
Almost every person can remember a moment in their childhood in which there was a before and an after. An event that defined a moment in time that would become in itself, timeless. Saturday, May 10th, 2008 during the 47th annual Tour of Scioto River Valley became such a moment for my son, Owen, all of 8 years old attempting his first overnight bike tour.
For those considered “Adult” (at least in age), the modesty of completing a half TOSRV over two days seems insignificant. The distance and the challenge seem trivial until you consider that to an 8 year old, who is only 62 lbs, the idea of riding a bike that far and staying away from home is a very big deal indeed. Add to the mix that 3000 other people are doing the same thing, well, you get the picture.
The buildup to this years ride was special indeed. For the first time, Owen was old enough and tall enough to ride our family tandem without the aide of a stoker kit. For those unfamiliar with the device, this adds a second set of pedals above the existing crankset for the stoker to allow shorter legs to reach the pedals. Indeed, with the seat all the way down and the captains seat so far in the air, our tandem looks more like a bit part in a schriner’s parade then a serious road going bicycle. At 56 inches, some 20 inches represents the height differential between father and son.
Roy and Owen starting in Chillicothe (note height difference)
The logistics this year included a bike switch at Chillicothe to facilitate Owen’s goal of a half TOSRV with his daddies goal of a full. Dad would ride from Columbus to Chillicothe on his single bike (Half bike for you tandem fanatics) then ride the rest of the way to Portsmouth on the tandem with child. The exercise worked well on paper and in practice I’m happy to report. As it turns out, mother nature would cooperate at least one of the days.
Columbus to Circleville
Unlike many “race” events on TV, TOSRV no longer employs a mass start for safety reasons. When the tour got too busy in the 70’s, it was decided that “show-n-go” was the best way to safely start several thousand riders on the 105 mile course. The luggage trucks stand at the ready starting at 6am to take bags to Portsmouth. I loaded the bags for both Owen and I and set out with a group of friends at about 8 am.
Mitch at Circleville stuffing his face
As mentioned before, mother nature smiled on TOSRV for at least Saturday. Beautiful skys, warm temperatures and best of all, a wonderful tailwind pushed riders toward the south at a higher than normal pace. After leaving Columbus, Cindy, Randy and yours truly settled into a nice 25-27 mph pace, breakneck by our standards but comfortable. With such a wonderful tailwind, Circleville came fast, just over an hour. What would normally be an unsustainable pace made us all feel like Lance Armstrong thanks to our friend, Mr. Tailwind.

Elements of Team Roll : Amanda (far right) and company
Circleville to Chillicothe
After a bite to eat, some casual conversation with some folks we picked up along the way and a refill of the waterbottles, we where back on the move toward Chillicothe at the same pace we managed on the first leg. Our averages climbed even more as we grabbed onto Team UDF passing us at 27-28 mph. We hung on for the distance and blew into Chillicothe in record time, average speed into the mid 20’s.
The arrival into Chillicothe spelled the end of the high speed runs as I recognized the need to let Owen have fun, see the scenery and recognize the fact that a tandem is a hellava lot heavier than a racing bike. My expectations for speed were level set at low to mid teens, after all he is only 8.
Chillicothe to WaverlyAs we rolled into Chili, their was a festive atmosphere about the area. A live band was playing in the park, thousands of bikers where camped out eating the provided lunch and lunch was being served at 10:30 am. The speed runs to this point proved for an exceptionally early lunch. A certain anxiety also was present in a certain little boy.
The site of thousands of bikes moving in and out of the park proved to be quite intimidating. Reassurances from Dad and seeing some of dad’s friends from weekday rides helped allay and concerns (combined with a good lunch). By 11:45, we where off toward Waverly with a fresh stoker and considerably more mass. The first hills coming out of Chili proved not as daunting as expected, maintaining a respectable 18 mph and noted contributions from the set of 8 year old legs.
As we completed our first hill and turned onto Three Locks Road, we settled into a pace around 20 mph, something I thought would be unsustainable for us with such a heavy bike. As it turns out, the pace would be improved on, let alone sustained. The hill and dale of three locks road and the roll-up to Waverly would be quite generous. The downhill’s would put us at the mid 30’s while the momentum would maintain our speed so we only dropped out of the mid teens a few times. Overall, we maintained a 21.5 mph average, far above my expectations.

Owen, as it turns out, a wolf in sheeps clothing and his dad
The speed took it’s toll though. At School house hill, a Ham radio sign reeled off the distance left to the next rest stop, 7 miles. Latching on to this stat, my son then began to ask every 100 yards how much farther it was. After the 7th time asking, it was determined that the stoker was running out of gas. Waverly could not come too soon for a bonky little boy.
Waverly to PortsmouthWe rolled into White Lake, the official rest stop after countless cruel denials for Wendy’s, McDonalds, Dairy Queen and every other fast food Join that was on route 23 leading up to the turn off for the rest stop. One would have thought of me as Daddy dearest with a wire coat hanger for my unwavering commitment to TOSRV’s 3rd rest stop. As it turns out, the final half mile did not kill my son.

Svelt Ned at Waverly
The toll of 75 miles began to show on the faces of folks turning into White Lake. The happy go lucky, brisk pace of some of the riders had long since vanished after completing the hilliest section of the course. The long face was shared by my son too as he was fixated on getting some well earned food. Indeed, after downing 2 banana’s, several Gatoraides, countless trail mixes and some granola bars one would have thought I hadn’t fed the kid since last week. The nuclear metabolism of an 8 year old was clearly at work. With 10 minutes Owen was running of the hillside and rolling back down on his side. Several people commented that it made them look tired just watching.
We where able to turn some of that energy into some real speed for the last push into Portsmouth. The lay of the land was flat and fast. We where able to settle into our 22 mph pace again, this time without the variations due to hills. It was quite the site to see a dad and his 8 year old son pulling a paceline from time to time in the 20’s. It wasn’t a moment wasted on Owen as he enjoy pulling as evidenced by the strength in his pedal stroke. Another quick stop at mile 92 to refill water bottle and we where on our way into town.
Arrival into Portsmouth was glorious. After a quick cruise past the murals, we arrived at Tracey park to the sounds of a live band playing Margaritaville. As my son and I are both Parrot heads, this was the perfect way to end a milestone ride. It was a wonderful day on the bike.
Chez Portsmouth High School
Nothing is as rewarding after 105 miles on the bike as sleeping on a gym floor. This year was no exception. The difference this year was the quality of gym floor provided. The new Portsmouth High School was open and this was the first year for this rider to stay in such deluxe accommodations. Those who stayed in the old high school, or even the older elementary schools remember the craptacular showers, lack of ventilation and even the smells of those old buildings.

Portsmouth High School gym
Portsmouth High proved to be a great camping location as our group set up in the corner of the gym with our air mattresses and bikes. A spirited game of Uno helped pass the time between the spaghetti dinner and lights out at 9. The age range of play wad with players from 8 to 55, but don’t let that fool you, the play was cut throat. Needless to say, Eve has thrown down the gauntlet at Owen for next year.
Guest appearance by super boy
With the forecast calling for significant rain as a certainty, I made the executive decision not to subject my son to 50 degrees and heavy rain. The call to mom in Columbus for a SAG was made…..on mothers day…..yeah, nothing says happy mothers day like a butt-crack of dawn drive to the Ohio river…..
Sunday
Unlike most of the field riding in the weather, Owen and I enjoyed the warm dry conditions of the minivan on the way back. Conditions where absolutely miserable on the way back as I would later learn from folks I called. The idealic conditions of Saturday where but a distant memory for those on the slow wet return to Columbus. Regardless, it was a milestone weekend for many, including that of a certain little boy.
Many thanks go out to the volunteers and staff of Columbus Outdoor Pursuits, the Red Cross, the Ham radio operators, law enforcement, and countless other organizations that make TOSRV go off. After 47 years, this event still depends on the generosity of these groups and individuals to make it happen.
See you next year!