Sponsored by People's Cycling and BTCNJ.

Once this gets listed on People Cycling, it will fill up within a couple of days.

Pedal thru the State of Ohio from the Ohio River to Lake Erie

TOUR LEADER: RICK GALLO [email protected]

This tour starts in Cincinnati and ends in Cleveland. Start date is June 7 but recommend going out a day earlier to Cincinnati.  There is a lot to see / do there, and the hotel will give the group rate for an early arrival).

The tour ends with two days in Cleveland: the day we get into Cleveland is a 41-mile day (with about 500 feel of elevation) so you can get in early and pedal around; and then we have a rest day in the city. The day after the rest day is our departure date.

 We start this ride description with a shout out to the Ohio to Erie Trail Fund, the non-profit organization whose vision in the early 1990’s was to have a recreational path from Cincinnati to Cleveland using former railroad and canal corridors. Their hard work has resulted in this trail. The work of their 14-member board (with many others who have served since 1991) enables us to enjoy a bike tour that has 281.8 (86.4%) of the 326 total miles on separate, designated trail way, with 44.2 miles (13.6%) on separated streets and roads. About 300 miles is on pavement with the non-paved segments on hard-pan (a very fine crushed limestone mixed with clay: easily pedaled with a road bike). For more information about the OTE Fund, see: https://www.ohiotoerietrail.org/.

Our bicycling will start at the southern end of the trail, at the J.A. Roebling Bridge in Cincinnati. Prevailing winds are out of the southwest. Folks can dip their rear tire in the Ohio River at the Public Landing by the Heritage Bank Center (next to the Great American Ball Park). In Cincinnati we follow the abandoned tracks of the Little Miami RR and then the Columbus and Xenia RR. You should consider arriving a day early to pedal the Ohio River Trail, cycle the Purple People Bridge (bikeway), catch a ball game, or to visit the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center (once slaves crossed the extremely treacherous Ohio River – in the winter jumping from ice floe to floe – and set foot in Cincinnati they were free) (until the Dred Scott decision in 1857).

This will not be the only big city, as after pedaling thru the City of Cincinnati, we will also cycle thru Columbus, Akron and end with two days in Cleveland.

The trail takes the rider thru Ohio’s heartland into and through small cities and towns, such as Loveland, Xenia, London, Westerville, Sunbury, Mt. Vernon, Glenmont, Millersburg and Massillon. We pass thru Amish country and modern college towns; thru scenic rural areas to include covered bridges (the Bridge of Dreams over the Mohican River is 370’ long), parks (approximately 21 miles transverses the Cuyahoga Valley National Park), nature preserves, and farmlands. And all mostly all on roads formerly occupied by railroads and canals. The Holmes County section of the trail is the only dual-purpose recreational trail / horse & buggy path in the US. The small towns beckon the rider to their local museums, family restaurants, and many renowned mom & pop owned ice cream shops (we are excited to introduce you to Whit’s Frozen Custard!). For history buffs, there are stops for Revolutionary and Civil War, as well as railroad and canal history. For movie buffs, off the OTE trail, by one block, is the Christmas Story house (you can still see the leg lamp in the window of where Ralphie lived).

The northern terminus of the trail is in Cleveland. We end in Edgewater Park, at the shore of Lake Erie. Riders can dip their front tire in the Lake at Edgewater Beach. Then we pedal a short distance to our hotel, which is walking distance to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. For the rest day in Cleveland folks can tour the R&R HOF or visit one of Cleveland’s many museums, their Cultural Gardens, see a ballgame or choose from many other sites. And, if joining The 326 Club was not enough pedaling, participants can cycle along Lake Erie / Lakeshore Blvd. The morning after our rest day is our departure day.

Summary

June 7: Arrival Day / Initial Group Meet-up / Group Dinner

June 16: Departure Day (after breakfast / check-out)

Mileage / Terrain

The daily mileage ranges from a high of 68 mostly flat miles to a low of 30 miles (but there is an option of pedaling 16 more miles on this day to visit the Cuyahoga Valley National Park). Since most of the tour is on rail trails the climbs are mostly gentle, but there are some short challenging hills on our fifth day (a 38-mile day). The average is 47 miles per day and no one day’s elevation breaks into the four figures (all days are under 1,000’). Both tandems and e-bikes will be accepted on this tour. However, e-bike users are strongly encouraged to bring a second battery not only for if they want to go exploring, but because there will be a lot of bike path / trail riding where there is no chance of vehicle assistance. In the various cities and towns, the bike trail / paths cross over roads, and some are major county thoroughfares. Most times there are traffic signals at such crossings however not all the time. Riders will have to use caution when necessary.

Logistics

Our hotels are of the Holiday Inn, Comfort Inn, Courtyard type, plus four nights at Hampton’s and one night in a historic hotel in the downtown area of a small town. If flying to the start in Cincinnati (airport code: CVG), we recommend you depart from Cleveland (CLE). If driving to the start, there will be parking for the duration of the tour, and we will assist with creating a shuttle for those folks to get back from Cleveland to Cincinnati (the cost of this shuttle will be borne by those using it; so those flying will not have to pay for something they are not using). But for those flying and using hard shell bicycle boxes, while we will assist in arranging transport of their boxes to Cleveland, those driving in will not have to contribute to that cost. If you want to ship your bicycle ahead of time, it can be shipped to one of the leaders and we will have it in Cincinnati at the start of the tour (and we can also have it shipped back for you) (of course you will be paying for the shipping; but not the assembly / disassembly). We will have heavy duty locks available for participants (meant for leaving a bike out overnight in NYC) for use if visiting a museum / historic site / or some other place where you may have to lock up your bike. Bikes that require special parts (such as Campagnolo or e-bike hub engines / wheels) should make sure their bikes are in good working order since such parts are very difficult to timely find while on a tour.

Costs

The cost for this tour is estimated at $1,425 plus a $100 ride fee payable to the club. BTCNJ members will get a $50 discount (off the ride fee) but must contact Rick Gallo to get the discount. This includes 9 nights of double occupancy lodging (from one night in Cincinnati to two nights in Cleveland), two group dinners, well stocked nightly social hours, lunch and snack supplies, van support/luggage transfer, leadership costs, cue sheets and GPS/TCX tracks. A $725 deposit is due at sign up, with the final payment of $700 due March 31. Once accepted onto the ride, the participant must sign the waiver, pay the club ride fee, and send in their deposit. After the tour any funds that remain will be refunded.

Weather

Average temps in the early mornings are in the mid to high 50’s, with afternoon averages in the high 70’s to low-mid 80’s; but these are averages. The actual highs and lows can vary. There have been heat waves during this time of year and daytime highs can be in the 90’s. According to personal preference, riders in the morning may want arm warmers and a wind vest (or even a light jacket). Therefore, you may want to have the capacity on your person or bike to carry such items as the day warms and these layers get peeled off. If anyone has heard of a tour that has promised no precipitation, please let us know, in the meantime riders should bring rain gear.

Singles & Solos

Both are welcome. It is recommended that singles who want a roommate try to find their own, however, we will assist. If one cannot be found by the time the final payment is due, you will be given an option of paying the single supplement, currently estimated at $725) as you continue to seek a roommate or you can cancel and get a refund.  Please note, the club fee is non-refundable.  As another alternative, it's possible we can arrange a rotation of those wanting to go solo on a part-time basis.

Bike Rental: Bicycle rentals may be available through local bike shops, although this may still be dependent upon pandemic related stocking issues. We will help (feel free to ask). Participants looking to rent a bike for the tour should reserve a bike ahead of time to ensure availability and fit.  Rental agreement is between the participant and the bike shop. With sufficient advance notice, the ride leaders will assist in getting you to/from the bike shops.

COVID-19 Tour Policy

COVID-19 is constantly evolving and the precautions we take will be consistent with the COVID-19 situation before the tour starts.

• We anticipate that we’ll expect all participants to be ‘Up to Date’ as per the CDC as of May 1, 2023.
• Participants should be vaccinated and boosted.
• The tour leader reserves the right to update this policy as the COVID-19 situation evolves.