Planning a Solo Motorcycle Trip to the Windy 9!
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- Опубліковано 7 лип 2024
- As long time followers of this channel know, my 2022 Mother Road Tour ended a few days short of the originally planned 75 days. My riding partner Kevin had a family emergency that forced him to return home and thus I ended cutting 10 days out of my adventure as well. While 65 days was plenty to be away from home, that still left a few items of unfinished business that have been gnawing at me over the winter months. One of those places we were going to visit was south eastern Ohio to ride one of the Windy 9 routes, the triple nickel.
If you are not familiar with the Windy 9, it is a series of nine motorcycle routes that are centered in the college town of Athens, Ohio. There is a website at www.windy9.com where you can order the “official” map, download the GPS files, and find local hotels. Athens County, Ohio has done a nice job of putting this website together, so if you are interested in riding these great roads, it is the place to start.
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Thank you for watching and ride safe! --Craig Ripley
Sounds like a great trip. Be safe and have fun. Can't wait to see the videos.
Buddy and I did a two-day romp through the Catskills coming up 97 following the river all the way to Hancock. We stopped at that hotel for a burger and a pint. Spent the night in a hotel in downsville right on the reservoir. Highly recommended, great roads everywhere.
So inspiring video! I will plan something similar in nature but in very small scale for about 2 or 3 days in my country. I am riding a BMW R80 RT 1991. No highways. Forests, creeks, mountains (off the slab). Thanks for the passion and the spirit. You are contagious. Keep the happiness hovering.
Squeeze in hocking hills.
P.S. lots of Free wonderful camping in Jesse Owens state park.
"You don't get yesterday back & you can't buy a minute!"
Have a good trip!
Hey my over thinking friend, you are finally doing something in my back yard. My wife and I have done the Windy 9 at least once a year for the past few years. They are set up to be able to do two a day. Great routes and lots of fun to ride. While in Athens, we stay at the Hometown Inn. Probably not a hotel up to your standards, but the family who run it keep it clean. They really cater to the motorcyclists who come for the rides. A must stop is Miller's Chicken in Athens. Athens is a really nice place to see, and if you venture a few miles away, you'll be in serious hillbilly land 😂. Hope you enjoy our Ohio hospitality!
Thanks for suggestions!
Sounds like it’s going to be a great trip. If you ever get the urge to come to eastern KY I could show you some fantastic rides, not to mention the beautiful scenery we have.
Thanks! Been to Kentucky a few years back. Need to visit again.
The Windy9 is good riding. If you do Pioneer pass, be sure to stop by the Boathouse resturant in Marietta for lunch and check out what remains of the largest excavator ever made. Then while on the southern dip, cruise on down to Hillbilly hotdogs for a unique dining experience. Also If you ride the triple nickel, head to Tom's ice cream in Zanesville for lunch and dessert. Hocking hills state park is also a good stop over.
Thanks!
Don't miss out on state route 800. Great stretch of road!
Didn't get to that one... guess I will have to go back!
Had not heard of these until you passed on the information. And sad to say, I'm a native Buckeye from birth to age 21. But southeast Ohio was never a place I lived. Definitely putting it on the list. And you should be consulting for Butler~~. I do recommend the North End Tavern in Parkersburg should you spend a night there.
I used to live 1 hour away from SE Ohio, they are missing all the good roads.. It was my playground for 9 years on my ST3s. 555 is OK, be sure to hit the following roads. RT26 from where is starts at RT 148 down to Marietta. RT 260 from Matamoras up to East Union. Also RT565, RT537, RT255 from Sardis to where it ends at RT800. RT536 out of Hannibal. Enjoy your time down there the roads are GREAT..
Thanks!
I just did road trip to cooperstown and would suggest rte 20 through New york if you have chance BUT watch out for the deers who love to jump out. Cant wait to see trip
I'll second Miller's Chicken as a great place to eat in Athens. Many of the roads in this area have an up and down roller coaster effect with blind spots just beyond the top. In one instance while traveling SB on 555 I went over the top of a hill and found the road then made a hard right bend. Before shifting my eye placement to the right I could see the woods directly in front were fairly chewed up by vehs that didn't veer right. It amounted to a trap for inexperienced riders and those not paying attention and/or going too fast. Good luck and be safe.
Thanks for the heads up!
Rode some of the Wimdy 9 on Wednesday. Well worth the trip. Arrived back in Austin, TX to 95F heat.
This was so helpful. I'm using a Garmin XT and Base camp is a mess. Well I can not figure it out. It only works with the GPS connected to the computer. I'm going to check out MRA. Good Stuff!
Well we are in a drought here in Pennsylvania .so hopefully you will not hit any rain on your ride .Looks like fun stay safe out there.👍
I'll be going to a UA-camrs meet & greet({O.W.N.(Ohio Windy Nine) Moto Meet Up}) in Athens, OH later this month. The rides are being planned over 3 days 6/22, 6/23, 6/24. I was originally planning back roads routes over two days to get there and back out of CT, but my wife is going on this one and as wife type people often do 😐 she requested an adjustment... She was concerned about her fitness to ride so many days in a row. So instead of riding out to Athens, OH, I'm loading the ol' Victory onto my truck and making the 10hour highway drive to Athens in one day, then will load up at the end and repeat for the trip back. Despite this loss of ride days, I'm very excited to get out there, I've never ridden in that area and it looks amazing with low traffic and a verity of roads from gentile sweepers through farmlands to some real twisters.
I thought about trailering the bike over as well. Not a bad way to do it. Looks like we will cross over a couple of days, so look for me and say hello if you see me. What UA-camr are you meeting with?
@@LivingOffTheSlab ... I believe there's around 30 UA-camrs committed. Base camp is the Quality Inn in Athens. The organizers are Mr. Mcstache and Toby Northen
I'll will definitely keep an eye out for you but feel free to find our groups. Its open to everyone and they have organized and self guilded riding.
@@painsrides3616 Cool, I will check it out!
350 miles/day is a lot. At least on my old sportbike. I'd get seriously butthurt. 😅
Wow, sounds like an awesome trip. Can I come? 🙂 I've been looking at the Windy 9 myself. I've also been using Rever with the Butler Maps rating overlays, but then exporting to Garmin Basecamp. It's no competition for MRA Route Planner but I go that way because the maps are 100% compatible with my Zumo XT.
I use a Zumo XT as well and MRA works great. But, there is always more than one way to do something.
Nice overview, Craig. Note - if you want to sound like a native Pennsylvanian, DuBois is pronounced, Dew'-Boys, not the French pronunciation. Also, North Versailles is pronounced, North Ver-sails'.
Thanks, I figured I would get that wrong.
Craig, now you set yourself up for a details tutorial on how to use those apps! LOL
Yes, I know...
@@LivingOffTheSlab ;)
Hi Craig, Could you do a video of how you plan the trip on Rever and export the files to MRA I believe you call the other application. It would be very helpful for people like me that are not that computer savvy. Thanks in advance for your reply.
I figured I would have to do that... 😆
Do you have the free version of mra or the paid version and what is the difference? I was goung to do that same route a couple of weeks ago but I ran into the dreaded clutch issue so have had to park the bike until I can get the recall done. Thank goodness for that quick shifter, makes all the difference.
I have the paid version, bought a lifetime subscription several years ago. The difference is that you get all the extra tools, like the split that I showed as well as map overlays and I think the ability to download the files. The free version is basically to check it out.
Excellent video, thank you. One question. Once you have set up your maps, what do you use for the actual navigation while on the bike? Do you use MRA on your phone, Google Maps, or move it all to a dedicated GPS device?
I use a dedicated GPS. Garmin Zumo XT.
@@LivingOffTheSlab Thank you! I am back into riding after about a 20 year break, and fine-tuning my long distance setup. So far I’m just using Google maps on my phone on a quad lock, but I’m starting to realize the value of a dedicated device. Although the new reviews of these Chigee devices look like a possibly interesting middle ground.
How do you secure your motorcycle at the hotels?
I park near the front, if possible and cover the bike. Many times the hotels will allow you to park under the front awning, if you ask nicely.
Thanks, new to bikes in general and wanting to tour some like you, i have a tiger 1200 rally pro but concerned about it disappearing if parked outside a hotel room.
@@jimmin9802 I have been lucky and have never had issues with my bike. I choose good hotels with lighting and cameras, that are in good locations. Then you would be surprised what a cover will do. Out of sight, out of mind.
Can’t wait to get full report on the upcoming trip and the bike. Will you be taking the beautiful wife with you ?
Thanks, this is going to be solo.