Bowling Green/Toledo area riders?

[MajikMan]

It looks like I'm going to be moving into Bowling Green for grad school - it would be great to get any inside info on the city, whether it's cycling-related or not. I suppose any insight or advice from Toledo residents would also be welcome.

[dynodan22]

I visit out to Toledo area occasionally for customers. Out by the town of whitehouse they
have a nice paved bike trail. I have road around Toledo didn't get to explore it enough to
form an opinion of the area.

Dan

[DXchulo]

I just got done spending 2 years in Toledo.

The Bad: Flat & windy. That gets old quick.

The Good: 1. The local group is surprisingly good considering that you wouldn't think of Toledo as a cycling hot spot. 2. As much as I hated the wind, it does make you stronger, both physically and mentally. 3. A lot of the roads are super smooth. 4. There are a lot of quiet roads within easy riding distance of Toledo. You don't have to put up with too much suburban crap if you don't want to.

Not sure if that helps or not. BG was close, but I didn't spend any time there. If you haven't found it already: http://www.freewheel.com/

Let me know if you want any specific routes or anything like that.

[MajikMan]

It's good to hear that there is at least some kind of existing cycling 'scene' in the area - at least enough to make me feel better about my plans to commute. I'm not terribly worried about the wind - compared to the hills around West Virginia, a brisk headwind isn't that bad.

I don't really do training routes or racing - more hunting for vintage bikes and recreational riding. Is there a bike kitchen/co-op in the area?

Thanks for all the input so far!

[redneckwes]

The Slippery Elm Trail runs 13 miles South from BG to North Baltimore Oh, it's paved, nice ride. CycleWerks is a nice shop on the south side of BG, nice folks, but somewhat too modern for the vintage stuff. "Bike Route" in West Toledo is a great shop for older Bikes.

Good luck, probably run across you at some point.

[mutantdunk]

Just scanning the Great Lakes region and saw this thread. I grew up in Toledo and went to college in B.G. I've done the ride between the 2 numerous times. The roads along the Maumee river are nice because they go up and down and are not straight. Both are a rarity in N.W. Ohio. I got my Peugeot PKN10 in 1980 at a small shop in B.G. possibly on the N.W. side of town. My first road bike.

Think flat, windy when you think of the area. I hated the wind. Glad I'm not there anymore. Of course in Seattle it's June 13th and it's freaking cold out and it promises to rain on my century Sat. I do miss the spring and long, hot summers in Ohio. Enjoy yourself. Oh, I just flashed on a nice road that heads in a S.W. direction out of B.G. Try that one. So long.

[MajikMan]

I just got back from a visit, signed a lease for an apartment on Main St. in Bowling Green. I got to bike around campus a good bit, and never really came across much wind; I'm sure it's there, but the weather was darn near perfect Monday and Tuesday. It definitely seems like a place for SS/FG bikes.

I didn't get a chance to stop in Cyclewerks, but by looking in their window had figured they weren't so good about vintage stuff, which is disappointing. Good to hear that there's a prospect in Toledo.

[nocondorfx]

i live in bg. chances are if you see a cyclist, its probably me-though i haven't been out very much at all this year! :( I haven't seen anyone else in bg.
My favorite rides include going out to elmore. I take windy 105 up to fort findlay rd. which winds along the portage river.
I also like going up 64, and crossing over to river rd. in waterville where I ride in the whitehouse area and then into oak openings metroparks.
I also enjoy going down river rd. to grand rapids, and beyond.
Going south, the slippery elm trail is always empty, and go down to van buren state park.

email me or im me or something if you wanna ride. I don't know anyone else who rides around here.