BAY VILLAGE, Ohio -- In a monumental expedition, Normandy Elementary School Principal Dan Sebring pedaled the Ohio to Erie Trail on his bicycle this summer.
The Ohio to Erie Trail is a scenic 326-mile trail that links the Ohio River to Lake Erie, primarily on trails and canal paths through the Northern, North Central, South Central and Southern regions of Ohio.
According to Sebring, “Cycling the 326-mile OTET (Ohio to Erie Trail) in four days was fantastic! Getting to spend four days cycling with good friends was truly a joy.”
Sebring didn’t go alone on this trek.
“Last year, my good friend John (Hagopian) and I were on our annual Fourth of July ‘just for fun’ 50-mile morning bike ride that we like to call the ‘Freedom 50′ when he mentioned that it would be fun to ride the Ohio to Erie Trail and asked me to look into it,“ Sebring explained.
“I casually looked into it and watched a few videos that other cyclists had posted about their experiences.
“The thought of riding a bicycle from Cleveland to Cincinnati was daunting and exhilarating at the same time,” he said.
“John was determined to make this a reality, and he brought it up again this past winter. We invited Gordon (Austin), another friend of ours, and got our wives to commit to driving down and bringing us back home, and it was set.”
Sebring explained how much training went into the adventure.
“Prior to the ride, I had to start training back in the early spring, enduring many chilly early morning bike rides.
“On weekends, I was able to commit to longer training rides, the longest of which was approximately 50 miles.”
Sebring explains some of the traditions that have been adopted by previous “326-ers.”
“Fun fact: For other riders who have completed this bike trip, the tradition is that you start with your back bike tires in Lake Erie, and then end the journey by putting your front tire in the Ohio River,” he said.
“The three of us love cycling, and we considered this adventure to be a great time of fellowship for us as we connected with each other, encouraging one another and supporting one another in life and in our faith,” Sebring said.
“I can’t think of a better way to truly appreciate Ohio. Cycling through urban, suburban and rural parts of Ohio, we were able to take it all in and enjoy how special each part of Ohio truly is.”
The trail passes through Cincinnati, Columbus, Akron and Cleveland, as well as numerous other smaller towns.
“Ohio is a beautiful part of the world to live in, and we got to observe and appreciate it in such a unique way,” Sebring said.
“The highlight of the trip was the final stretch in Cincinnati, when all three of our wives met us at the Ohio River for the final stop of the trip.
“They were there to greet us, capture the final moments on video and celebrate the conclusion of the journey.”
Sebring shared what the trail and their adventure looked like.
“On Day 1, we rode 97 miles; Day 2 was 90 miles; Day 3 was 66 miles; and Day 4 was 84 miles.
“I know those (miles) don’t add to 326,” Sebring said, “because we often added miles to take little detours or visit other sites along the way.”
As with most travel plans, “It’s worth noting that just because you set out to do a bike trip, doesn’t mean that things go ideally.
“We had some horrific weather that left several downed trees along the trail. Consequently, we were also caught in some massive downpours.
“One guy got a flat tire and two of us wiped out on a slippery bridge.
“And of course there was the heat. At one point, it was literally 90-plus degrees and we were biking in that heat.
“We called ourselves the Rotisserie Riders because we were ROASTING!” Sebring said.
The enthusiasts that take on this challenge may join the “326 Club” for those who have completed the trail either by riding the entire trail on consecutive days or hiking it within the same calendar year.
Will the Rotisserie Riders be hitting the trial again in the future?
“We are tentatively planning another trip next summer,” Sebring said.
“As long as I am able to do something like this, and I have good friends to do it with, I would love to continue the cycling adventures!”
Learn more about the Ohio to Erie Trail at www.ohiotoerietrail.org or email the organization at [email protected] .
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