OTET'S BEST Experience. 11-day Ohio-to-Erie Trail Smart-guided Tour

OTET'S BEST Experience. 11-day Ohio-to-Erie Trail Smart-guided Tour

This is the complete tour plan with all the bells and whistles of an everyday person's tour. More than making it from A to B, much more!

By CycleNuts

Select date and time

Starts on Sunday, March 30 · 10am EDT

Location

11-day Ohio-to-Erie Trail Smart-guided Tour - A Complete OTET Experience

Ohio River Trail Cincinnati, OH 45202

Refund Policy

No Refunds

About this event

OTET'S BEST Experience

11-day Ohio-to-Erie Trail Smart-guided Selfie Tour

CINCINNATI TO CLEVELAND


These tour plans are the answer to a regular person's bicycle tour dreams! It is not a race, an endurance feat, a frugal penny-pinching endeavor, nor a rushed no-frill disappointment. You will experience all that the OTET has to offer - and that is a lot!


Why is this tour the best OTET experience?

  • This tour is for any regular person
  • It is a very reasonably priced option for those interested in touring the OTET
  • With the Smart-guide you ride on your schedule, at your pace
  • Beyond routing on the OTET trail, it also guides you to sensible overnight stays
  • Your choice of stay routes - All In, All Out, or In and Out - all come with your ticket
  • Tour can be broken down into eleven individual one-day tour segments
  • No tour guide to deal with - no strangers to deal with - no schedule except yours
  • No expiration date - the tour can be repeated at will in whole or in parts
  • Why choose a Smart-guided Selfie Cycle Tour? You get all the benefits of a guided tour without the drawbacks of a tour guide, other tourists, time restrictions, and a rigid tour agenda.


1 ticket gets you all 3 stay options

All In - All Out - In and Out


  • Can you mix and match tour itineraries along the way? Yes, you can!
  • Can you do part of it one day, and the rest another day? Yes, you can!
  • Can you do it as many times as you want? Yes, you can!
  • Can you reverse the route with a few adjustments? Yes, you can!
  • Can you add stops or remove stops along the way? Yes, you can!


All three tours are included with day-by-day route itineraries that are quite interchangeable.


That means, if you started with the All Out Route and decided to go All In halfway through - then, yes, you can! Simply load the Smart-guide from the route you want on the day you are at, and away you go! The Smart-guide also makes it easy to add or remove stops along the way.


1 . All-In OTET Experience - Hotels, Airbnbs, and a Bed and Breakfast Stay - Estimated out-of-pocket accommodation expense $1460

This adventure has a convenient mix of comfortable stays at hotels and Airbnbs and even a pampered stay at a beautiful bed and breakfast! Ride heavy or ride light, leave room in your luggage for shopping and souvenirs! Grocery stops are built into the routes leading to Airbnbs for those who would rather cook than dine out. E-bike friendly!


2 . All-Out OTET Experience - Bike-pack camping all the way - Estimated out-of-pocket accommodation expense $378

This adventure has an affordable mix of primitive and electric stays at private, state, community, and trailside campgrounds. Ride heavy or ride light - you will at least need a tent or bivy or a friend willing to share their camping rig. Grocery stops are built into the routes leading to campgrounds.


3 . In-and-Out OTET Experience - Airbnbs and campgrounds - Estimated out-of-pocket accommodation expense $608

This adventure has a balanced mix of electric stays at campgrounds and Airbnbs. Ride heavy or ride light - you will at least need a tent or bivy or a friend willing to share for 7 of the camping stays. Grocery stops are built into the routes leading to campgrounds and Airbnbs for those who would rather cook than dine out.


Overnight stay accommodations, points of interest expenses, emergency services, meals, taxes, etc. are not included with the ticket purchase.


Built with four travelers in mind, this tour plan is perfect for families, friends, and possibly strangers who are about to become friends. The total expense estimates may fluctuate depending on your ability to reserve the recommended stays; your option to stay at less or more expensive places; and the fluctuating prices of these stays. The sooner you make your reservations, the better, especially for the bed and breakfast and the Airbnbs.


This is the Ohio-to-Erie Trail (OTET) tour plan you have been looking for if you are new to cycling, a cycling pro, or anything in between, and you are a tourist at heart who loves to see and experience all there is to see at the speed of bike. And there is much to see and experience on this spectacular trail! You can take a canal boat ride on the Ohio and Erie Canal, a train ride on the Cuyahoga Valley National Scenic Railroad, explore ancient Native American earthworks, watch buffalo (bison) roam freely, experience the Amish community, visit numerous museums and points of interest, such as the boulder designating the center of Ohio and the non-descript Towpath Mounds.


The OTET passes through Ohio's three largest cities - Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland; through Ohio's only National Park - the Cuyahoga Valley National Park; through Holmes County - the nation's largest Amish community along rail-to-trail, towpath, quiet country roads, and community bikeways for the majority of its length. At its southern end, you can dip your wheels in the Ohio River, and at its northern end, Lake Erie. Along most of the way, there are rivers, creeks, and canals, as well as forests, farmland, and wooded fields.


These tour plans are the answer to a regular person's bicycle tour dreams! It is not a race, an endurance feat, a frugal penny-pinching endeavor, nor a rushed no-frill disappointment. You will experience all that the OTET has to offer - and that is a lot! It is a beautiful cycling adventure rich in scenery, history, and humanity. The routes are Ebike-friendly with nightly electrical stops (except for the Out-Route, which has intermittent electric stays). The average daily mileage is 34.


TYPICAL ITINERARY:

Day 1: To dip or not to dip your tire in the Ohio River

Day 2: Is the castle really haunted?

Day 3: Just what is under all of that dirt?

Day 4: Buffalo? Here? That's weird.

Day 5: It's kind of a big city. Ok. Let's keep moving along.

Day 6: Who put that boulder right there at the center of the state?

Day 7: Why are bridges covered, anyway?

Day 8: What is a Victorian mansion doing in the heart of Amish country?

Day 9: Country roads, take me home... or at least to the next stay.

Day 10: The boat. The train. The trail. Decisions, decisions.

Day 11: To dip or to swim, or both in Lake Erie - the end.


Tour notes:

  • The tour plans are priced for quadruple accommodation stays (for example, 2 double beds in one room, 2 tents on one site).
  • Accommodating for less than four does not significantly alter the total tour price, but for more than four does significantly increase the total price. Four seems to be the medium best value - you and three of your favorite biking peeps.
  • The inside stays are chosen as the lowest price with zero bed bug complaints on Google reviews (at the time of this writing).
  • The camping stays are chosen as the lowest price with electricity (at the time of this writing).
  • The entertainment/refreshment stops and overnight stays are only suggestions, not recommendations unless otherwise stated.
  • Expense estimates do not include food, drinks, or souvenirs.
  • Tour plans are completely self-supported - no SAG or rescue vehicle provided.
  • There are 17 (at least) attractions/points of interest included along the way (optional, of course).


Total tour plan expenses include lodging based on quadruple occupancy, pickup truck rental at the start and end, and museum/attraction expenses. Plans do not include food, beverages, taxes, or souvenirs. Self-supported tour - no sag or rescue services provided. You can whittle down the total tour expense substantially by substituting less expensive overnight stays. The overnight stays chosen by CycleNuts are only pleasant experience suggestions spaced out at a very comfortable distance for both those new to cycle touring and cycle touring pros.


WHY CHOOSE a Smart-guided Selfie Cycle Tour?

You get all the benefits of a guided tour without the drawbacks of a tour guide, other tourists, time restrictions, and a rigid tour agenda. With this smart-guided tour, you can go when you want, at your speed, and hang out at a spot as long as you wish. You can even wander off the planned route and the smart guide will get you back on track when you are ready.


HERE'S THE PLAN: You bring a bike and a smartphone. CycleNuts provides the smart-tour guide links! You will receive an expertly designed tour route via email. Click the emailed link and follow the Selfie Tour route using your smartphone as your smart-tour guide for the Voice and Map guided turn-by-turn instructions.


SHORT INSTRUCTIONS: From your location, using your cell phone click on the starting spot link and follow the Google Maps directions. When you arrive, click the emailed tour navigation links to begin the tour. The navigation links will be either Google Maps, Ride With GPS (RWGPS), or both. For more complex tours, there may be several links to click with additional instructions. With Google Maps, the navigator will prompt you at each checkpoint to continue navigation.

ARE YOU READY TO ROLL? GREAT... LET'S HIT THE TRAILS!


GET YOUR TICKET TODAY! - the tour starting and ending times on the ticket are only a general guideline to give you an idea of how much time the tour may take at the minimum. Your time in the saddle, on the trail, and starting times are your call - it's your tour. One ticket equals fun for all! Bring as many people as you wish on your tour. Ticket purchase is for the CycleNuts Selfie Smart-guided route links only. Attractions, lodgings, food, bike rental, etc. are not included in the ticket purchase.


CycleNuts Selfie Cycle Tours

CycleNuts Selfie Tours tie together fun, interesting, scenic, historic, tasty, and refreshing points of interest along a bikeway-focused tour route where you ride at your pace and pleasure. You are the tour boss. You choose the date and time - the ticket is good for any day or time. The dates listed are only a ticket-processing necessity - the tours are good for any date. The times listed are only a guideline to give you an idea of how long the tour normally takes.

With these Smart-guided Selfie Cycle Tours, you bring the bike and smartphone - CycleNuts provides the Smart-guide links. The Smart-guide gives voice and visual turn-by-turn instructions along an expertly designed tour route.

Do the tour solo or bring along your crew. 1 ticket = fun for all! Easily stop anywhere along the way to visit attractions or refreshments and the Smart-guide will continue the route from wherever you are when you are ready to roll.


Got questions? - Get answers! – http://CycleNuts.link FAQS

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In a nutshell...

​CycleNuts Selfie Cycle Tours

tie together fun, interesting, scenic, historic, tasty, and refreshing points of interest along a bikeway focused tour route where you ride at your pace and your pleasure. You are the tour boss. You pick the date, time, and tour pace.

With these smart-guided bikeway cycling adventures you bring the bike and smart phone, and ​CycleNuts provides the smart-tour guide. The smart guide gives you voice and visual turn-by-turn instructions along an expertly designed tour route.

Do the tour solo or bring along your crew. Easily stop anywhere along the way to visit attractions or refreshments and the Smart Guide will continue the route from wherever you are when you are ready to roll.

CycleNuts Group Rides on Meetup

are an alternative cycle touring experience where seeing and socializing take emphasis over speed and (ugh!) sweat. Join along on bikeway touring adventures to destinations near and far as we strive for the

  • Goal: to create bikeway touring opportunities for cyclists of all types to enjoy together
  • Mission: to encourage casual cyclists and cyclists interested in casual cycling to tour together
  • Vision: a united cycling community that tours together on bikeway adventures for the holistic benefit of all

What to expect - Casual social cycle touring where exercise is optional, everybody finishes together, and nobody is dropped, abandoned, or left to fend for their self (unless they wish to be). Expect a slow pace under 11 mph average with CycleNuts’ 50% downhill guarantee. Sweating is optional. Pictures, merriment, and other tourist activities heartily encouraged. Allow ample time for the nature of CycleNuts tours including

  • Trail-side breaks
  • Eating and drinking
  • Picture taking and posing
  • Pacing with the slowest riders
  • Looking at cool stuff along the way
  • And other sorts of tourist activities – as well as unforeseen detours, breakdowns, and delays of various sorts.

Helmets are not mandatory - cycleNuts tours give preference to bikeways - bicycle trails and protected bicycle lanes. Routes may include dedicated bicycle lanes on streets, bicycle ‘friendly’ streets, and of necessity, regular streets, parking lots, sidewalks, and unpaved trails. Darkness may be experienced on evening or early morning rides. Lights in good working order at all times on CycleNuts tours are a great idea – to be seen and to see!

SAG-free - CycleNuts tours, including travel and over-night accommodations, are self-supported with the slightest of guidance. SAG is not provided. Carpools and caravans are individual choices. Emergency road support – if necessary – may be a creative, collective group effort or you may need to fend for yourself. Be prepared with options.

Recommended Gear - A cycle (uni, bi, tri, tandem, E, recumbent, or cycle/trailer rig). Protective gear of your choice. ID. Front and rear lighting. Communication device. Spare tube. Patch kit. Air pump. Wrench kit. Cycle lock. Water. Energy bar. Funds for refreshment breaks and emergencies. Sun screen. Pest repellent.

Recommended Preparation – Pre-check (before you load that bike for transport to the starting spot) brakes, tire pressure, lights, and rideability. Consider what you are wearing on tour and what you may need for changing weather conditions.

Yes – CycleNuts will offer cycling events in all four seasons – what else could be expected from CycleNuts?

Learn more about CycleNuts at www.CycleNuts.link

Got questions? Get Answers! CycleNuts FAQs

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