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Nobleswood

By Nobleswood
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Nobleswood Apprentice

Nobleswood

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Hi,

I joined the group a couple of weeks ago and thought it was time to come out of the shadows. I rode bikes in my 20's and have returned now as I start my 50's. And I'm so glad I did! I'd forgotten what fun it can be.

Back then my dream bike was a Moto Guzzi Le Mans so following that idea I bought a 2004 Moto Guzzi V11. Which for me has become everything I wanted.

One of the features that I like a lot on this site are the road reviews. When you only have so much time on the weekends to get out, the reviews help finding the good roads to enjoy the twisties.

The bike I bought in winter 2012 with 6000 miles and I've only put 2500 miles on it. I'm enjoying tinkering and getting the bike tuned, lubed and finding out what all the adjustments do, as well.

Looking forward to getting to know you lot better.

Tim

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Chuck78 Rising Star

Chuck78

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Here ya go, my welcoming-you-to-the-site gift, one of the best twisties rides you can possibly do anywhere near Columbus, or all of Ohio for that matter... 1/2 of clear creek rd is pretty darn rough, but the scenery and the smooth half plus being able to link it with Revenge Rd are very well worth it. 

 

http://goo.gl/maps/0URjz

 

If you want to stay off of the 35 minute divided highway route on 33 as much as possible, take 317 Hamilton Rd southbound off 33 to Groveport Rd, make left, make right on Lithopolis Rd NW, right around the Rock Mill/Covered Bridge/Waterfall, hang a right on Mt Zion Rd to end, left on Crumley, right on Delmont - which is where the route starts on that map at Delmont and US-22 (just west of US-33 and US-22). you can also intercept Lithopolis Rd southbound off of pretty much every exit after 317).

 

In Hocking, Thompson Rd (Thompson Ridge Rd as it is called just west of 374) and a few segments of 374 and 664 are the only crucial roads missed in the Hocking area on that route map. Kreashbaum has a few nice curves also, and Goose Creek Rd is good. Do Thompson as a one way and turn around, nothing fun to link to at the end unless you need gas just north on 56 there in Laurelville. Oh-78 past Burr Oak is like the big brother to Thompson Ridge Rd, very epic ridge views but much further. You can also interchange a segment of 678 (left turn at 374/180) to skip the flat part of 374 that merges with 180, but you miss some other good hills after 374 splits again south from 180.

 

and be extra cautious on Harble-Griffith and Chapel Ridge, many many off camber and decreasing radius turns can bite you bad if you aren't expecting them - take blind corners slow until you've ridden it several times. 

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Chuck78 Rising Star

Chuck78

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Posted (edited)

 

http://goo.gl/maps/0URjz

 

If you want to stay off of the 35 minute divided highway route on 33 as much as possible, take 317 Hamilton Rd southbound off 33 to Groveport Rd, make left, make right on Lithopolis Rd NW, right around the Rock Mill/Covered Bridge/Waterfall, hang a right on Mt Zion Rd to end, left on Crumley, right on Delmont 

One of the features that I like a lot on this site are the road reviews. When you only have so much time on the weekends to get out, the reviews help finding the good roads to enjoy the twisties.

 

 

I just re-read that and realized using "right around..." could confuse  people with directional turns... do not make a right at the Rock Mill/Covered Bridge/Falls, I meant that IN THE VICINITY OF the Rock Mill/Covered Bridge, you will be looking for Mt Zion Rd... The Mill sits down a steep hill from Lithopolis Rd, but is very readily visible as long as you are scanning the scenery.  Mt Zion Rd is beyond it just a little ways. 

 

Mt Zion has many short but tight and fun curves, contrary to what it appears like on the map.  The rest of the back route to Hocking up to Christmas Rock Rd appears very straight, but is actually massive roller coaster hills to keep you smiling until the end of Christmas Rock Rd for a sweet surprise that pops you out at the prison... Then hang a right and enjoy the curve/hill packed Revenge Rd.

 

In that second/shorter route, you get Jack Run and Snortin Ridge Rd's to exit from Hocking to Revenge Rd instead of Clear Creek and one of the best parts of 374 (best for the entrance since it is a MASSIVE hill climb getting there from cbus with a hairpin or two and a few great curves, more fun than the descent). I also mapped the Lithopolis Rd route as well so you can get more rural miles and less divided highway. Enjoy!

Edited by Chuck78
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Nobleswood Apprentice

Nobleswood

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Thanks all.

Chuck, thanks for the route suggestion. I'd ridden around some of the roads near Clear creek, but had always taken Rt 33. Which is boring and likely to get me speeding tickets.

I saw there's a fall ride coming up, which I won't be able to get to as it's my son's birthday & family's in town, but I did get out to ride on 668 from I70 to Logan. That put a grin on my face! As I get time to ride I'll try some of the other legs on that loop.

I'll get some pictures of the bike up soon.

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Chuck78 Rising Star

Chuck78

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Without using GPS, I usually type up abbreviated directions and print them in small font in a list that I can cut out into a vertical rectangle, and use clear packing tape to affix them to the center of my tach face.  Mileage may be helpful if totally unfamiliar, but here is a similar route to what I posted the 2nd time. a ride we did a while back. 3 sections, which I'd interchange during the ride to guide me through. You can do the whole route this way and have a way more awesome time than just seeking out 2 or 4 roads from it and riding from memory... As you can see, I really like that short stretch of 56, as I looped it a second time to hit Chapel Ridge Rd and still do  the big 664 hill and the cool ravine descent on 374 beyond that...

 

(take 33E to 33E Lancaster bypass)
----------------------------
R on US-22
L on Delmont Rd
veer L on Stoney Ridge Rd
L on Hamburg Rd
R on Christmas Rock Rd
L on S Broad St (40 feet)
R @ prison - Revenge Rd
L on Clear Creek Rd
R on 33E (SUNOCO)
R on Opossum Hollow Rd
R on 374S
R on 374S/180W
L on 374S
L on Big Pine Rd
R on 664S
L on Harble-Griffith Rd
R on Ilesboro Rd
L on 374S (to end)
R on 56W (TO GAS)
-------------------------------
head back E on 56
L on Chapel Ridge Rd
R on 374S
R on 56E
R on 664N
L 374N
R on 374N 
(veer L@678 to stay on 374)
R on 374N/180E
2nd L on Jack Run Rd
cont. on Snortin Ridge Rd
L on Clear Creek Rd
R on Revenge Rd
L on S Broad @ prison
cont. on Christmas Rock Rd
L on Hamburg Rd
R on Delmont
(quick way home:
R on 22E, L on 33W)
------------------------------
(back roads home)
cont. on Delmont @US-22
L on Crumley Rd
R on Mt Zion Rd (to end)
L on Lithopolis Rd NW
R on 317N Hamilton Rd
L on  33W
 

 

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Josh1234 Mentor

Josh1234

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Without using GPS, I usually type up abbreviated directions and print them in small font in a list that I can cut out into a vertical rectangle, and use clear packing tape to affix them to the center of my tach face.  

 

Post-it note taped to the tank used to work for me :)

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Chuck78 Rising Star

Chuck78

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I saw there's a fall ride coming up, which I won't be able to get to as it's my son's birthday & family's in town, but I did get out to ride on 668 from I70 to Logan. That put a grin on my face! As I get time to ride I'll try some of the other legs on that loop.

 

Next time, extend your ride a little, and take 668 off of I-70 (or catch 204E heading south from I-70 exits for Pickerington or Buckeye Lake or the Rt204 exit).  668 has some massive roller coasters right off the highway, however! 204 is just flat straight backroads that parallel the highway.

 I think it is in the town of Somerset that you can catch 669 East off of 668. Take that to the river, head south along the river, and catch OH-78 scenic byway.  the second have of 669 and the second half of 78 are AWESOME, far better than 668.  669 is newer pavement, 78 is older but still decent in most parts. 

 

I-70E / 668S / 669E / 78W / 13S / 685W (!!!awesome little stretch!) / 78W takes you into Nelsonville at 33.  Very nice ride, nothing too terribly challenging but tons of great curves, and 78 gets to be INCREDIBLE VERY HIGH ELEVATION ridgetop views for about 12 miles as you pass Burr Oak State Park and Lake, and is also nonstop 30-40mph curves mixed in with sweepers. 

 

This is an easy-directions ride and is fun and curvey but not too technical.  the Hocking route I posted is A LOT of directional turns to keep track of, but well worth if if you are looking for the most curve packed route. Many blind rises and tight blind turns, some decreasing radius turns, lots of technical turns.. Worth if though. 

 

From Nelsonville, you can take 278W through Lake Hope, which gives you a really nice big hillclimb and twisties right off the bat after you get out of town, then is pleasant sweepers all through Lake Hope/Zaleski Forest. Make a right at 56 and take it to Hocking. Get gas at 664 and 56, turn around and right that awesome 3 mile stretch of 56 again, then north on 374.

 

278W / 56W (heads NW) / gas - 56E / 374N (follow signs, many turns to stay on route) / dumps you at 33.

 

you can also take 664 on that route, but 374 is better. 664 takes you almost to Pickerington if you want another simple-directions route home other than 33.  You can take the Sugar Grove Rd to Logan Hornsmill Rd route off of 33 just north of 374 and catch 664 north there as well. 

 

That whole area (south of any of those roads) has a wealth of great riding roads. Some backroads are more straight and some are bumpy tar and chipseal surface, but lots of decent ones to find as well. 

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