Ohio Rail Trails Tour

This Ride has been Cancelled

† Explanation of BAC Ride Fee – This fee is not included in the Estimated Cost and is non-refundable once submitted. The Ride Fee for US and Canada is $85 and $150 for all other countries, both are per participant.

Ride Description

Overview: Join us for a tour of the great state of Ohio which will begin in Cincinnati and end at the banks of Lake Erie in Cleveland. Our tour will primarily follow the 326 mile Ohio to Erie Trail (OET) which links the Ohio River in the south to Lake Erie in the north. We will explore connecting trails for visits to the Dayton area and also offer optional rides on shared roads in some locations. The majority of the 350-mile route will follow paved “rail trails” with about 45 miles on shared streets and roadways. Approximately 25 miles of the OET consists of crushed limestone towpaths which can be easily ridden on a road bike. Our mostly flat route will take us through Ohio’s Amish country, over covered bridges, through farmlands, small cities, large cities and towns of every size. We can expect to have a great view of Ohio’s early fall colors during our ride.

We will begin our adventure by riding across the “Purple People” bridge from our hotel in Kentucky to Cincinnati. After dipping our rear tires into the Ohio River, we will follow the OET north to Xenia where we will spend three nights. While in Xenia we will offer optional rides to The National Museum of the US Air Force, the Dayton Aviation Heritage Park a National Park which includes the original Wright Brothers Cycle Shop and/or the quirky town Yellow Springs home to Antioch College and Dave Chapelle.

After three nights in the Xenia/Dayton area, we will continue north arriving in the city of Columbus on Columbus Day. We spend 2 nights at this location, allowing you the opportunity to explore the city or enjoy optional rides on local roads or trails. We will stay in the heart of downtown allowing you easy access to the wonderful shops, galleries, museums, restaurants and other treasures the city has to offer. Columbus is the capital city with a rich history, a critically acclaimed food scene, top ranked attractions and unique neighborhoods to explore.

From Columbus we will continue north on the OET with additional stops in Mount Vernon, Millersburg (the heart of Ohio’s Amish Country) and Akron on our way to Cleveland. We will pass through Holmes County where we will share the trail with Amish Buggies, we will cross covered bridges including the 370’ Bridge of Dreams spanning the Mohican River, ride through 20+ miles of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and numerous other parks along the way. We will pass through small and medium side towns with wonderful museums, family style restaurants, quaint shops and ice cream shops. When we reach the end of the trail, at Edgewater Park in Cleveland, we will dip our front tires in Lake Erie as is the tradition for those who complete the ride of the Ohio to Erie trail.

The trip includes group dinners at some of Ohio’s best local breweries/restaurants in Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland. Plan to arrive and depart a day or two early to allow you to experience all that Cincinnati and Cleveland have to offer. Some of the top attractions in Cincinnati include the Bengals and Browns stadiums, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, the Newport Aquarium and Kings Island. Some of Cleveland’s top sites include The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Cleveland Flats and the Christmas Story House. For more information on the Ohio to Erie Trail visit the website at  https://www.ohiotoerietrail.org

COVID Requirements: All participants should be fully vaccinated including booster shots if applicable and be prepared to present vaccination documentation for viewing by Ride Leader if requested . Unvaccinated participants are allowed but must comply with safety provisions such as a negative COVID-19 test 72 hours or less before a tour starts, face coverings, and physical distancing or alternate precautions as specified by the Ride Leader.

Ride Rating: Trip is rated 1C. We will average 45 miles per day with an average of only 853 ft climbing per day. While the average milage is within the B rating category, it is rated C because there are three mandatory riding days that exceed the 50 mile per day B rating, one day of approximately 70 miles and two days of about 60 miles. While the majority of the route is flat, there will be some short challenging hills in the northern part of the route . Average grade for these climbs is 3% with a maximum grade of 5.1%. The elevation gain for most days is less than 1000’ with only one day breaking that mark at approximately 1200’.

Cue sheets, maps, GPS files: Digital versions of the cue sheets and maps will be on Ride with GPS. Links to the digital cue sheets will be sent in an email and the link will be posted under Ride Leader Docs within the document entitled Event Link. We will post the maps and cue sheets in PDF format on the Ride Leader Docs. We recommend that you print out hard copies.

Weather: Average temperatures for October in Ohio range from lows in the mid to upper 40’s and highs in the mid to upper 60’s. Be prepared for brisk mornings with more comfortable temperatures as the day progresses. Average rainfall chance in October is approximately 20% to 30%, so rain is always a possibility on mandatory ride days. These are averages for the month of October, temperatures are generally higher and rain chances lower in the beginning of the month, temperatures generally decrease, and rain chances increase as the month progresses. Plan to bring your rain gear and appropriate layers needed for the worst-case average temperatures outlined above. Evenings will be cool so a light jacket is recommended.

Lodging & Meals: Lodging for the 10 nights will feature a combination of chain hotels (Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn, Courtyard), historic small-town hotels/Inns and one boutique hotel Three group dinners are included with hotel breakfasts included most mornings and happy hours planned most evenings.

Logistics: The tour begins the  with our introductory group dinner at 6 PM on October 5. Our starting hotel is the Hampton Inn & Suites ocated in Newport Kentucky, just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati. Our first ride will depart from the hotel on the morning of October 6. Please be sure to schedule your arrival in time to allow time to assemble your bike, if needed.  The tour ends in Cleveland Ohio on October 15 after breakfast. Our final hotel is the Hampton Inn at 1460 East 9th Street in Downtown Cleveland. Those wishing to spend extra nights in Cincinnati or Cleveland, the ride leaders will work with the host hotels to ensure you receive the group rate or any other discounts available.

Those who will be traveling by air should plan to fly into Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport (CVG). Bus service to the starting hotel is available via Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky (TANK), but there are bus changes and some walking required to get to the start hotel. A Taxi or Ride Share service, such as Lyft or Uber is a better choice. For departure from Cleveland at the end of the tour, the local airport is Cleveland Hopkins (CLE). The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) offers bus and train service from downtown Cleveland to the airport, but once again a taxi or rideshare service is a more practical option.

For those driving to the start location parking is available  near the hotel, the current rate is $10 per day. Participants may leave their cars at the hotel for the duration of the trip but the hotel will charge the daily parking rate for each day. Parking fees are not included in the cost of the tour and will be the responsibility of the participants. The hotel has limited bag storage available for anyone wishing to store a bag or bike box during the trip.

For any participants wishing to return to Cincinnati after the tour, there are commercial shuttle services available, but the cost for these services is NOT included in the cost of the tour. Anyone interested in a shared shuttle back to Cincinnati, please let the ride leader know when registering. If there is sufficient interest, we will help arrange for a shared shuttle service to transport participants, luggage and bicycles back to the start hotel in Cincinnati.  The cost for this service will be shared by those who use it. 

There are 7 required riding days and 2 optional ride days. Participants are expected to complete the required rides as the van/truck will not serve as a sag vehicle.

Bike rentals are the responsibility of participants. Current options do not include ebike rentals or delivery and pick up service, bikes would have to be returned to Cincinnati after the tour.  Ask your ride leader for suggestions.

Luggage: If you can, please use a soft sided suitcase as it is easier to fit into the luggage van. Due to limited space and handling requirements we will limit everyone to one large bag measuring 18x26x10 or an equal linear dimension (54 inches total) and one small backpack per person. The weight limit is 40 pounds for the large bag and 10 for the small backpack. If you don’t understand this, contact us, because we will allow no exceptions.

Transportation of bike boxes to the destination hotel is possible; however, there may be an extra fee for this service. Please let your ride  leader know if you require this service.

Tandems & E-Bikes: Your ride leaders are seasoned tandem riders. We welcome tandem riders and those who wish to ride e-bikes.

Cost & Administration: Estimated tour cost is $2,055 per person which includes 10 nights’ lodging, three group dinners, breakfasts most mornings, evening happy hours, a custom riding jersey and the cargo luggage van. Electronic RWGPS route maps and cue sheets will be provided. A deposit of $1000 is required upon ride acceptance. A second and final payment of $1,055 is due by July 31, 2023. A solo single supplement is estimated to be an additional $1020

Singles & Solos Policy: A “single” is a member who signs up by himself or herself and wishes to share a room with another participant. A “solo” is a member who signs up by himself or herself and does not wish to share a room. It is recommended that singles who want a roommate try to find their own. After receipt of the initial deposit, a single without a roommate will be placed on the ride and given until July 31, 2023 to find a roommate. If they are unable to find a roommate, they will have the option to receive a full refund (minus the BAC Ride Registration Fee and Payment Processing Fee) or pay the $1020 solo supplement and stay on the ride. If a single pays the supplement, they may continue to seek a roommate, but must plan to participate without a roommate if necessary. If the single finds a roommate the solo supplement will be returned. The Ride Leader will assist by attempting to match singles who apply for the ride. Solo supplement payments need to be sent to the BAC office by July 31, 2023. Checks should be made out to “BAC” with a notation of the tour name included on the check. They should be mailed to: Bicycle Adventure Club, PO Box 23998, San Diego, CA 92193.

Cancellation Policy: The BAC Ride Registration Fee and Payment Processing Fees are not refundable unless the entire tour is canceled because the number of participants registered is less than the minimum established for the tour. Refunds of tour payments will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up, and on costs that can be recouped. The amount refunded will be based on the principle that the tour’s remaining participants will not incur any additional cost as a result of cancellations. If the canceling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time. If the canceling participant can't be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report are completed. If a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that cannot be recouped the canceling roommate may also be liable for the solo supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour. BAC encourages members to purchase trip

Ride Participant Responsibility: Please remember that BAC Ride Leaders are volunteers, and that successful tours depend on participants providing much of their own support. Participants are expected to come to the ride well trained, in good health and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using well-maintained bicycles. All participants should accept responsibility for a safe and enjoyable tour. We encourage you to read the ride description carefully and respond to requests from the Ride Leader. While on the ride, support your Ride Leader with offers to help with various tasks such as happy hour preparation and cleanup. Please do not interfere with the ride by inviting non-participants onto any portion of the ride or tour. Please keep the Ride Leader informed of any special request you might have and respect the Ride Leader’s decisions.

Before participating in any BAC tour, you should assess whether your medical and travel insurance coverage is sufficient. BAC maintains insurance that covers expenses related to accidents. This coverage applies when touring inside the US, regardless of your nationality. It’s assumed that members’ personal insurance will cover medical emergencies such as sudden and unexpected sickness, so these have not been included in the BAC policy. You may want to consider personal coverage for emergency evacuation, as this is not included. The costs of treatment or quarantine for Covid and other unexpected illnesses are not covered. You should ensure that your vaccinations are up to date.

Sign-up: To register for this ride, use the sign-up links just above the Ride Description. After preliminary acceptance, you will be moved to the pending list and receive an email requesting you to go back to the BAC site to digitally accept the terms of the Release of Liability (ROL), and pay the non-refundable BAC Ride Registration Fee and Tour Deposit by credit card. As soon as your deposit has been processed, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List. BAC members with questions may contact the Ride Director by "clicking" the name at the top of this Ride Description.