Bluffton will be a one-day biker's paradise in June.
Bill Gordon, director of The 27th Annual Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure (GOBA),
announced today that the 2015 tour, June 20-27, will feature a route in the northwestern
quadrant of Ohio, including an overnight stop in Bluffton.
WATCH THE VIDEO AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS STORY.
The expected 2,500 riders will start gathering for the tour on Saturday, June 20, at the Van Wert County Fairgrounds in Van Wert.
They will begin cycling on Sunday, June 20, covering an average of 50 miles per day, and
• will overnight in Bluffton on Sunday,
• Defiance on Monday and Tuesday,
• Bowling Green on Wednesday and Thursday,
• Ottawa on Friday,
• and will return to Van Wert on Saturday, June 27.
The week will include the traditional bicycle parade and the gala opening ceremonies in Van Wert; family-oriented entertainment each night; two layover days offering bicycle loops of 50- or 100-miles to Sauder Village, Port Clinton, Elmore Historic Train Depot and Schedel Gardens; swimming, and...
Optional excursions to Put-in-Bay, with a fast ride on Lake Erie aboard the Jet Express to the island delights, including Perry’s Monument, Crystal Cave, trolley rides, and Heinemans Winery, or a visit to Sauder Village and the Dum Dum Sucker factory; and the ever-popular GOBA Song Contest.
"The 2015 GOBA tour will as usual feature educational elements along with the fun
activities. And since we will be overnighting in three of Ohio’s college towns, that leads us to this year’s theme: ‘GOBA U, Where You Can Get Your Cycology Major’,” Gordon said.
Held annually in June, GOBA features bicycle touring at a leisurely pace, for approximately 50 miles per day for one week.
This will be the 27th year for GOBA. The tour is owned and organized by Columbus Outdoor Pursuits, a non-profit organization, for the benefit of bicycle-related projects in Ohio.
In 2014, 2,000 people from 38 states; the District of Columbia; Japan; Taiwan; and Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec, Canada, took part in the tour. Included in this number were many families: nearly 20% of the participants are children traveling with their parents, making GOBA the largest family-oriented bicycle tour in the world.
Over the past 26 years GOBA has been instrumental in generating nearly $10 million in tourism revenues in the towns along the route, as well as in providing access to Ohio's rural treasures to people from all over the country.
"The people of the host towns of GOBA 2015 are eagerly awaiting the riders' arrival. Many of them have had the GOBA experience in previous years and have enjoyed showing the best their towns had to offer.
And the terrain in northwest Ohio is equally hospitable, making this event a real draw for
families wanting a memorable vacation together,” Gordon said.
Those interested in receiving registration information and tour details can request a
brochure by calling 614-273-0811, or by visiting the website at www.goba.com.
Brochures will also be available by February in many Ohio bicycle shops. Advance registration is required with a deadline of May 20, 2015.
