what do you guys think of this for a day trip?

[nismo_2005]

ok so i was thinking a trip like this leaving from logan in to new straightsville and the map takes off from there.

 

once it gets past glouster i am unfamiliar with what the roads are like so looking to see what you guys think?

 

once the route loops back into its self i would just follow the reverse all the way back home. also open to suggestions on route changes i want to get at least one more real good ride in this season.

 

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zjsRfe0Cciyo.kg3T_YHTGXLc

[Helmutt]

Rt 78 up to McConnelsville is all good, but after that I've no clue. Our Epic Ride route took 669 north at that point. From what I've seen, most roads out that way are good riding, but have heard there are some that may be chipsealed and rough.....but you ride a sumo, so no deal breaker there right?

Others that know that side of Ohio better can chime in with experienced input

[jschaf]

255 & 536 are a couple of the twistiest roads in the state. 536 especially will take a bite out of you if you push it. That said, have fun.

[nismo_2005]

Yeah I have heard about 536 for a long time so I feel like I need to try it. And chipseal is not a total deal breaker bit I would not mind avoiding it.

thanks guys

[Chuck78]

After the 11 or 13 miles of "The Rim Of the World" section of 78 past Burr Oak State Park (Glouster to 555 basically), 78 is just a "decent" road to McConnelsville.  After McConnelsville, 78 is a total bore for a while, but gets better near the Big Muskie bucket/miners' memorial until Caldwell.  After Caldwell, it's better than the east of McConnelsville stretch, but you will be much better off taking 260 S or  just before that the state route that is also called Frostyville Rd.  Then at least catch 26 to Woodsfield.  565 & 537 linked together by a short jog on 260 are great as well, and you can skip a not as twisty stretch of 26 that way, but then you miss 260 between 537 and 26, which is also great. 

 

I'd either cruise through the flat/straighter McConnelsville section to get to Big Muskie/Caldwell, and then head south on 260 or Frostyville Rd and then to 26 (northeast) to Woodsfield, or else I'd dip south on 555 (many sharp turns and hills, but lots of farms and farm debris - dirt and gravel in the road in places) or 377 (maybe bigger hills if I remember, lots of winding fast smooth sweepers on new pavement through farmland. 

If 555, take it to 676E and you will hit one of the best stretches of road around for the first bit, then flat farmland until near Marietta where it gets more wooded and curvey again, then you can catch 26 on the other side of Marietta, which I would highly recommend taking 26-260N-537E-26-> Woodsfield

If you prefer smoother/newer flowing sweepers road and less very sharp turns, take 78E to 377S, catch 555 for a shorter and less tight stretch, and then 676 east to Marietta.  If you want to go some extra miles for a really flowing section of super fun road, take 377 south to 550 east for a really nice blast, and then catch 555 north to 676 east to the 26/260/537/26 route. Loop 255 south 7 east and then 536 north.  whichever route you picked of my recommendations on the way there, you can take the other one back if you've got the time, or if you're worried about being out near dusk, express route back on 78 to make time and avoid deer o'clock. Get started early so you have plenty of daylight for last hurrah.

 

I've gathered that there is one especially dangerous decreasing radius turn southbound on 536, so it is better maybe run north.  If you are coming south near the top of 536, you come to a stop sign and directly forward is Sykes Ridge Rd, and staying on 536 is 90 degree right turn at the intersection. A few curves later within a few minutes you come on a blind right hand turn with the uphill on the right, and a downhill on the left.  I believe it is marked as a 15mph curve.  I'd recommend 12-16mph on this, as it drops off slightly at the apex and is decreasing radius around the blind curve, and many riders have puckered up on this one and lost traction and slid across the oncoming lane and into the farm field there... 

The dangerous thing about 536 is that there are TONS of medium and higher speed turns on this road, and you think you are in a rhythm and know what's coming, and then it will throw a handful of decreasing radius or otherwise tricky technical turns at you that could easily ruin your day, or months to come... take 536 more cautiously than the other roads for this reason, and ride cautiously everywhere, as it is the start of rut season, big bucks are running around the woods like crazed maniacs starting now, especially near sunrise and sunset. I hit one the first week or two of November last year, 57 mph, ouch.

[Chuck78]

http://goo.gl/maps/jyp6k This is what I proposed basically. A bit longer, a 9AM-5PM ride with gas and rest stops included in that time.  It nixes a whole lot of less exciting riding on 78 (and a nice stretch west of McConnelsville) in favor of more twisty roads, but does add the middle section of 676 which is gentle rolling hills farmland, but it;s very fun at the beginning and end (twisty, new pavement). 

 

 

http://goo.gl/maps/Co9N9 Shaved it down a little bit for time, and you get this, which Google routed it on a straight section of 60 to a really really fun stretch on 530, far better than 78 by the Big Muskie.  You could do that or just do the whole thing both ways on 78, and try Frostyville Rd OH-564 there, and OH-260 on the way back to 78.    All of these are great all day routes. This one would be a good 930AM-430PM with gas stops and brief food/rest breaks, around 7 hours.

Edited October 20, 2014 by Chuck78

[Mary#17]

After the 11 or 13 miles of "The Rim Of the World" section of 78 past Burr Oak State Park (Glouster to 555 basically), 78 is just a "decent" road to McConnelsville.  After McConnelsville, 78 is a total bore for a while, but gets better near the Big Muskie bucket/miners' memorial until Caldwell.  After Caldwell, it's better than the east of McConnelsville stretch, but you will be much better off taking 260 S or  just before that the state route that is also called Frostyville Rd.  Then at least catch 26 to Woodsfield.  565 & 537 linked together by a short jog on 260 are great as well, and you can skip a not as twisty stretch of 26 that way, but then you miss 260 between 537 and 26, which is also great. 

 

I'd either cruise through the flat/straighter McConnelsville section to get to Big Muskie/Caldwell, and then head south on 260 or Frostyville Rd and then to 26 (northeast) to Woodsfield, or else I'd dip south on 555 (many sharp turns and hills, but lots of farms and farm debris - dirt and gravel in the road in places) or 377 (maybe bigger hills if I remember, lots of winding fast smooth sweepers on new pavement through farmland. 

If 555, take it to 676E and you will hit one of the best stretches of road around for the first bit, then flat farmland until near Marietta where it gets more wooded and curvey again, then you can catch 26 on the other side of Marietta, which I would highly recommend taking 26-260N-537E-26-> Woodsfield

If you prefer smoother/newer flowing sweepers road and less very sharp turns, take 78E to 377S, catch 555 for a shorter and less tight stretch, and then 676 east to Marietta.  If you want to go some extra miles for a really flowing section of super fun road, take 377 south to 550 east for a really nice blast, and then catch 555 north to 676 east to the 26/260/537/26 route. Loop 255 south 7 east and then 536 north.  whichever route you picked of my recommendations on the way there, you can take the other one back if you've got the time, or if you're worried about being out near dusk, express route back on 78 to make time and avoid deer o'clock. Get started early so you have plenty of daylight for last hurrah.

 

 

 

 

I was thinking the same thing. Those roads are much better than 78. 

Edited October 20, 2014 by Mary#17

[Chuck78]

That second route link I made is about 45 minutes longer than your proposed route, FYI. Also, I included a shortcut road on there that I have only looked at using google satellite view, and it looks to be tar and chip seal.  Coming up 536 near the end, you can dip back west on Six Points Rd to catch a good stretch of 255 back to 78 instead of taking a pretty boring straight stretch of 78 at the north end of 536.

[Chuck78]

basically any way you look at it, east of the twisty 377 heading eastbound towards I-77, you have to choose either a more flat & straight stretch on one of these three: 78, 60, or 676 (all are north to south of each other in a flatter section of the SE OH hills).  Beyond Caldwell, you have tons of options that are far better than 78 there.  78 is decent by Big Muskie, and 530 and 339 are nice off of 60, but 60 is a casual river bank ride.  676 starts and ends great, and links you to the southern end of 26 (great ride, covered bridge scenic byway), and also allows you to hit 555 and/or 377, as well as the great part of 676 near 555.

 

This weekend will be mild weather, and if the forecast stays the same as it is for the Halloween weekend, it will be near 70 and sunny then.  Best luck, ride easy so you can watch for deer sprinting out in front of you at 35+mph...

[nismo_2005]

Thanks for the advice guys. Ndbi am much more into the tighter technical stuff seeing as I ride a glorified dirt bike.

I will look into all the other routes you guys suggested.

[drc32-0]

If you like the tighter technical stuff,take Chuck's advice and hit 676 from 555 to Dale and 530 from Lowell to Warner.Given the present condition of those two roads and 536,I'd take either one over 536.Don't get me wrong,536 is one of the best roads in SEO,but it isn't in the best condition right now.That's going to change in the next couple of years though.

 

If you're into high overlooks check out Kiedaisch Point Park off of 536.It's about 3 miles each way out and back.Probably the best overlook in SEO.

 

If you decide to take 78 from Caldwell to Woodsfield you might want to hit some of the good stuff on 145 south of Lewisville.Heading east on 78 take Swazey Rd(CR44 a mile inside Monroe county line) south to 145,then 145 north to Lewisville where you can continue east on 78.Swazey road is nothing special,just a 4 mile connector between 78 and 145,but that section of 145 is pretty good.A LOT of fracking related construction on Swazey road. 

[nismo_2005]

You guys have so much information thank you all so much.

[Chuck78]

Did you make it out yet to run any of those roads?  What'd ya think?

[nismo_2005]

The last ride I did was 93-595-278-carbon hill buchtel rd-685-13-78-woodlane dr-loop rd-278-595-93-marysville williams rd.

With a newborn at home I decided not to go to far. But what I just posted it a fun ride. If you are on anything but a dual sport or supermoto cut out loop rd though as it is unmaintained and a few spots that would be hell on a sport bike or cruiser

Edited October 31, 2014 by nismo_2005