I'm sure most of the shops would help you out. What area are you going to be in?
2010-05-27 20:46:12
6
Clevelander needs bike-on-Amtrak advice...
Hello Pittsburgh. I'm biking from Cleveland to your fair city next week. I'm expecting to take the Amtrak train back to Cleveland on Saturday night (the 5th)... and I'm trying to avoid buying a $15 box from Amtrak at the station to pack my bike in. Any suggestions for how to procure my own box? Is there a nearby bike shop that would just give me one (actually, two -- my girlfriend will be with me with her bike, too)?
Thanks!
2010-05-27 20:31:03
Since you actually are traveling on Amtrak with a bike, albeit a boxed one, please give Amtrak a nice comment along the lines of "Wow, I was sure glad I could bring my bike with me, but it was a real drag having to take it apart and put it in a box. Can't you just have bike racks in some designated area, or some such thing?"
We've been talking about this in Pittsburgh for quite some time. [link]
If you could get a similar conversation started in Ohio, we'd all be the better for it.
2010-05-27 22:31:13
Nice! I do not have Amtrak info, but I can't wait for my ride to Cleveland, July 2nd. Taking same route as last year. Route 51 to 14 to 165 to 534 to 86 to 84 give or take a short cut.. all fun roads, chewed up parts on 534 but good otherwise. Let me know if you want the map if this is your first time.
2010-05-28 14:25:01
Thanks for the tips yall -- I had already made my Cleveland-based comment on Amtrak's site! We really need a strong voice to get that roll-on benefit, I feel that.
My plans ended up changing (I'm leaving this week, now), and I'll be getting a ride to Columbus and then taking a Greyhound from there back to Cleveland... but again, thanks for replying.
flyS564... I'm pumped for my ride to PGH. Are you going through Kent? From Kent to Cleveland, you take a virtually no-road trail...!
2010-06-07 16:44:04
Kent is a bit far west. I end up in Kirtland which is 15-20mi east of Cleveland so taking rt 534 is best for me. Enjoy the ride 
2010-06-07 20:24:10