Below are some of the resources that our team members use. These are not here because of a sponsorship, but are here because we find them valuable and we think that you will too. If you are interested in our sponsors, because they are definetly worth checking out, check our sponsors page
Bike Theft Prevention and Recovery
Bike theft is an unfortunate reality that we hope no one ever has to deal with. There are however resources that can be used to help recover a stolen bike that have shown success in the past. Nothing here is guaranteed to stop a theft or recover a stolen bike, but hopefully the resources can help.
https://www.columbus.gov/bugyourbike/
Having a copy of your bike serial number and recent photos are most important when it comes to recovering a stolen bike. This tool allows you to tag you bike with an free RFID chip that may help in recovering it.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/bikesnoop/about
A Facebook page to help with recovery of stolen bicycles in and around Columbus.
https://thebestbikelock.com/how-to-lock-your-bike/
Knowing how and where to lock your bike in a city like Columbus is important. We recommend two locks, a U-lock through the frame and a cable going through the U-lock and wheels. But any lock can be beaten, especially true if you leave your bike in a isolated area or anywhere for a long time. Even the bike rooms on campus are not perfectly safe, so always keep your bike where you can check on it regularly and don’t be the easiest bike on the rack to steal.
Where to Ride
Knowing where to ride is critical for a fun and safe experience. We always recommend riding with someone or at least letting someone know where you ride to, for how long you expect to take, and what route you use while riding. You are always responsible for your own safety and should always check routes because they may have changed since posted or may not be to your experience level. User take on are responsibility and risk when using the information posted here, including if actions result in injury, death, loss or damage of personal property or other complications.
Maybe the best resource for gravel routes and planned rides in Ohio. Follow them on Instagram, after you follow us, to keep updated on gravel cycling in our area.
Our Connection to the south bound Ohio To Erie Trail. Great riding our to Battelle Darby and further. Once you get past the road crossings leading up to Battelle Darby the trail becomes almost non stop.
Many of the Metro Parks have bike paths in them and many can be accessed by public bike trails. Highlights are the loop around Sharron Woods and the Blacklick Creek trail which starts at the end of the Alum Creek Trail.
OSU Rides:
Sunday No Drop Route: 12 Miles
Type: Quiet Roads
Time: 1 Hour
https://www.strava.com/routes/2780007575231060450
Team no drop route through upper Arlington. Frequent stop signs.
Scioto Mile Cruise: 15 miles
Type: Slow Trail Ride
Time: 1 Hour
https://www.strava.com/routes/2779994865889425110
Slow ride down the Olentangy trail to the Scioto mile, Scioto Audubon metro park, and dirt pump track, then comes back. One small, safe stretch of road across a bridge to link the last section of trail and the pump track.
Olentangy Trail North: 25 miles
Type: Slow Trail Ride
Time: 1.5 Hours
https://www.strava.com/routes/2779996634387537378
Trail ride north along the Olentangy. Includes locations of two neighborhood crit loops. Be courtious to traffic and residents, we don’t want to be a nuisance in a small neighborhood. This area is usually pretty quiet and have slight hills in them you can repeat if you like.
Upper Arlington long loop: 28 Miles
Type: Trail and Neighborhood roads
Time 1.5-2 hours
https://www.strava.com/routes/24027084
Snakes around the quieter roads in upper Arlington. This isn’t too fast a route.
Battelle Darby Creek out and back: 32 miles
Type: Start and Stop Low traffic Trail Ride
Time: 1.5-2 hours
https://www.strava.com/routes/2779998082052817378
Follows the Olentangy trail southwest to Battelle Darby Creek and comes back. All trails or the low traffic connecting roads to get between them. Features a hill at the turnaround point.
Camp Chase Trail Hilliard Loop: 42 miles
Type: Mixed trail and Road Riding
Time: 2-3 Hours
https://www.strava.com/routes/2754557179167876798
Goes out the Olentangy trail, connects to the camp chase trail, then turns off to go up to Hilliard and come back in through Upper Arlington. Coming back on Davidson and Dublin road you will have cars passing you. This is a nice loop to be able to get a workout in.
Upper Arlington Tuesday night roll route: 42 Miles
Type: Road Riding
Length: 2-3 hours
https://www.strava.com/routes/6373409
This is the route for the Tuesday night roll ride. It goes out and back through upper Arlington and adds a loop west of Hilliard. Anything west of where the loop starts is nice roads so feel free to explore around there and use this as directions to just get out and back. Be careful of Dublin and Davidson roads. This is a good route to have a friend for.
Dublin:
Dublin has lots of quiet farm roads around it and is incredibly flat. Its slightly closer than new Albany and Granville but has some busier roads.Glacier Ridge Metro Park towards prospect: 40 Miles
Type: Quiet Farm Roads
Length: 2-2.5 Hours
https://www.strava.com/routes/2762705994829031642
This route starts at the edge of Dublin and gets to flat farm roads right away. This has some nice views of the river and a quarry.
Sunday Pop tart group ride route: 75 Miles
Type: neighborhood roads into quiet farm roads
Length: 4+ Hours
https://www.strava.com/routes/2780011142666065696
This route is a lengthened version of the previous that starts further into Dublin and goes all the way to prospect. It has more nice roads and has a different way back. It starts and ends at a Starbucks if to have a post ride social.
New Albany:
New Albany has nice rolling farm roads. It is extremely safe and is very bike friendly.
TCC Thursday group ride sample route: 42 miles
Type: quiet roads with large shoulders
Length: 2-2.5 hours
https://www.strava.com/routes/2779988630744931104
This is a route from the TCC Thursday night rides. The group ride from here has speed groups for everyone.
Granville:
Granville has quiet roads, lots of rolling hills, some nice climbs, and lots of old farm equipment to see. This is my favorite place to ride from in Ohio. I would highly recommend doing at least parts of these routes.
Kenyon College Loop: 75 Miles
Type: Road Riding
Length: 4+ hours
https://www.strava.com/routes/2780015245118896610
G to Kenyon college. They have coffee shops and such there for a pit stop. The college looks like Hogwarts – worth the ride.
Mt Vernon Loop: 90 Miles
Type: Road Riding
Length: 4.5+ Hours
https://www.strava.com/routes/2780015547497577248
Goes out through the country to Mt Vernon and comes back through Amish country.
Buckeye Lake Loop: 80 Miles
Type: Road Riding
Length: 4+ Hours
https://www.strava.com/routes/2780016173266694870
Goes around buckeye lake, Newark, and more. Has a nice climb in rock haven.
Have a Route to Add?
Use the contact page to let us know of the route and we may share it with others.
Fine print
By participating in any offline arranged ride or activity, you, your heirs, executors, administrators and representatives do hereby agree and will absolve and hold harmless the Ohio State University Cycling Team’s organizers, it's corporate sponsors, cooperating organizations, and any other parties connected with this web site in any way together with their respective successors from and against any blame and liability for any and all losses, damages, rights, claims, and actions of any kind including, without limitation, personal injuries, death, and property damage, or any other damage of any kind whatsoever either directly or indirectly related to or arising from your participation in any such offline Ohio Gravel Grinder organizers arranged ride or activity.
User assumes all risk and liability for any action in relations to usage of information and routes on ohiostatecyclingteam.com, including if actions result in injury, death, loss or damage of personal property or other complications. Ohio Gravel Grinders, its partners, associates, and contributors accept no liability. Route information and advice is provided as a planning resource only, and is not guaranteed to be accurate or complete, and in no way should replace your own due diligence, research, and safety precautions. All users are advised to check current conditions before embarking on any route, including weather, surface conditions and closures. Riders should obey all laws including public and private land usage restrictions and guidelines and carry adequate safety and navigational equipment.