Back Roads and Beaches Blog

Friday, October 31, 2008

Bike the Vote

Seen in Oberlin this evening. Looks like a ride tomorrow morning, Nov. 1, 9am beginning at the Oberlin Bike Co-Op. 25-miler to early voting location.

Labels: cycling, events, Oberlin

Friday, October 10, 2008

Glorious Autumn Ohio Cycling this Weekend!

This weekend’s summer-like temps combined with the colorful autumn landscape make it a spectacular weekend to pedal through North Central Ohio. Click here for this weekend’s events.

Labels: 2008, autumn, biking, cycling, events, fall, fall folaige

Monday, September 22, 2008

Gears, Galleries and Grapes!

A Weekend of Adventure and the Arts

Riverdog Gallery

Being that it is the first day of autumn, we find it fitting to start planning some fabulous fall rides. The BRaB route has spectacular fall scenery and on October 4–5 you can pedal between some great gallery open houses, architectural walks, events and wineries. Below is a list of places to hit. For lodging options, click here. For a downloadable Back Roads and Beaches map customized for the following events, click here.

Breuer Pottery Studio and Gallery Open House, Saturday and Sunday, October 4–5, noon–5pm. Enjoy wine, hors d’oeuvres and desserts in a relaxed country setting.
47361 West Hamilton Rd., Oberlin

Riverdog Studio/Gallery Open House, Saturday and Sunday, October 4–5, noon–5pm. 13818 Gore Orphanage Road, Wakeman

A Mild Obsession, Donna Drozda - Paintings and Lynne Lofton - Ceramics
FAVA Gallery, September 14 through October 24, 2008
Open Saturday 11am–5pm and Sunday 1–5pm

Modern and Contemporary Art
Allen Memorial Art Museum
Important American and European paintings, sculpture, and works on paper - ranging from Claude Monet's Wisteria to a newly acquired sculpture, The Fin Within, by the inventive and provocative sculptor Tim Hawkinson - will be on view in the Ellen Johnson Gallery during the 2008-09 academic year. Other highlights from the Allen Memorial Art Museum's strong modern and contemporary holdings include works by John Bock, Chakaia Booker, Sam Gilliam, Elizabeth Murray, Gerhard Ritcher, Cindy Sherman, and Richard Serra.The Museum is free and open to the public.
Tuesday - Saturday 10-5 p.m., Sunday 1-5 p.m. Closed Mondays.
Corner of Main and Lorain Sts., Oberlin

Aux Barricades! French Protest Posters from '68
Allen Memorial Art Museum
Art incited action when, in May 1968, student and worker uprisings calling for social and economic reform led to pitched street battles and caused a general strike that paralyzed France. Innovative posters with snappy slogans and stark layouts created by the demonstrators were put up around Paris and the provinces.
The Museum is free and open to the public.
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10-5:00 p.m., Sunday, 1-5:00 p.m. Closed Mondays.
Corner of Main and Lorain Sts., Oberlin

October 5, 12–5pm. Tour Frank Lloyd Wright's first Usonian house in Ohio. Special focus tour available on last Saturday of each month. Admission: $5.00

Oberlin City/College 175th Anniversary Event, October 3–4
Celebration honoring joint founding of the City of Oberlin and Oberlin College in 1833.

Join the entire Oberlin community for a celebration of the 175th anniversary of the joint founding of the College and city. A range of family friendly events will take place on Friday, October 3 and Saturday, October 4 in the city and on the campus to signal, in part, a history of collaboration and shared interest in community building, education, service, and the arts.

Among the highlights of the two-day event is the 175th Anniversary Celebratory Concert featuring the Oberlin College Conservatory Orchestra. The free concert begins at 8 p.m., Friday, October 3, in Finney Chapel.

On Saturday, October 4, bring the family and join friends and neighbors from 10:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. in Tappan Square for a free catered community lunch. In addition, hear performances by the Northern Ohio Youth Orchestra (NOYO), the Community Music School, and the Oberlin Taiko Group. The program also will include presentations by students of Eastwood, Prospect, Langston, and the Oberlin High School. Activities for children will be provided by Oberlin Shansi and FAVA.

Other events throughout the day will include an Oberlin College football game, guided tours of historical landmarks in the city, activities at the Oberlin Heritage Center, and more.

Details: Contact Leah Gage '08, project manager, 440-775-8474 or send e-mail to gage.leah@gmail.com.

Oberlin Farmers Market, October 4, 9am–1pm. Locally grown and prepared foods, organic coffee and fair trade items.

The Cleveland Orchestra, October 5, Finney Chapel, 3pm
One of the world's greatest orchestras, the Cleveland Orchestra returns to Oberlin to open this year's season with a lively performance conducted by music director Franz Welser-Most. Continuing the longstanding tradition, this concert marks the 207th appearance of the Cleveland Orchestras on Oberlin's Artist Recital Series.

Events and live entertainment at

Matus Winery 15674 Gore Orphanage Road - Wakeman, OH and

Single Tree Winery, 12488 Baumhart Rd., Amherst, OH

Labels: 2008, arts, autumn, cycling, events, fall folaige, History, Oberlin, wineries

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

150th Anniversary of the Wellington-Oberlin Slave Rescue Celebration

Wellington-Oberlin fugitive slave rescuers at the jail

This weekend marks the 150th anniversary of the Wellington-Oberlin Slave Rescue that was said to have raised consciousness nationwide regarding the anti-slavery movement and earning Oberlin the recent title , “The town that started the Civil War.”

In 1858, John Price, a fugitive slave living in Oberlin, was tricked into the hands of four slave catchers. He was secretly driven down a country road, toward Wellington, a small town south of Oberlin where the slave catchers intended to put Price on a train headed back to Kentucky. However, halfway there they were spotted by two Oberlin men.

American House Hotel, Wellington (courtesy: Oberlin College Archives)

After spreading the word of the capture, a group of men rushed down to Wellington to the American House Hotel where Price’s captors were now holding him. A crowd from Wellington and Oberlin stormed the hotel and freed Price. The rescuers immediately rushed him back to Oberlin. For several days Price hid at the home of Oberlin College Professor James Harris Fairchild until he could reach Canada safely. Thirty-seven rescuers were indicted for their roles in the rescue and twenty spent time in jail. The event caught international attention, contributing to an increased awareness of the abolitionist cause.

Among the group were freed slaves, fugitive slaves, students, townspeople, farmers and businessmen. It was a group that ignored their differences and untied in the cause for freedom. Differences that separated so many in the south. Their legacy of freedom and pride lives on today as Lorain County enjoys and maintains the cultural diversity it is so famous for.

The Back Roads and Beaches Route gets many Underground Railroad Cyclists that pass through Wellington and Oberlin. This is a great weekend to be here to celebrate and reflect on the Underground Railroad. Click here for more information on cycling and the Underground Railroad around BRaB. Click here for a list of this weekend’s anniversary events in Oberlin. Click here for more detail and photos of the rescue from the Oberlin Heritage Center.

Labels: "Wellington-Oberlin Slave Rescue", 2008, biking, cycling, events, History, Oberlin, Underground Railroad, Wellington

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Findley Lake Sprint Triathlon/Duathlon photos

The rain stopped right before the start of the 2008 Findley Lake Triathlon/Duathlon (results) today. With a wet but scenic course, participants enjoyed the calm lake and scenic trail run for a late summer race that serves as Lorain County’s final triathlon of the year. Although we still have some great running and biking events that will take us through November, this will do it for 2008 triathlons. So, without further ado, here are a few photos from today’s event...

2nd, 3rd and 4th out of the water

Women Swim Start

1st female out of the water—Julia Lorraine Rossi

First overall finisher
We thought it fitting to post a photo of Dave Garrett’s backside for this last race of the Lorain County triathlon season. (not only because it’s the end of the season but this photo might be a training motivator for others during the cold winter months.) He is so fun to watch racing, we hope he comes back to Lorain County to wow us during the 2009 season.

Go girl! Women’s 1st overall—Julia Lorraine Rossi

Labels: biking, cycling, events, Findley, run, swim, triathlon, Wellington

Friday, August 29, 2008

Another Beautiful Labor Day Weekend in Store

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/Dua thlon 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.

Labels: 2008, arts, biking, cycling, events, Findley, kayaking, mountain bike, multi-sport, Thorn Mountain Bike Trail, triathlon

Monday, August 25, 2008

Lorain International Triathlon 2008 Pics and Recap

Yesterday was the annual Lorain International Triathlon at beautiful Lakeview Park. Although it was a very hot day, the skies were just cloudy enough to keep participants cool in the early morning hours.

Women take off for swim leg of sprint distance triathlon.

Sprint distance swimmers exit the water at Lakeview Park.

International distance men and women head into Lake Erie for their 1.5k swim.

Patty Banks, womens overall sprint distance winner charges to the finish line for the final leg of the triathlon.

First three international swimmers out of the water. From left: Dave Garrett (finished 1st place overall international distance), Josh Brown (finished 3rd place overall international distance), Denise Vanek (finished 2nd place women's international distance)

Jodi Thomson, women's overall international 1st place winner finishes her bike and heads into the transition area to begin the run portion of the triathlon.

Click here for complete results of the 2008 Lorain International/Sprint Triathlon.
Click here for more photos of yesterday's exciting race.

Labels: 2008, biking, cycling, events, Lake Erie, Lakeview Park, Lorain, Lorain Triathlon, multi-sport, ohio, run, swim, triathlon, visitors

Friday, August 22, 2008

Annual Lorain Sprint/International Triathlon this Sunday

Lakeview Park fountain
Originally uploaded by ronnie44052

Lakeview Park Photo by Rona Proudfoot

Triathletes will again get great views of Lake Erie this Sunday, August 24, 2008, only this time the race will be in Lorain, Ohio. Racers will begin at Lorain’s beautiful Lakeview Park with a swim in Lake Erie followed by bike and run through parts of Lorain and along Lake Erie. Racing begins at 8am. Click here for more information including registration information. For more information on area lodging, check out the Lorain County Visitors Bureau website here.

Labels: 2008, cycling, Lake Erie, Lakeview Park, Lorain, Lorain County Metro Parks, Lorain Triathlon, multi-sport, run, swim, triathlon

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Vermilion Harbor Triathlon recap

The beautiful weather held again today for the first Vermilion Harbor Triathlon held at Linwood Park. HFP Racing brought the triathlon to Vermilion and selected an exciting and challenging course. Much of the bike course was hilly and scenic and utilized much of the Back Roads and Beaches route.

Winners included, overall Women's Olympic Distance triathlon: Lauren Goldstein-Kral, with a time of 2:11:40. Men's overall Olympic Distance triathlon winner-Ryan Bates with a time of 1:59:38. Men’s Sprint Distance overall winner was Jack St. Marie with a time of 57:51 and Women’s Sprint Distance winner, Kerry Flynn with a time of 1:07:10.

Click here for more results.
Below are some photos from today’s event. For additional photos, click here.

Overall Olympic Distance Female Winner, Lauren Goldstein-Kral runs to the finish line with a time of 2:11:40

Too fast for a photo-finish...RYAN-tastic! left: second place overall Olympic Distance Men’s, Scott Myers right: first place overall Olympic Distance Men’s, Ryan Bates

Adam Kuncel runs to finish 5th place overall men's, first place in Men’s Olympic Distance age 25–29. Time: 2:10:28

Ready…set…GO! Men’s Olympic swim start.

Runners arriving near the finish get a beautiful scenic run right next to Linwood and Lake Erie.

Labels: "Vermilion Harbor Triathlon", 2008, back roads and beaches, cycling, events, Lake Erie, multi-sport, run, swim, triathlon, Vermilion

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Today was a beautiful sunny Saturday along the Back Roads and Beaches Bike Route! It was great fun finding so many enthusiastic cyclists, tourists and athletes in Lorain County today. The usually quiet route was busy with lots of activity: charity rides, winery rides and triathletes preparing for their big race.

Below: The MS-150 Pedal to the Point came through Lorain County today along the Back Roads and Beaches Route. Everyone seemed to be enjoying the ride and the great weather. Click here to see more photos of Pedal to the Point riders in Lorain County.

Today was also the day for the Silver Wheels’ Dog Days Wine Tour:

Above, cyclists are all geared up and spinning for the winery on the
Silver Wheels Dog Days Wine Tour

Dog Days riders looking like they are having a ball heading for the wineries.

Below: Racers register for the Vermilion Harbor Triathlon taking place tomorrow.
(Watch here for recap and photos)

Well—what can we say? Comfort IS a factor in triathlon racing.

Pam Horvath from the Lorain County Visitors Bureau cheerfully greets triathletes with
information on the area and Back Roads and Beaches.

Labels: "Dog Days Wine Tour", "Pedal to the Point", "Vermilion Harbor Triathlon", 2008, cycling, Lorain County Visitors Bureau, multi-sport, Silver Wheels, triathlon, Vermilion

Web Site

BackRoadsandBeachesOhio.com

: Name: Back Roads and Beaches Bike Tour; Location: Lorain County Ohio, United States

The Back Roads and Beaches Bike Route is located in the center of Northeastern Ohio, about 35 miles west of Cleveland. The route features miles of rolling, rural roads with scenery ranging from pastoral farmland and forest to the nautical flavor of the Lake Erie shoreline. The Back Roads and Beaches bike route was developed by Lorain County Heritage and the Lorain County Visitors Bureau.

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