There is an old thread about that that has two different but similar routes in detail. I'll let you do the searching.
2011-06-27 14:35:44
19
need route Pittsburgh to Cleveland (Lakewood)
Howdy. I will ride from Pittsburgh to Cleveland (Lakewood on the west side of things) on July 3rd. I know there is an adventure cycle route, but I dont have time to order that book. I am on a road bike and would like to stay on paved surfaces, so my Metroparks usage would be limited.
So far my plan is to ride toward Akron, and then the hiker/biker trail north toward Cleveland (cuz it is paved).
If there is a separate route, I'd like to know what you think.
2011-06-27 02:42:41
P-rob, I'm planning on riding up to Mentor on Saturday, 7/2 and riding back 7/3 or 7/4 if I grow a set, that's the plan anyways.
Two routes I've ridden the last 2 years below. The one from last year has 22 miles of paved trails noted on the page. Doing these routes would make it longer for you but if you went south east and hit rt 534 (in my map) your own way it would work out nicely. 51 isn't the best but has a large shoulder for most of the ride and a few miles of no shoulder and 60mph traffic which I've only experienced at sunrise going North with few cars.
2010: http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/35259118
2009:
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/7763110
2011-06-27 16:23:56
I believe that I have the adv-cycling maps.
xsteevox at gmail
2011-06-27 17:48:09
i just lied. Sorry. I dug around and only found the cleveland to ontario maps?????
much like my arkel panniers, lent them out and they were not returned.
2011-06-27 17:57:54
Ha, Liar! I don't have your panniers, but thanks for looking!
I will search around and check out the other routes that are posted. I've ridden Route 51 to Beaver and while there is some fast traffic it does have its certain qualities getting you to Ohio.
2011-06-28 02:01:39
Ah... I linked that 2010 route to the wrong map, sorry. I don't see an edit button on my post so here's my route from last year.
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/19271866
If I recall and after checking street view, there's a few miles on 51/Constitution Blvd near Aliquippa that I always tuck and don't slow down at all on. It would be nice to eliminate this. The shoulder actually looks like it disappears right after the Ambridge bridge going North. Then further north on 65 the shoulder looks like it vanishes on that route.
2011-06-28 03:06:35
If you take 51 I highly recommend not riding the construction zone between aliquippa and monaca. I went through on memorial day and your two options are the paved lane where there is not enough room for cars to pass and the torn up lane which is full of debris and holes. Go across the river on 65 or something.
2011-06-28 03:07:34
That makes it worse than when there isn't construction, thanks for the heads up. Are they adding a shoulder for us or perhaps a bike lane? 
2011-06-28 03:11:27
That would be nice... I'm not at all familiar with that part of 51 so I'm not sure what it was like. But with the construction you are hard against a curb and guardrail, with cones on the other side and the new pavement drops off. it is possible for a car to just barely squeeze by but after I let one do it, I decided I was not that trusting - too much to go wrong and absolutely nowhere to go. So I took the lane and periodically pulled over to the left to let cars pass which was only feasible due to light traffic. its a good 3-4 miles like that.
I don't know what 65 is like but it could not be worse.
2011-06-28 03:29:22
i have ridden this twice, i think there is a thread of my route on this thing somewhere, there is a valley road that can take you out of pittsburgh without a lot of climbing, then once oyu get into the ohio type geography (the lesser rolling hills) you can just cruise straight on through. there is also state bike route A which is OK but you do a lot more climbing than you need too. all i did was check out terrain maps and take valley roads NW, then once i was out of the serious climbing go straight north. i left early in the morning and was into solon OH before 4 without pushing too hard, it's a pretty easy ride.
2011-06-28 04:23:58
2011-06-28 04:32:07
i took a route that was something like that, i took neville island and 51 and not 65/376, i don't know how that ended up like that. i took a PAT bus as far out as i could be i don't remember which one. it took 8-9 hours
2011-06-28 04:34:35
To avoid some of the construction on 51, you can take it as far as Aliquippa and pick up Green Garden Rd over the ridge to Shippingport, then across the river to Midland, almost in Ohio. More climbing, but less traffic and road cones.
Dan G, DHD, and I went that way for the Cheese Ride a couple years back; I recall it being fairly pleasant.
2011-06-28 09:36:59
looking at google bike maps there are a couple trails on the way that might be a welcome addition
2011-06-28 12:28:21
Thanks Mark. When I was on the Pacific Crest Trail leaving Yosemite I ran into a ranger from Solon, OH. I had just been at their fireworks night for some reason or another and we both laughed at how freakishly long the whole event is. It was like 30 minutes of explosions!!
I am going to head west toward Akron, and then pick up a paved bike route from Akron that brings me up in the western neighborhoods of town where I am staying. Looking at your route there is Route 224 near Berlin Lake, which could be a fast 4 lane arterial, but might be bikeable. I will also be looking at other routes to Akron to fashion this together. Might even stop for pizza at Luigi's there!!
Hey Dan - I have not biked Green Garden Road. Will check out a map and see. My screen is better at work, and I will get there eventually to check out that route. Construction sucks.
Thanks for the heads up Salty. Since I do not drive anymore I am clueless as to where construction is outside of the City. I get the email notices from PennDOT, but how exciting are those? Not.
2011-06-28 12:34:57
stefb warned me about the construction but i thought, "meh, a little construction, how bad can it be?" i wish i had known reddan's route, that would have worked out for where i was going and i think i'll try it next time - looks hilly though?
2011-06-28 15:06:00
@salty: it is hilly, but never steep...pretty steady climbing as I recall. (Until you fall down the other side of the ridge and ride through the nuclear power plant, which is really pretty awesome to see up close.)
2011-06-28 16:01:47
I started on a Google route but found the Ohio state routes had good shoulders (clean and smooth) for the better part of the trip. I would stay on Route 14 next time all the way to Ravenna. Had about 5 miles total on crushed limestone and the rest was paved. My breaks were longer toward the end - since we stopped on Lake Erie at their city beach for some great ice cream. Not a bad ride at all.
Here is my route:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/97396860
2011-07-07 06:29:29