SE Ohio Spring Ramble - 3-5 May 2013 - Marietta, Ohio Microtel Inn

[luvtoride]

Hey, speaking of WV, I really want to take him into the deep dark roads of West By God Virginia on the Sunday. I figure Saturday we'll be in my playground east of the Interstate. So who has suggestions for roads across the river? I now 50 is supposed to be pretty good.

Depending on where you want to go, I will be travelling through the state on the way home Sunday. I had a following the last time I came from the ramble. I could show you a few good roads.

Bob, take them down 20 from New Martinsville past Holly River to Webster Springs, then across 15 to 219

I may even tag along if you decide to do this on your way out. I can hit Rte 250 from there to I-64 & home. We'll see.

 

[Intech]

Hey, speaking of WV, I really want to take him into the deep dark roads of West By God Virginia on the Sunday. I figure Saturday we'll be in my playground east of the Interstate. So who has suggestions for roads across the river? I now 50 is supposed to be pretty good.

Depending on where you want to go, I will be travelling through the state on the way home Sunday. I had a following the last time I came from the ramble. I could show you a few good roads.

Bob, take them down 20 from New Martinsville past Holly River to Webster Springs, then across 15 to 219

I may even tag along if you decide to do this on your way out. I can hit Rte 250 from there to I-64 & home. We'll see.

Well our ride home will be very similar as always, so I was assuming that you would probably be with me. If Bungie doesn't come with us we will be free to do whatever we want. Always like showing others some of the WV fun, though.

 

[extrememarine]

Steve - you're going to need to set a mileage cap for Sunday, otherwise we will be having lunch in Tazewell. I mean, we can probably be there by 1p for lunch if we leave at 0530, and back for dinner at Arby's before they close (cause they're open 24hrs).

 

[Bungie]

Steve - you're going to need to set a mileage cap for Sunday, otherwise we will be having lunch in Tazewell. I mean, we can probably be there by 1p for lunch if we leave at 0530, and back for dinner at Arby's before they close (cause they're open 24hrs).

I actually googled it and it's 4.5hrs from Marietta. So I showed Jim some pics of the New River Gorge and he says he wants to see it. Then I showed him my vid of 16 on my way down to EOM. I'd love to take him down that road, but he openly admits his skill level won't allow him to keep up, so I had a talk with him about riding his own ride.

I don't think it's going to happen on this trip, that's one long ass day followed by another one to get home. But if the weather is nice...

 

[wheatonFJR]

Steve - you're going to need to set a mileage cap for Sunday, otherwise we will be having lunch in Tazewell. I mean, we can probably be there by 1p for lunch if we leave at 0530, and back for dinner at Arby's before they close (cause they're open 24hrs).

I actually googled it and it's 4.5hrs from Marietta. So I showed Jim some pics of the New River Gorge and he says he wants to see it. Then I showed him my vid of 16 on my way down to EOM. I'd love to take him down that road, but he openly admits his skill level won't allow him to keep up, so I had a talk with him about riding his own ride.

I don't think it's going to happen on this trip, that's one long ass day followed by another one to get home. But if the weather is nice...

You guys can do WV if you want, but there's two full days of riding in the SE Ohio base area. I was disappointed that I didn't get to ride both routes last year. I'll be damned if I let that happen this year...

 

[airboss]

Hehe.. Jim just left my office, he's stoked. But you should have seen his face when he realized it's a little better than a 1000km (600 miles) door-to-door and we'd be doing it one stretch. I think this is double his longest single day ride ever.
I had to settle him down by telling him google has it at 10hrs, I usually take 12, with stops. Now he's talking about leaving Thurs after work to break up the trip. "Naw, just pop some Motrin.. er, Ibuprofen, in the morning and keep riding."

"It should be okay, but we might be swapping bikes, I might need the the 'couch'" he says.

Looking forward to it, were gonna have a blast.

Steve, tell Jim no worrys the VFR will be fine.

Did a SS1000 on a VFR800 FI.

Yea, that hurt

 

[Bungie]

You guys can do WV if you want, but there's two full days of riding in the SE Ohio base area. I was disappointed that I didn't get to ride both routes last year. I'll be damned if I let that happen this year...

No arguement there. But you could have stayed on the Sunday and rode with the Canadians. Denny and Joe gave John and I a great tour of the west side last August. One of the videos I posted you can here me giggling as we roll up to a stop sign. Freshly paved and four FJR's running a pace.. FUN.

I still prefer the east side of the interstate though.

 

[Bungie]

Steve, tell Jim no worrys the VFR will be fine.

Jim had a VFR 750, then went to an M109 power cruiser, then traded that straight up for the VFR1200. Over the winter he's been buying some toys for it (factory panniers, heli bars - which kind of having me scratching my head, the boy has a reach!). Anyway, I don't think he's worried about the VFR, he is more worried about Jim. We remember what it was like to do a big mile day for the first time, a little daunting, but once you settle down, it's just a case of sit there, twist that, refill, do it again. Well that and the first long ride of the season tends to 'break you in'. I know even myself I'll be a hurtin unit on Saturday in Ohio. It's the same every year.

So are you bringing the Ducati this year HAHAHAH!

 

[El Toro Joe]

All this talk about riding...I can't wait to see and ride with all of you in May.

 

[extrememarine]

This is something for all of us to think about. We'll talk crap here, but please, each needs to ride his own ride. This is something I've enjoyed about the Rambles - small groups, no pressure to keep up or to stay ahead.

Although I'm the first to volunteer to stay with someone while we wait for a flat bed or to follow them back to the hotel, it's not how I'd prefer to spend half the day.

I've got a lot of rust to scrape off. I've not been back on the bike since my spill in October except fro riding the new bike home. I won't have much ride time before May either. Back to basics for me...

Steve - make sure Jim knows we josh a lot, but it's about making it home - and whatever pace that is for each individual is perfectly fine.

Anyway, I don't think he's worried about the VFR, he is more worried about Jim. We remember what it was like to do a big mile day for the first time, a little daunting, but once you settle down, it's just a case of sit there, twist that, refill, do it again. Well that and the first long ride of the season tends to 'break you in'. I know even myself I'll be a hurtin unit on Saturday in Ohio. It's the same every year.

 

[Bungie]

Steve - make sure Jim knows we josh a lot, but it's about making it home - and whatever pace that is for each individual is perfectly fine.

Jim's a level headed guy and knows his limitations. He also knows I won't turn off up ahead of him so their's no need to ride over his head trying to keep up. He'll be fine.

 

[wheatonFJR]

This is something for all of us to think about. We'll talk crap here, but please, each needs to ride his own ride. This is something I've enjoyed about the Rambles - small groups, no pressure to keep up or to stay ahead.

Although I'm the first to volunteer to stay with someone while we wait for a flat bed or to follow them back to the hotel, it's not how I'd prefer to spend half the day.

I've got a lot of rust to scrape off. I've not been back on the bike since my spill in October except fro riding the new bike home. I won't have much ride time before May either. Back to basics for me...

Steve - make sure Jim knows we josh a lot, but it's about making it home - and whatever pace that is for each individual is perfectly fine.

As a past advertiser of this Ramble, I'm with Wayne on this one. When you post something up...even as informal as the Ramble, you hold your breath and hope everybody makes the right decisions; knowing full well that it can easily go south if a newer (or experienced) rider tries to keep up with other riders in their group.

I always look in the mirror when I say this, so this finger is pointing at me as well...Let's have fun out there, but let's make sure everybody new or old is reminded of their primary responsibility for the weekend: get home without aid of trailer or ambulance.

 

[builderwill]

Check your tires as well. In doubt, change em. DAMHIK!

 

[El Toro Joe]

Check your tires as well. In doubt, change em. DAMHIK!

Yeah...before you get where yer going!!! I ain't playin nurse maid to any of ya'll because yer tires are worn out

 

[BikerGeek99]

This is something for all of us to think about. We'll talk crap here, but please, each needs to ride his own ride. This is something I've enjoyed about the Rambles - small groups, no pressure to keep up or to stay ahead.

Although I'm the first to volunteer to stay with someone while we wait for a flat bed or to follow them back to the hotel, it's not how I'd prefer to spend half the day.

I've got a lot of rust to scrape off. I've not been back on the bike since my spill in October except fro riding the new bike home. I won't have much ride time before May either. Back to basics for me...

Steve - make sure Jim knows we josh a lot, but it's about making it home - and whatever pace that is for each individual is perfectly fine.

As a past advertiser of this Ramble, I'm with Wayne on this one. When you post something up...even as informal as the Ramble, you hold your breath and hope everybody makes the right decisions; knowing full well that it can easily go south if a newer (or experienced) rider tries to keep up with other riders in their group.

I always look in the mirror when I say this, so this finger is pointing at me as well...Let's have fun out there, but let's make sure everybody new or old is reminded of their primary responsibility for the weekend: get home without aid of trailer or ambulance.

FWIW, I'm considering putting together a CBA-worthy RTE over to Hillbilly Hotdogs. There is also a ferry crossing of the Ohio River I've always wanted to use...

For anyone who rode in the group I led at the last Ramble, you know the pace will be leisurely.

For anyone who did not ride in the group I led at the last Ramble, the pace will be leisurely.

 

[luvtoride]

I've heard about that ferry crossing. Gonna' keep this idea in the back of my head.

& Andy, when you say that you're putting together a route does that include Garmin GPS routing?

 

[Intech]

This is something for all of us to think about. We'll talk crap here, but please, each needs to ride his own ride. This is something I've enjoyed about the Rambles - small groups, no pressure to keep up or to stay ahead.

Although I'm the first to volunteer to stay with someone while we wait for a flat bed or to follow them back to the hotel, it's not how I'd prefer to spend half the day.

I've got a lot of rust to scrape off. I've not been back on the bike since my spill in October except fro riding the new bike home. I won't have much ride time before May either. Back to basics for me...

Steve - make sure Jim knows we josh a lot, but it's about making it home - and whatever pace that is for each individual is perfectly fine.

As a past advertiser of this Ramble, I'm with Wayne on this one. When you post something up...even as informal as the Ramble, you hold your breath and hope everybody makes the right decisions; knowing full well that it can easily go south if a newer (or experienced) rider tries to keep up with other riders in their group.

I always look in the mirror when I say this, so this finger is pointing at me as well...Let's have fun out there, but let's make sure everybody new or old is reminded of their primary responsibility for the weekend: get home without aid of trailer or ambulance.

Mark starts his pre-ride brief off with the question, " Does anyone have a problem passing on a double yellow?". JSNS!

 

[luvtoride]

Well ,if there's folks that don't, we'll see them @ the next turn. Is it May yet???

 

[Abercrombie FJR]

Dang it! All my hopes of making SFO, SWFOG, CFR, or NERDS for the first time have fallen through and CFO and EOM in September is too long to wait to ride with other FJR riders.



It looks like time is available in May for a repeat of the Ramble though. I swore I would never ride that route again to get to Ohio but I’m getting very tempted listening to you guys talk about the straight flat roads of Ohio.



Maybe I could take an extra day on the way out and loop through the upper peninsula of Michigan making the trip epic instead of just bearable.



Hmmm thinking hard!

 

[wheatonFJR]

Dang it! All my hopes of making SFO, SWFOG, CFR, or NERDS for the first time have fallen through and CFO and EOM in September is too long to wait to ride with other FJR riders.

It looks like time is available in May for a repeat of the Ramble though. I swore I would never ride that route again to get to Ohio but I’m getting very tempted listening to you guys talk about the straight flat roads of Ohio.



Maybe I could take an extra day on the way out and loop through the upper peninsula of Michigan making the trip epic instead of just bearable.



Hmmm thinking hard!

Sorry your plans have fallen though....that's a heap of riding you are missing.

If you have the time, after the Ramble...on the way back, I would follow builderwill west through KY to his part of Missouri, take a day and enjoy it before taking the back roads back to Dakota land.

If you can make it to the straight flat roads of Ohio...definitely give it a try. If you like 'em straight, Ohio's got 'em!