Pacelines
By Jack Hornsby, Bicycling Activity Leader
August 2007
GOBA continues to be one of my favorite weeks of the year. It was participation
in GOBA that originally convinced me to spend more time as a volunteer for Columbus
Outdoor Pursuits. As I have continued to cut back on my bicycle mileage, I have
found the GOBA off days to be very enjoyable. Off days are when we spend two days
in the same camp area with optional riding loops for the avid riders and laundry
or sight seeing time for those who want the day off. One of my off days, this year,
allowed me to visit the WACO (Weaver Aircraft Company) museum in TROY and photograph
GOBA and Troy from the air during a flight in a WACO biplane.
Wapakoneta was our other off day this year and I spent a day visiting the Neil
Armstrong Air and Space museum and all the other local attractions advertised by
the chamber of commerce. While I thought I had seen it all; several riders who had
found the Wapakoneta Stone House by accident or by word of mouth surprised me. This
was apparently a must see which I somehow missed. It seems that the owner has built
the house and grounds from thousands of collected rocks over many years. Sounds
like a definite reason for a return trip. Seeing Ohio and learning the small towns
history is one of the reasons I enjoy the weeklong tours, GOBA and XOBA. I continue
to get calls from individuals and groups wanting to plan smaller trips, on bikes,
as family vacations or group outings. If you haven't tried biking the back roads
or trails of Ohio, create your own bicycle adventures or give ours a try.
It appears to me that bicycling for recreation and also transportation is becoming
more common. I recently read that over 62 percent of all buses in the country now
have exterior bicycle racks. The city of Columbus has recently appointed Steve Tweed
as manager of the City of Columbus Bicycle Master Plan. Columbus will be working
with the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission and the Central Ohio Bicycle Advocacy
Coalition to plan the future of Central Ohio bicycling. Columbus Outdoor Pursuits
is a recreational bicycling organization and not involved in bicycle advocacy. However,
I do support their efforts. If you feel you are a stakeholder in this process, get
involved; contact Steve at srtweed(at)columbus.gov.
This is my final month as Bicycle Activity Leader for Columbus Outdoor Pursuits.
I certainly want to thank all of you who have made my last four years so enjoyable.
Like many of you, I will continue to volunteer for certain COP activities. Plan
to join Dave Knight and myself as we produce Ride the Darby on August 4 from Grove
City. Also stop by and visit me at Aquatic Adventures in Hilliard, my full time
activity away from COP. Our Salt Water Aquarium is a must see even if you aren't
into swimming or under water activities.
E-mail me at bicycling(at)outdoor-pursuits or call 614/877-3085 with your
comments or suggestions.
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