Take a Bike Overnight Trip

With Spring weather finally just around the corner here in Northeast Ohio, many local cyclists are starting to plan their bicycle adventures for the season. Some dream of riding in GOBA or other cross-state, or even cross-country trips, but don't have the time or wherewithal to devote to a ride of that length.

That's where the idea of the Sub 24-Hour Overnight was born. The name was coined by Grant Petersen of Rivendell Bicycle Works; a Sub 24-Hour Overnight (or S24O, for short) is a bicycle trip where you ride during one day, stay over at your destination for one night, then ride back the next day. You can camp, or stay at a hotel or B&B--it doesn't matter!

The benefit of an S2O, in addition to the small time commitment, is that you can pack light and not have much to worry about other than enjoying yourself. For inexperienced bicycle tourers, you're not too far from home, so if you have a breakdown or other unexpected emergency, you're not stuck in the middle of nowhere.

The Adventure Cycling Association, who specialize in organizing and planning long-distance bicycle tours, have created a new resource devoted just to Sub 24-Hour Overnights. The new web site can be found at:

www.bikeovernights.org

It includes gear lists, sample trips, and other resources and tools.

Century Cycles' own Kevin Madzia has taken a fair number of S24O trips, which he wrote about in this article that appeared in the July 2009 issue of Ohio Sports & Fitness Magazine. It includes suggestions for S24O routes and places to stay right here in Northeast Ohio!