Sunday, July 5, 2009

Laura's GOBA Adventure

You're wondering what is GOBA? GOBA stands for the The Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure. It is an annual one-week bicycle loop tour through Ohio, held each year at the end of June. GOBA features a different part of Ohio each year, travelling through peaceful countryside and stopping at interesting tourist destinations along the way. The week-long adventure offers fun, Ohio hospitality, and a challenging and rewarding vacation.

Myself, and two friends Scott and Brian from the Halton Outdoor Club decided to go for a one week cycling vacation. Being new to this type of trip I was thinking would riding 100kms per day for one week be challenging as I don't usually ride consecutive days too often. But I had no problem at with the riding and actually as the week went on I felt more charged up. Maybe camping under the stars as we chose to do made for a good night's sleep. Many other people chose to stay in motels, hotels or college dormitories.

We rode better than 700kms under the sunniest seven days we've ever experienced on a bike with all routes well-marked that we didn't have to use the maps provided making the riding that much more enjoyable. Most days the temperature were in the 80's and 90's and it was so hot it could blow out tires or fry eggs on the road. wearing sunscreen and keeping your bottles full was a must. People along the routes would be standing on their lawns with their garden hoses ready to cool off willing cyclists as they passed by. One day we even stopped to take a dip in a lady's pond on her invite to cool off from the scorching heat. That really helped us enjoy the rest of the ride to our next destination.

Most of the roads in this part of Ohio were flat as a pool table with some small rolling hills closer to the towns we rode towards. The entire area we travelled was once a swamp. Deep ditches drained off the water making farming possible. The most common crop we noticed was corn. The towns were far and few between and traffic was almost non-existent. Often the roads we travelled were no wider then the average paved driveway. And like a paved driveway most of the roads were smooth as silk.

Each day on the route there were at least two rest stations and a lunch break which supplied us with all the food and drinks to perform like athletes. They were manned by volunteers of non-profit organizations who used the profits to benefit the communities in various ways. We were always made to feel welcome and were often entertained with live music from local talent or high school theatre arts programs. Many of the rides were up before the crack of dawn and riding by 6am. We chose to get up with the sun and start are journey around 8am. Along the way we stopped in at local attractions including a working Gris mill, a small train museum and a fort. Plus riding through small towns was very pleasant with alltheir history, interesting homes and buildings.

On one of the two layover days we rode north to Lake Erie and enjoyed a dip in the lake's warm waters. We also enjoyed a great seafood lunch a one of the local haunts. Nothing better than a meal of fish and chips with a cold drink. There were also these pesky Mayfly insects found in ever area and they seemed to attach themselves to everything but are short-lived.

The other layover day was our chance for a century ride. Brian chose to attempt the 100 mile route while Scott and I chose more wisely the shorter 50 miles. Brian, however made a few wrong turns and thankfully ended up on the 70 mile route. Being the hottest day of the week with temperatures in the high 90's the organizers posted warning signs for diehard riders of the century route that if they had started by the crack of dawn there would be no support after the 70 mile route after a certain time. Only a handful of riders completed the ride and there were no problems.
Brian and Scott met people from previous cycling trips. These types of trips have quite the following. I have much to look forward to the years ahead when it comes to these cycling trips. The guys have informed me that next year we are going to Michigan state for a hilly ride trip. This winter it's back to the gym for more training.
Brian being experienced camper, hiker and an expert in canoeing and portaging he had me setting up my own tent and carrying my own canoe pack right from the start. By the end of the week it was a contest to who would be packed up first with the bags on the truck ready for their journey to the next rown and us back on the road again to our next destination.
There were may types of bikes from fixed gear, road, mountain and hybrids to quad tandems and all sorts of recumbant styles. People of all ages with children being pulled in trailers to young teenagers on road bikes to older adults on comfort bikes all riding the minimum 50 miles a day just maybe taking longer to get to the end. Afterall it's about the journey getting to the end not necessarily how fast you arrive.
Although about 2,500 riders started, not all finished. The first day sent some weaker riders packing for home. Then the sun persuaded more to pack it in on the second day. By the last day inexperienced riders in pace lines, gravel corners and various other hazards along the way had sent quite a few to the hospital for treatment from road burn to broken bones. Scott, Brian and I managed to avoid any mishaps along the way. Except for a few saddle sores and a bit of sun burn we easily handled the 50 to 60 miles a day rides.
GOBA was well-worth the taking and for anyone wanting to get away on a vacation with a different view than with a car or plane this may be just what your looking for.

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