Lorain County Heritage wins national Adventure Cycling award for Back Roads and Beaches

The Adventure Cycling Association has awarded its 2008 Pacesetter Award to Lorain County Heritage. The award recognizes that, in forming Back Roads and Beaches, Lorain County Heritage has placed cycling at the forefront of the mission, and works aggressively to expand the message that cycling is important to the health, environment, and tourism of the state of Ohio.

According to the Adventure Cycling website, this national award recognizes individuals, groups, businesses, and organizations which have consistently demonstrated extraordinary commitment, dedication, and service to the advancement of Adventure Cycling’s mission of inspiring others to travel by bicycle.

The Award is named in honor of Charlie Pace from Columbus, Ohio, who has devoted over 40 years to creating and supporting bicycle travel opportunities. He was a key promoter and supporter for both the Tour of Scioto River Valley (TOSRV) and Adventure Cycling Association. He has devoted his life to creating opportunities for people to get on their bikes and have fun.

Adventure Cycling is a 44,500 member nonprofit organizations whose mission is to inspire people of all ages to travel by bicycle for fitness, fun and self-discovery. Adventure Cycling Route Network has one of the largest route networks in the world with more than 38,158 miles. The organization’s headquarters is in Missoula, Montana. Two Adventure Cycling Routes travel through Lorain County. The Underground Railroad Route and the Northern Tier.

Lorain County Heritage is the nonprofit arm of the Lorain County Visitors Bureau.

Beginning this evening, every corner of the Back Roads and Beaches route will be hoppin’ with events from art openings to county fair excitement.


This evening in Vermilion is the gala opening of Water, Light and Land: Reflections on Inland Seas. Experience the spectacular views of inland seascapes, masterfully rendered in clay by nationally recognized Oberlin potter Chris Breuer at the Inland Seas Maritime Museum in Vermilion. The opening is from 6:30–8:30pm. Artist talk will be at 6pm. The show will run through September 25.

Also in Vermilion this weekend will be the Vermilion Local Market where you can purchase local produce, flowers, herbs, pasture-fed beef, and more. The market is held Saturday afternoons 2–6pm in Victory Park in Vermilion and will run through August 30.

The Lorain County Fair continues to run through this Sunday, August 24.

Carnegie Library, Oberlin College, Tappan Square

This Saturday, August 23 at 10am the Oberlin Heritage Center will be presenting A Walk Through Time. Learn about the earliest residents of Oberlin, hear fascinating stories of triumph and misfortune linked to the landmarks around Tappan Square, and walk away with a lively appreciation of Oberlin's unique heritage. Advance reservations required; call (440) 774-1700 or send an email to tourinfo@oberlinheritage.org. There is a $6 per person fee ($4 for Oberlin Heritage Center members) and enrollment is limited. Meet at the James Monroe House (73 1/2 South Professor Street, Oberlin; see map) and allow 1 hour and 15 minutes for the tour.

While in Oberlin, check out the new exhibit at the FAVA Gallery, Views: Three Landscape Artists featuring the work of John Benton, Amy Casey and Glenn Ratusnik. The show runs through September 6.

For more events taking place around the Back Roads and Beaches Route as well as all throughout Lorain County, click here.

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.

Welcome Vermilion Harbor Triathlon Athletes!

Vermilion is ready to welcome athletes and spectators for the first Vermilion Harbor Triathlon to be held on Sunday, August 17. And we are excited that much of the bike route follows Back Roads and Beaches.


There is still time to register tomorrow at the Red Clay in Vermilion. Registration will be held from 12–6.


The triathlon swim will begin at scenic Linwood Park.
Staff from the Lorain County Visitors Bureau will be on hand to distribute information on the bike route and other area information. If you are still in need of lodging for the event, click here. Welcome!

This evening on BRaB-Underground Railroad Ties

Riding the BRaB route this evening near Oberlin, we found the setting sun was casting a warm glow on this old barn.

Turns out, after talking to the current owner, it is so much more than just an old barn. It happens to be the former farmstead of Hiram Pease, who, according to Oberlin College’s website was the brother of Peter Pindar Pease. Hiram was a colorful and interesting historical Oberlin figure who owned a carraige shop in Oberlin.


Hiram and Lydia Pease paintings: Oberlin College


But what will be of special interest—especially to cyclists following Adventure Cycling’s Underground Railroad Tour who will pass by this property—is that the property was eventually sold to the Copeland family whose father was a freed slave that came to Oberlin because of its anti-slavery resolve and whose son, John Copeland Jr. was hanged for his participation in the raid on Harper’s Ferry.

From Lorain County Visitors Bureau Trail to Freedom brochure

Click here for a fascinating look into the history of this property and it’s ties to some of Oberlin’s most notable Underground Railroad figures. The property is located just beyond the corner of W. Hamilton and Pyle Road right outside Oberlin. It is privately owned.

Triathlon Weekend

This Sunday, August 26, Lorain's Lakeview Park will be the site of the 5th Annual Lorain Sprint/International Triathlon. Starting times begin at 8am. In the spirit of "practicing what we preach," (and just having a great time!) The Lorain County Visitors Bureau will have two teams in the triathlon. A sprint team, consisting of Mark Kernohan (swim), Barb Bickel (bike) and Zach Collins (run). And an International team, Jim Janasko (swim), Jim Galloway (bike) and Rona Proudfoot (run). Hope to see you there! To preregister, click here.

Participants coming into town for the Lorain Triathlon can click here for lodging information. This weekend is also the weekend of the Black River Bicentennial. Check out the schedule of events for info.