We have a Richland County Golf Tournament and a Richland County Tennis Tournament, what about a Richland County bike race?
I mean we already have the Shelby Bicycle Days, right?
And I don’t mean a tricycle race for kids or one of those big wheel races. I mean those are all well and good for kids, and I’m all for that, but I mean an honest to goodness bike race where contestants are going really fast.
It’s not like we don’t have the geography for it.
You could start in Plymouth and end in Butler. There are plenty of hills for climbs and flat areas too.
Here is my route. You start at the square in Plymouth, the actual county line with Richland and Huron County and proceed south on State Route 61, but make a left on Plymouth-Springmill Road, watch out for the railroad tracks, they are kind of rough there. There are some hills through there, but not too bad. It gets racers off to a start that isn’t too easy or hard, let’s them get into their rhythm a little.
Next make a right turn and take Smiley Avenue into Shelby and make a left at Broadway and take Mansfield Avenue toward Mansfield. I could see the people lining the streets in Shelby encouraging the racers as the come through town. Once you get out of Shelby on what is then State Route 39 you can make good speed. I know that for a fact. I was once ticketed by an officer of the law for doing 75, not on my bike, but in my Mustang.
Once you get past Milliorn’s you take a left at Cairns Road, a little dip at Harrington Memorial Road and a left onto Piper Road and take it the State Route 545 and make left and head back to the north. Again there are some hills in that area, but not too tough. Riders then make a U-turn at Dayspring and head south on 545.
After reaching Piper again take a left there and head for Stewart Road taking all of the way to State Route 430 and ride it out to State Route 603, yes I know this Ashland County, and take it back south to state Route 39, turn right and head into Lucas.
Then it is up State Route 39, this is a curvy road, and sure to cause some accidents among aggressive riders. The route would head to Madison Township again and make it to 430 again, then right at Illinois Ave to the hairpin turn at Ashland Road, maybe the most exciting part of the race, and down Ashland Road hill to Park Avenue East, to the square in Mansfield, out the old “Miracle Mile” to Lexington-Springmill and right on Ontario’s main highway, then a left on State Route 309, merge with Park Avenue again to Lexington-Ontario road and turn left taking it down by the Clear Fork Reservoir to State Route 97 and through Lexington. Then staying on State Route 42 or Lexington Avenue, until you reach Hanley Road, turn right, now there are some hills, and take to State Route 13, where you head south for Bellville, a high speed area.
Once you reach State Route 97 again turn left there and take it to you reach Clear Fork High School, turn on Dill Road and take it to Rhinehart Road, and proceed to Possum Run Road, now those are only climbs and descends for the experienced riders. Turn right at Possum Run and take it to State Route 95 where you ride to Butler, which the finish line being where State Route 95 and State Route 97 cross.
Now that is a race, better start training now.
After years of toil and sweat behind radio station microphones, longtime broadcaster, Jeff Swank joined the new generation of sports followers on the web.
Swank launched his internet radio station with nothing more than some wire, a box with some knobs and switches, and an itch to do much more than just scratch the surface of everything sports.
Richland Source is proud to introduce Jeff as a writer focused on high school sports. He will contribute a weekly column and analysis of a featured game of the week from one of our area high schools.
In addition to his work at Richland Source, Jeff provides complete high school sports coverage for over 70 Ohio schools at his web site, http://www.swankonsports.net76.net/.
