Cleveland/Youngstown, OH to Brookville, PA?
06-27-08, 08:47 PM
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Cleveland/Youngstown, OH to Brookville, PA?
Hello all -
I am contemplating my first major ride and hoped someone might have some experience to convince me otherwise
We have a family reunion July 26th in Brookville, PA. I'm thinking about a 2-day ride to this event from NE Ohio. Depending on routes and departure points, the total distance is anywhere from 100-140 miles. Has anyone ridden a similar route that can provide some info as to how to go and the level of difficulty? I wouldn't have a second thought about it if it were a fairly flat ride, but I'm a little nervous about those PA hills. I've tried to gauge the terrain using google maps, etc, but it all looks nice and flat on my monitor!
I haven't gone over 30 miles yet, but can do that fairly comfortably and at a reasonable pace, so I'm not intimidated by the half-century mark. I will be able to ride pretty regularly after my soccer season ends on July 4th, so I will have almost a month to train.
Any help or advice is most welcome - even if you tell me I'm crazy.
I am contemplating my first major ride and hoped someone might have some experience to convince me otherwise
We have a family reunion July 26th in Brookville, PA. I'm thinking about a 2-day ride to this event from NE Ohio. Depending on routes and departure points, the total distance is anywhere from 100-140 miles. Has anyone ridden a similar route that can provide some info as to how to go and the level of difficulty? I wouldn't have a second thought about it if it were a fairly flat ride, but I'm a little nervous about those PA hills. I've tried to gauge the terrain using google maps, etc, but it all looks nice and flat on my monitor!
I haven't gone over 30 miles yet, but can do that fairly comfortably and at a reasonable pace, so I'm not intimidated by the half-century mark. I will be able to ride pretty regularly after my soccer season ends on July 4th, so I will have almost a month to train.
Any help or advice is most welcome - even if you tell me I'm crazy.
06-28-08, 06:16 AM
#2
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US322 from Franklin to Brookville is a busy highway. Franklin to "Cranberry" might be ok, but east of there, the grades and sight-lines would be a fright.
There is a rail trail called the Justus Trail from Franklin, south along the Allegany River that might get you to a preferable alignment to finish the trip to Brookville.
There is a rail trail called the Justus Trail from Franklin, south along the Allegany River that might get you to a preferable alignment to finish the trip to Brookville.
06-28-08, 08:10 AM
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Tom -
Thank you for the reply. I hoped to avoid the major roadways. After I posted, I googled-mapped my way to a backroads route that only adds a few miles, but I have no idea what the terrain is like
When I see road names like "So-and-So's Furnace", or "So-and-So's Mill Rd.", I picture a river running in between two REALLY big hills!
It would be great if there were a trail system to link most of the ride, but a) I am new to this whole touring thing, and b) information on the PA trails seems hard to find in one place.
I guess if I chicken out (or wise up...take your pick), I can always shack up at a hotel for the night and wait for my family to come through and pick me up on their way to the reunion!
Thank you for the reply. I hoped to avoid the major roadways. After I posted, I googled-mapped my way to a backroads route that only adds a few miles, but I have no idea what the terrain is like
When I see road names like "So-and-So's Furnace", or "So-and-So's Mill Rd.", I picture a river running in between two REALLY big hills!It would be great if there were a trail system to link most of the ride, but a) I am new to this whole touring thing, and b) information on the PA trails seems hard to find in one place.
I guess if I chicken out (or wise up...take your pick), I can always shack up at a hotel for the night and wait for my family to come through and pick me up on their way to the reunion!
06-28-08, 09:26 AM
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Tom -
Thank you for the reply. I hoped to avoid the major roadways. After I posted, I googled-mapped my way to a backroads route that only adds a few miles, but I have no idea what the terrain is like When I see road names like "So-and-So's Furnace", or "So-and-So's Mill Rd.", I picture a river running in between two REALLY big hills!
It would be great if there were a trail system to link most of the ride, but a) I am new to this whole touring thing, and b) information on the PA trails seems hard to find in one place.
I guess if I chicken out (or wise up...take your pick), I can always shack up at a hotel for the night and wait for my family to come through and pick me up on their way to the reunion!
Thank you for the reply. I hoped to avoid the major roadways. After I posted, I googled-mapped my way to a backroads route that only adds a few miles, but I have no idea what the terrain is like
When I see road names like "So-and-So's Furnace", or "So-and-So's Mill Rd.", I picture a river running in between two REALLY big hills!It would be great if there were a trail system to link most of the ride, but a) I am new to this whole touring thing, and b) information on the PA trails seems hard to find in one place.
I guess if I chicken out (or wise up...take your pick), I can always shack up at a hotel for the night and wait for my family to come through and pick me up on their way to the reunion!
PA rail trail information can be found at the Department of Natural Resources site:
https://www.gis.dcnr.state.pa.us/railtrails/
Unfortunately, none of the marked PA Bike Routes pass near or on your course:
https://www.bikepa.com/routes/index.htm
06-28-08, 09:29 AM
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US322 from Franklin to Brookville is a busy highway. Franklin to "Cranberry" might be ok, but east of there, the grades and sight-lines would be a fright.
There is a rail trail called the Justus Trail from Franklin, south along the Allegany River that might get you to a preferable alignment to finish the trip to Brookville.
There is a rail trail called the Justus Trail from Franklin, south along the Allegany River that might get you to a preferable alignment to finish the trip to Brookville.
06-28-08, 11:09 PM
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Definitely some great links! Thanks for the help. I'm still trying to figure out a way to work the stretch of trail between Franklin and Emlenton into the mix, but it really adds a lot of miles. I'll work on the route, and hopefully by the time my legs are ready to go, the route will be ready, too!
06-29-08, 03:23 AM
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Definitely some great links! Thanks for the help. I'm still trying to figure out a way to work the stretch of trail between Franklin and Emlenton into the mix, but it really adds a lot of miles. I'll work on the route, and hopefully by the time my legs are ready to go, the route will be ready, too!
https://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Van-to-Brookville
06-29-08, 05:59 PM
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I grew up between Salem and Canfield Ohio, so I know where your starting from. I think it will be a nice rid once you get through Youngstown. I don't like flat roads though. you didn't say if you were going loaded or credit card style. If you credit card it, it will be a good two day ride. Loaded, day two is going to hurt. Day two and three always hurt, from what I've felt on motorcycle trips and my couple of short tours. Go for it and report back after.
