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. Other types of CIBA rides can be found at www.cibaride.org.
Grand Touring Ride Leader Guidelines
Grand Touring Maps & Cue Sheets
2010 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.
March
Grand Touring Weekend in Georgia/Alabama
Silver Comet and Chief Ladiga Trail Rides
Date: Saturday March 27 - 29, 2010
Start time: March 27, 12:00 pm
Start time: March 28, 9:00 am
Start time: March 29, 9:00 am
Start: Rome, GA
Ride Leaders: Walter & Emma Ambrosius (336-760-3410)
Route Length: About 30-40 miles each day
Directions to Start: Contact us by phone or at wambrosius@triad.rr.com for detailed directions. Rome, GA is about 8 hours from Indianapolis.
Ride Description: Rome, GA 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. We’ll ride along the Silver Comet Trail in western Georgia and the Chief Ladiga Trail in eastern Alabama (they connect at the state line). See links below for more information on these trails. The trails follow old railway beds, are somewhat level, and are paved. The ride will be an out-and-back so the distance can be easily modified to suit. We’re going to start a little later on Saturday to allow people to drive part way from Indianapolis on Friday and finish up the drive on Saturday morning. Please plan to bring all food and water for each day’s rides with you on the bike. We will try to find a restaurant or two but there may not be much open this time of year. Please also bring lights as we’ll be going through some old railroad tunnels. The tentative plan is to head east on the trail from Rockmart, GA on Saturday (going through Georgia Wildlife Management Area), head east or west from Piedmont, AL on Sunday, and west from Cedartown, GA on Monday.
Trail Information Links
http://www.pathfoundation.org/index.cfm?event=showSilverComet
http://silvercometmap.com/ has a nice Google map of both trails
http://www.silvercometga.com/
http://www.silvercometga.com/chief-ladiga-trail/index-ladiga.shtml
http://www.chiefladiga.com/
April
Metamora Redbud Ramble
Date: Saturday April 24, 2010
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.
Ride Description: 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 25, 2010
Start Time: 10:00 am
Start Location: Xenia, Ohio
Directions to start: 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@comcast.net
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
Eastern Brown County Dogwood Meander
Date: Saturday May 1, 2010
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
Ride Description: 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)
June
A Pleasant Tour of China and Switzerland
Date: Saturday June 5, 2010
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@comcast.net
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.
July
Summertime Hills Frolic
Date: Saturday July 17, 2010
Start time: 9:00 am
Ride Leaders: Randy and Connie Schmucker, 317-257-5607, 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: All new route in western Bartholomew county and eastern Brown county. Lots of shade. Wander and roll through the scenic hills around Beck's Grove, Pike's Peak and Rinnie Sietz. The lunch stop at Crouch’s market features hand-made sandwiches and homemade desserts. After rolling around Grandview Lake refresh yourself with ice cream and goodies at Dags.
Download
map/cuesheet ( PDF 888K)
September
Ride to Rabbit Hash
Date: Saturday, September 25, 2010
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
Columbus Fall Color Tour
Date: Saturday October 16, 2010
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
Ride Description: 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 1.22M)
November
Tour D'Greenways
Date: Saturday November 6, 2010
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 Street and Meridian Street 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
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.
We’ll grab
a bite to eat at “Bub’s” 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.