wardie

After riding my first full year (about 1500miles) I am going to ride the TOSRV this year. I''ve done an MS 150 and a couple of 65 mile days but no back to back 100's. Can anyone share their past exoperiences with TOSRV and maybe lend some advice or tips? Thanks Wardie

reich17

I rode it for the first time last year and have no complaints. It is a very well run event. The food stops were great. The shower truck at the camping area (the old stadium) was was very much appreciated.


The terrain is fairly flat and from what I hear you can expect a wide variety of weather so be prepared for anything. It was a little cool last year with some rain.


I should ride it again this year but probably will not.

svt4cam

Have ridden it off and on for 30 some years. Headwinds can be a major factor on this ride so be prepared to slog into a headwind for 105 miles in some possibly marginal weather. Other dangers are inexperienced riders in pace lines. Wish I had a dollar for every accident I've seen on TOSRV from a someone in a 30 bike long paceline touching wheels. Ride with a few trusted friends and stay out of the back of the pacelines. I'm riding again this year after about 5 years of not riding it (moved to the East Coast).

john7531

I am new to riding this year and have been considering the possibility of doing this ride or the 50 mile variation from Chillicothe to Portsmouth. I live in Ohio and would really like to get off of the bikepaths as early as possible. I have been trying to get myself into shape for doing organized rides and centuries. I am just getting started and weather permitting I am at about 100 miles a week. I am about 195 lbs at 6'2 and 30 years old. I have done quite a few searches on century training and have been lurking the forums learning as much as possible. Would it be foolish of me to consider doing a Double century as my first century? Do any of you care to share your experiences with a double over a regular century? If neccessary I will probably just do the 50, however I would really like to accomplish the Complete experience!

Any thoughts on the isssue would be greatly appreciated

reich17

^^^^For what it's worth, I'm a little taller, heavier and older than you and I average less than 90 miles a week. Last year's TOSRV centuries were my first and I had no trouble completing the full tour.

MKahrl

The weather can be unpredictable even for the meteorologists. My first year the weatherman guessed wrong and I and 6,000 other cyclists got very cold and wet. The key is to train in the type of weather you might find on TOSRV. If it's cold out, go for a ride; if it's raining out, that's good too; if there is a wind howling, even better. If it's sunny and mild out, well, you're not going to encounter that over a whole TOSRV so you shouldn't even bother training in those conditions.

Get all your foul weather gear sorted out as to what works and what doesn't. I carry plenty of foul weather gear in a saddlebag. It rarely rains the entire day. Usually you just get hit with periods of rain. Having some dry socks and gloves to switch in to mid ride can make life much more pleasant.

It's easy to meet people who are riding your speed that you can form up little pace groups with that aren't as scary as the large fast pacelines.

There is a nice party in Carney Park on arrival in Portsmouth; the beer tastes particularly refreshing.

You can divide the route into 25 mile sections with a rest stop between each one. Three sections are flat and one has rolling hills. The hilly section is also the most scenic. At times you will parallel the route of the Ohio Erie Canal and parts of it are visible from the road including the locks.

TOSRV is part of bicycling history. It's the granddaddy of bike tours in the U.S. When the bike boom hit in 1971 it was already well established and ready to take on thousands of new cyclists. It spawned numerous other TOSRV named events in other parts of the country.

MKahrl

Not at all. TOSRV has been century number 1 and 2 for thousands of riders. It's not really a double century since you sleep overnight and get recharged with spaghetti and malt racing fuel. C.O.P. advises riders to do one 60 or 70 mile ride beforehand and for most of my bike group of 20 this is the longest distance they do prior to Mother's Day. You're well on your way to getting in shape to do the full trip and you will feel twice the satisfaction if you do! C.O.P. has some great rides to get you ready if you live in central Ohio.

wardie

I will be staying in a hotel in Portsmouth so I get a good nights sleep. Do you advise putting a rack on the bike and carrying a small bike bag to cover the rain gear and spare socks? Wardie

blacksquid

I've ridden TOSRV a number of times and the only thing I can say is be prepared for the weather. I've ridden in cold, windy, wet weather when the lunch stop was a an opportunity to dry out and unclench my hands! One other time, we had an 18-20mph tail wind (imagine that ) coming out of Portsmouth and it was just sweltering!

I love this ride and will remember it forever. You see, my wife and I got married in Mead Park, Chillicothe on the 2nd day of TOSRV 1992. At the end of the ride, a complete stranger stopped and gave us a vial of sand that he had brought back from Desert Storm.

Enjoy the ride! You'll meet some great people, and have a good time.

MKahrl

Big Bike Bag. If you get a saddlebag that hangs off the saddle rails you won't need a rack. Use the money saved to get a nicer bag like a Carradice from www.WallBike.com or www.PeterWhiteCycles.com. Those teeny-tiny wedge pouches you see on some bikes are for people with their own personal sag vehicle to attend to their needs. You'll see them packing their bikes onto cars in Chillicothe at the first sign of rain. Real bikers have real bags and ride prepared.

pedex

im planning on doing it on my track bike this year

edtrek

im torn between using my road bike (my ride bud's are all using road bikes) or using it as a chance to put some miles on my new LHT. sigh.

The Octopus 

*Bump.*

Everyone fired up for the ride? Dare I say the weather looks beautiful for both days?

I'm doing the one-day Columbus-Portsmouth-Columbus option again this year, so wave at the guy you see north-bound toward the end of your ride. That'll be me....

Everyone have a great, safe ride!

Cyclist01012

Ill be there doing both days wearing a Red and Black Orrville Cycling kit, on a blue postal 5200.