23rd Great Ohio Bike Adventure

[Owlie]

That looks like fun! I don't know if I could do 50 miles a day just yet, though.

[AnnieBikes]

I did GOBA in 2010 and it was a great ride! It was in a very hilly section of Ohio (south-central) and some people complained! It was also very, very hot. But I went with a friend and we had a blast. It was very well organized, and we did not have to move camp every night (two nights in two towns). The town people were wonderful and many churches had food and lots of it for a good price. The things to do in towns were fun and everyone went out of their way to be really nice. The towns always plan fun things to do and 2010 was certainly no exception. If I was not going to ride Bicycle Tour of Colorado, I would definitely do GOBA again.

Have fun and let us hear about it.

[Catrin]

I read where people complained about it being too hilly last year. I really would like to do this ride, but with getting a custom bike this year I probably won't be able to swing it - I suspect that it is very easy to spend more than you realize for food as the days pass... I do have that week scheduled off though, so I will be on the bike somewhere - either on this ride or on day trips in Indiana and Ohio

[TsPoet]

I have several friends doing this ride this year. I wish I had the nerve to take that much time off work, and A) tear my bike down, B) pack my bike, C) unpack my bike, D) build my bike, E) repeat.
I need to decide ASAP, there is so much chatter about this ride, it must be huge, if not it should fill up soon.

[OakLeaf]

I finally got the flyer. It's not going to be nearly as hilly as last year. So no one should be intimidated. Especially since there are two "optional" ride days.

I'm not sure how fast it fills up.

... but speaking of filling up, isn't ANYONE here doing TOSRV this year, being the 50th anniversary and all?

[Roadtrip]

I don't have the legs/gas/fitness (THIS year) for something like the TOSRV and it'll be here before you know it... it does look like a great ride and I LOVE the look of this years Jersey.



Shannon

[Bike Chick]

Cool jersey! I like how the middle of the ring is in the shape of Ohio!

I wish I was either 1) a teacher with summers off, or 2) retired. It would be great to do two or three of these week long bike trips every summer. This is another tour I will add to my "I would like to do this someday" list.

[Owlie]

I don't have the legs/gas/fitness (THIS year) for something like the TOSRV and it'll be here before you know it... it does look like a great ride and I LOVE the look of this years Jersey.



Shannon

I know this is an old thread, but I have to mention this:
I had some bonding time with my advisor the other day. He did TOSRV during the time he took off from college. I knew there was a reason I ended up in that lab!

[KatzPajamas]

I did GOBA in 2010 and it was a great ride! It was in a very hilly section of Ohio (south-central) and some people complained! It was also very, very hot. But I went with a friend and we had a blast. It was very well organized, and we did not have to move camp every night (two nights in two towns). The town people were wonderful and many churches had food and lots of it for a good price. The things to do in towns were fun and everyone went out of their way to be really nice. The towns always plan fun things to do and 2010 was certainly no exception. If I was not going to ride Bicycle Tour of Colorado, I would definitely do GOBA again.

Have fun and let us hear about it.

Signed up to do GOBA this year. My hubby has done it 4-5 times in the last 10 years. This will be my second year of cycling and I just turned 57. Last summer I put about 900 miles on my Synapse, but 35 was about the most I could do in any one day. I am concerned about making it 50 miles several times in one week. Any advice on how to train for this week long trip?
I am planning to pack very light, but only have the advice of a man on what to pack... so would be grateful for any advice on that too.

[MichelleOH]

I am planning to pack very light, but only have the advice of a man on what to pack... so would be grateful for any advice on that too.

My Uncle has done GOBA for something like 15 years and loves it. You don't have to carry your own gear...they move it for you from town to town. My point is...I would therefore overpack. Have fun!

[Catrin]

Signed up to do GOBA this year. My hubby has done it 4-5 times in the last 10 years. This will be my second year of cycling and I just turned 57. Last summer I put about 900 miles on my Synapse, but 35 was about the most I could do in any one day. I am concerned about making it 50 miles several times in one week. Any advice on how to train for this week long trip?
I am planning to pack very light, but only have the advice of a man on what to pack... so would be grateful for any advice on that too.

I have no constructive advice outside of wishing you a great time! I really would like to do this, but not this year. I think that I will focus on doing this in 2013. I second Michelle's advice to over-pack as your gear will be moved for you

[goldfinch]

This seemed like an ideal ride for me plus we have a small camper my spouse could drive so I wouldn't have to tent. Tenting and me don't mix. But no pets allowed in the camper. So much for that.

[Kathi]

Are you camping or staying in motels?

Even though your gear is sagged you still have to lug it to your room or campsite. I use a bag that has wheels and is large enough for my sleeping bag, bike gear and clothing. I tent so I pack my gear in waterproof compression sacks. The clear ones from Eagle Creek work well as you can see what's in them. I have one for my bike shorts, one for my jersey's, etc. I also pack my socks in the jersey pocket they go with. That way I'm not searching for them. Prescriptions and small items go in Eagle Creek cubes. I also pack my sleeping bag in a waterproof compression sack.

Unless Ohio is having a dry spell be sure to have rain gear. I always take 2 pair of cycling shoes, if one pair gets wet I have a dry pair the next day.

I'm picky about my tires so I pack an extra folding tire, it doesn't take up much room and extra tubes. I ride 650c wheels so the tubes are just in case the support crew doesn't have that size.

Energy bars and Accelerade powder (servings packed in sandwich baggies or small containers) a small bottle of dish washing liquid and bottle brush to clean the energy drink out of my waterbottles. Many rides do have Gatorade at rest stops but I can't stand it so I take my own.

I tend to overpack on casual clothes, I take things "I think I'll need" and then wonder what I was thinking.

[Kathi]

Another thing, if you have any health issues that you might need to get prescriptions meds for know where you can get prescriptions in each town.

Last year I was in a very rural area of Wisconsin and had problems with asthma. I knew I was having issues but failed to call the Dr.'s office when I was in Superior where I could have easily gotten my meds. The next town had no drugstore and it was a 40 mi. roundtrip to the nearest drugstore. Cell service was pretty bad in the area and I had to call my prescription drug company to find out where I could get the prescriptions filled. Not having the meds would have ended the tour for me and possibly a visit to the emergency room. Another women did quit riding for the same reason.

This year I'm taking a list of the nearest drugstores available to me on our routes.