Customer Reviews

Biking Ohio's Rail-Trails: Where to Go, What to Expect, How to Get There (Biking Rail-Trails)

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An "indispensable book for bikers, hikers, walkers, joggers and families who want to enjoy Ohio's Trails." This book is a major update of the original Biking Ohio's Rail-Trails offering more trails to visit. Shawn E. Richardson's book Biking Ohio's Rail-Trails follows an identical format to Shawn E. Richardson's other two books Biking Missouri's Rail-Trails and Biking Wisconsin's Rail-Trails. This colorful paperback book includes detailed maps, photos, and a description to each trail. Trail lengths range from 1 mile to 72 miles and incude information about trail surface (smooth crushed limestone, asphalt), trail use (biking, roller blading, horses, wheelchair, hiking), parking, and points of interest. Shawn E. Richardson provides information about the Ohio Office of the Rails to Trails Conservancy and their involvement with Ohio's rail-trails. If you live in Ohio, or plan to visit Ohio, this book is a must for any cyclist!

First impression: Poorly laid out. The contents are organized by the name of the trails. The first three "names" are: "Bike & Hike", "Bike Route -1", "Bike Route -2". There is an ameturish attempt at a map of the whole state with the trails in dark blue and some sort of numbering system. Unfortunately, the numbers are only marginally proximate to the routes (unless they are written over them -YOU try reading black type on a dark blue background!) The map and the legend for the whole book are hidden in the preface - I guess they think you won't be referring to them very often. Some trails are broken up into haphazard sections - I guess to fit the map scale - which varies only slightly from map to map. There is no way to find a trail by either location or length. Unless you know the "name", you'll have to scan the index (guess where it is!) looking for a "vicinity" you recognize. An example: Looking for something east of Cleveland I find one in the vicinity of "Ashtabula/Warren" (if you look at a map you'll find those cities are 45 miles apart) go to the page indicated and ...no, you won't find that map. Leaf forward and it'll show up. Then you can read all about the "future plans" for the trail. You might overlook the information on the length of the trail or the trailheads since the author hides that info in his painfully stiff prose. Show up at the trailhead and there is a beautiful asphalt trail for about 0.06 miles before it turns into golf ball size crushed rock (you'll need new tires - and leave the kids home!) but only for a mile or so. North of there, its all as described, but he obviously didn't do his homework. He seems more interested in what the planned trails will look like someday than what you can use today. Also no good information on traffic, elevation changes, or trail surface. Caveat Emptor.

At first, I was excited to find this book, as it promised to guide me to all of the "rails to trails" bike paths in Ohio, tell me what points of interest I could find along the way, and, most important to someone relatively new to the state, where to park. Unfortunately, as I flipped through the book prior to purchasing it, I did not see that after the first 50 or so pages, the book mostly describes paths that DO NOT EXIST. These are part of the mythical "Ohio to Erie" bike trail. Also, there are not clear directions for getting to the trails (for instance, what exit to take from the nearest freeway). Points of interest include "shops," "restaurants," and other vague descriptors. Where to park is equally vague. I expected to be told where I could most conveniently access the trail, at multiple points. Instead, for the Kokosing trail, for instance, I am told I can park in "Mount Vernon" or one of the other towns along the route. Really? I can park in the town? So helpful. (To be fair, for some of the other trails, parking instructions are more specific.) I recommend that Mr. Richarson review Bike Rides: Los Angeles County by the Brundiges for pointers on how to write a helpful guide to bike trails. I was so disappointed in this book I would return it if I could, but I unfortunately bought it in a shop two hours away from where I live. The one bright spot is that the book promises that there will be a trail I could ride to get there--someday!

I've owned this book since I started cycling 3 years ago and I've purchased it for friends who ride. It's a great book for anyone who rides rail trails. It gives locations, conditions, attractions in the area and much more useful information. Because this book is rail trails or bike/hike trails there is no elevation information needed as all trails are generaly level with very slow grade of elevation, if any. It's not written for the hard core road cyclist but more for he leasurely cyclist who enjoys scenery. I've ridden several of the trails and this book was very helpful with finding them and nearby attractions.

I bought this book from one of the used book sellers on Amazon. I have not biked any of the trails (yet), the book has a lot of information in it for planning your trip and maps. Definately a good buy for the used price and you and do your own research on the internet as to updates on the trail(s) that you are looking to ride.

Biking Ohio's Rail-Trails is a very well put together book. The best part I like are the maps! They are so easy to read, yet, they offer a reasonable amount of detail. I also like this book for the reason that if I would like to know just anything about any trail, if offers "just the facts!" However, if I would like to know more details, it also offers an additional paragraph or two about the trail's main attraction features. I just only hope that Shawn E. Richardson will do books like this for every state!

This book is excellent for any cyclist who would like to find any major bike trail throughout Ohio. As long as anyone knows how to read a map, any cyclist will be able to find any trail with no trouble at all!!! A unique thing about this publication is that Ohio is apparantly going to a Bike Route trail numbering system. However, if a trail such as the Wolf Creek Rail-Trail is known as "Bike Route-38", the trail is listed under both the trail name and the bike route number; as you're out there biking that particular trail, you will actually see the bike route number signs along the trail! A great book for family outings! This book also contains information for other bicycling resources as well. No other book like it!

This is a good book on the trails here in Ohio. However, it is a bit dated and there is no web site for input. Still a good value for finding and navigating the Ohio bike trails.