3rd Annual "Meet and Eat" at Dennys in Clearfield, PA (Sunday, April 20)

[Against The Wind]

  All the roads mentioned were relatively clear and free of loose gravel with one very notable exception:
the stretch of 144 south of Renovo from the "Big Rock" ( those who've ridden here know what I mean, you can't miss it ) down hill into Renovo ( I would guess it's about 3 or 4 miles ) is literally covered with loose gravel almost the entire way.

Anyone planning to take this route should be careful through this stretch. It could catch someone by surprise because the first effected turn ( north bound ) is a steep, downhill left-hander after a long mild stretch along the ridge.

Thanks for the warning. Our bunch is headed through there.

[R1150RTMark]

Dang - just saw this.  And here I (and my steed) sit in a Hillsville, VA Holiday Inn Express.  At least for good reason - onto the BRP today to Asheville and then over to Deals Gap Thursday morning.  Nashville for the weekend and heading home on that Sunday.

Have a great time everybody.

[VIVID1]

The final count: we have 6 people rolling in from Chicago this year    Since we’ve been doing this ride the last two years, riding in on Saturday, riding back home after lunch, 1200 miles in 2 days ALL slab   we’ve changed it up for this year. A few of us are doing this ride as a three day, and a few as a four day. We’re all hitting SE Ohio and West Virginia before we get to PA   I can't wait    

[garry]

The final count: we have 6 people rolling in from Chicago this year    Since we’ve been doing this ride the last two years, riding in on Saturday, riding back home after lunch, 1200 miles in 2 days ALL slab   we’ve changed it up for this year. A few of us are doing this ride as a three day, and a few as a four day. We’re all hitting SE Ohio and West Virginia before we get to PA   I can't wait    

Have a good time! You're going to love the roads I sent Jammin in southeast Ohio and WV.

If you want to spend more time in Ohio and/or WV, I can extend your twisty bliss. Just go my site, www.MotoRoads.net and look at the roads on the "Ultimate Twisties" route. It's the de facto standard for twisty fun in the Pittsburgh tri-state area.

You could jump off I-70 at the route 7/Bellaire (OH) exit, run the UT loop (backwards) south to New Martinsville, then north back to I-70/Wheeling and continue on your way. That'd be a good 4 hours of unrelenting turns. There is NOTHING better anywhere in the region. If you have the time, it's not to be missed.

[googus]

Vivid sounds like a great plan you guys got

Garry any good route from let say the Poconos?
Greg

[VIVID1]

You're going to love the roads I sent Jammin in southeast Ohio and WV.

Jammin is doing the trip in 3 days, I'm doing it in 4 days. I have a slightly different route with some different roads.

I don’t see 20 listed on your site, do you know how is it from New Martinsville, OH to Gypsy near I-79?

[garry]

I don’t see 20 listed on your site, do you know how is it from New Martinsville, OH to Gypsy near I-79?

New Martinsville is actually on the WV side of the Ohio River.

It's about 50 miles from New Martinsville to I-79. Route 20 is pretty nice to about Smithfield, then gets kind of boring/mellow. I usually take CR-21 (Price Fork Rd, signed) in Smithfield over to Mannington on route 250. CR-21 is nice twisty country road with good pavement. You eventually come to a T on CR-21 and (I think) a stop sign. You want to make right there to continue on to Mannington. Once in Mannington, a short bit of 250 east/south to Farmington and then 218 north up into PA is my usual route. Not sure if that fits into your plan or not.

As an aside, route 20 near New Martinsville is where I ninja kicked a deer that tried to T-bone my Triumph. I won. The deer ended up laying in the mud on the shoulder with a headache. Ran off by the time our group got turned around.

[garry]

Garry any good route from let say the Poconos?

Check out my ride report on how I got home from the Poconos (Triumph RAT Raid) a couple years ago. You might want to include part of that route.

http://www.motoroads.net/reports/prr06.htm

[VIVID1]

New Martinsville is actually on the WV side of the Ohio River.

It's about 50 miles from New Martinsville to I-79. Route 20 is pretty nice to about Smithfield, then gets kind of boring/mellow. I usually take CR-21 (Price Fork Rd, signed) in Smithfield over to Mannington on route 250. CR-21 is nice twisty country road with good pavement. You eventually come to a T on CR-21 and (I think) a stop sign. You want to make right there to continue on to Mannington. Once in Mannington, a short bit of 250 east/south to Farmington and then 218 north up into PA is my usual route. Not sure if that fits into your plan or not.

As an aside, route 20 near New Martinsville is where I ninja kicked a deer that tried to T-bone my Triumph. I won. The deer ended up laying in the mud on the shoulder with a headache. Ran off by the time our group got turned around.

duh, I knew that   I just quickly glanced at google maps here at work since I don't have MS S&T or my route here at work, I'm not good at this multi-tasking   I found the listing on your site under the correct state. Thanks  

From memory I have us on 800 to 255 to 20 to 50 to 26 and up in to PA, my route is similar to Jammins. I just got his route this morning, some of us are leaving a day early, but have a longer route, so all the Chicago folks might be able to hook up in route, the tail end of my route is just like Jammins    

[Rincewind]

Just a reminder to SEPA day-riders.  I'm gonna be leaving Turkey Hill, 4 Hahnstown Rd, Ephrata, PA, at 7am Sunday morning.  I plan on 200-230 miles, some good twisty mountain roads, and arriving in Clearfield around noon.  Please PM your cell number if you plan on riding up with me.  DosEquis and EJ - you guys still a go?  

Only a 30% chance of isolated T-stroms on Sunday.  Friday and Saturday are looking pretty warm.  

-Alex

[garry]

From memory I have us on 800 to 255 to 20 to 50 to 26 and up in to PA, my route is similar to Jammins.

255 is a nasty bit of road. I would avoid it. Seriously needs to be repaved. It sucks.

IMO, the best route from 800 to New Martinsville is:

800 south to jct 148
Left on 148 to jct 26
Right on 26 south to jct 145
Left on 145 to Beallsville
Continue straight onto 556
Follow 556 to jct 7 (Ohio River)
Right on 7 south (short) to jct 78 in Clarington
Right on 78 west to jct 536
Left on 536 to jct 7 (again)
Right on 7 south to bridge to New Martinsville

Once in New Martinsville follow 2 south to jct 7.
Left on 7 for a few miles to jct 20
Right on 20 south

Not sure how you exactly plan on getting to route 50, but I would strongly consider the CR-21 to Mannington, and 250 south to Fairmont option. Pick up 310 in Fairmont (you have to snake thru town to get to 310). 310 is a twisty fun road that brings you to route 50 in Grafton. The start of the good stuff on 50.

I would take 50 PAST junction of 26 to at least route 72. That gets you the fun climb and descent of Friends Gap. Plus you can follow the Cheat River heading up 72 north to Kingwood. Once you hit 7 in Kingwood, make a left, go about a mile, then make a right onto the good part of 26. Big fun all the way to Bruceton Mills. That gets you almost to the PA state line. 26 turns into 281 in PA and takes you to route 40.

You have the option of 40 west to 381 north, but a more scenic choice is to stay on 281 at that point thru Confluence and then make a left on 653 in New Lexington which takes you to jct 381 in Normalville. Then continue on 381 north/etc to Clearfield.

[squeezer]

Okay, this is cool...

I wasn't going to be able to make it to the Meet & Eat because I'm riding the Cape Fear rally this weekend.

We just got our rally books, and it turns out that Denny's is one of the bonus locations.  

Don't know if it will be on my final route, but say hi to any rally-ers who come across you guys on Saturday.  They'll be trying to position their bikes for a photo in front of the sign.

Everyone have a great ride...    

[R Doug]

I plan on taking roads I've never taken before to get there on Saturday.  For the most part, as follows is what I programmed into the Garmin... any comments from people who may know these roads?

http://tinyurl.com/69fqjl

Thanks.

[garry]

I've been on a lot of your route Doug (big surprise, eh?)

Mt Davis Rd is good. That's part of my foliage ride route. Haven't gone east of 219 though.

Can't provide any input on the stuff between 219 and 326.

326 was just OK. Twisty, but a bit bumpy and dirty as I recall closer to Flintstone and less interesting but better pavement as you approach Bedford. You might want to consider hitting 26 instead.

869 is pleasant with a nice section going thru Blue Knob State Park.

I recall 164 being mellow sweepers (it's been a couple years on that one)

Beaver Valley Rd past the lake is scenic. I stopped at a water tower/observation thing near the south end last spring.

53 goes thru several coal towns, but isn't too bad.

453 can be good fun. Variable quality pavement though and some gravel. I plan on hitting that on my way home if the weather is good.

[R Doug]

Not surprised one bit.

Thanks!  

[Whirlwind]

Wow   you guys are going to be scooting right past my house. I had no idea there was such a big group that rides this area. I grew up in Clearfield and now live in Snow Shoe right along Rt144/53. Mabye I'll join you all this weekend.  

[SLK50]

Wow   you guys are going to be scooting right past my house. I had no idea there was such a big group that rides this area. I grew up in Clearfield and now live in Snow Shoe right along Rt144/53. Mabye I'll join you all this weekend.  

  PM sent.

[nnjhawk02]

Hope weather holds  

Looks like rain on Sunday afternoon - but if it holds I'll see all there.

[VIVID1]

255 is a nasty bit of road. I would avoid it. Seriously needs to be repaved. It sucks.

IMO, the best route from 800 to New Martinsville is:

800 south to jct 148
Left on 148 to jct 26
Right on 26 south to jct 145
Left on 145 to Beallsville
Continue straight onto 556
Follow 556 to jct 7 (Ohio River)
Right on 7 south (short) to jct 78 in Clarington
Right on 78 west to jct 536
Left on 536 to jct 7 (again)
Right on 7 south to bridge to New Martinsville

Once in New Martinsville follow 2 south to jct 7.
Left on 7 for a few miles to jct 20
Right on 20 south

Not sure how you exactly plan on getting to route 50, but I would strongly consider the CR-21 to Mannington, and 250 south to Fairmont option. Pick up 310 in Fairmont (you have to snake thru town to get to 310). 310 is a twisty fun road that brings you to route 50 in Grafton. The start of the good stuff on 50.

I would take 50 PAST junction of 26 to at least route 72. That gets you the fun climb and descent of Friends Gap. Plus you can follow the Cheat River heading up 72 north to Kingwood. Once you hit 7 in Kingwood, make a left, go about a mile, then make a right onto the good part of 26. Big fun all the way to Bruceton Mills. That gets you almost to the PA state line. 26 turns into 281 in PA and takes you to route 40.

You have the option of 40 west to 381 north, but a more scenic choice is to stay on 281 at that point thru Confluence and then make a left on 653 in New Lexington which takes you to jct 381 in Normalville. Then continue on 381 north/etc to Clearfield.

I updated my route with your exact directions above. It's looking sweet Thanks for the road info.

[maddjack]

I'll see you all at Dennys I AM IN