The Lake Erie Loop - 650 Miles of Vintage Competition
Lake Erie Loop - On Yer Marks!
Lake Erie Loop - Wide and Varied Competitors
Lake Erie Look - Fierce Competition at 200ccs
What do you call a 650 mile loop around Lake Erie on vintage bikes of 200ccs or less? Well, many would call it crazy, but for a few, it's called the Lake Erie Loop. The charity race is held once a year to benefit the Aluminum Cans for Burned Children Foundation, which provides services for pediatric burn victims.
The Lake Erie Loop (LEL) comes from rider and Ohio firefighter Bill Murar, who rode over 12,000 miles through the four corners of the US in 2003 to raise money for the ACBC Foundation. The 650 mile endurance run around Lake Erie, through 2 countries, takes place in a single day.
The "race" consists of two groups, bikes under 225cc competing for cash prizes, and unlimited bikes riding the same route for fun and support of both the riders and the charity. Within those groups there are separate classes based on engine size, with vintage bikes (older than 30 years) given an extra allowance of cc size.
- Unlimited 50s - Bikes that started out life at 50cc, along with vintage bikes up to 110cc.
- 125s - Bikes up to 125cc, and vintage bikes up to 160cc.
- 200s - 200cc and under bikes, vintage bikes up to 225cc, and any Cushman style scooter w/stock engine.
- Tourist - non-competion, no size limit, for those riding along for fun.
The race starts in Wellington, in northeast Ohio, and competitors can make the loop around Lake Erie in either direction, but are expected to pass through Detroit, Canada and Buffalo during the route.
Motorcyclist and writer Lance Liver has a really great write-up of what surviving the LEL is like.I've heard about the event a few times over the years, but never really thought about entering.
This year, I'm starting to get tempted to take part on my tiny little Yamaha Vino 125 scooter. Not to win any awards, but just to have somehow manage to make it around the lake and back in one piece, and in one day. Â My dream ride for this would be a Ural sidecar rig.
This year's LEL is scheduled for June 20th to 22nd, and more information can be had through the Lake Erie Loop Yahoo Group.
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123 months ago
@Agent3012... it's too bad there isn't a "forced route" to follow the lake "coast" - much nicer (albeit much longer) ride than the drone along the 401 through SW Ontario (especially from Windsor to Chatham and to London - flat, flat, flat...) So will you be participating? (Best way to avoid data fees is to turn off your phone... I have to do that in the US... or at least disable roaming and data services)
124 months ago
@Slyck255 Riders are free to take the route they choose, but start in Wellington, Ohio, then hit Detroit, cross through Canada, hit Buffalo, New York, and then back to Wellington. There are apparently a few checkpoints in those areas announced near the start of the race. http://bit.ly/1dO8bnk
My understanding is that most of the more serious competitors look for vintage bikes 225cc and under to take advantage of the highway, but that even the 125cc scoots will hang out in the far-right lane along the highway for much of the route.
124 months ago
I haven't checked all the links yet but is there a map of the route somewhere?
124 months ago
As for a cheap Canadian SIM card service, forgive me but "ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha". You're coming to one of the few countries that is more expensive than the US because we have almost zero oversight and competition. Your best bet would be Wind, but I'd also look at some of the prepaid travel SIMs you can get online.
124 months ago
That sounds like a blast and I'd ask Honda for a Grom, but they apparently can't keep them in stock...
124 months ago
Found a post on ADVRider from a gentleman that's done the last 2 years on a 2006 Vino 125. His final trip stats:
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Total miles 654.4
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Total time 13:38
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Overall average speed 48.0
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Overall moving speed 54.1
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Top speed 66.3 (wind and hills must have something to do with this!)
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Total moving time 12:06
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Total stopped time 1:32 (thanks to the toll gates and customs crossing)
I really must be crazy for considering this.
124 months ago
I just realized that a Grom would be the hilariously best bike for this race. Someone lend me one. Or a Ural. 😉
124 months ago
@marina @alex Any recommendations on either a cheap Canadian SIM card service or pre-paid phone that would make sense for an American looking to ride this "race" through Canada but avoiding the outrageous data fees our US providers want to soak us for?