Mohican Ride

Sorry no pics, the camera was in the camelbak but it would have taken energy to get it out...

After worrying about the storms that hit Ohio a few days before the trip I headed into Ohio, angling South and Eastward. Spent the night on one of the cheaper hotels along I-71.

Picked up a brochure for Mid Ohio along the way - apparently it was a race for Vintage cars this weekend.

Checked out and pretty easily found the park and trailhead. Along the way saw all sorts of nifty cars, MG's, TVR's, Austin Healey, and even a Ferarri or two. Lots of nice toys on the roads.

Once on the trail, geared up and ready to go - started at the trailhead and rode along. The first climb at first reminded me of Brown Co, it's only a mile uphill, right? WRONG! The first hill climb is a harder exercise than Brown Co by a significant margin.

The next several miles were a blast, a few challenges. Log piles were easy, not so easy were the small rock fields. It probably wasn't helped that the chain jumped behind the cassette during one of those sections. Rear wheel locked up as I slammed the wheel into a few rocks.

At the 4 mile mark, I stopped, looked at the map. The moment of decision had come. If I go forward, I commit to the full 24 mile loop. OR, I can turn back here.

I made my way forward. The next 8 miles were a blast, I was discovering a nice flow to the trail, but was still working to keep the speed in check (I didn't know what was around the next corner...) Had a mechanical as I was hitting some downhill switchbacks after a really fast flowy section. Chain behind the cassette again! (I had to put some lock-tite on the rear derailleur adjustment bolt after the ride was done, but that didn't help me much then).

Had to walk the switchback before getting the mechanicals all sorted out.

Made it to the covered bridge and stopped for 'lunch'. I missed the trail entrance somehow, and was on the road for a while. Picked it back up at the snowmobile trail entrance. VERY nice! The flow in that section was incredible. Felt like I was in the Ewok forest for parts of it. Trees maybe not as big, but a speeder bike wasn't out of the question.

I was fine until about mile 21 or so, then the legs decided that they were done. The rest of the ride (and now hike) was a lot slower. The tree cover had me looking at the watch to see if it really was as late as the shadows suggested. Not even close!

Pulled out at the campgrounds, and then realized that there was a bit more to go! Riding on the Rim Trail, and a tree was down. Walked around the tree, remounted the bike, and promptly endoed from a standstill. Fell on the bike and the rear wheel. Wheel was now pretty beat up. I don't know if it was that or the locked wheel in the rock garden. Still rideable, I finished up the trail.

Several hours, a lot of work, and even a lot of grins. Mohican is a lot different than the other long-ish trails I've ridden. The other trails didn't give me the same sense of perseverance and accomplishment.

I was going to take my brothers to Mohican a few weeks back. After riding it without them, it was probably a good thing. They are not 'serious' cyclists and even the 8 mile trail would have proven a challenge.

JmZ