellies to take the last of our spirit-world journeys for the day. Pictured above is our executive director, Catherine Girves and her partner in marriage, Jeff Gove. Although you can't tell from the photo, they were both very scared during the ride and it was only after this refueling and much support from other riders that they could once again smile.

It was time for us to move on and Cherie was once again up the task. Not too far from the Market, but deeper into our netherworld travels, our final stop awaited us at James Thurber's House. From 1913-1917, Thurber attended the Ohio State University. It was at this time that his family rented the house we visited. It was dedicated as the Thurber House in 1984. After some of us finished touring the home we were entertained by an enthusiast who began sharing a number of witty Thurber quotes and factoids about the author.  We all gained a sense of the celebrity who once lived in this modest home.  

Inundated with the spirit, we headed back, sailing off on two wheels to return to the start. A number of us celebrated the culmination of our ghostly meandering with some spirits (the kind that come in a Pilsner glass or snifter) at Whole Foods. We made merry and talked about another delightful Year of Yay! It was an experience that allowed us to celebrate not only joy of cycling, but of just being alive.