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LakeErieLoop
(LEL) Frequently Asked
Questions
What's this all about?
It is a race (technically a rally) - We
start at 6am sharp on Saturday morning,
just south of Wellington Ohio. You
ride your bike around Lake Erie. First one
back wins!
Can I ride a Bigger bike, over
250CC?
YES! You can ride any bike in the event,
but you CAN NOT RACE! We call it the
"touring class" and you get to ride along,
but for just for fun and the great scenery
(and you still get to ride with with some
great, perhaps even legendary,
motorcyclists).
What will I need?
You will need a Passport to cross the
border. We suggest rain gear, extra cash
and a credit card. A helmet and good
clothing (layers) and boots. A cell
phone and a few basic tools are suggested.
Many "racers" carry a little extra fuel
and snacks too, just to keep stops to a
minimum.
The event starts and ends at Clare
Mar Lakes Campground
so most people stay there. The
camp sites are great, they have lots of RV
parking and they even rent cabins for
reasonable rates! We will serve
meals Friday night, snacks and coffee
Saturday morning before the race, Saturday
night meal after the race, and breakfast
on Sunday.
How much does it cost?
$50 to race or $25 to just ride (remember it
is for a good cause) plus $24 bucks
for meals.... (bring extra cash for shirts
and other LEL stuff, hint, hint, etc.)
Camping rates are $25 for a basic
site with electricity (deluxe sites with
water, sewer, etc. may cost extra), More
for a cabin. Rates are for Friday and
Saturday night.
When is it?
You need to arrive
sometime on Friday in time to get
registered and get some rest! We have Food
on the table from Friday Night until Noon
Sunday, so relax! The event starts at 6AM
Saturday morning, rain or shine. The
event ends Sunday after breakfast and our
special "awards ceremony" and auction.
Do I have to race?
NO!!!!! you ride as fast as you
want! Stop as often as you want! You
can ride ANY (legal) bike you want, taking
any route you want! So don't worry,
just come for a GREAT road trip for a good
cause! The roads around Lake Erie are fun
to ride. The views of the lake all
add up to a great road trip!
My bike is old, what it breaks
down!!?
We REALLY like the Vintage bikes
(and the newer ones too!) This is an
opportunity for you to get that old bike
out and enjoy it! Taking any motorcycle
out of the country is both exciting, but
also scary... But rest easy! There are
lots of us, and there will be a someone
available to pick you and your bike up
should you break down or have to quit for
any reason. So relax and have a great
time, you wont get left behind!
Things to think about.
Use a little common sense.
You will be on a motorcycle for
potentially12+ hours. Consider seat
pads, wind screens, sun screen, layered
clothing, a good helmet, a bottle of
water, snacks, GPS and/or a map. There
are plenty of gas stations along the way
should you forget some items, but think
about how weather can change in one
day. You bike needs to be ready,
fresh oil, good tires and chain. It must
be licensed and insured. And you MUST
have that passport!
Where the heck is it?
We start at the Clare Mar Lakes
Campground, a few miles south of
Wellington, Ohio. Take Ohio SR58 south to
New London Eastern Road, then turn west
and watch for the campground about 1.5
miles down on the left. We will have
plenty off Food and Drink. You can Tent
camp, RV camp, or rent some real nice
Cabins for not much more than a good
Motel. OR there are motels in Ashland OH,
about 17 miles South.
How
does everyone deal with road tolls?
Canada does not have any
tolls as far as I now, but you
will pay a
small fee ($5.00 I think) to cross
the border. If you run the
interstates in the US, you can use
the
EZ pass or I Pass or
pay cash.
What route do I take?
Where Can I get gas?
FOR 2022 WILL B E NOT BE TAKING
THE CANADA ROUTE!
IT WILL BE A SHORTER ALL USA
ROUTE!
Well..
thats really up to you. We suggest
you do a little research on Mapquest
or Google Maps, etc. Generally, we
ride up to the I90 toll way the
fastest way possible, then you can
go either clockwise, or counter
clockwise... your choice.
Clockwise, Get on
I-80/90 and head west, over
to Toledo,
North on the 280 bypass, then I75
up to Detroit,
Go through Customs
then onto the 401 in Canada,
merge onto the 403,
then to the QEW up in Hamilton ON.
Follow the QEW to Buffalo
NY (Canada has some GREAT
roads!),
Back through Customs, and
cross back into the USA.
Jump on I-190 which takes you to
I90.
Stay on I-90 till you get to
Cleveland, then 71to 480 to 10,
and south on Ohio 58 back south down
to the camp ground!
Click here for a Google
Map of the
"Most Common Route" along with a layer of
"on Highway" fuel stops
(oasis in the US, "ON Route
in Canada)
Also I
have added LOTS of gas
Stations Close to the
Highway ("check"
that Layer)
and a few hardware stores,
Motorcycle shops
and Auto parts stores
route.
In
order for it to be easy
to read, uncheck the
boxes on the left side.
Click the Square on the top
right corner ↓
Counter Clockwise would be the
reverse...
The pre planning part helps on the
back roads getting to and from the
campground to the Interstate. Make
notes, write up a little route cheat
sheet. Some GPS dont work so well in
Canada...
A message from a "First Time
Looper" on the
2016 Race:
Last year was the first time I
had ever heard of or raced the loop. I
built a small trailer a week before
leaving for my small 1985 rebel 250
and hitched it up to my goldwing. Rode
for a few days to get there, camped
out, rode the loop in 11.5 hours or
so, took a nap and enjoyed the
campgrounds and fellow racers. Then I
loaded back up and rode home, visiting
a few friends on the way back, time of
my life.
If you are thinking about or going to
run the race for your first time, here
is my advice.
1. This is a well organized and all
set up run/race. The wonderful people
who put it on are your friends, rather
you want them to be or not haha and
they want you to have a good ride, a
good time and a little adventure. Just
like you, they are all fellow
builders, wrenchers, and little bike
perverts.
2. Most of it all is figured out for
you but, if you have a question as I
know I had a few before showing up,
just ask ahead of time, this is not an
old boys club, ask ye shall receive.
3. I showed up and camped out, I
brought some snacks and an urn of
coffee but what you don't have, the
fellow looper camping next to you
will. Ask and ye shall receive,.
4. This is fun, we are doing this for
fun. Personally, I had a fuel leak
before the race started, lost my spare
fuel cell bracket in the middle of
ghetto Detroit and had to pull over to
fix it. There was a line to get into
Canada, I did not have a transponder
so I had to wait in line to pay cash
for the turnpike toll roads, I had to
use the restroom in the middle of the
Canada, got put in handcuffs getting
back into the U.S. for a formal
interview, and hit monster headwinds
in new york, did 50 the whole way
back, got a little lost even with
simple directions, TIME OF MY LIFE!!!
It was so much fun I can't wait to do
it again.
On a personal note, i get to do a few
different types of racing like
landspeed, cross country chopper
racing, some long distance racing etc
but as a single Dad I am, this was a
well deserved self vacation for me. If
you are a newbie, come on out, bring a
little skoot and go for a ride around
the lake. Meet fellow little bike
perverts, enjoy the art of the
machines, the joys of camping in
nature and a good little ride.
Should I Stop and Help a Fellow
Looper?
we really don't take the "race" aspect
of the loop to heart. When we see a
fellow motorcyclist stuck on the side
of the road, we usally take a break to
see if we could help
View Larger Map
Any more questions? Check out
our facebook
page or email me at
Paul@LakeErieLoop.org
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