Dirt Dispatch: Scioto Trail State Park

Ohio isn't known for epic mountains.  That said, finding gravel and hills to climb is about as hard finding a drunk in the French quarter. Leave any of the cities and in about an hour in any direction you are lost in farmland and foothills of the Appalachians. 

Scioto Trail State Park is one such hidden gem near Chillicothe, smack in the middle of the state.  Home to the aptly named "race", Frankenbike 50, the terrain is similar to that found in Shanwnee State Park just south along the Ohio river.  Gravel is in no short supply along with horse trails found at almost every bend.

After just barely making it in time to catch the group we were rolling with, in no time we were packed and ready to ride out. Among the group were several I recognized from cross racing and at least one or two who had recently done the divide. A short clip to the first climb and we were onto the much sought broken chips of rock. Most climbs in this area consist of winding around several hills slowly making your way to the ridge, then staying on the ridge line going up and down in between the tops for miles. Two or three quickly escalated the pace and I found myself struggling to get my legs loose.  My chase of the front couple led us to the fire tower that greets you upon entering the park. After a nip of whiskey we were on the descent that left me thanking my stars that I had put the Rock and Roads on the day before. Still a bit hesitant on a new bike I wound up feathering the brakes more than I would have on my old bike I had grown to love. 

The best kind of gravel here is newly saturated gravel and with two days of rain we had that hard packed, sticky in turns stuff that lead to hero descents. I will acknowledge that I probably took a few turns faster than I should have, having only ridden the bike on my commute for a week. The best shakedown is a downhill shakedown. Consider this bike shaken down. 

The Salsa Warbird 2 is smooth beyond explanation. An abundance of space for large tires, no toe overlap, stiff on acceleration, and my taint doesn't hurt the day after. Things I like being a shorter, stocky guy.  After warming up on the first climb, the rest seemed heavenly. We enjoyed playing casual cat and mouse with Sarah, until the final climb when a lone single speeder punched it past us. Darkness settled in my mind for the next 30 min and it was all I had to keep him from disappearing around each bend.

At the end, the whiskey met its demise and beer and chips were passed until spirits were hopelessly high and any ache, numbed. I must thank the entire Swallow/Lytle family (Tom, Sarah, Peter, and Mary) for the heads up on the ride along with transportation to and from. If you need a Salsa or any other number of rad bikes please check them out at Swallow Bike Works in Loveland, Ohio.

Tom McKenna

A Woodsman