Some 250 bike riders from far and near, first time event riders and riders with thousands of miles to their name, some on the fastest bikes and others who don’t even pedal, are coming to the 4th annual Bluffton Ride to Remember on Saturday, July 14.
 
Riders can choose routes from 2 miles to 112 miles on roads with scenic and historical interest. The Ride to Remember also provides rest areas, mobile rider support, an $8 meal coupon, showers and swimming.
 
As recreational cyclists will tell you, group rides boost the experience to another level. Route coordinator and cyclist Jim Walter explains, “There are a lot of very nice, lightly traveled roads in our area. And if you ride with a group, you’ll often find that you can ride further and more easily than you thought possible.”

The ride's Town Loop is a 2-mile tour of the village including downtown and the Bluffton University campus. The Fun Loop is 10 miles and has 10 riddle stops. The 63-mile Main Loop is the most scenic and has six shorter cut-off options. The Bold Loop is a separate 37-mile loop through the Village of Ada.
 
“It’s inspiring to see first-time riders and families, as well as the fittest, fastest riders,” notes Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Paula Scott. “You can see from their faces that it’s an exciting way to explore a new place and a new way to experience a familiar area.”
 
The event starts at Bluffton Family Recreation and ends at the adjacent Buckeye Park. Riders attempting the 112-mile Triplett Challenge, start as early as 6:30 a.m., when registration opens. The mass start with police escort is at 8 a.m. Grillers from The Dough Hook will be providing an opportunity to use food coupons at Buckeye Park from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. All rider support ends at 4 p.m.
 
Organizers in the Village of Bluffton have set their sights on improving cycling opportunities in this corner of northwest Ohio. A program of the Bluffton Lions Foundation, the Bluffton Ride to Remember helps fund a growing network of pathways in and around the village.
 
To register and to learn more about the Ride to Remember, visit RideToRemember.net. Registration materials can also be picked up at Bluffton Family Recreation, 215 Snider Rd. and at Bike Crazy LLC, 127 N. Main St., Bluffton.