When I lived in Ashtabula County, the bike was shut up some time in November, and it came back out in the spring. Now I'm car-free and contemplating a trip to Geagua and Ashtabula Counties on the last week of the year. So the question is: Do I bring my bike? Or do I bum rides off of my family members? Been a long time since I've lived through an Ohio winter, but my memory tells me it's foolish to bring my bike. Meanwhile, the fact that I've biked through several winters makes me feel like I could do it, but those are Raleigh winters. I know they're a different beast. That's part of the reason I moved. So any rural Great Lakes folks stay on two wheels through the winter? I imagine the city would be a little more navigable, but I feel like biking back roads in late December might be asking for trouble. Especially east of Cleveland. Seems like Cleveland gets a few flakes and Chardon gets a foot.
Are you looking to ride for transportation or recreation? That time of the year the snow banks are pretty high on the sides of the roads. Plus, many of the locals wouldn't expect to see a cyclist on the road in the dead of winter. Not to say it isn't doable, just a few more hazards...
If you're looking for recreational riding try the Western Reserve Greenway that runs from Ashtabula to Warren.
My goal is to get around and not have to rely on my family for transportation. But I expect you're right about the roads not being well suited if there is snow (and I expect there will be snow). I haven't looked at the roads from a cycling perspective, and I had hoped more ambitious cyclists had tried it and found it not so bad.
As for the Western Reserve Greenway, I would love to try it some day, but probably not unplowed without a decent snow bike. Long before it was a greenway, I used to bike a small stretch that ran through my town. The abandoned rail made for a great, traffic-free shortcut. I'm a little jealous of the people who can now use the length of it as a smooth path and without worrying about being scolded for trespassing.
Might be worth renting a car or bumming a ride. Those areas get socked with snow. Downtown and the CLE near neighborhoods are probably passable with the right equipment, but I wouldn't chance it in Geauga and Ashtabula.
If you are riding in a rural setting it would be very tough going in the winter. I ride all year but I live in lake county (Willoughby) and it is a bit more of an urban setting. City riding is really no problem but I run studs on my bikes.
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