What I like about Mail Pouch

**Kumpel** · 02-28-2012

My first event with the HSTA, the MI contingent was the Mail Pouch. What a great group of people, lots of different bikes, lots of different riding interests, and we had a great time riding the local roads. Since then I have attended four, and each time the roads get more familiar and more fun, the fellowship greater, and the venue is not bad either.

See ya at the next one!

What brings you to the Mail Pouch?

**BlueRidgeGal** · 02-29-2012

I have heard nothing but good reports about the Mail Pouch event, therefore this year will be my first time attending and I am looking forward to it along with visiting many of the interesting sites around the area.

**stevegrab** · 03-05-2012

For years it was my CBR600F4 and now my VFR :D

Its the local Ohio event and I haven't missed one since joining the MSTA in 2000. I always look forward to the event, the roads are excellent, the friends are great, and the organizers and their staff do a great job. There's a reason it is one of the largest regional events.

Looking forward to another fun time down in SE Ohio (of course I get down that way on day rides occassionally but it isn't the same).

We've even started pulling in more people from the southern states (NC, VA, TN, GA) who have some great roads in their area.

**shil** · 03-06-2012

I was born and raised in Northeast Ohio but hadn’t ridden in Southeast Ohio ‘til last Fall. I will be back.
Hoping to make it to the Mail Pouch in August.

**stevegrab** · 03-06-2012

I lived in NE OH for a number of years (before riding) and just assumed that all of OH ws flat and boring, full of corn fields and the occassional curve and hill. As I got into riding and ventured further from home with fellow riders I was glad to find that we have some very good roads for motorcycling not far from home.

**OldButNotDead** · 03-06-2012

Born in Martins Ferry, OH. Went to school in Athens. Learned to ride on US250 from Tappan Lake to Elkins, WV. So running South of U.S 40, West of "the river", 'cross the Muskingum to Hocking Hills is like old home week. Only change I see is the condition of the roads back in the sixties and seventies was way better. For me, I run old routes from the days of a Honda 160 or 350 in my mind while I run the infinitely better hardware of today. Definitely a fun place to ride. NE WV from Marietta up to Morgantown and West to the river isn't bad either.

**stevegrab** · 03-07-2012

Originally Posted by OldButNotDead

Born in Martins Ferry, OH. Went to school in Athens. Learned to ride on US250 from Tappan Lake to Elkins, WV. So running South of U.S 40, West of "the river", 'cross the Muskingum to Hocking Hills is like old home week. Only change I see is the condition of the roads back in the sixties and seventies was way better. For me, I run old routes from the days of a Honda 160 or 350 in my mind while I run the infinitely better hardware of today. Definitely a fun place to ride. NE WV from Marietta up to Morgantown and West to the river isn't bad either.

US250 is still nice, but has gotten too much traffic in a lot of areas. I still enjoy stretches of it and rode it recently coming back from the Fall Colors Ride. If you can deal with the traffic of Elkins, Fairmont and a few other places there's lots of nice twisty stuff in between.

**indypup** · 03-08-2012

Originally Posted by Kumpel

What brings you to the Mail Pouch?

The ROADS! and good friends.

**OldButNotDead** · 03-08-2012

Originally Posted by stevegrab

US250 is still nice, but has gotten too much traffic in a lot of areas. I still enjoy stretches of it and rode it recently coming back from the Fall Colors Ride. If you can deal with the traffic of Elkins, Fairmont and a few other places there's lots of nice twisty stuff in between.

It's a bit far from Marietta, but 250 from Huttonsville to Churchville, Va is now in good shape and a great ride. You can hit the best parts of 33 E of Elkins, 250, and VA/WV39 in a series of loops with VA42 and 219 connecting them. Now that would be a LOOOOOOOOOng day, but it is doable.

**stevegrab** · 03-15-2012

One year at Mail Pouch we were riding near Sutton WV and my friend mentioned "that road over there, the scenic one near Snowshoe." I said, "Oh WV150, the Highlands Scenic Hwy?" And he said yeah, lets go over there. It was after 4PM when we got to the first lookout on the east end of the road. That was a long ride back, with lots of time running slab (50) and then some dark back roads arriving at the hotel rather late.

Since then I try to limit myself to more reasonable length rides.