Central Ohio info needed - visiting in June

[soprano]

I'm flying up to Columbus in early June to start a long distance tour, and I'm looking for route information on the region.

I went to school in Columbus (graduated from Capital in 02) but I was not into long distance rides then and only really rode my bike for commuting in Bexley. I'm sure that a lot has changed since then.

I found an interactive map here but piecing together the route I need from it is a bit intimidating. Will definitely try to pick up a paper map when I hit town! The very first leg of my tour will be going from my uncle's house in Bexley to my parents' home near Xenia. I'm specifically looking for information on getting through downtown, across the river, and then out to the Prairie Grass trailhead east of London. I tentatively plan to be going out very early on a Sunday morning, but my plans are super flexible and that could change.

Any other information on the trail system between Columbus and Cincinnati would certainly be appreciated as well. I'm planning to head down to Cincinnati on the trail system (with a few stops along the way to visit my folks and a few friends) and then turn around and head north along the ACA UGRR route. (My final destination is Bar Harbor, Maine.) I remember the Little Miami trail going in from Xenia to Yellow Springs when I was 12 years old, but I've only been on short segments of it, and only as a runner. Current info from other cyclists would be wonderful.

[OakLeaf]

No help here - I haven't ridden in/around Columbus since '85 save for TOSRV, and I'm east of Columbus, not west - but PM me when you'll be around if you'd like to get together!

[soprano]

That's very sweet of you, but I'll be on the other side of the state and my itinerary that week is pretty full. Thanks for the offer!

[OakLeaf]

FWIW, getting across the river should be easy - there are lots of commuter cyclists downtown. I'd worry more about getting across 270. When I lived in Columbus in the mid-80s those were lightly traveled crossings, gateways to rural roads; now, the whole area west of 270 is packed suburban sprawl and the overpasses and on/off ramps have a lot of traffic.

COP has regular rides out of Grove City, Dublin and Hilliard, and any of the ride leaders would probably be happy to help you with routing. Here's a link to their ride schedule - if you click on the ride, the ride leaders' contact information will be there.

MORPC seem to have their stuff together, though I haven't actually used any of their maps. I'd be a little leery of mapmyride - I know there are routes mapped closer to where I live that I wouldn't feel very safe on (and there are plenty of safer alternatives).

[soprano]

Awesome, thanks!