The Wild Southern Towpath!

Yeti's on the Loose landed us down in Bolivar, Ohio exploring the most gnarly section of the Ohio & Erie Towpath Canal Trail and also hitting some of the really cool historic bridges, towns and even single track the area has to offer. Dare I say - GRAVEL.
A great day out with the group and some lunch at Lockport Brewing before I set my sight on a 49 mile solo rip home!
#bicycles #gravelbikes
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[@mikespringer7894]

A chicken tender in my bag😆😆😆🤣🤣👍👍🔥🔥🔥

[@TimFitzwater]

I did honk that tender when I got home - but it wasn’t the energy i needed on the ride! 🍗🐓🐔

[@leebarrett4709]

Definitely the right choice to ride the bike back rather than the car and far better viewing for us. 😉

[@TimFitzwater]

Ha!

[@DAMN55117]

impressed with the trail systems. I love sun and a light mist on a long ride...my favorite.

[@TimFitzwater]

It really is a cool section of trail and side cuts down there. I’ve ridden down there in early morning and it was really pretty with the morning sunrise and mist off the canal.

[@charlessmith5924]

loved the bike lane rant near the end🤣 nice ride

[@TimFitzwater]

I was so mad! Didn’t film myself yelling at the dude telling me to “walk my bike”.

[@mikegutterman3427]

Thanks Tim!

[@TimFitzwater]

Cheers!

[@GregWacker-p8h]

It’s the best of both worlds .. riding with great friends having good food & beverages.. then back riding at your own pace & just doing what you do !!

[@TimFitzwater]

It was! 😎

[@lu6460]

From the USACE writeup on the Bolivar Dam: "As a system, the Corps dams in the Muskingum area prevented over $56 million in flood damages in FY 2016 with an accumulative total of $4.9 billion damages prevented since the construction of each project in the system. The project averages 179 thousand visitors annually, contributing $5 million to the local economy, supporting 56 jobs. This represents a sizable component of the economy in the local community." The river also takes a couple sharp turns around the city there so I imagine flood events are infrequent but serious. Adding it to my list of places to see :)

[@TimFitzwater]

Its really pretty - must be the other dams that do most the work and this is the last resort?

[@dustysadventures]

About people parking in the bike lanes. There is a bike races here in Tulsa, Tulsa Tough. On sundays, the crit races are at a place that’s hard to find parking. It gets real busy. So, people parks IN the bike lanes to go to the bike races. It’s ridiculous! Great ride and video!

[@TimFitzwater]

Oh my god. I'm glad more people are out and about in our downtown - but its not that hard to make it work for everyone - they jus don't try. I feel bad for the people riding through Akron that aren't familiar with it - you'll never know which way to go. Thanks!

[@robertgraves3215]

Wow that reminds me of Pennsylvania. Are there any Amish communities there? Those paths look like what we called "cinder trails" in NY. Limestone? This gets really cool around the 5:00 mark. I forage a lot , my God there's gotta be some wild apple trees along those paths. Ever eaten wineberries? They are stupendous , and right now is the time. They used to use them to extend wine grapes in ...wine. They grow pretty much everywhere , as they are invasive as hell. Of course black raspberries are around as well. I will sometimes cave and do the Snickers thing mostly as a mood booster from dealing with car exhaust. But there was none of that on this route, sooo...

[@TimFitzwater]

Yes. Very close to some Amish communities down here. There are trails a little farther south where the Amish/Mennonites blast by you on e-bikes! The Towpath is crushed limestone. Never had wineberries that I know of. Black raspberries are over - but tons of blackberries now. Love finding a wild apple tree. Lots of good orchards around too. An old high school acquaintance just hit me up - huge cycling fanatic that lived in Europe for years - just moved home and bought one off one of our trails!

[@10xZ00M]

Definitely enticing trail(3:38) I sometimes take secateurs to my local trail, to take out wandering brambles. Riders should be prepared to do a bit of 'gardening' on their favourite rides.

[@TimFitzwater]

We definitely do on some of our more local "cuts".

[@Cycling-Brian]

We deal with the same issues with our bike lanes here in Okla. City. Seems like folks see the bike lanes as ample opportunity for parking, loading zones, etc.

[@markday1714]

the best thanks

[@TimFitzwater]

Yeah!

[@DIY-DaddyO]

Another fantastic ride share, thanks 👍

[@TimFitzwater]

😎

[@greg1083]

great ride. Thanks for going the extra miles.

[@TimFitzwater]

“Extra miles” is my nickname 🥸

[@doztacos8913]

50 +... you a Legend

[@TimFitzwater]

The last time they did this ride I rode to it and back - my longest ride ever - 133!!!

[@ChesterApricot]

rad! you gotta do some bike checks on these rides!

[@TimFitzwater]

I know. It’s always tough when I’m just out having fun. Planning to do a meet up with bike portraits at the LBS and that will be the perfect time.

[@ChesterApricot]

@@TimFitzwater I def get it. King Kog shirt was ripping a pretty nice ride is what got me interested. I love the history and ride vids too though don't get me wrong.

[@carlhansen9512]

C'mon Akron! Get your shit together! 🤣 Man, the scene looks so good, I'm thinking about moving there from Colorado.

[@TimFitzwater]

Don’t move here for CO especially if you’re from CO! 😄

[@carlhansen9512]

@@TimFitzwater nah, native Midwesterner. Really enjoyed your north country trail videos, brought back some great memories, I really miss that stuff.

[@TimFitzwater]

Welcome back then!

[@glennpettersson9002]

💪💪💪💪💪 BEASTLY.

[@TimFitzwater]

Bikes. 😎🚲

[@getpoked101]

Damn nice 1

[@TimFitzwater]

So tasty! 👅

[@GraydenMacLennan]

12:42 Nice.

[@TimFitzwater]

Nice.

[@ghostdog7306]

You have some nice places to ride where you live I'm jealous

[@TimFitzwater]

We've been doing a little bit more driving this year to see some new spots near us -been totally worth it.

[@ChrisRyniakArt]

That was a rad ride. The big hill was a doozy! Thanks for capturing my good side 😄

[@TimFitzwater]

Heck yeah! Meant to name drop meeting you in the bud but forgot. So here ‘tis - but so nice to meet you.

[@PatrickTrosken-yr1hp]

Awesome landscape, i love it😊

[@TimFitzwater]

Ohio has way more cool bits than people would believe!

[@PatrickTrosken-yr1hp]

@@TimFitzwater That's for sure 😃👍

[@TEG7651]

well done Tim! I love a solo ride.

[@TimFitzwater]

Thanks! Even better to have a social ride followed by the solo. 2 rides in one.

[@glennstep1]

Excellent! I would have loved to join you on the solo back, but it wouldn't have been solo. Ha! Hoping to get on a Yeti On The Loose soon, but your vids encourage me on finding great solo rides. I sure appreciate your captures. They really make us feel like we're there. Thank you.

[@TimFitzwater]

Ha!! Originally my buddy Aaron was going to ride back with me - but he had ridden down. I was also going to ride down with him but didn’t want to get up that early! Ha! We did it opposite - so both solo’d. Not sure what they are planing next month yet but hope my schedule allows for it! Always so fun.

[@kervilou5905]

très joli film !

[@TimFitzwater]

🥰

[@Astronomater]

I concur. lager cellar for colder brewing.

[@TimFitzwater]

Every building in Cincinnati has ‘em. Americans made ciders - the Germans came and we made cellars for beer. Right!?!??

[@someofthebeans1814]

Bike videos are cool.

[@TimFitzwater]

I like ‘em 😎

[@jeremylutersz3374]

Very Cool Ride! You guys ever hit the mountains.

[@TimFitzwater]

Thanks! I have never ridden in true mountains. But I want to.

[@jeremylutersz3374]

@@TimFitzwater I think your crew would love it. Check out the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route from Banff to Fernie. I think you guys would really like that Route. Also Canmore. 👍🇨🇦

[@Cycling-Brian]

What is your bag setup on your Raleigh? Do you have a rack to support it, or does it support itself?

[@TimFitzwater]

Its a Swift Zeitgeist bag which is considered a "Carradice-style bag". It does not need a rack and can be mounted on the front or back(when I tour on this bike I have one in both places). I do have a rack on here now though - it is a "Jack the Rack" - pretty cool rack that is just cantilevered and doesn't need any mounts on the bike.

[@hershcreative9367]

Hey Tim, curious if you're running the Swift Zeitgest bag or the smaler Catalyst in this? Trying to decide between the two sizes for a larger gravel riding bag where I may have my drone, camera or layers of cloths to shed as I go (or a few beers)?

[@TimFitzwater]

This is the Zeitgeist- which takes up all the space between my bars. I typically run the Catalyst in the summer - I’m guessing I must have been bikepacking and just didn’t change it out. It would really depend on how big your camera or drone is and the kind of layers you want. For beers and winter layers I use the Zeitgeist. One thing about these bags is they are not easily accessible while riding - so the Zeitgeist side pockets are nice if you want to be able to grab some snacks or something like that without stopping.

[@hershcreative9367]

@@TimFitzwater Ha, well they were out of the Catalyst so I just ordered the Zeitgeist! I've been building up my bike packing setup and a bar bag was the last bag I needed so it can serve double duty. If it's too big for regular day trips I can always get the Catalyst, who doesn't need/want more bike bags😂 I ordered from Swift off your affiliate link so hopefully a small bump gets back to you👍

[@TimFitzwater]

@@hershcreative9367 Awesome. You'll dig it. I've bike-packed with two of them - one on the front one on the back. ...and thanks!

[@genghizchen]

Was wondering if anyone in the group rode this on 26" wheels by any chance? Couldn't tell from the footage. Great video, btw!

[@TimFitzwater]

Thanks! I don’t believe anybody was riding 26 inch on this day. (I have a few videos in the works with my 26 inch wheel bikes though)

[@tonyscarpitti]

Oh ye of little faith - I did this YOTL ride on my 26 inch 80’s mountain bike and had a blast!

[@TimFitzwater]

Oh yeah! Duh.

[@TheLankyCyclist]

I will sponsor Erin for cyclocross!

[@TimFitzwater]

I'll tell her!

[@bah5310]

How long did it take you to ride the 50 home?

[@TimFitzwater]

It was 3ish hours. Looks like about a 15mph average.

[@cb6866]

Thanks Tim. out of commission for a bit ...... crashed , separated shoulder, and road rash like you read about ...shit. ?Yeah. bummed

[@TimFitzwater]

Sucks.