You're welcome. With your comment I know I had at least one person read this :-). I don't know what your daily mileage is, but I planned the Columbus to Cincinnati stage in 2 days. That gave me around 60 to Xenia and 65 to Cincinnati from Xenia. You could do Columbus to Cedarville (which has a really nice Inn right on the trail. Literally) at 48 miles. That would leave ~75 miles to Cincinnati the next day. As you ride into Cincinnati on the Little Miami Trail, there are several towns along the way you could break up that last day into a 2-day trip. Loveland was ~48 from Cedarville leaving around 25 miles on the 3rd day.

Good luck on your trip and post us your adventure :-)

Thanks for this thorough review. I was planning to do this one solo so I appreciate the honest opinion about Xenia and the Deerfield Inn.

@Jeff - funny you should mention that. When I originally started looking at planning this trip, the Ramada Inn right there off the trail and in the middle of downtown was my first choice. When I returned to book all the hotels, I couldn't find it on Google Maps. I searched Ramada Inn's website, and then finally found it had closed.

But yeah, this probably wasn't much better. My concern wasn't so much the age of the place but I don't want to deal with bedbugs. Thankfully, I didn't see any evidence of that.

Heh - I stayed at that Xenia Ramada Inn on a bike tour several years ago. It was notably bad at the time.

But I've stayed in far more skeevy and sleazy places on other bike trips. My rules for bike touring are different than regular life. As long as I can lock the door, and the shower and A/C work, it's good enough!

Greg - thanks for the concern. Although I'm not sure I would have been the first dead body found there :-)

Thanks, Bill! I did run into a detour on the Little Miami and had to go up and around through the suburbs. Started with a heck of a leg-busting climb and ended with a quick roll back downhill a few miles later to reconnect with the trail.

It's a Cygolite Streak. I don't normally get a chance to use it so this was fun riding through a dark trail with nothing but my light guiding my way. I actually shot the picture as the sun was starting to light the sky so you get the outline of the trees in the far horizon.

I'm glad you didn't get killed too, though I was a little worried about you.
I was afraid the last place we'd be seein' ya, would be at the Deerfield Inn of Xenia.

Good light! What brand is it?

That said, I do realize the O to E trail heads south from Xenia, so it should be a non-problem.

If you are planning on going through Dayton on Creekside Trail, be aware of a detour. I have ridden it. It is well marked, but rather hillier than the rail-trail would be.

https://www.gcparkstrails.com/temporary-park-and-trail-closures/

Think about stopping at the London coffee peddler if looking for another small business to visit. Nice place. Keep peddling and having fun!

Rats! That would have been the third time someone recognized me from this journal or YouTube. I would have loved to chat with you for a bit.

Man, I just missed you at Broken Grounds! I had stopped in to get a coffee right before 7am. Probably was leaving right as you were coming down. You are right the owner is great and a bundle of energy. Enjoy the rest of your trip. There are definitely more food options along the coming parts of the trail. Next "limited" stretch would be south of Columbus to about Cedarville.

Wind and Solar work well if it is not raining!