Night 3: Nervous About Tomorrow

Today was really tough, tomorrow is going to be tougher. Ill be going into a part of the state I've never been before. Traversing multiple existing bike paths with lots of county roads in between. According to the guide, water is hard to find in certain spots. I can carry as much as three liters at once plus ill bring a couple gatorades with me. The maps I have aren't the best. I've got a compass. 

Gonna be close to 75 miles. I'm gonna have to be very smart about how hard I push it, how often I hydrate and I have to keep eating so I have energy. Lots of rest breaks. Gonna be a long day. And yeah, rain in the forecast all day. 

Day 3: Highlights

1.  Making it from London to Westerville by noon. That was a great way to start the day. 

2. Blueberry Banana Pie at the Galena Diner!

3. Actually riding 70 miles in one day. 

4. Pic in front of Ohio Stadium. 

5. Being halfway done!

Olentangy Trail is an awesome stretch of the Ohio to Erie. 

Downtown Westerville was a welcomed site! 

Had a minor malfunction with a pedal on my bike. Stopped at the Trek store but that wanted too much to fix it. I bought a tshirt instead. 

Sometimes the trail does this!

Pie break!

Man I was excited to see Sunbury. 

Well I could blog more but I'm very tired. Gonna eat some dinner and get ready for early bed. 

Day 3: 70 Miles!

Made it into Sunbury and I'm beat. Feet are killing me and my body is starting to feel it. 170 miles behind me!

Day 3: Epic Morning!

Couldn't sleep last night, just kept thinking about getting a good start on this 67 mike day to Sunbury. So at 5 am I finally gave in and got out of bed and got on the road by 6. 

My accommodations last night. 

Good bye Alexandra's

I ate a quick bite and aired up my rear tire a bit. Then I found the trailhead really easily (crazy I know!)

Then I started peddling and I didn't quit until I got to Columbus. By noon I was in Westerville for lunch! About 45 miles this morning. 

So the trail out of London was super smooth and flat. Then I had to ride some country roads to Broad St. Rode that until I got to downtown Columbus. Broad street is big and wide and dirty. Once in columbus i headed north on the Scioto trail and the Olentangy trail. Both trails are amazing and fun. Plan on some rolling elevation changes so you'll need to gear up and down a lot. Tons of bikers and runners. Really crowded on a Sunday morning. 

I got off the trail in Worthington and too Shrock road all the way into Westerville which is a great place for a pit stop. 

Early morning heading east out of London 

Cool morning. 

Columbus! 

Pic in front of Ohio Stadium

Night 2: London and Bike Hostel

Alexandra's B&B on Main Street in London has converted the carriage house into a youth hostel for bikers. For $25 you get a bunk in a semi private room, shared restroom and shower. It's temperature controlled and I was excited to see that each room comes with a fan!!!

A man my size always opts for the bottom bunk. 

You just don't understand how excited I was to see that I had my very own fan!

No TV, no turn down service. But I'm sleepy. 

By the way. Not many dining options in downtown London. A couple decent pizza spots. 

Turning in early. Long day tomorrow. 

Day 2: Highlights

1. Having some random dude wanting to get his picture with me because of my trek across Ohio!! 

2. Rolling my bike right into the sandwich shop and firing up the compressor to fill my tire up. Talk about genuine ambiance!

3. Riding into the Youth Hostel in London, just relieved to have beaten the rain!

4. Fixing my tire on the side of the road with some help with a state patrolman. 

5. Learning that I may or may not have appeared in the Gazette. Some nice lady from Chillicothe said she had read about me!

6. Crashing, freaking out an then realizing I'll live. "Taking some of the advice I'm so quick to give my kids when mishaps occur."

7. Realizing that after another 50 mile day I'm having a blast and my confidence is growing stronger with each mile. 

Love how these little towns are identifying with the cyclists that come through. (Like me!)

Purple Monkey in South Charleston is a good place to stop for pizza or ice cream. 

Earned it!

Day 2: Crash in Ceaderville

Stopping for restroom break. "Oh yeah! I've got these new fancy shoes that clip into my peddles. I'm stuck....can't move....TIMBER!!!!"

My first bike crash, such sentiment. 

Day 2: Not So Smooth Start

So for those of you cyclists coming though Waynesville, the beds at the Creekwood Motel are rock hard! Consider this your warning. I managed to get decent rest after yesterday's 54 miles. I showered, grabbed a quick bite at McDs across the street and got back on my bike by 10 am. 

Now there's a trick to finding the place where the Little Miami Scenic Trail interesects with a road that goes directly into Waynesville and apparently I don't know it. So I pulled out my map and decided to take Route 42 north because it looked like the trail would cross it there. 

About 10 miles on Route 42 and I look down and to my dismay I see I've got a flat!!! So I pull over and discover I've picked up a screw!

Note : Ive never actually changed a bike tire before. I have however watched a tutorial on YouTube by a chap who seemed to know what he was doing. 

While I was changing my tire, a friendly State Patrolman stopped by to lend me a hand. 

After an hour, not exactly NASCAR standards, I had a new tube an had managed to get to wheel back on (crossing my fingers that it would work!) i used my hand pump to get enough tire to make it another 3 miles to the town of Spring Valley. A little sandwich shop there had some spare tubes for sale and a compressor so I could pump my tire up properly!

Love these little places that cater to us cyclists!  The Little Miami Scenic Trail goes right through Spring Valley so I got back on and rode another 8 miles to Xenia. 

Xenia station lies at the intersection of four major Bike paths that connect other parts of the state: Dayton, Springfield, Cincinnati, and Columbus. 

While in Xenia I met a group of people from Chillicothe who informed me that they knew who I was because the Chillicothe Gazette had done an article about my 330 mile trip!  I had no idea! 

Day 1: Highlights

1. Having my kids with me as I left Cincinnati. That was special. 

2. Joe saving my butt in Newtown. Good Samaritans rock!

3. Literally coasting into the hotel or the night because of a last minute chain malfunction. 

4. A great sandwich and Summer Shandies in Loveland, right on the trail 

5. Amazing frozen lemonade at Miranda's ice cream in Morrow

6. The Miami Scenic Trail is amazing. Just love it!

7. Coasting into Waynesville for the night. Chain malfunction, raining, exhausted, 54 miles behind me! 

Fully loaded! So heavy!

Lunch in Loveland! This place really caters to bikers. The local hardware store has an air compressor set out for bikers to use. 

Colorado Sky.  Someone knows what I mean. 

Hammer down!

A random Facebook friend said I should ice my knees

Stone House Tavern for dinner in Waynesville.  

Earned it! 

Day one rocked!

Day 1: Newtown Joe Rescue!

So it's worth mentioning that the length of the Ohio to Erie Trail isn't quite finished. There are still some missing pieces, including the section in metropolitan Cincinnati. Despite all my research and the maps I carefully studied. I still got turned around not 10 miles into my trip. The disconnect is trying to locate the trailhead to the Little Miami Scenic Trail. I ended up asking a local cyclist for help. I had peddled a few miles out of my way so he offered to load my bike in his truck and take me to the Bass Island trail entrance. Joe is retired from the University of Cincinnati and he bikes and kayaks frequently. I sure am thankful for his assistance! 

Newtown Joe Rocks!

Not cheating! Not Cheating! 

Day 1: The Adventure Begins

Started the day driving to Cincy with the kids and mom and dad. Took some time to get my bike ready before the traditional Ohio to Erie tire dip in the Ohio River. Geneva was sad to see me go, nice to be loved. But I was ready to get going. 

Man I was close to dropping my bike in the river!

The kids and dad posed for a pic. Thanks mom for being the photog. 

Ride Starts Tomorrow, Carb Load Tonight

Had the official "Carb Load" pre-ride meal tonight with mom and dad and the kids. Did some final packing, organized my maps and going to bed early. 

It all starts tomorrow at 9 am on the banks of the Ohio River. Nervous, but excited to get going. 

Spaghetti coma!!!!

My daughter showing off her best slurping skills a.k.a. terrible table manners! 

Rally Beard!

So my mom hates it but the Rally Beard is in full effect now, just three days away from the start of my Ohio to Erie Trail adventure. Its getting mixed reviews but my rebellious side LOVES it!!!

You're Doing What?

Is typically the question people ask when I tell them what I'm about to embark upon.  The concept of the Ohio to Erie Trail is an unknown to most.  You can learn more at www.ohiotoerietrail.org or on Facebook.

The trail begins on the Ohio River in Cincinnati and ends on the shores of Lake Erie in Cleveland.  It utilizes existing regional bike paths along the way linked by highways and country roads.  All but 15% of the trail follows a designated paved bike path. 

Not many people have done the O2E so maps and guides exist but are not full mature and thus there will be some potential "head scratching" moments when trying to navigate my way along the path. 

I will be getting on the trail in Cincinnati on Friday June 28 and if all goes as planned, I'll be finishing in Cleveland on Wednesday, July 3rd.  DISCLAIMER - I HAVE NEVER ATTEMPTED ANYTHING OF THIS SORT IN THE PAST SO IM BASING ALL MY ESTIMATES ON RESEARCH. 

Gearing Up....

Made a last trip (hopefully) over to the Performance Bicycle shop on Sawmill Road in Columbus to make some final gear purchases today. Bought a new rack, touring panniers (bags), shoes, pedals, distance computer and other random needs. Did pick up a route map of columbus which will be super helpful. 

50 Miles Today! I'm ready...,,

Well I made it back to Chillicothe from Court House today. It was a full 50 miles, about the same distance ill be biking on the O2E each day.  I'm relieved to have finished the route but the idea of getting up and doing it again tomorrow is intimidating to say the least. Because on the O2E ill be riding the same distance for 6 days straight!!!

This was the first time that I've ridden that distance so I learned a lot. 

1.  It took me about 7.5 hours including breaks. 

2.  Gatorade is key to keeping my muscles from cramping. 

3.  Taking "butt rest" breaks is key. Showing my backside some mercy goes a long way to making the ride more enjoyable. 

4. Chick-o-Sticks are way underrated as far as candy goes. I bought one for the ride home and it was Chick-o-Liscious!

5. Keep a pair of basketball/athletic shorts nearby at all times. I can slip them on over my biking shorts to avoid excessive staring in restaurants and convenient stores. 

Here is a picture of a section about 8 miles east of Court House. It was a great day to be on the Tri-County Triangle Trail 

Giovanni's "like an old friend!"

Got up early on this final Saturday before "the ride" to get one last big training ride in. This time would be the most ambitious, 50 miles. I would start at the Hopewell parking lot and bike to Washington Court House and back. Well I made it there just in time for lunch and lucky for me I found a Giovanni's for lunch! Thankful for a comfy seat, wall outlet to charge my phone, Italian sub and free refills!  

One Week to Go!

Getting a little nervous now. Hoping I can actually finish what I'm setting out to do. Picked up some accessories at Wally World today - bike mounted tire pump, headlight and taillight, as well as a spare tube, tire tool repair kit and a can of fix a flat for bikes. Don't wanta get stranded! 

Thankful for Long June Evenings

21 miles from Chillicothe past Maple Grove and back this evening. Started to get dark and I'm thankful that the solstice is coming up this week because I squeezed about every minute of daylight I could of this ride. Rode hard. Listened to the new album by Pick Wick which is awesome by the way.

11 Days and Counting

didn't get on the bike this past weekend so I could go on a Boy Scout backpacking trip with my son Jackson.  We hiked about 14 miles over some very hilly and rugged terrain and some sleepless nights in a tent, my legs and back are very sore.  I'm ready to get back on the bike this week for more training.