Ohio Gran Fondo

[Owlie]

Thanks for the tip, that was one of the reasons I posted it here. It might conflict with the Hope Ride anyway, and that has priority, thanks!

If you're interested, though, Hocking Hills has some lovely hiking.

[OakLeaf]

It's intense for sure, but I don't think it's a lot different from southern Indiana. If you do much road riding there, you should be fine. But it's definitely something to train for. I spent 20 years being scared of Columbus Fall Challenge before I finally did it two years ago as a 50th birthday present to myself (it was fine, but I made sure I was ready). You'll want to have done a hilly (6000+ feet) century every weekend for at least five or six weeks leading up to a ride like that, and at least know you can get up a 20% grade when you're tired.

My DH's folks live in Dover, Ohio, and right outside of town we rode some of the biggest hills we've ever ridden on the wooded back county roads. They were on par with some of the mountainous sections we've ridden in Virginia, Vermont, and New York. I couldn't believe it!

There are some good ones in Amish country for sure, but overall that's not the hilliest part of the state...

[Catrin]

...You'll want to have done a hilly (6000+ feet) century every weekend for at least five or six weeks leading up to a ride like that, and at least know you can get up a 20% grade when you're tired....

Thanks for this information Oakleaf, and knowing this means that I likely won't do it, at least not this year. I am looking forward so much to hitting the mountain bike trails and camping again as many weekends as I can this year - and road riding during the week...so guess I have to choose

Thank you very much for this, it really helps hearing about this area from those who know it.

[emily_in_nc]

There are some good ones in Amish country for sure, but overall that's not the hilliest part of the state...

Yes, there were plenty of flatter areas around, but one small area of hills that went to gravel in some places north of Dover were some of the steepest hills we've ridden, and we've been riding for decades. These were small county roads that don't see much traffic and thus aren't graded for it, not in Amish country, though that's a hilly area too. It was absolutely gorgeous but easily rivaled some of the worst of the hills we've ridden in the Finger Lakes of NY State. I was in my 19" low gear on a couple of the hills and about to bust a lung. The roads had names with "Hill" in 'em -- always a bad sign...

And people say Ohio is flat...not!