Today’s route of a whopping 89 miles gave us possibly the most highly diverse experience in terms of its appeal, authenticity, and the fatigue encountered when riding. We saw forests and crowded highways, wetlands and run-down businesses, trains and the tracks they ran on (which we also had to ride across) and where they ran through. It was a push for many as we pedaled that distance (on the longer side for I4K) and took in different aspects of, strangely, loneliness. From the sound of the flowing Cuyahoga River to the constant throng of traffic on a busy suburban road to the silent openness of the country, we found that even though there is so much variety to be found when riding, it is in many ways soberingly blank and open. The mental toughness required for this ride is directly linked to the physical and, in a way, this makes our mission and the method in which we carry it out that much more important. We are now in Sandusky, the tourism capital of the state, and are ready to get some much needed rest and recovery.
Edit: Sorry for late post, sleep was very much needed. :)
Nabeel exploring the Cuyahoga riverbank.
Ride Overview
Mileage: 89.3
Elevation: +2333’/-2795’
General Direction: Ride north and west into downtown Akron to catch the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, ride it north bordering the Little Cuyahoga River and eventually the Cuyahoga River, take the path north through the national park and turn at mile 24 onto westbound Route 82, turn onto the northbound Mill Stream Trail at mile 33.5, continue snaking northwest through residential areas and turn onto Sprague Street, continue to turn and route northwest, pass through downtown Elyria at mile 54, and meet Route 113 at mile 56.7, follow to the town of Florence and continue to use country roads to proceed into Huron and westward toward Sandusky.
Points of Interest: Downtown Akron, Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Mill Stream Run Reservation, Cedar Point (runs near)
Quick stop to take in the river view.
Tales of the Trail
Another chilly morning greeted us as we rode through the center of a sleeping Akron to meet the rail trail we wouldn't leave for the next 20ish miles. A mashup of gravel and pavement twisted and turned us through forests and along the Little Cuyahoga until suddenly we were at the Cuyahoga Valley National Park entrance. The path opened up to valleys, bridges, old buildings, and of course the river itself which was beautiful to see and hear. We continued onto a stressful and busy suburban artery and through some residential areas to reach our PB&J stop.
From there, a few more highways took us through some industrial warehousing zones, towns, and into the country again. The edge of the sky was a shade of milky white and a noticeable haze was visible on all sides in the distance. In I4K, we ride rain or shine, but there are a few hard limits weather-wise that we will not ride in. One of these is air quality, and an AQI value above 150 means shuttling for the day. Due to wildfires in Canada, the air quality was not good, but held steady below this as we got closer to Sandusky. It was a long ride, but we have trained for this distance.
We are staying at Columbus Avenue United Methodist Church. We were treated to some great pizza, salad, and drinks, and washed the dust off of our bikes from the gravel trails. Tomorrow will be our third and final night in Ohio as we begin to turn southwest toward our home base in Champaign.
Cyclist’s Corner
Today’s Rider: Sam Rosner
How are you today? I’m doing pretty good! It was a long day but we got through it faster than expected which was great.
What make and model of bicycle are you riding? A blue 2013 Salsa Colossal Road Bike, it has a few upgrades too.
What is your favorite aspect about the ride so far? Why is it your favorite? Every day you see a new little slice of the country which has been really cool. Normally, I would drive through and miss places that we have had the chance to see while on the ride. Also, in these places, meeting the people there and learning about their lives.
How much cycling did you do before training for I4K specifically? I started mountain biking about four years ago and switched into road cycling about two years ago. I have also ridden a lot with Illini Cycling.
Is there anyone you are riding for today and would like to share a few words for? My violin teacher has had battles with cancer and she is who I think of the most while doing this ride.
Where on today’s route (generally or specific mile marker) was the most memorable for you? What happened? We passed through our first national park [Cuyahoga Valley] and there was a really nice bike path through it. Seeing the river in the morning was a very nice moment, along with there being no traffic and potholes, which is hard to come by here in Ohio.
Anything you’d like to say to those cheering you on? I’d like to say a really big thank you both to my family and the group at Charlottesville Community Bikes. For the latter, they have encouraged me and helped me to get into cycling, and without that experience, I would have probably never done this ride.
Please visit the rider profiles page on the website to learn more about this year’s riders! :)
~Dictionary of I4K~
PB&J: Everything you need to eat for a good ride.
Our reaction to the busy Ohio roads.
big mike in tiny car
Curious toilet arrangement in our stayover (see last year’s journal for the comparison)