Ohio Fall Ramble- Oct 15

[yamaholic]

r.e. Valve checks--no, it is not in my plan to do this. Not only would it take all day, sucking time out of other efforts, but I really have no experience with valves in an inline 4. I'm taking mine to the dealer when it needs it. Besides, adjusting valves WILL NOT FIX THE TICK. And you have over 8K miles before they need checked, so why bother?

Now if someone else who attends can and wants to do it...more power to you guys, you are very welcome to do it. Realistically, I don't see the tech session happening at my house this year as work has forced me to, well, work pretty much every day, evening, and weekend. If I have free time, I'll be riding, not wrenching! If we can plan for March/April that will likely work out well.

Now...back to the ramble! I'm working on the route as we speak. You guys are going to like it! I do have a question: Would you rather ride 250, 350, or 400 miles+? Keep in mind 75% will be twisties/hills. That will be from the start/stop point which will be Central Ohio, so this does not include your commute to the area. Let me know!

:drinks:

 

[FJRocket]

350 is a good number. 400+ gets a bit much, especially if you plan a couple stops and some lunch. If it's 350 and you can only go 35 mph, even that's a bit excessive!

You're the Trail Boss. You get to decide.

Ok, I'm going out riding! THE SUN IS ACTUALLY OUT!

 

[escapefjrtist]

The spring run was just right...Shoot for 300 - 350 miles and everyone will have their fill of twisties, sight seeing and bench racing.

@yamaholic, put me down as a confirmed attendee. Can I have my favorite sofa in the basement?? B)

Lookin' forward to October.... Hope it's not snowing in MI then.

--G

 

[FJRocket]

I rode 550 today. That's definitely too much. My saddle is going to need some attention before coming over there. Certainly before EOM. OWWWIE, my butt bone hurts!

350 or so would have been about right. 550 was a VERY long day. Some of the riding was slower, and flat and straight. That's not good. So it really depends on the roads and the speeds. But I am really strung out from today. Of course it probably won't be in the 90's in October. At least I HOPE.

And you were right, Yamaholic, Cincinnati sucks.

 

[scooter cruzer]

You kids have fun....... I know the spring ride was an absolute blast! Unfortunately, I'll be riding the twisties in Southern Florida that weekend..... or sitting on the beach having a beer.

Hopefully, some of the other guys from Cincy will come up for the fun even though we (evidentally) suck.

Take lots of pics and keep the tupperware up.

Spring ride......... if you need a refresher

https://www.imagestation.com/album/index.html?id=2127947426

Scooter

 

[FJRocket]

Cincy doesn't suck. My apologies.

I just didn't like the traffic, the road work, and the lousy road conditions most places I rode. That's what sucked. I didn't have any fun riding around there. Through town, around town, bypass, interstate. Ugh. Scenic, though. Looked like some cool places. Just bad timing and wrong roads, I suppose.

Yep, send some o' yo' boyz over for the Ramble, Scooter. Should be fun!

I'll bet riding to South Florida will be fun. What curves you talking about riding down there? I think there's just one, where the highway turns from Miami to the Keys. Everything else is arrow straight?

 

[yamaholic]

we (evidentally) suck

LOL! No, no, Cincinnati is a nice city. Nice people, tons of things to see. A lot of history. But the roads are crowded and there are a lot of potholes/patches. Not the best MC area. Nothing unusual for a big city at all. I would never ride my bike through Chicago for these reasons unless I absolutely had to (times 10).

So Rocket, did you ride out this way this past weekend? If so, where did you go?

BTW, I checked out your website--WOW, man you are the king of farkling (airplanes!). I'm impressed! B)

 

[yamaholic]

350 or so would have been about right

Yep,350 miles of twisties is a long day! I'm going to try to make this a 300 mile ride. This will give us a little more time to socialize and perhaps ride (slowly) through a few state parks, take more breaks, etc, and will give everyone some time to get back to the motel to rest

 

[yamaholic]

Can I have my favorite sofa in the basement??
George-Absolutely, it's yours! We just detailed/steam cleaned it as well!

 

[scooter cruzer]

Cincy doesn't suck. My apologies.
I just didn't like the traffic, the road work, and the lousy road conditions most places I rode. That's what sucked. I didn't have any fun riding around there. Through town, around town, bypass, interstate. Ugh. Scenic, though. Looked like some cool places. Just bad timing and wrong roads, I suppose.

Yep, send some o' yo' boyz over for the Ramble, Scooter. Should be fun!

I'll bet riding to South Florida will be fun. What curves you talking about riding down there? I think there's just one, where the highway turns from Miami to the Keys. Everything else is arrow straight?

Matt, don't apologize....... I'm just busting your chops mate (and the main roads here do suck).

Plenty of good roads to play on down here though, but most are in Nky.

 

[escapefjrtist]

Mike - What did you steam clean? The house was immaculate...me an' the cats will take the basement then. Thanks

--G

 

[FJRocket]

Matt, don't apologize....... I'm just busting your chops mate (and the main roads here do suck).
Plenty of good roads to play on down here though, but most are in Nky.

It's not like I was GROVELING for your forgiveness or anything, there , Scooter! I knew it was friendly minor ballbusting. No worries.

Yamaholic, no sir, I did not make it far enough into your country. I was on a ride from TH, to LOU, to CINCY, to Indy and back home. Just wanted to run the river and see if I wanted to do the back roads from home to LOU when going south (as in, to EOM). I decided my chances of getting in trouble at night do NOT warrant riding 2 lanes for 3 hours. And I didn't like the "scenic byway" along the Ohio. I now know were several casinos are, though.

Yes, I am a farkle fiend. I have been waiting and waiting for my experimental airplane engine to be completed so I can get that thing installed and get flying sometime. Since I am in the wait mode for the engine, I kind of went whole hog in riding the FJR. That's why I've had such a presence here lately. There for about 10 months, you never saw me on the other board, I was in the basement banging rivets (or working). It's coming along nicely, but I'm being held up. As the riding season wains, I'll get back to it.

We going riding this weekend or what's the plan? I've been looking forward to a scouting trip or two!

 

[yamaholic]

Alrighty!!! I've created the route! :guitar:

A few details have been left out on purpose as I want to confirm them first (name of locations of meet point and lunch, which I'm open to ideas for lunch in Caldwell).

Aside from that, this should be about 360 miles of riding, mostly on forested, hilly, twisty backroads and secondary state highways . We can dynamically adjust the route depending if the group wantsr more or less challenge. :super1:

Also towards the end, if we arrive early and you want to ride more, the entire county (Hocking) is both gorgeous and filled with challenging roads.

________________________________________________________________

1.) Meet Rt 13/204 Intersection. Huge Gas Station

Just East of Thornville/very close to East tip of Buckeye Lake.

Roughly halfway between Columbus and Zanesville.

Gas up, snack, coffee, meet/greet.

2.) Stay South on St Rt 13 for about 40 miles

Go through Somerset, New Lexington, Enter Wayne National Forest, Moxahala, Rendville, Corning.

3.) Turn left (East/North) on St Rt 78 near Tom Jenkins Dam

4.) Stop at Burr Oak State Park for a break.

5.) Continue on Rt 78 East/North past Ringold, Malta, and McConnelsville, Reinersville, Sharon, Caldwell.

6.) Lunch near Caldwell, location TBS (ideas??)

7.) 564 South out of Caldwell

9.) Right on Rt. 339 (South/West) to Dexter City. Pass Crooked Tree (yes that is a town name), Waterford, and Watertown.

10.) Turn Right on Rt 550 (West) at Barlow.

11.) Break on Rt 550

12.) 550 West to 33 (West/North)

13.) Turn left (South/West) on Rt 691 South of Nelsonville

Pass Kimberly and Five Points

14.) Turn right on St. Rt56 (West)

Not really any named towns on this road, just a few houses here and there and curves galore.

15.) Enter Hocking Hills Region.

16.)Turn Right on St Rt 374 (north).

Take the jogs, stay on rt 374

17.) Stop at one of the natural attractions here if you guys want /have time.

18.) Depending on time from here, we can spend another hour or more riding 56/374/Thompson Ridge Rd triangle. This is all fantastic riding.

19.) End ride at Jimbos'bar and Grill. Rt 56/near 664. Optional snack/dinner or make your way home, or keep riding the area.

________________________________________________________________

Other notes:

Bring plenty of water and snacks, you'll be burning a lot of energy on these roads! Make sure your tires and brakes are in excellent condition. Temps are likely to be 30-50 during the morning, 45-60 in the afternoon at this time of the year. Bring your heated gear or layerst. I highly doubt it will snow this time of the year, but it may rain. Also do stiffen your suspension clickers before we get underway as the twistys will demand a firm chassis. I can help make recommendations and changes that morning if anyone is "suspension setup challenged"

Looking forward to the ride! This is a tentative route, if anyone knows of a gem road or route nearby, by all means fess up!! I'm half tempted to lead us into WV, but I'm afraid the miles will add up to fast! :sleepy:

P.S. Rocket, I left you a VM. Give me a call to chat about riding this weekend! Sorry haven't contacted you sooner!

 

[FJRocket]

Looks like a great ride! Some of the roads aren't listed on Google Maps, but I think I can find most of the towns.

There's a Super 8 motel there in Hebron Ohio that would be convenient for those of us who would probably need a room. It's just off I-70, NW of Buckeye Lake.

Yammy, you got email from me through this board. Sorry I missed your call.

 

[Pappy]

Hi all, I'll be freshly moved into the area around mid-September so the timing's perfect. I need a group ride early-on to get to know y'all and the area.

 

[yamaholic]

Where are you from and where are you moving to, Pappy?

 

[quicksilver]

Oww... Looks like 6 hours of twisty saddle time. That will be a good nights sleep.

Links stopped working, see if image postings work.

Be glad to make changes as things get firmed up.

map

directions

 

[wheatonFJR]

You guys are going to have too much fun!!

I'm extremely jealous. :angry:

 

[yamaholic]

Yep, this is a tentative route. I want to ride a few of the roads near the map to see if contrsuction/gravel/bad pavement is a factor. Count on taking a few sidebar roads off the main route.

Count on more like 8 hours of riding. Including a one hour lunch and combined 1 hour break/photo opp (or perhaps a stop at one of the natural attractions), this should be about a 10 hour day.

@wheaton- No worries, there will be a Spring Ramble '06 :haha:

 

[quicksilver]

Links died. I repasted the hyperlinks. They seem to work now.

Wish I knew why.