Introductions - New Old Buckeye

Man it's been twenty years since I was on a bike. Forgot how much fun it was. I'm in that 'senior senior' group of over 65. Most of my rides so far have been in the 15 mile range through the rolling rural hills in Geauga County, Oh. Hills are tough on an old dude like myself but I am surprised how my endurance has picked up already. Geauga Co is the snow belt east of Cleveland for those unfamiliar. Anyway, HOWDY. It's been interesting reading so far .. and interesting to learn how many people hate us.

OH306,Hello fellow Buckeye,(a hairless nut of no commercial value).Are you still getting smoked by those Geauga county buggies????????

Yep, that's me, hairless with no commercial value. It's embarassing to be blown away by an Amish buggy driven by blue haired Amish ladies screaming "Buicks rule".

OH306,Greetings again.Could you discribe the bike trail off rt.44 north of Chardon.I noticed it driving out your way last spring.It appears to be ashphalt and quite lengthy.

Haven't been on it yet. Thanks for the reminder. Apparently only the northern section of the trail (4 miles) is open at this time. I think (don't quote me) this joins up with a Lake County trail that takes you to Lake Erie. Construction on the central section will begin this fall, and I read elsewhere that the southern section will open this October. This link will give you the scoop.

http://www.geaugaparkdistrict.org/parks/maplehighlands.shtml

Thank you for the info.

Today I rode from the parking area on Ravenna Rd to the southern end of the northern trail which ends near Rt 44 and Mentor Rd. I then road north to the northern end of the trail which ends at the county line at Colburn Rd. I continued north on a section of Lake Metroparks Greenway Corridor which runs from Colburn Rd to Girdled Rd. The trail ends at Girdled Rd. I later learned the trail continues north from a parking area on Ravenna Rd. From the parking area on Ravenna Rd you can continue north to Painesville but the trail does not go all the way to Lake Erie. Both the trails in Geauga and Lake counties follow the path of an abandoned B&O railroad. The reason for the disconnect in Lake County is because the RR path cuts across Quail Hollow Golf Course. To complete the disconnect you can ride your bike on Girdled Rd. and Ravenna Rd. but they are both narrow roads with no shoulder. Speed limit is 45 mph and there is a nasty hill on Ravenna Rd just before the parking area. These links will give you a better picture. Elevation goes from 1125 feet at southern trail end in Geauga Co. to 650 feet at trail end in Painesville.

http://tinyurl.com/hr7fr

http://tinyurl.com/k8fd5

That hill on Ravenna Rd IS nasty, especially climbing.

An alternative way to link the Lake County's Greenway and the Maple Highland (heading south) is to take a right on Ravenna Rd, left at first intersection (608), cautious left onto Concord Hambden Rd (just past Quail Hollow) and another left onto Crile Rd, which parallels Rt 44. Very little traffic on Crile and the 'Highlands' trail starts where Crile ends (Girdled Rd).

Has anyone done any Cleveland Touring Club rides? They meet weekly at Concord Woods Park, nearby the Quail Hollow.