A
Grand Touring ride is a group social ride. Ride Leaders ride with the group
and provide directions and support to the riders. Routes are not marked.
Maps and/or Cue Sheets will be provided. Grand Touring rides are often at
remote locations an hour or more distant from Central Indiana and often focus
on festivals, museums, restaurants and other similar tourist attractions.
Grand Touring riders support local businesses
for food and facilities. Typically ten to twenty riders will attend a Grand
Touring ride. Riding is at a moderate pace and riders try to stay together.
Nobody is left by themselves unless that is what the rider wants.
Grand Touring Ride Philosophy: To emphasize the enjoyment of bicycling as a group and social activity and as a method to explore and discover Indiana and other destinations.
If the weather is not suitable for riding, Grand Touring ride leaders may cancel the ride since riders usually drive long distances to attend rides. Please contact the ride leader before leaving home if the weather looks questionable. Other types of CIBA rides can be found at www.cibaride.org.
Grand Touring Ride Leader Guidelines
Grand Touring Maps & Cue Sheets
Map and cue sheets are intended for individual personal use. If you would like to use the map and cue sheets for an organized event, please contact the ride leader.
2013 Grand Touring Ride Calendar
Note: Grand Touring Ride Leaders - This is the current information that I have for Grand Touring Rides. If a correction needs to be made or I need to add your ride, please contact me at rsdesign@ieee.org with your updates and I will be happy to add them to the Grand Touring Ride Calendar.
June
Far Eastern Indiana Grand Tour
Date: June 8, 2013
Ride Info: 10:00 am
Ride Leader: Jeff Markley, 765-238-1389, wm.j.markley@gmail.com
Route Length: 49 miles
Start Location: Williamsburg,IN: Parking at the Cardinal Greenway
trailhead. Restrooms and water available.
Directions to Start: East on Interstate
70 to exit #145, Centerville exit. North on Centerville Road. Drive 6 miles
to Williamsburg. After 4-way stop continue 1/4 mile to Cardinal Greenway
Trailhead. Park at the trailhead, port a potty at the trailhead, indoor restrooms
and water at Williamsburg Community Center.
Ride Description: This tour includes 17.5 miles of the beautiful Cardinal Greenway. Also features picturesque, winding, county roads past Amish Farms with stops at historic Dodderidge Chapel/Cemetery, and Abington general store. We will follow the Whitewater Valley north, climbing out of Abington toward Richmond. We will pick up the Cardinal Greenway at it's southern terminus and ride to the Greenway Cafe for a lunch break. After lunch, we will follow the Greenway back to the Williamsburg trailhead. Contact the ride leader if weather is questionable before making the trip.
July
Summertime Hills Frolic
Date: Saturday, July 20, 2013
Start Time: 9:00 am
Ride Leaders: Randy and Connie Schmucker, 317-257-5607, 317-777-9630, rsdesign@ieee.org
Route Lengths: 36 and 49 miles - hilly terrain
Start Location: Columbus, IN: Jay C Food parking lot - SR 46 & Goeller
Rd
Directions to start: I-65 South. Exit west on SR 46, go 0.5 miles, turn right
at light, Goeller Rd, into parking lot
Ride Description: Wander and roll through the scenic hills and views around Beck's Grove, Pike's Peak and Rinnie Sietz in western Bartholomew county and eastern Brown county. There will be lots of shade. The lunch stop at Crouch’s market features handmade sandwiches and homemade desserts. After rolling around Grandview Lake refresh yourself with ice cream and goodies at Dags. Contact Ride Leaders if the weather is questionable before making the trip.
August
Grand Touring Camping Weekend in Madison Indiana
Bikes, Blues, and Barbecue…
(Note: Details may change.)
Date: August 16 - 18, 2013
Start Time: 9:30am ride on Saturday and 10:00am on Sunday
Start Location: Clifty Falls State Park (entrance fee for park)
Ride Leaders: Kerry and Pam Knipp kpknipp@sbcglobal.net 317-546-8209
home 317-796-8004 cell
Ride Length: 50 miles
Directions: Take I 65 South to SR 256. Go east about 20 miles to SR 62. Go
left (north) 2.5 miles to Park Entrance and turn right. (Approximately 1.5
- 2 hour drive from Indy)
Ride Description: Join us for the Madison Ribberfest with headliner Blues Legend, Kenny Wayne Shepherd on Saturday night! Camping, Grand Touring, Barbeque, Blues Bash, too much fun for any one weekend. Join us for an action packed weekend for the entire family. It’s a camping ride. It’s a touring ride and a whole lot more. Come for all or any of the activities. Contact Ride Leaders if the weather is questionable before making the trip.
Friday, August 16
Drive down after work and camp or stay at a local B&B. Get a good night’s
sleep or go to the first night of the Ribberfest. NOTE: There are only 165
total campsites [59 primitive] in the Park. Reservations have been made and
paid for by Ciba with three non electric sites. Contact ride leader Kerry
Knipp if interested in using one of these sites. Campsite parking passes
will not be available until ride leaders check-in, but with a reservation
number you will be allowed to set up.
(www.indiana.reserveworld.com)
Saturday, August 17, 9:30 am departure
Start the weekend on Saturday morning from Clifty Falls State Park at the
campground parking lot at 9:30 am, www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2985.htm,
for a nice 50 mile hilly ride (similar route as “A Pleasant Tour
of China”) in the Madison area. (Think Hilly Hundred effort!) Work
up an appetite to PIG OUT at the Madison Ribberfest Barbecue, Blues and
Balloons Festival. Check out some great blues acts as well as some of the
best BBQ this side of the Mississippi. [Bring your lawn chairs!] Entrance
fees for Barbecue and Blues fest: purchase your tickets for $20.00 for
both nights by July 31st to receive $10.00 in food coupons. Cost of ticket
on same day of event is $20.00. www.madisonribberfest.com
Stay the night in the Madison area by camping at Clifty Falls State park or pamper yourself to one of the charming B&B’s in the Madison area. www.visitmadison.org
Sunday, August 18, 10:00 am departure
Start ride at Clifty Falls State Park at 10:00 am at the main north gate
for a leisurely 40 mile flat to rolling ride. The highlight of today’s
ride will be at the lunch stop, Streamcliff Herb Farm, www.streamclifffarm.com,
Indiana’s oldest herb Farm in the Sprigs and Twigs Tea Room. All
items found on the menu are created using herbs from our gardens. As a
special touch they garnish each plate with an edible flower or herb. After
lunch, stroll through their many different gardens or browse their gift
shops. Reservations will be for 12:00 pm (right when they open) and are
strongly suggested. Please email to let us know if you plan on coming so
we can make sure we have enough for the group OR Stay back at Clifty Falls
and enjoy one of the many hiking trails the park has to offer.
Labor Day Weekend Triple Header + One
Date: August 30 & 31, Septmeber 1, 2013
Start Time: See each day's description
Ride Leaders: Warren Smock, 317-417-3961, warsmockren@hotmail.com
Joe Hettle, 317-496-5516, jhettle@gmail.com
Ride Lengths: 20 - 50 miles
Start Location: Holiday Inn Express, 249 Federal Drive NW, Corydon, IN 47112.
Phone: 812-738-1623
Directions: (From Indianapolis)
- I-65 south to I-265
- I-264 west to 1-64
- I-64 west to exit 105 (SR 135)
- Take exit 105, and then turn right on IN. St Rd.135.
- Right on Federal Drive NW, very near the Super Wal-Mart.
Hotel Arrangements: I have a block of 10 rooms on hold at the Holiday Inn
Express with a special rate of $ 81.00 per night. You must make your own
reservation and mention Central Indiana Bicycling Association or CBA to get
the special rate. The hotel will hold these rooms until August 19th. Their
web site is www.hiexpress.com/hotels/us/en/corydon/cydin/hoteldetail.
Most major chains also have hotels within a reasonable distance of the start.
Ride Description: This will be four days of bicycling in southern Indiana. Distances will be about 50 miles with shorter options. Monday’s ride will be a little shorter, 35 to 40, to allow an early start for the drive home. There will be three days and different road rides; see below. All road bicycling will be on good roads with many ripples and a few larger bumps and a couple of hills.
RSVP, although not required, would be appreciated so I have some idea of how many are coming.
Many other recreational opportunities exist in the area if you want to come down and not ride all four days.
Friday: A short ride evening ride from the hotel for ice cream and
maybe dinner.
Saturday: Details to follows but plan on about 50 miles with shorter
cut offs available.
Sunday: Ride will take us to Turtle Run Winery Tour 50 miles (+
or -) with a shorter option available.
Monday: Short morning ride of 30 to 40 miles to get us back
to Hotel for a late check out and showers before heading for home.
Additional details of the ride available in mid summer.
September
Metamora Mystery Ride (Title TBA)
Date: Saturday, September 7, 2013
Start Time: TBA
Ride Leaders: Randy and Connie Schmucker, 317-257-5607, cell: 317-777-9630, rsdesign@ieee.org
Route Lengths: TBA
Start Location: Metamora, IN: Visitor parking, (Public Restrooms on top
of the hill)
entry sign to parking lot reads
“ Whitewater Canal State Historic Site Indiana State Museum System Visitor
Parking”
Directions to Start: From I-465, take I-74 east. Turn left on south S.R. 229. Turn right on east S.R. 52. In Metamora turn right on Duck Creek Rd and follow 2 blocks to parking lot.
Ride Description: TBA (What did you expect for a mystery ride.)
Greencastle Grand Tour
Date: Sunday, September 22, 2013
Start Time: 10:00 am
Ride Leaders: Joe Nelson, 765-795-4481 cell: 610-7453, jdn@ccrtc.com
Dave Hall, 317-787-9150 cell: 446-8804, dhall18@indy.rr.com
Route length: 45 miles
Start Location: Greencastle High School
Directions to Start: From Indy, take I-70 west to the Cloverdale Exit 41.
Turn North(right) onto
Highway 231. Take Highway 231 into Greencastle and watch for Highway IN 240.
Turn right onto IN 240 and go to Percy Julian Dr. Turn left onto Percy Julian
Dr. The high school is about 1/2 mile on the left. Allow about 1 to 1 1/2
hours for drive from Indy.
Route Description: This ride leaves Greencastle and travels the backroads of Putnam and Hendricks counties with visits to the small towns of Fillmore and Amo. We will stop for snacks and rest at the Amo general store. The ride will leave Amo behind and head for the recreation area of Heritage Lake and another snack and rest stop at the local marina. From the marina, we will make our way back to the start in Greencastle. Route is moderately hilly with long, flat stretches in between - no killer hills - and light motor vehicle traffic. Contact Ride Leaders if the weather is questionable before making the trip.
Ride to Rabbit Hash
Date: Saturday, September 28, 2013
Starting Time: 10:00 am
Ride Leaders: Randy and Connie Schmucker, 317-257-5607, cell: 317-777-9630, rsdesign@ieee.org
Route Lengths: 45 miles - hilly terrain
Start Location: Central Park - Burlington, KY
Directions: I-74 East to I-275 South to KY 237 (Exit 8) South for 9 miles
to Central Park. KY 237 becomes Camp Ernst Road at KY 18. On Camp Ernst
Road follow the Central Park signs to the park. Approximately 2 hour drive
from Indianapolis. Burlington, KY is a little southwest of Cincinnati,
OH.
Ride Description: Scenic river views! Never heard of Rabbit Hash? Rabbit Hash is right across the river from Rising Sun! That doesn't help either? Then you've got to ride this ride! The Ride to Rabbit Hash rolls, climbs (an occasional power gear (the small chain ring!) hill) and provides scenic vistas of the Ohio River. Naturally, we'll visit Rabbit Hash and it's 1830 General Store. Also, this ride takes in the scenic area where Giant Mammoths and other "really" big creatures used to roam and the bison still roam. After the ride we'll stop for Cincinnati style chili. Contact Ride Leaders if the weather is questionable before making the trip.
October
Columbus Fall Color Tour
Date: Saturday, October 12, 2013
Start Time: 10:00 am
Ride Leaders: Randy and Connie Schmucker, 317-257-5607, cell: 317-777-9630, rsdesign@ieee.org
Route Lengths: 36 and 50 miles - hilly terrain
Start Location: Columbus, IN: Jay C Food parking lot - SR 46 & Goeller
Rd
Directions to start: I-65 South. Exit west on SR 46, go 0.5 miles, turn right
at light, Goeller Rd, into parking lot
Ride Description: Ride Bicycle Magazine's "Best Ride In Indiana". Enjoy the fall color in the hills of western Bartholomew County and eastern Brown County. The lunch stop at Crouch’s market features handmade sandwiches and homemade desserts. This ride will meander through Grandview Lake, Pikes Peak, Hoosier National Forest and other Indiana back road delights. There will be a few more hills than the spring version for the now well-conditioned legs. After the ride we will stop at Dags for ice cream! Contact Ride Leaders if the weather is questionable before making the trip.
November
Tour D'Greenways
Date: Saturday November 2, 2013
Start Time: 11:00 a.m.
Ride Leader: Dan and Mary Ann Shields, 317-750-5933, ddshields@comcast.net
Ride Lengths: 36 miles (optional short distance 1 to 25 miles)
Start Location: Monon Trail Parking Area -- Rohrer Rd., ½ mile west
and south of the 146th Street and Meridian Street intersection, Carmel
Directions: Take I-465 on the north side of Indianapolis to the US 31 (Meridian
Street) exit. Go north on US 31 to the stoplight at 136th Street (Old Meridian
Street on the right). Turn left, then immediately right onto Rohrer Rd. Proceed
past the O’Malia’s grocery and shopping center about one mile
to the trailhead on the right. From the far north side, proceed south on
US 31 (Meridian Street) to 146th Street Turn right, then after ½ mile,
turn left on Rohrer Rd. Trailhead will be less than a ½ mile on your
left.
Ride Description: Come take a tour of the Indy Greenways! We’ll ride
together in a relaxed Grand Touring pace and enjoy the scenery that only
our Greenways can offer. The main route is a loop with segments on three
different Greenways trails comprising almost all of the total route mileage.
Halfway through the ride, we will have a rest stop at White River Gardens
(cookies! apples! cider! hot chocolate! coffee!). We’ll grab a bite
to eat at “Detour Grille” on the Monon Trail (just north of Carmel’s
Main Street), about one mile before the end of the ride.
The optional short distances (1 to 25 miles) are simply an out-and-back on
the Monon Trail as far as you care to go. Example round trip distances are
12 miles to the ice cream shop at 86th Street; 17 miles to the cafes and
restaurants in Broad Ripple; and 25 miles to Fall Creek Parkway. Contact
Ride Leaders if the weather is questionable before making the trip.