TOSRV registration begins 1/15/09.

Who's done this ride? Thoughts? How awful are the sleeping accomodations in the gym? It's waay too late to try to book a decent hotel in Portsmouth.

The jerseys are usually pretty nice.

The thought of sleeping on a gym floor in the middle of a double century is not all that appealing....
There has to be a better option

It's not all on a gym floor. some of its on a health club floor and maybe a church floor or two. And there is allways the option to camp. I have been told that when you check out of a local motel that you put in your reservation for the following year, but never haveing done it I cant stay for certain.

In my opinion the weather is the main down side of this ride. I have done it in sun and I have done it in tha rain. Route is ok stops are 25 miles apart and well stocked.

Mom, where are you in NE Ohio?

Colleen, Here is the short answer, call me if you want the long one. I have riden it twice and it is one of my least favorite rides. You will face head winds a least one, if not both days, it WILL rain, it will be cold at least one day and chances are you will get all three, wet, wind and cold.

The first 2 sections (50 miles) are flat,boring and on some of the ruffer roads (unless they have been repaired), the 3rd 25 very rolly and the most scenic best part of the ride by far, the last 25 is generally flat with some pretty sections reverse it for Sunday. Both years there where issues with miss marked or poorly mark sections of the ride ( I ended up on a major highway with 6 people once becuase of that)

Way to many riders, and lots of them care little about the rules of the road on this ride, lots of very fast pacelines too. Lots of riders in big packs taking up the road, this I really hated!!!

I was fortunate enough to be with someone who had a hotel room, but the sleeping arrangements are in areas all over Portsmouth and looked to be more than adequate, but again it's on the floor with at least several hundred other people. Rest stop are alright, but it the same stuff at each one, the are well stocked though. You won't starve, but trail mix and store bought cookies get pretty old by Sunday arternoon.

Saturday is the best day and the party in the park in portsmouth is nice. The town is quite nice and lots to ride around and see. The ride back on Sunday is the Ohio equilivant of the Burmess Death March, you will never be so happy to see high street in Columbus in your life.

Call for more details. DAN

Everything leinad said is true. It's remarkable that 3,000 cyclists would subject themselves to it more than 40 years in a row.

TOSRV's unpredictable weather early in the cycle season is part of its appeal. You have to get out training in inclement weather as you not only get limbered up for back to back centuries but also so you can develop a comfortable foul weather system. The average high is in the upper sixties and the rain is mostly just short showers with much longer intervals of non-rain in between. Sort of a glass half full or half empty deal.

The large undisciplined pacelines are pretty rare now. The overall riding skill and rule following is now quite good. It's nothing like what you saw 15 years ago. The largest age group in TOSRV in 2008 were the 50-59 year olds with 40-49 year olds second. They've been around the block on this ride a few times.

I didn't mind the gym even back when the ride was over 6,000. Maybe being tired made me sleep soundly or maybe it didn't seem all that bad after 13 years of sea duty. The foods at the stops is at least as good as any ride I've been on that did not require $100 in pledges beforehand. The baked potatoes are nice in cool weather.

I like the ride back on Sunday, it feels like a different ride. It's even better if you have a nice group to ride with

I've done it 15 times, but not for a couple of years (I seem to have kids graduating from college on that weekend every year). The gym isn't really that bad and there are several locations, some better than others. If you are a strong rider then back to back centuries shouldn't bother you. I like to have 2000 miles by tosrv to really do it it justice and hang with some of the fast groups. As I edge towards 70 I find Sunday a little harder than it used to be.

Frank

Looks like Leinad, Mom and myself are in for the 2009 TOSRV. Who else?

More then likely I will be there along with the tandem riders I was with when I saw Leinad at sweetcorn.

I fail to see the problem with any of this! I've done it 5 years in a row (plus once in 1985 when I was a young lad), and I love it for all the reasons leinad hates it. It's TOSRV!

Dobo - Are you doing it with Vince again??

Hey Frank... yep. Vince and I are registered, and as far as I know we have Don Brown and Chuck, plus Jim, a buddy of mine from last year's RAINSTORM week. You gonna get back into it this year?

six weeks till TOSRV! Wouldn't it be great if we had good weather both days? Wishful thinking? Has it ever happened?

Yes. One year it was 80 deg both days.

I am hoping for a head wind both days maybe with sleet and roads that are coved with Belgiun tooth paste...............Now with that said it will most likey be sunny both days.

I love seeing people taunt the weather gods. Nice try with the reverse psychology, but it won't work.

As of today. 37 days.

BUMP

Who's in?

Only two more weekends till TOSRV.....Ready or not...here it comes.

I will be attempting this for my first time this year. This is loosely my 3rd year cycling and I have had my eye on this event since I first bought my bike. I have been active on my fluid trainer since February and have managed 1 century, 2 metrics and a handful of 40 mile rides when weather permitting here in Ohio. I'm really hoping for good weather and low wind, not too sure how I will manage otherwise!

sounds like my story, 'cept for managing a century yet this year....TOS will be first for the year, oh, and 2nd come to think of it.

Good luck to you it sounds like you are well prepared and should do very well....

Anyone else feel like they don't have enough miles in yet this year?

raises hand...I'm at about 1300 for the year (outdoor only) and i am feeling that way....But after reading about Aham's upcoming adventure, well, this is pretty small potatoes. We will be fine on TOSRV... just gotta pace ourselves, not go out too fast, especially the first day.

Getting closer .....Hope your all out there getting the miles in.

bump for the TOSRV riders.....

so what's the weather going to be like? Looks pretty decent so far, but the wind will be the kicker.

Mom, Hope to get meet you this weekend. I will be on a postal paint 5200, running with a two tone commotion tandem. All wearing either Orrville Cycling Jerseys or Long sleave wool orrville jersey's. If I dont see you on TOSRV I will see you on GOBA.