drc32-0

I'm still riding in most days...33 miles,from Zanesville to Conesville.As long as it stays in the upper twenties or higher,I'll ride.No electrics,but I've been doing it long enough that I can stay comfortable down to a little below freezing.

Here's what works for me...Tamar silk/wool base layer,jeans-t shirt,Aerostitch wind blocker fleece sweater and over pants,Carhart insulated bibs,leather jacket,windtex gloves and silk liners,Cabela's heavy wool socks with liners and a Outdoor Research wind blocker fleece balaclava.Of course a full face helmet and riding boots top it off,it might sound like a lot to wear,but it's not bulky at all.

Daylight savings time really sucks...I used to enjoy the SR83-SR93 ride home,but now all of my riding is in the dark.Oh well.

Thanks for posting your pics.The Hocking Hills is beautiful in fall.

P.S. I just bought your book,winters coming and reading about riding is a good way to spend a chilly February evening.

I wish people would quit calling Ohio roads "Ohio's Dragon"...they're not the Dragon.The Dragon was way too touristy for me...a good road,but touristy.

Yes...we have gravel in corners,blind turns and hilltops,less than perfect pavement and less than perfect sightlines,but we also DO have...close to no traffic,very few L.E.O.s and 55 mph speed limits with,as stated,very few L.E.O.s.

There is no southeastern Ohio dragon,and personally I hope it stays that way.

I'm definitely interested,but I hate to commit and then back out.I'll check back later when I have a better idea about my work schedule.

That's one amazing ride.It's going to be interesting to see how many can finish.

Most riders on modern machines never do a coast to coast ride,to do it on a 90 year old machine is impressive...to say the least.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&msa=0&msid=101994650053952760624.00046e4ea2ed4e7992863&z=9

State route 555... one of the twistiest, least predictable roads in Ohio.

least predictable...a very good description,especially of the center section south of Ringgold.

Just voted.Good luck.

The best... several Grateful Dead shows

Other good ones...

AC/DC

U2

The Gang Of Four

The Chameleons

Buddy Guy

B.B. King

Jimmy Buffet

The Duhks

Yonder Mountain String Band

Todd Snider

Sam Bush Band,Teluride House Band...Teluride Bluegrass Festival '08

Wow,sorry to hear that about 800.It's usually in very good condition.What makes it even worse is that they have been doing a lot of paving in that area recently(260,537,565,145,255 a couple years ago)...sucks that they would do a shit job on 800,it's a main route!

Good to hear it was still a fun day riding.

800 is curvy all the way to the river,not tight stuff,more sweepers with a few fairly tight curves.It's a big favorite of cruiser riders.It gets a little tighter as you descend the hill to the Ohio river.If you're looking for a place to eat,Traditions on the square in Woodsfield is pretty good.

Now if you want to show him tight and twisty...about 4-6 miles south Woodsfield take 26 south to 537 to 260 south.

Also,if you're going to be that far east,255 is pretty scenic.A really nice valley and some high peak views.It's twisty in spots!255 t's into 800 about 8 miles south of Woodsfield.

If you're going to take 56 past the Hocking Hills area take 374 north to Big Pine Rd.Take a right on Big Pine,towards Conkles Hollow,keep going on Big Pine until you get to 664.Thompson Ridge is also scenic,it's farther north on 374 and runs over to Laurelville.Some people call it the little Blue Ridge because of the views and sweepers.

RT376 is really nice home road

Since they paved the Muskingum county section I always try to work it into the route when I head east or south...a very fun road!

I hope I waved back,sorry about that if I didn't.

I didn't see that many bikes yesterday,other than a large group(25-35) just as I came out of Marietta on SR26.

I'm very happy to hear that the rider is o.k.,or will be after a few days of walking like a mummy.;)Been there,done that.

Now,make something possitive out of it.When I crashed and totalled my bike in '03 I knew I didn't want to stop riding,so I went on a mission to be a better rider.I read a bunch of books on riding,attended safety schools and mentally prepare myself everytime I ride.

I'm betting that this incident will make this rider a better rider.Good luck,and best wishes on a speedy recovery.

BTW,if you(the downed rider) want a free copy of David Hough's "Proficient Motorcycling" just send me a pm.That book saved my a$$ on a couple ocasions.

I was over there again today running 260 +537.I like to ride them in a big loop with 26 north of 537,small section of 800,255 and 7.The freshly paved 260,537 is definitely my favorite S.E.O. road this year.

I came across another good road in that area...Archers Fork Rd(CR 14).It's a county road that runs from SR26 at the little town of Dart over to SR7.It's one of the best county roads I've been on.It's one of those creek following roads with continuous tight sweepers on excellent pavement.It had to be paved in the last year or two.I'm not saying it's a 255 or 260,but it sure ain't bad.

They should be done with the bridge work on freshly paved 356 by this weekend.Link 356 with 691 and you'll have a good ride just 10 miles west of Athens.You can pick up 691 from 33,or pick up 356 from 50.They link together with a one or two mile section of 56.

A couple other roads are pretty good just east of Athens...690 and 144.

All of these roads are only about ten to fifteen miles out of Athens,if you're looking for longer rides,there are dozens of great roads within 50 miles of Athens.

So,what did you think of the eastern section of 217,the section between 7 and 218?

If you make it down that way again try 775,from point P (Wilgus) to Lecta.It's a rollercoaster.New pavement too.

I ran into the samething up in northeast Ohio on SR258...one of the best roads in the New Philly area is now chipsealed.

Thank God,at least for now,they're still paving here in southeast Ohio!We're always a little behind the curve compared to the rest of the state,this time it seems to be working in our favor.It will be a sad,sad day when they chipseal the likes of 555,255 and 536.

Why?Price,of course.Americans are cheap.The same reason we sent the American economy to China.How's that working for us?

Anyone mind if a new guy tags along?I'm in Zanesville so the meeting place is just down the road.

You can get around the 555 closure by going...22 to 93 to 669 and pick up 555 in Deavertown,or better yet 22 to 93 to Athens Rd on the southend of Roseville...also picks up 555 at Deavertown.

The bridge is open on SR255,I was over there thursday,but watch out for fine gravel in the curves due to ODOT lining the roads.

374 Has some loose gravel laying around on 1/3 of the turns where they just put down some new asphalt. Big Pine is fine but still some loose gravel here and there as well.

Definitely a good route.

56 is a blast.

664 to 374 to 56 and around is always fun.

ODOT's practice of lining newly paved roads with loose gravel is a BIG problem!I firmly believe that they are going to kill or injure people with this practice.I was down on SR255 and SR800 yesterday and they are lining those roads with a finer gravel mix that is about the color of the pavement.Very unsafe!

I've got to find out who I need to contact to try to get this practice stopped,or altered,so great curves aren't deathtraps.

Hey Radio Flyer...love the avatar...A bus came by and I got on,that's when it all began...

I did some exploring down in Gallia and Lawerence counties this weekend and found out there is some great riding down there.There were a few jewels that stood out,but the section of SR217 from the town of Miller(at SR 7) to the intersection of SR218 was the crown jewel.Tight twisty climbs and descends on brand new pavement.One of the tightest roads I've been on in awhile.The only drawback is that it's short...only 3.7 miles.SR217 is much longer,but this is the section you want to ride.

Don't let the length of SR217 stop you from checking out this area because there are plenty of great roads to connect with 217...218,775,790,141 and Greasy Ridge to name a few.

I just rode up 356 Saturday,took some chip seal roads on the eastside and got around the bridge.But like DAC said,it should be open by the end of the month.

It's gonna be a fun ride when that bridge is finished.

If you want to continue the fun,SR691 is about a mile east of SR356 on SR56.

jaybird...you just scratched the surface in the Hocking Hills.The section of 374 you posted is one of the best,but there is a lot of great roads in H.H...Big Pine Rd,Kreashbaum,Illsboro-Ceder Falls,Harble-Griffith,SR56,Chapel Hill,Thompson Ridge,SR69?.

Also,check out Clearcreek rd just west(or north) of SR374 on SR33,just look for the Clearcreek metro park signs.It's just a decent road,but it has some good scenery,and if you come in from SR33 there's a BIG rock that will definitely get your attention.

If you're going to ride 255,you might want to start at the south end since the road is closed at the little town of Langs.Go all the way to the closure point and take a left...it'll take you back to 255.I'm thinking it was about a two to three mile detour.

Since you're going to be in the area...check out the freshly paved 260/537 loop off of 26.If you like 536 I think you'll like this one.

Why would anyone need terrorists...communist China is already sucking the life blood out of America through Walmart.