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.
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.
Grand Touring Ride Leader Guidelines
2008 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.
August
Grand Touring Camping Weekend in Madison Indiana
Bikes, Blues, and Barbecue…
Date/Time: August 15-17, 2008
Start Time:
9:30 am ride on Saturday and 10:00 am on Sunday
Start Location: Clifty Falls State Park North Entrance (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: Camping, Grand Touring, Barbeque, Blues Bash, Balloon
Race; 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.
Friday, August 15th
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 recommended. www.indiana.reserveworld.com
Saturday, August 16th 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/properties/park_cliftyfalls.html 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 the headliner, Johnny Winter and many more
great blues acts as well as some of the best BBQ this side of the Mississippi.
[Bring your lawn chairs!] Relax and enjoy a beautiful balloon race on the
Ohio River at 6pm. Entrance fees for Barbecue and Blues fest. Purchase
your tickets before August 1st for free food coupons. 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 17th 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.
September
14th Annual Ride to Rabbit Hash
Date: Saturday, September 27, 2008
Starting Time: 10:00 am
Ride Leaders: Randy and Connie Schmucker, 317-257-5607, 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.
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.
Download map/cuesheet ( PDF 648K)
October
9th Annual Columbus Fall Color Tour
Date: Saturday October 11, 2008
Start time: 9:30 am
Ride Leaders: Randy and Connie Schmucker, 317-257-5607, 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
Description of ride: Enjoy the fall color in the hills of western Bartholomew County and eastern Brown County. The lunch stop at Crouch’s market features hand-made 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.
Download map/cuesheet ( PDF 642K)
Great Indy Donut Ride
Date: Saturday October 25, 2008
Ride Leader:
Joe Hettle, 317-496-5516,
joe_hettle@hotmail.com
November
Nineth Annual Tour D'Greenways
Date: Saturday November 1, 2008
Start Time: 11:00 a.m.
Ride Leader:
Dan and Mary Ann
Shields, 317-750-5933, ddshields@comcast.net
Start Location: Monon Trail Parking Area -- Rohrer Rd., ½ mile
west and south of the 146th St. and Meridian St. intersection, Carmel
Ride Lengths: 36 miles (optional short distance 1 to 25 miles)
Directions: Take I-465 on the north side of Indianapolis to the US 31 (Meridian
St.) exit. Go north on US 31 to the stoplight at 136th St. (Old Meridian
St. 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 St.) to 146th St. Turn right, then after ½ mile, turn
left on Rohrer Rd. Trailhead will be less than a ½ mile on your left.
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. We’ll grab
a bite to eat at “Bub’s” on the Monon Trail (just north
of Carmel’s Main St.), 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 St.; 17 miles to the cafes and restaurants
in Broad Ripple; and 25 miles to Fall Creek Pkwy.
Download map/cuesheet ( PDF 17K)
The following rides have already occurred in 2008. These rides are listed as place holders for 2009. Grand Touring Rides typically are repeated at about the same time each year. Ride dates will change slightly if the ride is held for 2009.
March
Grand Touring Weekend in Virginia
New River Trail Ride
Date: Saturday March 29, 2008
Start Time: 12:00 pm
Ride Leaders: Walter Ambrosius and Leslie Underwood -- 336-760-3410, wambrosius@triad.rr.com
Ride Length: About 25 miles
Start Location: Near Wytheville, VA
Directions: Contact us by phone or at wambrosius@triad.rr.com for
detailed directions. Wytheville, VA is about 7.5 hours from Indianapolis.
Description: Wytheville, Virginia will be our base for the weekend. If
you would like to attend the ride, please contact the ride leader so that
you can get the motel information and directions. We’ll ride along
the New River Trail in Southwestern Virginia. The trails follows an old
railway bed and is quite level. You’ll want to bring wider tires
as it is not paved. The ride will be an out-and-back so the distance can
be easily modified to suit. See www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/new.shtml for
more information on the trial. We’re going to start a little later
this year to allow people to drive part way from Indianapolis on Friday
and finish up the drive on Saturday morning.
Virginia Creeper Ride
Date: Sunday March 30, 2008
Start Time: 9:00 am
Start Location: Abingdon, VA
Ride Leaders: Walter Ambrosius & Leslie Underwood (336-760-3410), wambrosius@triad.rr.com
Ride Length: About 25 miles
Directions: Contact us by phone or at wambrosius@triad.rr.com for
detailed directions. Wytheville, VA is about 7.5 hours from Indianapolis.
Description: Today we’ll ride on the Virginia Creeper Trail. This
is another rail trail in Southwest Virginia. The grade is mostly flat at
this end of the trail. We’ll do another out-and-back so the mileage
can be adjusted to suit. See www.vacreepertrail.com for
more information on the Creeper Trail. An elevation profile is available
at www.vacreepertrail.com/trailMaps/CreeperTrail.pdf.
Consensus Ride
Date: Monday March 31, 2008
Start Time: 9:00 am
Start Location: Near Wytheville, VA
Ride Leaders: Walter Ambrosius & Leslie Underwood (336-760-3410), wambrosius@triad.rr.com
Ride Length: About 25 miles
Directions: Contact us by phone or at wambrosius@triad.rr.com for
detailed directions.
Description: One last ride in Virginia. We’ll adjust the exact start
location to suit the riders who plan to attend. Perhaps another section
on the New River Trail or ???
April
10th Annual Metamora Redbud Ramble
Date: Saturday April 26, 2008
Start time: 9:30 am
Ride Leaders: Randy and Connie Schmucker, 317-257-5607, rsdesign@ieee.org
Route Lengths: 26 and 48 miles - hilly terrain
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 east S.R. 244. Turn right on east S.R. 52. In Metamora turn right on Duck Creek Rd and follow 2 blocks to parking lot.
Description of Ride: This tour takes in the scenic Whitewater River valley and hills in scenic southeastern Indiana while the redbuds are in full bloom. Metamora is one of the villages on the historic Whitewater canal and the Duck Creek Aqueduct can still be seen as well as portions of the canal. You can even take a ride on the canal. If shopping is your pleasure, after the ride we’ll go feast in one of the many restaurants and then shop until you drop at the abundant craft houses.
Download map/cuesheet ( PDF 615K)
Little Miami Meander
Date: Sunday April 27, 2008
Start Time: 9:00 am
Start Location: Xenia, Ohio
The Old Xenia Train Station. In Xenia, the Station is south of the courthouse
on US 68, across a small bridge and then to the right.
Ride Leaders: Sheldon and Martha Hall, 317-462-4209 or 317-403-1081, hallherin@insightbb.com
Ride Length: 55 miles
Ride Description: Once again, we will leave Xenia Station and head south with whistle stops at Corwin and Oregonia, and a “layover” at Morrow for lunch. We’ll pass under the I-71 bridge and wander along the Little Miami River on this Rail-to-Trail. It’s flat, but you can see great hills to climb. Contact ride-leaders if the weather is questionable (rainy and/or cold) before making the trip to Ohio. If the wind speed is high, route will change to which ever Xenia trail that has the headwind going out and a tailwind to push us back into the station.
May
9th Annual Eastern Brown County Dogwood Meander
Date: Saturday May 3, 2008
Start time: 9:30 am
Ride Leaders: Randy and Connie Schmucker, 317-257-5607, 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
Description of ride: Enjoy a nice spring day with the dogwoods and spring flowers in full bloom in the hills of western Bartholomew County and eastern Brown County. This ride will meander through Grandview Lake, Pikes Peak, Hoosier National Forest, other Indiana back road delights and a stop at Crouch’s market for lunch.
Download map/cuesheet ( PDF 292K)
Warren’s Wonderful Williamsport Waterfall Ride
Date: Saturday May 10, 2008
Start Time: 10:00 am
Start Location: West – Covington, IN
IGA Parking Lot on the West side of the Town Square.
Ride Lengths: Approx 50 miles with shorter options available
Ride Leader; Warren Smock warsmockren@hotmail.com 317-872-8809
Directions: From the Junction of I-465 on the west side of Indianapolis
(Speedway) go west on I-74 to the Covington Exit 8 Approx 75 miles from
Indianapolis. Take Covington Exit 8 and go North to Covington. Left on
Liberty, and follow to the town square.
Description: We’ll leave Covington and ride into Attica via a covered
bridge and proceed to Williamsport via a covered bridge to see the arguably
the highest waterfall in Indiana. On the return trip we will ride to Fountain
home of the Portland Arch.
After the Ride: For those interested we will drive approximately 5 miles
to the Beef House for dinner before heading back to Indy.
Notice: In case of extreme weather conditions Contact the ride reader to
be sure the event is still going to be held. warsmockren@hotmail.com or
317-872-8809
14th Annual Red River Gorge Ride
Date: Monday May 26, 2008
Start Time: 9:30 am
Ride Leaders: Randy and Connie Schmucker, 317-257-5607, rsdesign@ieee.org
Ride Length: 38 miles - hilly terrain
Start Location: Sky Lift parking lot in Natural Bridge State Park, Slade, Kentucky, about 4 hours south of Indianapolis. Take I-75 south from Cincinnati to I-64 east at Lexington, Kentucky; at Mountain Parkway go south for about 30 miles and follow signs to Natural Bridge State Park.
If you are going to the Horsey 100 in Georgetown, Kentucky this year, join us for a 38 mile ride through Daniel Boone National Forest and the NADA tunnel with great scenery, hills, and a nice gradual six mile downhill for the finale. You need lights to traverse the NADA tunnel (lights or flashlight). No sags, self-contained with few stores on the route. Contact Connie and Randy Schmucker for motel and camping information.
P.S. Bring your hiking shoes. If it rains, we'll go hiking instead.
Download map/cuesheet ( PDF 989K)
June
A Pleasant Tour of China and Switzerland
Date/Time: Saturday June 7, 2008
Start Time: 9:00 am
Start Location: Madison, Indiana - Ivy Tech State College -- 590 Ivy Tech
Dr.
Ride Leaders: Martha and Sheldon Hall, 317-462-4209 or 317-403-1081, hallherin@insightbb.com
Ride Lengths: 48 miles (hilly terrain)
Directions: Take I-74 east to Greensburg, exit number 132. Take US 421
south to Madison. Turn right on SR 62 to Ivy Tech State College.
Ride Description: Join us in late Spring for one of the most scenic rides in Indiana. The seclusion, streams, hills, and views from overlooks make for a great ride. Bring your granny gears for the four, long, steep climbs. In the past, we have visited up to four country stores, but we never know how many will still be open. Be prepared to carry food and drink on the bike to make it through the ride. Contact ride-leaders if the weather is questionable before making the trip to Madison.