What’s your bike skill level?

This year’s third annual Ride to Remember (Saturday, July 8) offers routes for the novice, families with young children, intermediate routes and, believe it or not, 112 mile route.

The Icon provides route maps at the bottom of this story for:
• 2-mile (town loop)
Intended for bikers interested in a morning cruise around Bluffton.
• 10-mile (fun loop)
Intended for families and those new to cycling. There are 10 places along the route with arrows pointing towards something. Riders are to match a riddle with those locations. Two portions of the loop are on Bluffton bike paths.This would also be a fun and easy second loop to ride following lunch in town.
• 37-mile (bold loop)
For those wanting a 100 mile day. It is 37 miles long and will give the rider 100 miles when combined with the full Main Loop.  his loop must be ridden first with the last start at 8 a.m. For those wanting a quick 37 miles, it can be ridden without riding the Main Loop. There are no short cut options and only one rest stop.
• 63-mile (main loop) routes
Recommended for recreational riders. It is the most scenic and offers a variety of distances. The full loop is 63 miles but there are cut-offs at 13, 18, 23, 40, 50 and 56 miles for all ability levels.

And then - are you crazy! - there's the Grand Fondo - last year 12 riders completed it! Here's how that ride works:

• The Triplett Challenge (The Big Ride)
With 112 miles of marked routes we wondered who, if any, can ride all those miles on a July day.

Things like heat, wind, and rain can make this very difficult. Also there is a time element as the routes are only open from 6:30 to 4 p.m. With that thinking, The Triplett Challenge was created in 2016.

It was intended as a reach out goal for those long distance riders needing a new challenge.  And those riders who completed the 4 loops (2 mile Town Loop, 10 mile Fun Loop, 37 mile Bold Loop and 63 mile Main Loop) would receive a personalized, framed certificate of completion.  ​

It is the Ride to Remember’s Big Ride (Gran Fondo).  With July being a difficult time to ride 112 miles, why not ride with others and encourage each other through the miles?

Or, if you intend to ride 100 miles, consider joining the group and then waving them good-bye from the shade of a tree as they head out for the last 12 miles.

In 2016 13 riders entered. All completed the 112 miles and received their certificates.  ​Will you be one of the elite in 2017?

Challenge details
• At check-in, riders must state that they want to accept the Triplett Challenge
• These riders will receive a 'time card' that they must carry the entire day
• At the start and finish of each loop and at each rest stop, they must get the time entered and initialized by a registration or rest stop worker
• Pictures of the riders and their bikes will be taken immediately after check-in and used for the personalized certificate of completion
• There is an optional group start at 7 a.m.
• Upon completing the 112 miles, each rider will earn the title of a Quad-Loopie and receive the certificate of proof
• The loops can be ridden in any order although the last start for the Bold Loop is 8 a.m. and Main Loop is 10:30 a.m.
• Riders must complete the entire distance by 4 p.m.
• There is no additional cost for the Triplett Challenge

Registration
Registration is now underway at www.ridetoremember.net. Ride registration by June 30 is $20 for one rider, $15 for the second family member and $5 for each additional family member. Those fees increase by $5 starting July 1.

Registration can also take place the day of the ride or by mail at:
Bluffton Family Recreation, 2015 Snider Road, Bluffton, OH 45817.