Update from Nab: Right now, the trail is very ride-able. There are some soft spots but with some more riding, they’ll be packed down. Back section is closed with some problem mud but Nab is working on it. Come on out before the next batch of rain!
New half-mile section added to Thorn Mountain Bike Trail
The Thorn Mountain Bike Trail is in great shape to ride for this weekend. And with a forecast of sunny and 60s it’s definitely time to hit the trail! North Coast MTB Club leader Nab has been out and has blown the entire trail clear of leaves and added a half mile section. Now making the trail a full 9 miles! Check out this YouTube video of the trail:
An update from Nab just in time for the weekend—The Thorn Trail is wet with leaves but ride-able and fun. Nab will be out there this weekend with his leaf blower to clear the entire 9+ mile trail. (note from blog editors: we think his arms might get sore so lend ’im a hand if you've got the time)
Upcoming weekend full of cycling, arts, farmers markets and autumn delights
Activity around the Back Roads and Beaches route this weekend will be sure to please cyclists and tourists interested in arts, locally grown foods, architecture, performance, and entertainment for just about anyone. Fall colors are appearing in all their glory to form a gorgeous backdrop for a weekend of cycling, entertainment, great food and wine. There is a lot going on so make your plans now to stay for the weekend to catch it all! Here are a list of activities moving south to north around the route and assuming you’ll be starting your tour at Findley State Park in Wellington:
Findley State Park Fall Campout: Celebrate fall and create some great family memories. The park will have a craft show, games, trick or treating, hayrides and much more. Regular camping fees apply. Call 440-647-5749 for more information. Don’t forget your mountain bike to catch the Thorn Trail at Findley. It’s 10 miles of awesome single-track!
Thorn Trail in Autumn
When you pedal your way north on Back Roads and Beaches, make sure to stop at the Wellington Reservation and rent a paddle boat for free. This facility has spectacular fall color and the cleanest restrooms around!
Wellington Reservation in early autumn
Heading north toward Oberlin-take the new BRaB Oberlin spur route and you just might end up spending an entire day exploring here! But before you head into town, check out the Breuer Pottery Open House. The event is both Saturday and Sunday from noon–5pm. Enjoy wine, hors d'oeuvres and desserts in this rustic, artsy setting located immediately to the left of the bike path leading into Oberlin. Once you leave Breuer Potter, follow the BRaB signs until you see the new BRaB spur route signs and follow those into town. Once you turn onto Morgan St., don't miss the Weltzheimer Johnson House on the left. You can tour this Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian house from 12–5pm this Sunday, October 4) Other activities in Oberlin this weekend include:
The FAVA Gallery presents Claudia Berlinski & Sherry Bradshaw Searching for the Underground Sea, a collection of works on paper, in conjunction with Sherry Bradshaw’s Digging Beneath the Surface, an installation piece. The gallery is open this weekend, Saturday from 11am–5pm and Sunday 1–5pm.
Saturday, October 3 is also Oberlin Community Day and a great opportunity to explore the many organizations and businesses that make Oberlin such a special place. The historic Apollo Theater will be reopening after an exciting phase I renovation. The opening will be celebrated with a free showing of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince at 10am on Saturday. Other Community Day activities include:
11:45am: Don Pease Bike Path dedication with music by the Oberlin High School Band. The bike path will be dedicated in honor of Congressman Don Pease at the Oberlin Depot, where the bike path meets Main St. (SR 58)
1–3pm: Explore Oberlin Bike Tour, win prizes for visiting Oberlin lites! Register at the flagpole at the corner of Tappan Square
3–3:15pm: Bike tour prize drawing for tourists who visit a majority of sites and organizations.
The Oberlin Heritage Center will also be offering a day of free family-friendly events such as guided tours, historic games and school house events.
Moving along through BRaB, outside of Oberlin...Matus Winery will be celebrating Octoberfest with a gourmet German meal on Saturday evening beginning at 5:30pm. Live entertainment will begin at 8pm. Or you can just stop out anything throughout the afternoon. Matus Winery loves cyclists!
Paper Moon Winery will be featuring a Jazz Quintet on Saturday from 4–7pm. There are several great wineries all throughout the Back Roads and Beaches Route. All are quite bike-friendly. Click here for a full list.
Between Oberlin and Vermilion, just off the BRaB route, you’ll find a delightful, whimsical gallery open-house at Riverdog Gallery on Gore Orphanage Road. They are hosting their open house in tandem with Breuer Potter this Saturday and Sunday afternoon.
Riverdog Gallery
Moving north toward Vermilion, you will notice Miller's Apple Hill is in full "pick your own apples" mode. This is a great time to pull over and experience fresh, just picked produce and cider, get a wagon ride and pick up some trail mix.
There are plenty of orchards and farmer’s markets along the route to stop and pick up some “natural energy”
These are only a few special events along the route this weekend. Make sure to check the website for lodging, dining and bike services along the route. See you out there!
Here are some photos from last weekend on the Thorn Mountain Bike Trail at Findley State Park. The trail was in great shape with lots of maintenance and cool new updates (bridges etc) courtesy of the North Coast Mountain Bikers.
And sent to us from the NCMB’rs, some shots from Saturday’s night ride:
Trail conditions at Findley State Park Mountain Bike Trail
Today’s report from Nab says that the Thorn Mountain Bike Trail at Findley State Park has dried out enough that there is no mud, just some soft spots. Temps are supposed to be in the 90s so a ride in the cool woods might be mighty nice!
Scenes from last night’s MTB time trials at Findley State Park
Riders were having a blast last night at the Thorn Mountain Bike Trail time trials, hosted by the North Coast Mountain Bikers. What a cool group of people—all ages and skill levels just hanging out, eating brats and riding with perfect conditions! Join them again next Tuesday evening at 5:30pm.
Linda Miranda rides the course. Linda had best time-women’s for the second week in a row.
Don Haradem is too fast to get a clear photo.
Don Haradem and Linda Miranda posted the best times and received Back Roads and Beaches gear for their efforts.
Another Tuesday, another time trial at the Thorn MTB trail
Come on out for the Thorn Mountain Bike trail, North Coast Mountain Bikers weekly time trials, Tuesday, July 20, 5:30–7:30pm. According to Nab, last week Chip Meek beat his record of 38.41 and Linda Miranda had the fastest time for women at 53.05. We hear all levels of riders, men, women and families are showing up and it’s no wonder. The Thorn trail keeps getting better and bigger each year. It’s a blast! We’ll be out there as well to get some photos to post up on our Facebook page and here on the blog.
Every Tuesday, July 7 through August 17 mountain bikers can come out to the Thorn Trail between 5:30–7:30pm at Findley State Park for "time trails." For $5 riders can see how they stack up against some of the fastest racers in Ohio or just against their riding buddies. $5 covers two individual laps. Classes will include expert, sport, beginner and women. Records will be kept throughout the weeks. Prizes will be awarded to class winners based on best four times out of possible seven. Helmets are required. For more information, call Nab at 216.214.5445.
Directions to Findley State Park can be found here. Photos of the trail can be found here and map of the trail here.
Update on current Thorn Trail Conditions: June 25, 2009 Back portion still wet. Use short loop to avoid the back if you don't like mud.
The Thorn Trail didn't get as much rain as predicted so it's good to go, according to Nab. There is now a shorter loop so riders have a 6.5 mile option. It bypasses the back section and is also a great alternative when the back is muddy. Currently the back IS muddy in some spots but rideable for most.
Watch for the new banner that greets you in the parking lot!
Trail info from the Thorn Mountain Biking Trail at Findley State Park from Tenant Nabakowski:
With this warm sunny weather coming our way I'm hoping by Sunday our trail should finally be in riding shape. Perhaps later in the day Saturday too. It will no doubt still have some soft spots but that's not a problem for mountain bikers.I've spent the past few weeks filling in trouble areas with a stone/dirt mix and have finally cleared all the fallen trees. So I'm ready to ride this weekend. Saturday me and some of the guys are hoping to finish a 24-foot bridge. It's at the bottom of the downhill in the coaster section. My intention is instead of taking a slight left then right turn at the bottom. The bridge will able the crazies to blast straight down and carry their speed across the bridge then up the other side. Should be fun!
Clearly, Summer isn’t ready to give in yet! This weekend looks to be another spectacular opportunity to get outdoors. Whether you want to spend the weekend training for next week’s Findley Lake Sprint Triathlon/Duathlon or you want to spend it touring on your bike or kayak, here’s your opportunity. With a host of great art exhibits and galleries , museums, events and farmer’s markets, you surely won’t be at a loss for stops.
We’ll be out this weekend with our cameras looking for Findley State Park mountain bikers, kayakers and the BRaB road riders so you might see us pointing a camera at you.
Neil Baker and Jim Stedman from Wadsworth, Ohio traveled to Findley State Park in Wellington today to ride the Thorn Mountain Bike Trail. The weather and trail conditions are ideal for mountain biking. Fall colors still have a few weeks yet to peak.
This morning we found the BRaB route abuzz with activity. While taking pictures, we came across a charming couple, Shirley Batton and Rick Guseman. Rick is from California, Shirley, from Marion, Ohio. They were enjoying their multi-sport adventure at Findley State Park, on their bikes and kayaks. Following their trip through Lorain County, their travels will take them to Mohican State Park, then on to Las Vegas, Moab, Utah and Havasu. Rick is a river guide in the Western U.S. and was enjoying scenic, serene Findley Lake. When they were finished at Findley, they were headed over to Wellington Reservation to try their kayaks there. (photos by Barb Bickel)
While watching Rick and Shirley launch their kayaks, a Findley State Park ranger pulled up with a truck-load of fishing gear. The kids looked like they were having a blast learning how to fish! We almost wanted to join in the fun except the sun was getting high in the sky and it was time to head across the park to see what the mountain bikers were up to...
Over at the Thorn Mountain Bike Trail, developed by the North Coast Mountain Bikers, the trail was dry and fast and it looked as if bikers were taking full advantage of the optimal conditions before the big race next Sunday. Findley's mountain biking is great for both novices and experts. Among the twists, turns and jumps, there are options for experts that the novices can easily avoid. We saw all levels of mountain bikers out on the trail and everyone looked happy. It's going to be a big race week at Findley next week because along with Sunday's mountain bike race, NCN will be holding a sprint triathlon and duathlon on Saturday.
Further north, in downtown Oberlin, we found the Saturday morning farmer's market to be brimming with produce and handmade goods. Lot's of cyclists as well! The Oberlin College students are streaming back to town from summer break, once again filling the town with activity (and bikes!)
Turtle vs. Hare Mountain Bike Challenge - September 9, 2007atFindley State Park-Sponsored by the North Coast Mountain Bikers,Dale's Bike Shop and Spin Cycle. Qualifying race begins at 11 a.m., and feature race with handicap starts at 2:30 p.m. Entry forms are available at Dale's Bike Shop 440-774-7433. The prizes are $500.00 cash or $600.00 gift card from Dale's, and $100.00 cash for 2 lucky racers.
Update: 9/7/2007: The Turtle vs. Hare Mountain Bike Challenge has been canceled. But don't let that stop you from coming out and enjoying Findley State Park's awesome mountain bike trail!
The Back Roads and Beaches Bike and Multisport Route is located in north central Ohio, about 35 miles west of Cleveland. The route features miles of rolling, rural roads with scenery ranging from farmland and forest to the nautical flavor of the Lake Erie shoreline.
The route was developed by Lorain County Heritage and Visit Lorain County. It appeals to all kinds of outdoor enthusiasts, touring cyclists, fitness junkies, kayakers, mountain bikers and more.
Thorn Trail in Autumn
Riverdog Gallery 
Linda Miranda rides the course.
Don Haradem is too fast to get a clear photo.
Don Haradem and Linda Miranda posted the best times and received Back Roads and Beaches gear for their efforts.
Turtle vs. Hare Mountain Bike Challenge - September 9, 2007 at Findley State Park- Sponsored by the North Coast Mountain Bikers, Dale's Bike Shop and Spin Cycle. Qualifying race begins at 11 a.m., and feature race with handicap starts at 2:30 p.m. Entry forms are available at Dale's Bike Shop 440-774-7433. The prizes are $500.00 cash or $600.00 gift card from Dale's, and $100.00 cash for 2 lucky racers.
