wb416

Has anyone done the Red Flannel Metric 100? Is it worth our time driving from Cincinnati up to Cleveland to participate?

Thanks for your input!

Bob

leinad

I am a member of the club that host this ride and it is a real nice ride around some nice country side, but boy that is a long drive!! I make pancakes for the riders at the first rest stop and there is lots of homemade cookies and hot foods at the other stops. Lots of people enjoy the ride and it is also the last official ride of the Ohio calendar. I would say it's a good ride, but again, that a long poke. If your someone who doesnt mind a nice drive then I'd say, yes it's worth it.

Would you be driving up the day before?

wb416

Probably. Her parents live in Strongsville and I did some contract work with Nordson Paint System when I worked in Huron, so I know the area a bit, but never looked at it from a biking perspective.

Is there a general time that things are wrapped up by (assuming we road at a pace with the average group)?

leinad

Well then, you have a place to stay and someone to see, so that makes it a little more reasonable.

The ride is a, start when you are ready, not a mass start, so if you leave at the posted time you will have ample time to finish and enjoy it, without busting your hump to finish.

Do you get up here much? The reason I ask is that yo could come up on Sat. and ride the tow path trail in the Cuyahuga valley, great time of year for that.

wb416

Don't get up that way much. It's either Christmas with her parents or passing through on the way to Erie, PA for wreck diving.

The Towpath sounds like a treat. We've yet to do that.

leinad

Do you do any moutain biking? There is the worlds only indoor moutain bike park up here as well and it will be open by then (closes in summer). It's called Ray's indoor MTB park and it is something to behold. Great for beginners as well as hardcore riders.

Wreck diving,. neat, I was certified at one time but never did anything with it.

wb416

We've done some mountain biking this summer and are definitely n00bs at it.

Where is the Ray's MTB park located?

dewaday

Wife and I thought the same thing last Sunday. Hadn't ridden the trail all year and wanted one nice fall trip. I now know what bicycle he|| looks like. It was a hideous Hunter Thompson saga of suicidal children, lunging mongrels, weaving flouncy women, and annoyed-grabbing a nicotine injection-dads. Velo-insanity I tell ya.

It is a great, beautiful, relaxing place to ride this time of year, if the weather is a little less conducive to mass hysteria.

chipcom 

Don't forget the muppet racers.

dewaday

Aeeeyyyyahhhhh, yes, the catalysts to calamity . Who are those idjits?

wb416

I wonder how that compared to our ride on Sunday.

We tried to avoid what you were talking about, but ended up in something worse.

Allegheny Jet

Least of all, those pulling trailers with dogs in them.

dewaday

What is it with people who wrap flannel around their brains when recreating? State wide pre-fall Ohio hysteria I tell ya.

We watched as one mom tried to grab junior from blocking the entire trail, stepped out into space, and tumbled bike and all down the ravine into the canal. I know I shouldn't have laughed . We took the return trip via Riverview.

wb416

Nope... couple of thousand motorcyclist and law enforcement using the village of Oregonia's roads and trails as a parking lot or personal sidewalk.

garysol1 

Can't say for sure if it is worth your drive or not but it is a very nice route and ride not to mention the last blast of the year and Dan makes a mean pancake Depending on the speed your looking to ride I would be more than happy to meet up and ride with you. As for Ray's MTB park. HERE is the LINK....

dewaday

If your looking for a road ride before the Red Flannel, just grab the park road off Rt. 82 in Strongsville. Head north for pretty flat riding into Rocky River, or head south for some hillier terrain into Brecksville Reservation. Both excellent scenic routes with traffic that's used to bicyclists.

wb416

Thanks for the offer! I'll see if I can convince her it's a good idea.

wb416

I don't see the Park Road you're referencing. Are you talking about heading onto the Valley Parkway?

nocondorfx

yes

CrimsonKarter21

I kinda want to do the Flannel ride on my track bike.

garysol1 

You won't be the first. There is only one steepish hill and few smaller hills that I can think of on the route.

Mr Danw

muppet racers?

dewaday

Outrageously outfitted, colorfully corny, speed demons of the MUP.

Mr Danw

Maybe I can blend in

dewaday

You'll need to exhibit a total disregard for the safety of others, have zero bike handling skills, be able to look like your working real hard while traveling 13 MPH, and have really nice team kit, including gloves, socks and warmers. Think you got what it takes?