Bluffton becomes the capital of bicycling in Ohio on Saturday.

It’s the 3rd annual Ride to Remember bicycle event, and takes bike riders as far they want to go – from 2 miles to a 112-mile Gran Fondo.

ROUTE MAPS AT BOTTOM OF THIS STORY -

There’s still time for Icon viewers to registers to ride one of the many route options. In fact, two of the benefits riders receive include:
• an $8 off coupon at your choice of eight Bluffton places to eat, plus
• free admission to the Bluffton Community Swimming Pool.
• (See details at the bottom of this story.)

Riders from past year’s come from across Ohio and neighboring states.

The ride supports the Bluffton Lions Foundation’s bike and pedestrian pathway project which, when competed, will encircle the entire the village of Bluffton.

Each year the ride grows. The first ride had 100 participants. Last year it had 150.

Riders may start whenever they wish. A mass start, with police escort, through the village of Bluffton is at 8 a.m.

The ride has four loops, plus a 112-mile challenge.
• Triplett Challenge of 112 miles has a 7 a.m. optional group start. Riders completing the challenge receive a certificate of proof of the ride.
• Main loop has distances of 63 miles with cut-offs at 13, 18, 23, 40, 50 and 56 miles.
• Bold loop is 100-miles. 
• Fun loop of 10 miles is for families and those new to cycling. It offers 10 locations with arrows pointing towards something. Riders are to match a riddle with those locations. Two portions of the loop are on Bluffton bike paths. 
• Town loop of 2 miles is for riders who want to see Bluffton University or for the triathlete who wants a run after the ride followed by some laps in the pool.

Rest stops
• Snacks, drinks and rest rooms provided at rest stops.
• One stop on the Bold loop, three on Main loop for 40, 50, 56 and 63-mile riders.
• Town park with water and restrooms for 50, 56 and 63-mile riders.
• Rest stop at finish for all loops.

Navigation
• White arrows painted on roads at all intersections. At least one arrow prior to each intersection and a single arrow after.
• Signs posted where loops separate and at all cut-offs.
• Maps given at check-in for all riders.
• Large maps posted at registration and rest stops.

Ride headquarters
Bluffton Family Recreation, 215 Snider Road, hosts registration on the morning of the ride. The ride’s end is next door at the Bluffton Community Swimming Pool. Parking is available at BFR.

At the ride’s end is an optional lunch provided by The Dough Hook, a Bluffton Main Street deli. Jim Boedicker, local musician, performs for riders at the ride’s end.

Registration
Registration is $25 for one rider, $20 for the second family member and $5 for each additional family member.

Registration is now underway CLICK HERE TO REGISTER, or go to www.ridetoremember.net. Registration can also take place the day of the ride.

Registration includes:
• Lightweight bag/backpack (for the first 200 registered riders)
• Snacks at rest stops and finish
• Roaming vehicles for repairs and rider pick-up
• Pass to Bluffton swimming pool after ride
• Shower at Bluffton Family Recreation
• Coupon for up to $8 off at local eateries after ride

Coupon participants are:
• Bluffton Dari Freeze
• China Wok
• Twisted Whisk Café
• Luke’s Bar and Grill
• Padrone’s Pizza
• Shirley’s Gourmet Popcorn Co.
• Lu Lu’s
• Campito Lindo Mexican Restaurant

There’s never a dull moment for bikers:

With the help of some clever statements – remember Burma Shave signs? – bike riders will find many chuckles along bike routes.

“Boomer” bikers will understand; younger bikers will catch on quickly.

Along the Ride to Remember bike routes bikers will discover several signs posted one after the other with some crazy punch lines. The statements follow the classic Americana Burma-Shave sign tradition.

Burma-Shave was an American brand of brushless shaving cream, famous for its advertising gimmick of posting humorous rhyming poems on small sequential highway roadside signs.

Bill Triplett came up with the sign idea for the Ride to Remember and it quickly caught the attention of bikers on the first two rides.

Here are a couple samples, in case you still don’t get it:

A typical Burma-Shave statement, covering six signs in all, might read:
A man a miss
A car – a curve
He kissed the miss
and missed
the curve
Burma Shave

The Ride planners won’t give all their secrets away, but here’s a couple signs planted along this year’s ride route:

A bad attitude is like…
A flat tire…
You can’t go anywhere until…
You change it!