DISCLAIMER: This event is in no way sponsored by the Ohio State School of Earth Sciences (SES) or Ohio State University.
As always : The contents of this blog are my own and do not represent the views or opinions of the United States Government.
Please click here so I can get an idea of who is interested
What is this event?
Columbus is in the ~middle of a trail that goes through Ohio called the Ohio to Erie trail. This trail is 326 miles long that connects the Ohio River to lake Erie hence the name Ohio to Erie trail. 275 miles of the 326 miles is on separated paved trails. This means ~50 miles are on some small town and rural back roads. Overall the trail is mostly composed of ‘rail trails’ and ‘canal paths’. All that means is the trail is not on the road with car traffic however there are small sections where the trail takes you through small towns. The whole trail goes through four major cities; Cincinnati, Columbus, Akron, and Cleveland.
To bike the whole trail is an ambitious four day weekend. That’s about 82 miles a day. If people are interested in that later, I believe it’s doable. However, this event is only going to be on a small portion of the trail. We will start in Columbus and end in Cincinnati. This is a total of ~130 miles.
When is this?
This trip will take place during a weekend in May and/or June.
Dates: May 20-23 AND/OR June 10-13
Rough outline looks like:
Friday late afternoon bike to London: ~30 miles
Saturday bike to Caesar Creek State Park: ~50 miles
Sunday bike to Cincinnati: ~50 miles (and transport via vehicle back to Columbus)
Do you need a bike?
While you don’t need to own a bike for this event, you do need a bike.
Literally. Any. Bike.
Mountain, road, ebike, fixed gear, BMX, recumbent, Walmart, cruiser, it doesn’t matter. If you don’t own a bike and don’t know how to get one let me know. There are plenty of places around Columbus that cater to the Ohio to Erie trail so it’s possible to rent a bike for the weekend.
How will I get back from Cincinnati?
The Ohio to Erie trail is really popular with cyclists. There are many services that cater to people on the trail including shuttles. Once there is final headcount of who is going I will arrange transportation back to Columbus once we arrive in Cincinnati. If you prefer that a friend/family picks you up feel free to coordinate among yourselves.
Do I have to be ‘in shape’?
If you can climb the stairs to the third floor of Mendenhall without needing to go to the hospital you are in good enough shape.
How fast do you bike?/I don’t think I’m fast enough.
This is not a race. I will repeat that sentence for extra effect. This is not a race. The general rule of thumb for bike touring is to average 10 miles an hour. Bike touring is all about riding slow to take in the countryside. Want you stop and do a photo shoot? No problem! Want to walk for a couple of miles? Feel free! Want to sit and bird watch? Take your time and relax.
The whole point of bike touring is to allow yourself to really discover the earths contours and small beauties along the way.
How far do we bike a day?
30 to 50 miles a day may sound like a lot but it’s definitely doable! The key is to break up the ride into chunks so you’re not riding 50 miles all at once. Usually bike 10 miles and then stop for a snack. Then another 10 and stop for lunch. Plus biking with friends during a new adventure is exciting! You’ll be surprised how fast the miles fly by!
How much will this cost?
Depends. If you have a bike and camping equipment all you need to budget for is the cost of food and some campgrounds. I expect campgrounds to be free (London) or relatively cheap (state parks). I will arrange campground in advance so people can contribute or decide to look for another spot. I’m not against wild camping but do so at your own risk. Transport back to Columbus will depend on the number of people going. All in all I’m budgeting a generous 100 dollars for the whole weekend.
What about Friday happy hour?
Bring a couple of beers to drink at the campground! Happy hour will be there next Friday.
Note: The London campground is hiker/biker only. This means no cars can park here. There will be flush toilets and electricity available.
How do I carry my stuff?
If your bike has a rack I recommend panniers. You can get cheap ones online (~35 dollars) that will work just fine. Alternatively, you can make your own from kitty litter containers or plastic crates.
I DO NOT recommend carrying your stuff in a backpack. This is a BAD IDEA for many reasons. Hydration packs are fine (I carry one) but you should not be carrying a 65 liter hiking backpack. If you are finding yourself with no alternative than a backpack please reach out to me and I will help you arrange a way to carry your stuff.
What happens if my bike breaks down?
I recommend riding your bike at least 5 miles to make sure there are no major problems with your bike before this trip. I will be carrying a general bike maintenance kit should anything happen. With that said, do not use me as a miracle worker. I can fix most things but don’t be upset if I can’t reassemble your bike in 5 minutes flat. As a minimum I suggest carrying an extra tube for your specific bike in case of a flat tire. If you are unsure which tube replacement you would need in the event of a flat please ask.
What am I going to eat?
You can carry all your food and bring a stove to cook on if you want. However, the trail has lots of places to stop and get food. I personally will not be bringing a stove or a large amount of food. Gas stations and local restaurants are good places to stop to refuel. If you want to minimize costs, a loaf of bread and peanut butter is very tasty!
What should I wear?
You should wear comfortable athletic style clothes! See packing list for ideas. I personally avoid cotton unless it’s for sleeping. Try not to wear anything new that you are unfamiliar with.
Should I wear underwear with my bike shorts?
absolutely not
What if it rains those weekends?
This event is rain or shine.
If there is bad weather see rule #5 and rule #9.
Isn’t riding in traffic dangerous? You could get hit by a car.
What if you get hit by a car on campus or walking to the store? While it’s good to take precautions it’s kinda a lame excuse not ride your bike as you can get hit by a car literally anywhere. You can minimize risks by being safe, look both ways before crossing the road, use proper hand signals, and wear a helmet. The Ohio to Erie trail is 95% on a separate bike path so cars will not be whizzing by at 60 miles an hour.
Fear mongering will not be tolerated.
What else should I bring?
Note: This is my minimum list for a weekend. For a more robust touring list click here. Use this list as inspiration not a checklist as your comfort level will differ.
Camping:
- Tent
- Sleeping bag
- Sleeping pad
- Headlamp
- something to sleep in
Hygiene:
- Toothbrush/paste
- Deodorant
- Chap stick
- Hand sanitizer
- Mask
- Any prescription medication
- Small first aid kit (bandaids, moleskin, antihistamine etc)
Cycling gear:
- helmet
- pair of shorts
- shirt (not cotton)
- Bra (not cotton)
- 2 Pair of socks (wool or synthetic)
- Shoes with a thick sole
- Water bottles or hydration pack
- Rain jacket
- Sunglasses
Snack food: (some mix of the following)
- Cliff bars
- Dried fruit
- Trail mix
- Snickers bar or other candy
- Any snacks you like
Miscellaneous:
- camp shoes (like flip flops or sandals)
- Phone
- Charger for phone
- Wallet
Note: less is more. If you forget something chances you can buy it along the trail. It’s three day trip. Chances are you can survive without that extra battery pack.
How do I sign up?
Please click here so I can get an idea of who is interested
What other trails are around?
- GAP trail
- C&O canal
- The rest of the Ohio to Erie trail
- The Katy trail
If anyone is interested in biking these trails let me know! I’m always down.