The "Biker" Shop

Day 5: Meadville, PA to Streetsboro, OH - 82 Miles

I am including Jim Bates' description of Day 5. He described this day quite well. I will follow Jim's write-up with my own.

June 5, 2008 - Day 5: Meadville to Aurora. Welcome to Ohio! Total Miles: 81.7. A day that started out late and hit John with a number of challenges ended on a positive note in the small city of Aurora, Ohio. Besides battling bad weather, John had been experiencing a number of mechanical problems with his bicycle. Gary Chomuk offered to find a bike shop in Aurora for him and called ahead. Now, I imagine that there are more than a few bike shops in Aurora. Gary managed to locate Tuff Cycle. He asked if they would be open when John got there and was told they would be because "That's the code." The shop was indeed opened when John arrived, but rather than being met by some skinny guy in bicycle shorts he was met by the owner, Tank. Yes, you guessed it, instead of a bi-cycle shop; Gary found John a motor-cycle shop. John reported that it was one of the most amazing encounters he has had this whole trip. Apparently Tank and staff were more than willing to help John out. They hooked him up with some cleaners and lubricants and John even received a ride to his hotel by Mike the Fabricator. Somewhere during his encounter at Tuff's John exceeded the "10 Minute Rule" and had to go get beers, but I don't think that had anything to do with the assistance he received. Bikers are part of a brotherhood of sorts and it should come as no surprise to anyone that they were willing to lend a hand. I invite you to click on the link below and visit Tuff Cycle's web site. There's a great picture of Tank right on the home page. John will be trying for Bowling Green OH tomorrow. Good Luck, John! Link to: Tuff Cycle

On Thursday I got a late start. I set off at 9:30 AM after waiting out a thunderstorm. I left the wing (separate building) of my hotel when I noticed my “new” tube had a flat. I changed the tube in my hotel room and patched the punctured tire from the previous day. I finally got on the road by 10:00 AM.

I stopped for lunch at 11:30 AM because the skies opened up once again with thunder storms. I ducked into a convenience store and had a sub sandwich while waiting out the storm. Once things seemed to clear up I started out again. I crossed the state line into Ohio right after lunch and followed OH RT 5. From a bicycling perspective this is a beautiful road. Brand new asphalt surface with no road debris and no hills! I made some good progress on this road. I turned onto OH 305 at Cortland toward Aurora, OH, which was my target destination for the day. All the while I was still having problems with my high gears clicking.

Once again I had a red wing black bird hover over my head and follow me. What’s up with that?

Earlier in the day I called Gary Chomuk in Lisle to see if he could find a bike shop for me in the Aurora, OH area. I definitely needed a new tire tube and some chain lube. Gary told me he found a place called Tuff cycle. Once I got to Aurora, OH I called Tuff cycle for directions. The voice on the phone told me to go right on RT 43 and go 5 stop lights, and the place would be 500 FT on the left. I went five lights toward Solon and didn’t see the shop. I called again and the voice on the phone told me I went the wrong way. A few more miles and I turned into the driveway of Tuff Cycle. I got that strange feeling that something was not right about this. The sign on the lawn did not look like a bicycle shop. It was a custom motorcycle shop.

I met “Tank” the owner and fell subject to the 10 minute rule. Tank told me after 10 minutes I had to have a beer with them (Tank, me and his “fabricator” Mike). We spent the better part of an hour discussing my gear problem and Tank tried to straighten my #7 gear with a welding clamp. Tank said “This is what it’s all about. This is where it all started; customizing our bicycles as kids. We need to get back to this!” Mike agreed. I’m not sure how much money there is in custom “chopped” bicycles?

In the meantime Mike got an Ohio map to help me find a bicycle shop for me to visit in the morning. Mike was generous enough to offer me a ride to a hotel (which I gladly accepted). Mike talked about the local economy, job outsourcing, his family and living simply. All things I could identify with. He also recommended a great restaurant for me to have my evening dinner.

I ate dinner at Rocne’s in Streetsboro, OH, then went to Target to pick up some supplies and headed back to the hotel to get some rest. Although Tuff cycle was not a bicycle shop, it was the best mistake ever for this trip. Tank and Mike are the real deal and seem like really good guys. I’m grateful for the hour I got to spend with them.