jeffisbiking

Here near the OSU campus.

I just bought a new road bike and I love it. I'm still adjusting to it, but I hope to do plenty of riding this summer and I plan on taking a ride from C-bus to Chillicothe this summer.

Vodalus

New here, and to biking in general. I live in Grandview and hope to be commuting to work in Upper Arlington (12 mi round trip) as soon as i get a little more strength built up (and some lights).

haningp

I live in Westerville and hope to start commuting to Nationwide downtown. I don't know if anyone else reading these posts is already doing that. The trip will be about 20 miles each way. Hopefully I'll meet up with other riders on the Olentangy bike trail heading for downtown.

scoatw

For all of you new folks in the Columbus area go to https://www.yaybikes.com/transitional/. Share your routes and ideas. I'm ScottNorthSide. I commute everyday. Rain or Shine or Snow. I love to ride, and I love not having to pay for gas. I hav'nt paid for gas since last June.

GTPowers

I've been living in chIcago for three years now but I grew up in Westerville. I'll be riding from DT to my 'rents house and back up to campus/shortnorth for Comfest!

Keep an eye out for a blue Motobecane and a guy with a huge Chrome Sultan, thats me! I'll look out for some bikers @ Comfest!

Vodalus

Did my first commute today! My job is very physical so I was worried about being tired or having a tough ride home but it all went very well. It has been amazing to me just how much better my day has gone every day this week after my morning rides. Seeing gas at $3.99 today also made me smile about my new transportation option.


Oh and I will basically spend all weekend at Comfest. It is always the best time I have in this city.

gmonteith

I'm in Westerville. I've always considered myself more of a runner, but just bought a used Trek from a friend of mine and have been riding up around Galena and Hoover Reservoir as well as around Alum Creek State Park and some of the bike trails around here, though they tend to be loaded with pedestrians. I plan to do a lot more biking throught the summer and fall.

scoatw

My commute on Sat morn. started out as usual at 4:10am. I checked the weather radar to see where the storms were. I saw what looked to be an open window in the storm front that stretched back to the other side of Union county. Cool, I said. Looks like I'm going to avoid getting dumped on. No such luck. I got about halfway thru my commute and ran into a wall of water. I ducked into a Hotel overhang and put my rain gear on, then continued on. That storm front was moving fast. Later I found out that it was moving at about 60mph. Anyway, the rain got worse, coming down in buckets. My feet got soaked even with the shoe covers on. So much for being water-proof. Had to dodge a few lightning bolts. Boy, those will get your attention. Made it to the BP in Linworth to get a paper, and by the time I came back out it stopped. Only to start up again as I was at work. Tis the season. The aftn ride was the usual great ride in the sun with a nice tailwind. More storms to come later.

scoatw

I woke up at 3:10am and didn't like what I was hearing. I immediately turned on the weather radar via computer and checked things out. I was worried for my son's safety cause I knew he'd be in the middle of it.. I got lucky in that the storm was passing thru as I was getting ready for work. When I left I had my rain gear on but took the jacket off because the rain had stopped. I saw lightning in the distance but it didn't worry me. The aftn ride was hot and steamy. You could feel the humidity in the air. But all in all a pleasant ride home. I'm hoping I luck out tom'rw morning.
...Oh yeah. I hit 3000 miles for the year today.

SilverTurtle

Howdy everyone! I'm in Columbus, too, so I thought I'd say hello. I do post @ Consider Biking.org, too. I'm hoping to make the Doo Dah parade w/ them this year.

NewbieCommuter

not sure if this thread is still alive... just joined the BF. Yes, I live close to Polaris and commute to Downtown.

haningp

Good to hear there are other commuters riding downtown. I've made the westerville to downtown commute one or twice a week for the past couple of months. It was easier than I thought. I take bike paths and streets to the Schrock road bike lanes and ride up into Worthington. From there I get one the Olentangy trail into downtown. It's about a 22 mile commute each way for me but an enjoyable ride especially along the river. Any one else want to share their favorite commute route to downtown?

NewbieCommuter

I use the olentangy trail all the way.

Columbus rider

I've been commuting to work for a month now. It's 6 miles round trip. I love the exercise and saving money on gas is nice too. I've been riding for exercise for several years now. I moved up here (Dublin area) to be close to work.

Tsuru

I'm here... did the Olentangy early this morning. I'm the guy on a blue 81 world tourist, turned to a single speed, with fancy Xero wheels I bought from a friend. Due to family in town, no commuting this month, but my normal commute is from Harrison West to New Albany. Great ride! 18 miles...

Sunday went to bottom of Columbus to 270, then up to 270, then over to junctionview near grandview. Fun ride, High Street, especially north of the campus coming down south on the right side reeeeeeeally sucks. When are they going to get those steel plates off the road?

Plus the road block on the Olentangy is a bit annoying.

Week ago Saturday, did Westerville to Granville.... awesome 60 miles (my first)! WOOP!

Kotts

I'm about as far north as you can get and still be in Columbus (outside of 270, between 23 and 71). I bike commute a minimum of 2 days a week, though I try for 5 when I can. (I have schedulling issues on days when I have to be 40 miles away from work an hour after I leave.)

I come right down High Street in the AM, and take the Olentangy Trail home in the evening. Look for me on a decidedly Fred-ish black bike with fenders, panniers, 2 rear blinkies, 2 headlights, often wearing a FedEx jersey.

Weekends I'm on a blue Motobecane, hitting the roads and trails with my 9-year old, and sometimes my wife.

Kotts

Kotts

I hate the D@^& plates, but I get a good workout (stroke, stroke, bunnyhop, stroke, stroke, bunnyhop).

The road block/detour on the Olentangy is a PITA, particularly since you have no real warning of whether it's going to be blocked until you're RIGHT THERE. If they put a sign up around the Medical Center (northbound) and by the stadium (southbound), you could at least re-route easily.

Good go on the 60 miler! That's a very pleasant ride.

Kotts

Tsuru

thanks and AMEN! Olentangy path is a GREAT perfect 25 mile ride top to bottom, it's an absolute shame about:

1. The OSU section, besides the new road block, the overall craptacular pat. Repave that thing already!
2. The poor noobie who needs to figure out how to continue on the first few times. Those loop de loops and splits can trick ya the first few times. Once you figure it out, it's fine.

I once took High up to Orange Township, interesting ride. Straight shot up and down. on the way back, I took a right at 161 and went down that glorious hill at 1,000,000 mph. For a few moments, I was a kid again! Until I got on the path for the balance of my ride, and it was back to being 35.

lol.

Going to do 50+ this weekend with my friend. Looking to do a fun giant circle-ish path from Victorian Village out and ultimately back, maybe go up olentangy (rd, not bike path) to dublin, then from there, not sure, maybe head west then south via hilliard or something. Ultimately making my way back to Harrison West/Victorian Village...

Any suggestions?

Or... maybe hit some new bike path outside of Columbus...

scoatw

I had a great ride home this aftn. I did a little trail-ridin’ on the OBP. I like to ride down the Bikepath, and every once and awhile I’ll take some of those dirt trails that you see breaking off of the path. I found one today that took me into the woods for a spell. Ducking branches, and following the narrow dirt trail that took me along the river. Stopping to enjoy the scenery. Came across a few fishermen, but that was it. Totally off the trail and all by myself. Sitting by the river I saw the small rain front come thru and made my way towards home. Rode thru Worthington riding in the steady light rain. I looked over my shoulder and saw the blue skies to the west and figured the rain would’nt last long. Which it didn’t.. For awhile I thought that maybe I should stop and put my rain jacket on. But I said the heck with it. I’m on my way home So I rode in the rain. I noticed the cagers looking at me getting wet and how they’re all tucked in their vehicles all nice and comfy with the AC on. They don’t know what they’re missing. I kept thinking to myself that this is what bike commuting is all about. Being totally relaxed on the way home, taking in all of the environment around me. Kinda like in the winter when I’d be the only rider out there and folks looking at me like I’m nuts for riding in those extreme conditions, but I’m enjoying every minute of it, cause I know that I can do it. Rode the rest of the way and was about half dried off. This is what bike commuting is all about. In tune and with Mother Nature.

Tsuru

I'm jealous.... I'm still at work, in New Albany. Looked liked rain, but never came. Wish I was out on OBP right now. Sigh.

bluejack45

I'm up in Worthington, so far I'm just riding around neighborhoods getting good workouts

Tsuru

nice area! man... climbing 161 from the Olentangy Bike Path up to High Street after a long ride.... ARGH!

cstamper

I live on the NE side (off Karl btwn Morse & 161) and I'm trying to find a way to commute to Cardinal Health in Dublin. The most direct route is SR 161 but that seems like it would be pretty dangerous although once you get past Linworth, there is a pretty good shoulder to ride on in case. I've thought about Hard Rd. but that seems too far north. I've also thought about Snouffer. There may not be a good or easy way to do it. I might ride it this weekend just to see what it's like.

Tsuru

Yeah, my commute is from Short North to New Albany... did a new route yesterday to tack on a few extra miles by taking Broad street out to Cassady then Johnstown. Pretty nice.

For you, getting to Dublin, yeah.... that's all pretty busy. It's crossing the river that's limiting your options.. Looks like Henderson crosses over, but I'm not sure how far out of the way that is.

smoke

i live close to powell. i mainly ride to marysville, around alum creek lake, or else i go up to prospect and back