Great Lakes - Cleveland riders

Howdy, I have a friend that lives in Cleveland and wants to take up cycling so they can do some tri's. She is a little nervous about the roads, so would like to point to some area's where a newby can ride, but not be a nervous wreck about being hit.

Can you give me some locations,

Thanks,

east or westside? its like 2 different cities

Hmmmm, good question, let me ask. She moved recently, so not sure.

Lots of good and friendly cyclists here Brian. Lots of female cyclists as well if she is more comfortable with that. Just let us know.

Gary, Scott and I are kind of inside the hub of competitive cycling in the area, so we know better than most of all of the intricacies of the area.
Plus, we all have plenty of time to ride.

any of numerous metroparks. i think they are called the emerald necklace. they are pretty nice to ride but during the winter months the trail gets abused, with all the plowing and salt.

any of numerous metroparks. i think they are called the emerald necklace. they are pretty nice to ride but during the winter months the trail gets abused, with all the plowing and salt.

And welcome to BF presta :)

Hey guys, appreciate your help, she lives in Lakewood, is aware of the Metroparks, but is interested in other places.

Howdy, I have a friend that lives in Cleveland and wants to take up cycling so they can do some tri's. She is a little nervous about the roads, so would like to point to some area's where a newby can ride, but not be a nervous wreck about being hit.

Can you give me some locations,

Thanks,

Lorain county is accessible from Lakewood and we have many miles of low traffic rural roads. I'd be happy to have another female to ride with, let me know!

Colleen

Cuyahoga Valley. The O&E towpath runs from Harvard Rd clear down to Akron and also has connectors to both the Valley Parkway (metroparks) and Summit Bike & Hike trails. For road riding, Riverview Rd from Brecksville to Akron is nice, with lots of connecting roads to climb in and out of the valley.

I'm in Lakewood also. Mostly ride in Rocky River Valley, but some spots have a lot of rush hour auto traffic so I use the path to get by these bad spots. Next is the Towpath from Harvard to Rockside, no cars to contend with. Farther South is the Sleepy Hollow Golf Course hill loop. To the West the path from Elyria to Oberlin & Kiptown(sp) is nice.

Seconding what Chipcom says, I absolutely love riding in the Cuyahoga Valley.

Excellent. I will let her know. I appreciate your help.

Lets not forget northern Erie county around the general area of the Edison Wildlife Reserve and south of I-80.A few mild hills where you can rip down.
Usually this region is frequented by the Lorain County Wheelmen.They seem a friendly bunch with minimal OCP issues.Traffic in this area is minimal and less snow/salt than greater Cleveland.
Speedskater,are the new rink owners/conditions working out with your short track team?

You would think Jax would extend an invite to Florida for us till the weather lets up here?
Never mind,I do not have Bermuda shorts or white loafers in my wardrobe.

You would think Jax would extend an invite to Florida for us till the weather lets up here?
Never mind,I do not have and Bermuda shorts or white loafers in my wardrobe.

I'll loan you a nice sun dress.

I'll loan you a nice sun dress.

It has to go with my eyes.

Lets not forget northern Erie county around the general area of the Edison Wildlife Reserve and south of I-80.A few mild hills where you can rip down.
Usually this region is frequented by the Lorain County Wheelmen.They seem a friendly bunch with minimal OCP issues.Traffic in this area is minimal and less snow/salt than greater Cleveland.
Speedskater,are the new rink owners/conditions working out with your short track team?

On the Lakewood Ice Rink, the city still owns it. But the new management people put lots of work and money into it last summer and it look a lot better. The old employees are happy working with the new management. It's a hockey and a little figure skating rink now, very little public skating and much of that is at strange times. They changed the speedskating practice times and I have difficulty getting to some of the practices.

How long of a drive is it to Erie county from Lakewood? It's about 25 minutes to the Elyria path.

On the Lakewood Ice Rink, the city still owns it. But the new management people put lots of work and money into it last summer and it look a lot better. The old employees are happy working with the new management. It's a hockey and a little figure skating rink now, very little public skating and much of that is at strange times. They changed the speedskating practice times and I have difficulty getting to some of the practices.

How long of a drive is it to Erie county from Lakewood? It's about 25 minutes to the Elyria path.

By car it,s exactly 45 min.from Lakewood on Rt.2.
I skated on that rink when it was outddoors.:thumb
Back in the late 60,s people in the area belonged to that speedskating club.

You would think Jax would extend an invite to Florida for us till the weather lets up here?
Never mind,I do not have Bermuda shorts or white loafers in my wardrobe.

:o sorry, you are all invited down. I did 30 this afternoon in 77 deg glorious winter weather. Suppose to be somewhere near 82\83 Saturday. I understand that snow is in the forecast for you folks. :p. Just for the record, I don't own any of those shorts or shoes either, but do have some flip flops that I wear a lot.

Hey, she was very happy with the info and said she really wants to get a bike this year, so you might see here out and about one day. Thank you very much for your help

Hey, she was very happy with the info and said she really wants to get a bike this year, so you might see here out and about one day. Thank you very much for your help

What size bike do you think she will need?

What size bike do you think she will need?

More importantly, is she cute and into large ugly men wearing evening gowns?

More importantly, is she cute and into large ugly men wearing evening gowns?
It's not so much an evening gown as it is a XXXL Mickey mouse shirt from the 70's.

Mine is just long enough to reach the tip of my pp.

One easy way to get started is drive to Peninsula, park in the designated parking lot north of Main St. (Rt. 303), and rent a bike at Century Cycles. Century also has a store in Rocky River, which is near Lakewood. The loop from Peninsula to Akron on River Rd. and Akron-Peninsula Rd. is pretty safe and pretty flat. Good for a beginner.

What size bike do you think she will need?

Think she is about 5'5" or so so probably a 50-52cm (?)


More importantly, is she cute and into large ugly men wearing evening gowns?

yes and only if your name is not chip.:p



It's not so much an evening gown as it is a XXXL Mickey mouse shirt from the 70's.

Mine is just long enough to reach the tip of my pp.

OK, if he wears the Mickey Mouse then she might allow the name.

One easy way to get started is drive to Peninsula, park in the designated parking lot north of Main St. (Rt. 303), and rent a bike at Century Cycles. Century also has a store in Rocky River, which is near Lakewood. The loop from Peninsula to Akron on River Rd. and Akron-Peninsula Rd. is pretty safe and pretty flat. Good for a beginner.

Excellent, I will pass this along.

One easy way to get started is drive to Peninsula, park in the designated parking lot north of Main St. (Rt. 303), and rent a bike at Century Cycles. Century also has a store in Rocky River, which is near Lakewood. The loop from Peninsula to Akron on River Rd. and Akron-Peninsula Rd. is pretty safe and pretty flat. Good for a beginner.

Well I gotta make some comments here, since I have been riding that 'loop' for years and commuted on those roads daily when I worked in Peninsula.

If she's gonna ride the road loop...she needs to start south on Akron Peninsula...no beginner needs to be riding on 303 up that hill to Riverview unless they wanna ride the sidewalk. Additionally, if she starts on Riverview, she'll have to fight the traffic in the section where it turns into Merriman...with no BL...taking the right lane until she has to merge left to wait in traffic to turn left at Portage Trail Extension. This is not noob friendly.

There will also be a non-beginner friendly climb up Akron-Peninsula right off the bat, and consider that my good friends at Century only rent heavy hybrids with suspension forks, wide tires and upright riding positions...which isn't going to make climbing fun, but at least it will be suited for the remains of Akron-Peninsula rd, which was getting pretty tore up before winter...and is much more so now. Remember that there also isn't much of a shoulder or BL on Akron-Peninsula. The rental bikes don't have mirrors, FYI.

When she gets to Akron where the road merges with Portage Trail Extension, she's gonna have to take the right lane, especially when it turns into a RTOL to get onto Merriman/Riverview. She'll also need to take the lane on Merriman until the BL becomes available when it turns into Riverview. Beware, the drivers on Merriman can be richard heads...they want you on the sidewalk/towpath. Merriman/Portage Trail extention is not noob friendly, no matter what direction you go, unless you get on the sidewalk and towpath extension.

The rest of the way back down Riverview is as you say, flat, except for the hill at Deep Lock Quarry, with a decent BL shoulder up to Bolanz Rd. After Bolanz, the shoulder gets sketchy. You gotta watch yourself at the intersection of both Bolanz and Everett Rds and going over the railroad crossing a mile or so north of Everett.

Seriously, I can't in good conscience say that that loop is beginner friendly, especially on a heavy old hybrid. She might be better off just riding on the towpath, which is what those rental bikes are designed for...maybe jumping on the road to do the loop between Bolanz and Ira or Bath Rds, which IS pretty flat and noob friendly.

Or...if she fits on one of Cheri's bikes, we'd be glad to take her on a guided ride over the loop, maybe even with the addition of Sand Run Pkwy, which is a nice ride. I'd feel better doing that than just setting a noob loose on an old hybrid on roads full of Ohio drivers. ;)

Well I gotta make some comments here, since I have been riding that 'loop' for years and commuted on those roads daily when I worked in Peninsula. ...

Sorry. I was trying to be "concise". ;)

There will also be a non-beginner friendly climb up Akron-Peninsula right off the bat, and consider that my good friends at Century only rent heavy hybrids with suspension forks, wide tires and upright riding positions...which isn't going to make climbing fun, but at least it will be suited for the remains of Akron-Peninsula rd, which was getting pretty tore up before winter...and is much more so now. Remember that there also isn't much of a shoulder or BL on Akron-Peninsula. The rental bikes don't have mirrors, FYI.
Yup. I work at Century Cycles, but not at the Peninsula store. I'm at the Rocky River store. We do only rent the hybrid/comfort type bikes at the Peninsula store and are meant only for the tow path.

Our rental program (http://centurycycles.com/page.cfm?pageID=18)

Nice shop,good mechanics.
I purchased items at the River location over the years and so have my relatives.

On a side note:
Do you guys stock those cycling specific sun-dresses Chip ownes or is that all custom apparel?
I prefer...er.. my friend... does not like to borrow clothing items.

We only stock them at the Peninsula store, since Chip is the only one that buys them.

I think we've got all of the West Side bike shop employees in this thread except for Eddy's.

Thanks chip, that is good info to know. I think once she ready to roll, I will put the call out and see if she wants to meet up. Much appreciation.

working on that mitch...

We only stock them at the Peninsula store, since Chip is the only one that buys them.

You forgot about Brent. :D

working on that mitch...Are you hinting that.... no..... you can't be..... Ewwwww.:p

I think we've got all of the West Side bike shop employees in this thread except for Eddy's.

If you are gonna include Eddy's you gotta include Walmart and Performance. :eek: :lol:

Can't forget Dale's as well either...

Are you hinting that.... no..... you can't be..... Ewwwww.:p
What's wrong with Eddy's?

What's wrong with Performance?

Exactly. :lol:

No, really. I don't pay attention to other shops, I just do what I need to do. But now you guys have got me curious. Is there something wrong with Eddy's?

No, really. I don't pay attention to other shops, I just do what I need to do. But now you guys have got me curious. Is there something wrong with Eddy's?

Quality isn't always a word I hear pinned on them, but like most shops there are the good and the bad reviews.

Ahh, so they have a bad rep for workmanship. So, if I get a Trek 520, I will need to go over it myself I guess.

I haven't been in there much, but I stopped by, I think last summer, to see what Trek had to offer. I asked if Trek had any steel bikes. I was told that Trek doesn't make any steel bikes. I mentioned the 520 and I was told the 520 was not steel, it was Cro-moly.

I mentioned the 520 and I was told the 520 was not steel, it was Cro-moly.

LoL......Walmart employee mentality....

What's wrong with Eddy's?

The shop in Stow reached its high point when it was a roadside produce stand in the 60's. Or maybe during the skate board and bmx craze in the 80's.

we've got the westside covered now.

we've got the westside covered now.

is somebody employed?? :)

finally! yep.

Ha, I too am about to make a deal with the devil.

In my defense it doesn't seem that employee turnover at Century in Peninsula is too high :)

Ha, I too am about to make a deal with the devil.

In my defense it doesn't seem that employee turnover at Century in Peninsula is too high :)

Good deal Jawn...congrats!