armith Posted August 18, 2010 Report Share Posted August 18, 2010 (edited) I've been asked occasionally over the last few months whether or not I was planning on organizing another Covered Bridge tour. The answer, I'm interested if your interested.I'm open to suggestions but I'd like to keep the general format of the ride the same as last year.. it went way more smoothly than I had ever imagined.So here is the start.. I will update details over the next few weeks.. comments/suggestions welcome.. PM me your availability.DETAILS:Who: Anyone.. all types of bikes (very 2up friendly!!!)What: Tour of Ashtabula County Covered BridgesWhere: Astabula CountyWhen: rescheduled Saturday, Oct. 16thWhy: See historical landmarks and a little autumn colorTime: Kickstands up at 11am end maybe ~ 5pm What this is: relaxed paced, meet and greet with plenty of stops for pictures and such.What this isn't: a Race or good area for killing chicken strips. These just aren't those kind of roads.Meeting spot: Sheetz @ 10:00am. 2411 North Ridge Road East Ashtabula OH 44004Coming from I-90 take the Ashtabula Rt 11 exit (exit 228) North.Proceed up Rt 11 for about 3.5 miles to the Ashtabula US20 exit.. Turn left onto US20 Sheets will be on your rightRoute:1.meeting place Sheetz Rt 20/Rt 11 10-10:30am.. quick riders meeting gas, snacks, bathroom2.depart 11am - Smolen-Gulf (group bike photo op), Benetka Rd, State Rd., Root Rd., Graham Rd (optional), S. Denmark Rd, Netcher Rd.3.War memorial, break in Jefferson (Gas, drinks, bathroom ,etc.)4.Doyle Rd, Riverdale Rd5.Covered Bridge Pizza (Andover) for late lunch 2pm (group bike photo op)6.Windsor Mills, Harpersfield Rd, West Liberty St.(if the bridge is ready)7. Will be near I-90 for everyone head home (sun sets around 7).. depending on time and weather I may still make a stop to Ashtabula Harbor for photos and check out the 1st annual octoberfest at the harbor.skipping:-Mechanicville (another event going on has bridge closed to traffic)-Olin (with detours and Dewey Rd road conditions, just best to skip this year)-Caine rd. (dirt access, very rough loose gravel, all good photo spots are marked No Trespassing/Private Property)-Creek Rd (out of the way & very narrow, kinda tricky access road)-Middle Rd (dirt access)-Giddings Rd (dirt access)This route is looking to be right around 110 or so miles..Notes:-If the turnout is large enough we will likely break out into 2 groups.. As impressive as it looks to roll with 30+ bikes, keeping the whole group together end to end creates safety issues. We had 7 bikes (and a dunebuggy) last year and that worked out great.Who's in:armith (2up)Tony07R6Magley64wfrpalmIsaac's PapascottbdanballaPedrohollywood3586 slowrollerjbctownMaybe:Bad324jporter12joshfz.2008bmwnutMarkBvfrrwb Edited October 1, 2010 by armith detail update 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casper Posted August 18, 2010 Report Share Posted August 18, 2010 and a dunebuggyThat had to be Magley? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony07R6 Posted August 18, 2010 Report Share Posted August 18, 2010 I'd be interested in doing this ride this year. I was not happy that I missed it last year, I was on a cruise at the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magley64 Posted August 18, 2010 Report Share Posted August 18, 2010 That had to be Magley?correct, and will probably do it again, as it turned out to be a pretty useful tool for making sure bridges were clear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bad324 Posted August 18, 2010 Report Share Posted August 18, 2010 first weekend in october may be a no go for me. Saturday definitely not gonna work, Sunday may. My buddies wedding is that Friday evening and I know he would like to go too but will depend on his wedding and honeymoon scheduleI'm just happy I have a bike this time that will be much more comfortable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wfrpalm Posted August 18, 2010 Report Share Posted August 18, 2010 It's a little in the future but it sounds like a good ride. I'll be there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armith Posted August 18, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2010 I picked first weekend in Oct. because Ashtabula County has it's Covered Bridge festival the 2nd weekend.. It'd be hell to contend with tour busses, and tourist traffic.. Also I pick the week before because any construction, maintenance, repairs to these century plus old bridges is typically finalized just before the festival.Rain date Oct. Sat 16th or Sun 17th right now looks good.. Though we may start running into cooler weather.. On the other hand the leaves should be changing by this point and could make for better autumn pictures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armith Posted August 18, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2010 I picked first weekend in Oct. because Ashtabula County has it's Covered Bridge festival the 2nd weekend.. It'd be hell to contend with tour busses, and tourist traffic.. Also I pick the week before because any construction, maintenance, repairs to these century plus old bridges is typically finalized just before the festival.Rain date Oct. Sat 16th or Sun 17th right now looks good.. Though we may start running into cooler weather.. On the other hand the leaves should be changing by this point and could make for better autumn pictures. I understand that not everyone rides in sub freezing temps so weather does become a little more of a factor..Personally, I'm good either way.. if the weekend of the 16th works out better for people then I'm willing to adjust.Also, what are we thinking in terms of how many bridges we want to see? Of the 17, only about 14 on paved roads.. I think we knocked out 11 or 12 last year and that took all day..we could reduce down to 7 or 8 bridges and hit a few other touristy stuff. (Ashtabula Harbor and lift bridge, Geneva On The Lake, the war memorial with the Chopper, etc..Did we want to try to do dinner at Covered Bridge Pizza again or maybe arrange hookers and blow at Magleys? Like how I volunteered you to solidify this to be an Official O-R event?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armith Posted August 18, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2010 whoa edit that turned double post.. COOL!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bad324 Posted August 19, 2010 Report Share Posted August 19, 2010 whatever works for the majority, I can always jumble my schedule up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottb Posted August 19, 2010 Report Share Posted August 19, 2010 The covered bridge pizza place was cool, hopefully no rain after dinner like last year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magley64 Posted August 19, 2010 Report Share Posted August 19, 2010 Did we want to try to do dinner at Covered Bridge Pizza again or maybe arrange hookers and blow at Magleys? Like how I volunteered you to solidify this to be an Official O-R event??i'd say either same covered bridge, or try to edit the route to hit the andover one this time...either way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armith Posted August 19, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2010 I was kinda thinking andover one too.. It just worked out well last year that the last 2 bridges were in the general vicinity of the Kingsville one.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosmo Posted August 19, 2010 Report Share Posted August 19, 2010 I am in....... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danballa Posted August 19, 2010 Report Share Posted August 19, 2010 I'm interested in this as well. Any date works for me, with some advance notice anyways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pedro Posted August 19, 2010 Report Share Posted August 19, 2010 If all goes as planned I would like to tag along. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jporter12 Posted August 19, 2010 Report Share Posted August 19, 2010 I'd love to do something like this, but I don't know that I would be able to. Once things get decided, I should know if I could make it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gen3flygirl Posted August 20, 2010 Report Share Posted August 20, 2010 whatever works for the majority, I can always jumble my schedule upno body cares about your schedule or if you show up you could always stay at home and I will ride your bike for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bad324 Posted August 20, 2010 Report Share Posted August 20, 2010 hey now...I was the one that got the official post to be made plus i wanna go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosmo Posted August 20, 2010 Report Share Posted August 20, 2010 no body cares about your schedule or if you show up you could always stay at home and I will ride your bike for you #1 sammich maker spoke....why don't you guys ride double...and make some veggie sammich along the road... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollywood3586 Posted August 22, 2010 Report Share Posted August 22, 2010 Matt and I are in for this.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshfz.2008 Posted August 23, 2010 Report Share Posted August 23, 2010 i'm going to try should ave some free time by then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmwnut Posted August 23, 2010 Report Share Posted August 23, 2010 untill there is a SOLID DATE I am a maybe would sure like to do this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armith Posted August 23, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2010 Well try to narrow down the day.. Does Saturday or Sunday work better for everyone? My goal is to iron it down to Saturday, Oct 2nd with a raindate of Oct. 16th.But if Sunday works out better for most people then we can bump it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkB Posted August 23, 2010 Report Share Posted August 23, 2010 I'm in as a maybe... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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