Along the Route — Inspired

Inspired has cycling tshirts too!

Another great stop for cyclists along the Back Roads and Beaches Route! Located right in front of the Oberlin Public Library, you'll find Inspired. This great new Fair Trade, Eco friendly store offers a variety of unique and useful items and gifts. You'll find fashion for the whole family as well as toys, purses, bags and jewelry. Inspired has coffee, tea, cocoa, chocolates and other goodies. Inspired is located at 57 South Main St. in Oberlin. Their hours are Mon–Sat 10am–7pm and Sun noon–5pm. You can reach owner Debbie Bush at 440-774-1565.

Along the Route-Fairview Meadow Farms

Fairview Meadow Farms lies quietly on the south side of the Back Roads and Beaches Bike/Multi Sport Route in Wellington. Home to truly free-range livestock Fairview Meadow Farms—owned and operated by the Joppeck family—prides themselves on raising high quality grass-fed meats and other naturally produced products. Named for their location just beyond the Lorain County Fairgrounds, Fairview Meadow’s 60-acre farm holds deep family roots as its traditions have been passed from one generation to the next. Fairview Meadow Farm is the perfect starting place for organic and healthy eating.

Fairview Meadow’s farm has been within the family for three generations, however their organic lifestyle is relatively new. According to owner and mother Louise Joppeck, the idea of producing organic products started with the desire to eat healthier. They felt the best way to eat better and give back to environment was to start with the resources nature provides. They researched the mechanics of operating a grass-fed farm but wanted to know more, that’s when they came in contact with Joel Salatin and Polyface Farms. Son Nathan spent a year learning under Joel and the Polyface farm apprenticeship program. Nathan returned home and started implementing his knowledge and innovation to enhance the fast growing Fairview Meadow Farm.


But what’s so special about organic products and healthier eating options? For many multi sport athletes its the desire to give your body back the proper nutrients it needs to excel physically. For the Joppeck’s it’s all the benefits that are now naturally provided through daily foods. The process of grass-feeding livestock works as a cycle with nature supporting the animals and with the animals giving back to the environment. The soil benefits from the natural fertilizers and maintenance from the livestock and the animal’s benefit from being fed only farm-grown grass and the freedom to move and grow in their natural herds. The value provided to the consumers is leaner, healthier meats with no added hormones, antibiotics, or product enhancers. Their products come enriched with vitamin E and omega-3, as well as a lower cholesterol level, the perfect stepping-stone to a healthy lifestyle.

Like every homegrown business, the Joppeck family faces daily challenges with operating a grass-fed farm. The farm has a constant threat from local predators therefore requiring the Joppeck’s to keep a persistent eye on their livestock. The farm’s right hand, Nathan, is looking to update their fencing equipment to better provide for the animals safety and happiness, and ease their burden.

Just as important as the welfare of their animals, the Joppeck’s have a great connection to local community. Being locally owned and operated, the Joppeck’s focus on selling to community friends and neighbors. Orders can be submitted by email or by joining one of their popular buying clubs. Fairview Meadow Farms is devoted producing quality products to be sold to local area residents.

Providing a variety of livestock including beef, pork, lamb, and chicken, as well as fresh produce, Fairview Meadow Farms is an appetizing way to go green. A refreshing alternative to everyday eating, Fairview Meadow Farms is another unique treasure along the Back Roads and Beaches route, the perfect food for thought along your ride!

New Bike Shop, Swerve in Oberlin Now Open

Downtown Oberlin now plays host to a shiny, new bike shop called “Swerve.” Cyclists who are visiting Oberlin in droves can now buy gear, supplies and get repairs at the locally owned and operated shop. Owners Chris Robinson and Jason Adelman can also point cyclists to great local places to ride, on and off-road. Jason is also the owner of “The Feve” restaurant right across the street, a popular local bicycle-friendly pub with great food.

Swerve Bike Shop in Oberlin is now open for business

Swerve Bike Shop will be open 10–2pm on Sundays, Tues–Sat 10am–7pm, (closed Mon. until Memorial Day. After Memorial Day, open Mon 10am–7pm). Their phone number is 440-774-7978. Swerve is located on Main St in Oberlin, just south of the Main/College St. intersection. They are a couple doors from the Ginko Gallery.

New businesses along BRaB cater to cyclists

 The weather here in north central Ohio has been unseasonably warm and sunny. The sun is shining in my window as I type this and the temp outside is 55 degrees. This means all around the Back Roads and Beaches route, you'll see enthusiastic cyclists and runners out getting ready for another great season! And local businesses are gearing up for them.

Oberlin worker installs Back Roads and
Beaches spur route signage

The city of Oberlin has its own dedicated Back Roads and Beaches spur route that leads riders from the main route easily into the downtown business district and back. This winter, several new businesses have cropped up that will excite and entertain cyclists wanting to spend some time getting some great food and/or bike gear.

We hope to report on a new bike shop, cheese shop and pizza restaurant very soon, as they open. Currently, there are two new restaurants open within the city of Oberlin. Both feature healthy, fresh menu items.

The door is open at Café Sprouts!

Fresh juices at Café Sprouts

Café Sprouts recently opened on East College Street, within the newly established East College Street project. The eatery features a wide variety of fresh, natural foods including organics, vegan and vegetarian offerings. Their juices, smoothies and mylkshakes appear to be especially popular. Their shelves were stocked with delicious desserts, wraps, veggies, spreads, teas and soups. The offerings here are very diverse, it would seem anyone could find something tasty and filling! You might also think about stopping here before going out onto Back Roads and Beaches and picking up a wrap to go. I can easily envision their sunny little corner filled with cyclists!

Aladdin’s Tabouli

Dining Room at Aladdin’s

Contractors put the finishing touches
on the canopy.

Right smack in the center of town, on the corner of College and Main Sts., is a shiny, brand-new Aladdin's Eatery. If you aren't familiar with Aladdin's, here is your chance to give them a try! Aladdin's mission is “to provide our customers with unique, natural foods and at the same time, cater to their increased awareness and concern regarding health and nutrition.” The huge menu features many, many Lebanese/American food, vegetarian options, soups, pita pitzas, salad pockets, juices and much more. Everything is fresh and free of preservatives. The spacious dining room is spotless, bright and inviting as is the staff who warmly welcome all their customers. And of course, there are bike racks right out front!

Art Galleries and Farm Markets on the Back Roads and Beaches Route

Sure, with its charming rural roads and beautiful scenery, the Back Roads and Beaches Route is great all by itself. But what’s a real ride without a destination? Whether you're training hard on the big climbs or just out for a relaxing ride, everyone deserves a break. Here are just a few of the terrific attractions along the route:

Art Galleries

• The Firelands Assocation for the Visual Arts (FAVA) in Oberlin has just opened a brand new double exhibit. Claudia Berlinski presents Searching for the Underground Sea (works on paper) alongside Sherry Bradshaw’s Digging Beneath the Surface (installation). The exhibit runs through Oct. 4. FAVA is open Tuesday–Saturday, 11–5, and Sundays, 1-5.

The Work of Claudia Berlinski

The Work of Sherry Bradshaw

• And while in Oberlin, be sure to check out Ginko Gallery, the town’s combination art studio and gallery. Visitors can observe five resident artists in the creative process, as well as browse the gallery’s finished art. Ginko Gallery is open Tuesday-Saturday, 10-6, and Saturday, 12-4.

Farm Markets

• Miller’s Apple Hill: It might be a little early for apples, but Miller’s has a great Bulk Foods Store. Family-owned and -operated, Miller’s offers a large assortment of candies, snack mixes, meats, cheeses, flours, sugars, grains, and a whole lot more.

Miller's Apple Hill

• George Jones Farm and Nature Preserve: Owned by Oberlin College, this organic farm was founded as a community sustainable argiculture project. Browse the Farmer’s Market and learn more about this unique and innovative farm.
  
• Oberlin Market: This grocery/bakery/cafe serves Certified Organic and local, no spray foods. Stop in for a meal, or load up on fresh provisions for your ride.

Oberlin Market

• On any given Saturday, Farmer’s Markets can be found in Lorain (9 am to 1 pm), Wellington (9 am to 2 pm), Oberlin (9 am to 1 pm), and Vermilion (2 pm to 6 pm). Tons of fresh, local produce and other organic products.

There are many other sights and attractions along the route, including Lake Erie’s beaches, the Lorain County Metro Parks, multiple wineries, and exciting multi-sport adventures. For more information on these attractions, or anything else Back Roads and Beaches, check out the website, or become a fan of Back Roads and Beaches on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Vermilion-Lorain Water Trail Now Open!

The much anticipated, 27-mile waterway was finally dedicated on July 1st. The Water Trail, if you hadn’t heard already, extends from Vermilion downstream to Lake Erie, along the shoreline, and up the Black River to Elyria. These waters have always been open to public access for kayaks and canoes, but an official state Water Trail designation means signage, boat ramps, increased parking, maps, points of interest, the ever-important hazard warnings, and launch docks.

For fans of adventure sports in Lorain County, this is great news. Never before have the county’s waterways been so easy to utilize. And because the different segments of the Water-Trail are so diversified (it’s the only state designated water trail to combine rivers and open water) the fun is open to all different ages and experience levels. And it’s the perfect complement for the Back Roads and Beaches Bike and Multi-Sport Route. With little planning or effort, that day-long bike trip you’ve been planning can turn into weekend-long multi-sport adventure.

At the trail’s dedication, state and local officials talked about the unique value of a designated water route in a county like Lorain. Sean Logan, Director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, calls the Water Trail a gateway between the civilized and natural realms, a place where individuals can enjoy all the beauty and excitement that nature has to offer in a safe and fun environment. Chief Pat Dillon of the State’s Division of Watercraft, reported that Lorain’s on the cutting edge of a statewide movement—kayak and canoe use in Ohio’s lakes and rivers has increased by 34% since 2003, and kayaks and canoes represent 20% of all registered watercraft.

Chief Pat Dillon, State Division of Watercraft

But all this aside, what’s the best thing about the Vermilion-Lorain Water Trail?
It’s still free. Only now, with the added help of the Metro Parks and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, enjoying the waterways and surrounding wildlife of Lorain County has never been easier.

For interested beginners, the Metro Parks are currently offering kayaking classes at Splash Zone in Oberlin.

Kayak rental is available on the Black River through Great Lakes Kayaking, and plans are pending for a similar service on the Vermilion River.

Oberlin Bike Co-op

The Oberlin Bike Co-op is a cooperatively owned bicycle repair, rental, and education center located in Oberlin, OH. Students and community members volunteer their time and bicycle expertise to ensure that Oberlin maintains its reputation as one of the most bike-friendly communities around. The Co-op is situated in the back of the college's Keep Cottage on Main St. just across from the Oberlin Middle School.


The real value of the Co-op is the service it provides to its own community. When students leave Oberlin for the summer, a large number of bikes are inevitably left behind all over campus. Instead of throwing them out, or sending them off to be melted down and recycled, the Co-op effectively "reCycles" the bikes back into the community by renting refurbished bikes and helping others build their own with used parts.

The Co-op is staffed by knowledgable individuals ready to answer your questions or just talk shop, but the Co-op is so much more than a repair center. Those interested can join the Co-op, learn about bike maintenance, give back to the community, and build their very own bike! No experience necessary.

The Co-op is not-for-profit. Its only goals are to get as many bikes out into the community as possible, and to help educate the community about the personal rewards of biking and bike maintenence.

As a reader of the Back Roads and Beaches Bike and Multi-Sport route blog probably knows, bikes are an awesome tool for teaching self-sufficiency, sustainability, and personal empowerment to kids. Anyone at all familiar with the Co-op knows that it's really just as much about community outreach as it is about bikes. Aside from the regular repair and education services, the co-op is featuring some special events this summer:

Ride on out to Tappan Square after sundown (10 PM) for Saturday's Bike-In-Movie. Kid-friendly movies are projected on a big screen every week. Last Week: Empire Records.

Sign the kids up for the Co-op's week-long Bikes & Kids Camp. Learn about biking and bike maintenance and, of course, have a ton of fun doing it. Camp will be the last week in July (27th-31st). Be sure to call soon and let them know you're interested.

For more information on these events, call the Co-op at (440) 775-5351.

Check out this video tour:
Summer Hours
1 PM to 4 PM, Sun thru Fri
5 PM to 8 PM, Mon thru Thurs
7 PM to 10 PM, Sun
So remember, if you're out on the Back Roads and Beaches route and you pop a tire, need a quick brake adjustment, or just feel like talking bikes with some friendly, like-minded folks, stop on by. And if you happen to be an avid cyclist with some spare parts lying around, put them to great use by donating to the Co-op (if they aren't open, just leave them in the concrete pit).
Location: Behind Keep Cottage (large brick house across from Oberlin Middle School), 154 Main St., Oberlin, OH 44074 Mailing Address: Wilder Hall Box 25, 135 W. Lorain St., Oberlin, OH 44074 bikecoop@oberlin.edu

Two new wineries make six on Back Roads and Beaches route

The great thing about the Back Roads and Beaches bike and multi-sport route is there is something for everyone—bike tourists, hammer heads, kayakers, runners and a mix of all. BRaB now has a total of six wineries on and just nearby the route. Paper Moon Winery is a delightful new winery that opened its doors a couple weeks ago. The best way to reach Paper Moon from BRaB is to take Darrow Rd. west, off the main BRaB route. When you reach SR 60, turn right. Remember that SR 60 is a state route and can be busy, even on this small stretch. Vermilion Valley Vineyards is a soon-to-be-open winery that is located on Gore Orphanage Rd. in the Henrietta Township area of the Route, just south of SR 113. Click here to follow their progress toward opening.

These two wineries are an addition to four great wineries already on the Back Roads and Beaches route. Just off the western portion of the route is Matus Winery on Gore Orphanage Rd., just south of SR 20. In the middle of the route, you'll find Single Tree Winery on Baumhart Rt., about a half mile south of Garfield. And in the eastern portion of the route, just off SR 6 in Avon Lake you'll find our Klingshirn and Christ Wineries. For more information on other activities including history, architecture, kayaking, running trails, mountain biking and healthy, organic meal stops, click here.

Weekend Scenes along Findley Lake

While heading to Findley State Park, we found Fred Thomas of Cleveland pedaling out of Oberlin along the Underground Railroad. He was headed to a local market to pick up some fresh local produce. Fred will be riding Adventure Cycling’s Underground Railroad route to Buffalo.

Further on down the road, renting kayaks at Findley State Park in Wellington is a great way to get in a great workout while enjoying the beautiful southern Lorain County scenery. Two-person kayaks can be rented on weekends for $6 an hour. Click here for more details and contact information.

We saw this group learning the basics of kayaking.

These guys were basking in the sunshine..

Skilled fisherman

Canoeing through the beautiful landscape.