Ohio Gran Fondo

[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...