Bikers Guide to the Ohio to Erie Trail (OTET)

[@katsujinkin60]

At 72 I guess I'm living the "Late Life Adventure". A few weeks ago I rode from Columbus to Cincinatti and back. Last year I received a new hip and a new knee, and I wanted to try them out. I had been in training since Christmas Eve. It was glorious. I caught a week of perfect weather (upper 70s and dry in mid August!), and I had no mechanical issues there or back. My new mantra is "Better Late Than Never". I'm about to have the other knee replaced , and I found out that I did that 250 mile ride with a hernia! Who knew? I'll be laid up this fall and winter, but I'll be back on The Trail next summer and ready for more adventures (Cleveland or Bust!). You guys are inspiring. Keep up the good work. Be Well, my friends, and Prosper!

[@tomf9785]

I have ridden this trail 2 times. You have a great video

[@hemaccabe4292]

That is some very sharp drone footage.

[@indybikeman1]

Nicely done video

[@livingthemidlifeadventure5882]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@linnealundgren7026]

I love the humor in your commentary! Fantastic videos!

[@livingthemidlifeadventure5882]

Thank you kindly!

[@JodylovesOhioTrails]

Enjoyed your video! My one question is that in NE Ohio you said you were staying in Dayton, I'm thinking it was probably Akron. Dayton is west of Xenia that you went through earlier. Thank you for saying nice things about the trail and our website resources.

[@stopsforpicturesandvideos]

Nice video; good job. It gives a good feel for what the ride would be like.

[@TheChaznw]

We are doing the OTET in mid september. Thanks for a great video. Really nice editing and commentary.

[@livingthemidlifeadventure5882]

Glad you liked it, September should be a great month for that trail!

[@dougj102463]

Great video. Couple of nit-picky things… Xenia is pronounced “Zeen-Yuh”. Also, towards the end of the video (tow-path trail) you kept saying Dayton, when I think you meant Akron.

[@headphonist]

Hey there! It's Raul I met you guys at The Great Lakes Camp site! This popped up in my feed. Great camping and meeting you guys! Happy trails.

[@livingthemidlifeadventure5882]

Raul!!! Sorry it took so long to respond. Mostly heads down getting the Erie Canal video out. Thank you so much for helping us out with our crappy camp site. Hope your ride went well!!

[@moosefactory133]

I think I will do this trip in May of 2023. In May of 2022 on a Sunday I rode my bicycle from the parking garage at Newport on the Levee (right across the river in northern Kentucky) and went up to West Broad Street in Columbus. I stayed in a motel there on Sunday and Monday night and left on Tuesday morning to head back. I decided to take two days to go back. I learned some things on this trip. I purchased a Topeak pannier bag system, both rack and bag and did so to avoid the need to use a daypack. I found it best to keep my back free because after many hours of riding a bike, it will start to hurt with weight on it. Also I learned to head signs about bike trail closures. There was a complete closure at the Carthage Brewing company but because it was a Sunday, I will able to go sneak the construction area since there were no workmen there. Also, water along is not enough. I need to take some supplements to avoid body cramps after the trip is done. Anyway, I am planning on taking 4 days to get up to Cleveland. Something to look forward to.

[@Mike-vd2qt]

Thanks for video, nicely filmed and edited! I remember the Alum Creek Trail that I rode NE toward PGH when crossing the U.S. Took the GAP/C&O into DC for a nice peaceful end to riding across again. ☮

[@tomferraina7774]

Great ride - great company - great memories. Thanks to another awesome Jeff Production Video - I will be able to re-live the adventure for years to come.

[@Buttery_films]

Congratulations, you just one our giveaway

[@BluecollarBackcountry]

That looked like a great ride and a really good time

[@toddrushton3240]

Looks fun. Good job on the video. I appreciate the tips.

[@joyfultrails]

Great video! I especially appreciate the production values and the dry humor. 😏

[@livingthemidlifeadventure5882]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ehelekakou]

Nice job with the video. Some great info for anyone planning the same trip.

[@icfbuild1]

Thanks for the video. Friends and I are planning to ride it in June 2024.

[@livingthemidlifeadventure5882]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@ericjohnson8571]

Nice video! Thanks for the vicarious adventure!!

[@joshwilson3407]

Great video! Planning this ride when the weather gets nice.

[@madiantin]

0:03. Hahahaha! Oh man, if that's the beginning this is going to be a great video. =D It was indeed! Thank you.

[@BMad-we6qf]

My partner Lance and I are planning the Ohio to Erie at the end of May and were excited to find your video. Thank you for posting. We have completed the Erie Canal Trail from Buffalo to Albany, NY several times as we live close to it, the GAP/C&O, and Katy Trail in MO, as well as a number of homemade routes. We are riding Cleveland to Cincinnati and found a good deal on a shuttle back to Cleveland. It appears that Michelle might be riding Lance's bike, a Priority 600, and has my shirt (the peach one). :) We would be interested in what bikes you were all riding. I am debating between my Priority Apollo gravel bike with stock cogs or my fat bike with mountain biking gears. I had no issues on the GAP/C&O (Pitts to DC) with the gravel bike, but struggled mightily with the hills in western PA when we did a self made route from Buffalo to Pittsburgh with 5,000+ ft of elevator over 55 miles. Appreciate the heads up about navigating through the cities and the fact that food and water are abundant. We had issues with that on the Katy Trail after Jefferson City. Ride safe!

[@anarchistfreedom7307]

Much appreciated 👍

[@MadRussian17]

I love the cincy waterfront

[@FollowThomas]

Erie Trail is on my pocket list to ride. Thanks for the preview 🙂

[@livingthemidlifeadventure5882]

Any time!

[@janicestevens5466]

Jan and Dean Stevens from Derby NY loved your OTET video. We have been talking about doing this and you put together a great video.. Thank you.

[@mikemrkacek5091]

Fantastic video! This trail is on my list. Thanks.

[@davebro2525]

Nice Video! Good job!!

[@livingthemidlifeadventure5882]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@dalewi60]

Where did you stay your last night..Akron? You said north Dayton? Great video. Have ridden Milford to South Charleston. Planning to bike the entire route next spring.

[@livingthemidlifeadventure5882]

ugh!! I meant north Akron!! Correction time!!

[@kellir.747]

I rode the OTET from Cincinnati to Cleveland in 2021. Took the Amtrak train to Cincinnati. It’s not a straight-forward route (you go to Chicago and Indianapolis to get to Cincinnati) and you arrive in the wee hours of the morning, but it got the job done. I’m planning to ride southbound from Cleveland to Cincinnati this year. BTW, Xenia is pronounced as “zee-nya” not zinnia.

[@navigator8222]

When are you leaving to go?

[@kellir.747]

@@navigator8222 Shooting for mid-July. I have a friend from Georgia who wants to get some Ohio miles, so this will be perfect!

[@navigator8222]

@@kellir.747Awesome. Good luck and have fun!

[@josephakendrick529]

Nice work. Helpful video. Question: Is the signage sufficient to avoid constantly stopping and looking at the phone? Thanks.

[@livingthemidlifeadventure5882]

The only time we ever struggled was in the cities, and those were all detours. Overall, the signage is better than most trails.

[@matts1978]

Just looking for advice from everyone here. What is the best way to plan out your stays, how far you would like to ride in a day, water, and food along the way? I am not somebody who is going to want to wing something like finding a place to eat daily. I would love to ride this trail by next summer, but i am not sure what how exactly to plan something this massive.

[@livingthemidlifeadventure5882]

Food and water are easy on this ride. You go through little towns numerous times per day, which is also where you can grab food. We kept about a days worth of calories on our bikes, but otherwise we ate when we needed to. Deciding on miles per day is a personal decision, and we booked campsites/hotels in advance shooting for 40-70 miles per day, while trying to not have back to back long mileage days.

[@137997311ful]

Are there any sketchy areas/towns you rode through?

[@livingthemidlifeadventure5882]

Southern Akron!! Super-sketch. I would have liked to do this part of the trail earlier in the day, but we were behind schedule and we also just happened to be riding through that part of town after a police shooting (lucky us). If alone I would only do it early in the day.

[@spaceghost8995]

Driven semi trucks more than I care to remember throughout Ohio. Now it's time to bicycle it instead! Maybe in May 2023.

[@navigator8222]

Did u go?

[@spaceghost8995]

@@navigator8222 Catching Amtrak to Cincy tomorrow (5/25) to start trail!

[@navigator8222]

@@spaceghost8995 Awesome! Good luck and have fun.

[@hemaccabe4292]

I wanna go too!

[@danrieber7318]

where did you stay in Milford? what month did you ride?

[@livingthemidlifeadventure5882]

We rode in late June, and we stayed at the Holiday Inn Express. maps.apple.com/?ll=39.183790,-84.265817&q=Dropped%20Pin&t=h

[@billluke8965]

What kind of bikes. I just bought an e bike and want to go

[@SolarizeYourLife]

I don't understand the Ohio to Erie trail when the whole trail is inside Ohio?!?

[@livingthemidlifeadventure5882]

It runs from the Cincinnati on the Ohio River to Cleveland on Lake Erie. Hence, Ohio to Erie. Do it! You'll love it!

[@JosephDowski]

Yikes! Bedbugs.... Hopefully a one & done experience... :)

[@livingthemidlifeadventure5882]

We are now anti-bedbug ninjas no matter where we stay!!

[@JosephDowski]

@@livingthemidlifeadventure5882 Meaning you're checking prior to sleeping? They say to not even put your luggage on the floor if you suspect critters..?

[@tomfeie2733]

Helmets? Especially after fellow rider dumped their bike

[@JustVisiting]

Xenia is pronounced “Zee-Nyuh”.

[@snip_king428]

I found out how having a flat, without tools, is the worse thing ever!!

[@katiebond8833]

You all should be wearing helmets!

[@livingthemidlifeadventure5882]

When we are on roads we are all pretty religious about helmets, but on trail we tend to go with comfort. FWIW, when I ran 5K's, I ran around 11 MPH but never wore a helmet, and I was more likely to take a spill running than cruising on a bike at 11 MPH. One could make the age argument, but some days it is just too damn hot!!

[@deathclock9]

It's pronounced "ZEEN-YA"