Monthly Archives: May 2011

Circum-Ohio Week 1 – General Information

Trip Information

I hope you can join us for the first week of the Circum-Ohio tour.  It’s going to be challenging, fun and rewarding… an experience like no other.

Trip Date: September 27-October 1, 2011

Total Length: 393 miles

Average Day: 79 miles

Trip Fee: $190 if registered by 7/27/11

Week 1 of the Cirum-Ohio trip will start with our most challenging day of 2011 – 105 miles through the moderate hills of Southern Ohio.  Beginning in Cincinnati, Ohio, week 1 will follow the Ohio river, making overnight stops in Portsmouth, Gallipolis and Marietta, then continue north through Eastern Ohio to Bridgeport and Youngstown.

At Youngstown, Ohio we’ll take a one-day intermission, officially ending week 1.

Each day will bring about different terrain and new challenges.  The shortest day of Circum-Ohio week 1 is day 2 – Portsmouth to Gallipolis at only 56 miles.

The perimeter trip will be a different experience from our weekend trips.  Any time you’ve got to do laundry on the road really kicks things up a notch.

If you’re serious about cycling, and serious about getting water to thirsty people in far away places, then the Circum-Ohio trip is for you.  Please consider signing up today and joining us for this adventure.

Still want more info?  Here’s a printable PDF.

Interested in riding?  Please register by clicking here, or contact us for more information.

Amish Loop Trip – General Information (CANCELLED)

Trip Information

Due to lack of interest, this trip has been cancelled.  Sorry for any inconvenience, please consider riding the Trans-Ohio Tour instead. (edit 05/27)

The Amish Loop trip might not have the most miles, but I do expect it to be the most challenging of our 3-day trips.  However, it will probably be the most beautiful too, and certainly the most rewarding.

“Amish Country” in Northeastern Ohio is one of the most scenic places in the United States.

Trip Date: August 5-7, 2011

Total Length: 213 miles

Average Day: 71 miles

Trip Fee: $90 if registered by 7/4/11

The Amish Loop trip will begin on August 5, 2011 in Westerville, Ohio.  Day one will end in Mansfield, Ohio with an elevation gain of about 400 feet.  Don’t worry, we’re riding in a big circle, so we’ll get that elevation back before the trip is over.  :-)

Much of day two will follow a fantastic bike trail from Mansfield to Coshocton, weaving, climbing, descending and burning through the rolling green pastures and cool forests of this region of Ohio.  Day three will return to Westerville, Ohio via Buckeye Lake.

71 miles a day is very doable, even for the casual cyclist.  We will be taking on some hills along the way, though, so participants should spend some time learning to tackle a climb.  Remember, hills are in the head, that’s what we have gears on our bikes for.

Please feel free to join us for any single day of this trip.  Day two follows a bike trail most of the way, which makes for a pleasant journey.

Still want more info?  Here’s a printable PDF.

Interested in riding?  Please register by clicking here, or contact us for more information.

Trans-Ohio Trip – General Information

Trip Information

I’m really looking forward to the Trans-Ohio trip because it comes with the best bragging rights.

Imagine returning to work after the long 4th of July weekend.  “So what did you do over the weekend?” your co-worker asks expecting to get, “had a picnic”, “went fishing” or “rented a pontoon boat” back.   But instead you answer “not much, just rode my bicycle across the state of Ohio.  Richmond, Indiana to Wheeling, West Virginia, no big deal.”

This trip is a lot of miles, but the terrain is fairly mild.  We’ll follow historic route 40 for most of the trip, and it should be a relaxing, safe ride all the way ACROSS OHIO.

Trip Date: July 1-3, 2011

Total Length: 270 miles

Average Day: 90 miles

Trip Fee: $90 if registered by 6/1/11

Our first trip of the 2011 season, Trans-Ohio will take us on a smooth adventure from Ohio’s Indiana border, all the way to Ohio’s border with West Virginia.  The mileage will be longer than some of our other trips, but the terrain will be mostly flat and will follow many designated bike routes.

On day one, riders will be provided with early morning transportation from Columbus, Ohio to the starting point in Richmond, Indiana.  That day we’ll ride through the scenic flatlands of Eastern Ohio and spend the night in London.  Day two will pass through Columbus, and the gentle rolling hills of Central Ohio to end the day in Zanesville.  Finally, day three will continue along Route 40 to complete the trip in Wheeling, West Virginia.  Transportation will be provided back to Columbus.

If you’d like to join us on Saturday of your July 4th weekend, it should be a nice 90 mile jaunt from London, Ohio to Zanesville, Ohio.

Still want more info?  Here’s a printable PDF.

Interested in riding?  Please register by clicking here, or contact us for more information.

Informational Meeting with Franklinton Cycle Works!

Events, Trip Information

Please note:  The date of this event has changed to Thursday, May 26, 2011 at 7:00 p.m.

Franklinton Cycle Works is generously hosting an informational meeting for the 2011 Water Cycle Project rides.

Please come out on May 26, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. to the FCW shop at 897 W. Broad, Columbus, Ohio to have all of your wildest questions about The Water Cycle Project answered.

This is a great opportunity to plug in with your local cycling community and test the waters to see if you’re up for any of our 4 rides this summer.

Please come prepared with lots of questions.  Food and drink will be provided.

You can find the event on Facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=225680587449454

Hocking Hills Trip – General Information

Trip Information

Due to lack of interest, this trip has been cancelled.  Sorry for any inconvenience, please consider riding the Trans-Ohio Tour instead. (edit 05/27)

It would be great if you could join us for our Hocking Hills Trip!  The Hocking Hills region is one of Ohio’s most beautiful areas.

I’m super excited to test myself with a few challenging hills, but still enjoy a slower paced, shorter trip-day.

Trip Date: September 1-3, 2011

Total Length: 166 miles

Average Day: 55 miles

Trip Fee: $90 if registered by 8/2/11

The hocking hills trip will be a beautiful September cycling adventure in Ohio.  Day one will take us from Grove City to Chillicothe.  Day two will be mostly on a designated bike path ending in Nelsonville, and day three will return to Grove City.

These will be shorter days, but days two and three will have some moderate hills.

Remember, you can always join us for only one day at any point in our trips.  Day 1 of the Hocking Hills Trip is a perfect example.  At only 43 miles, it will be our shortest day of all of our 2011 rides, and some of the easiest terrain.  Grove City to Chillicothe is mostly flat, and there’s an overall elevation drop of 200 feet!

Still want more info?  Here’s a printable PDF.

Interested in riding?  Please register by clicking here, or contact us for more information.

Good Luck on the TOSRV!

Non-TWCP Rides

To those riding the TOSRV this weekend, good luck!  I wish I could join you.

I hope you get some great weather to work with.  Looks like it might be clearing up for you.

The TOSRV is the Tour of the Scioto River Valley bike ride (website).  It’s a two day event that rides 100 miles from Columbus, Ohio to Portsmouth, Ohio on Saturday, and then makes the return trip on Sunday.

Have fun.  Meet some cyclists.  Ride Safe.

If you get a chance, spread the word about our TWCP rides.

Columbus Creative Cooperative Anthology

Links, Resources

The Columbus Creative Cooperative was nice enough to give us some free ad space in their first anthology, Origins.

This is a group that I’m intimately involved with, and it’s great to see that my two endeavors can work together for mutual benefit.

Origins is an anthology, featuring nine short stories by Columbus authors.  It can be ordered off of the Columbus Creative Cooperative website (www.ColumbusCoop.org) for $9.35, or can be ordered in Kindle Edition off of Amazon.com (click) for only $6.00.

If you’re a reader, consider picking up a copy.  I think you’ll be pleased with it.

Guest Blog | Jessica

Guest Blogs, Water

This is a guest blog from Jessica.   She also writes a blog highlighting Twenty Dollar Dates in the Columbus area, check it out at TwentyDollarDates.com

I had the privilege of studying abroad in Guanajuato, Mexico my 3rd year of undergrad at OSU. I loved every single minute of it! Mexico is beautiful and full of never-ending culture–everywhere you look there’s something wonderful to see. My knowledge of the Spanish language grew and my appreciation of Mexican culture grew as well.


I woke up everyday to warm weather & to the sound of vendors selling things in the street. This yelling at sunrise became, surprisingly, a comforting sound as my study abroad summer continued. “Verduras!” “Gas!” “Carne!” “Agua!” Selling vegetables, meat & even natural gas didn’t surprise me. But water?! Of all things I 100% take for granted in the States, water is probably #1. I drink a ton of water each day, constantly refilling my water bottle with the seemingly ever-flowing source of water at water fountains, my Britta filter, office coolers, sinks! But in Guanajuato, families….bought…drinking water?? On top of paying a monthly bill for bathing water?? It boggled me. I quickly realized that clean water was a precious commodity in Mexico. Our host family bought three jugs of drinking water each week & no fail, at the end of the week we were out & waiting for our Monday delivery in anticipation. I started to drink less and less water, humbled by the rarity of it. I suddenly felt so spoiled and “American.” Not having to worry about my drinking water was something I was so privileged to in the States!

I had a conversation with my host mom about this and she just nodded and smiled. She said, in Spanish, that I was in fact spoiled. Growing up her family did not have water jugs delivered to them–they had to walk to the local well each day. So in Mexico, her family now is actually considered quite wealthy, getting their three jugs of water delivered each week. Later that day, she had to lecture us (with a laugh) of being more considerate when bathing & flushing the toilet–only 5 minute showers & only flush when it’s #2.

Needless to say, I learned to consume less water. I learned to be grateful when I brushed my teeth with clean water, when I pressed the water fountain button & when I turned the faucet to get a glass of water. And now when I see an office cooler, I always think differently.