September Cycling Events

By Barbara Day

If you are a recreational or competitive cyclist, September is definitely the month to be in the Kentuckiana area. There are three local bike tours where you are guaranteed to see some of the most scenic countryside Kentuckiana has to offer and experience the rolling hills in fall colors while making some great friendships.

LOUISVILLE BICYCLE CLUB'S ANNUAL OLD KENTUCKY HOME BICYCLE TOUR

The Old Kentucky Home Bicycle Tour, sponsored by the Louisville Bicycle Club, will bring 1,200 bicyclists from Louisville to Bardstown on September 6 and 7. This is the 27 th year for the bicycle tour. Cyclists will travel from Louisville to Bardstown by backcountry roads on routes of 50, 62 and 102 miles. All riders will return to Louisville on Sunday by a 55-mile route. The registration fee is $40, $35 for children under 12, $25 for the one-day ride. Add $20 to the registration fee if you want to participate in the 102-mile time trial.

"In addition to riders from Kentucky, participants will be coming from as far away as California, Texas and New Jersey to ride with us. Kentucky is still one of the best places in the U.S. to see unspoiled country," said Earl Jones, president of the Louisville Bicycle Club. "And there isn't a better destination than Bardstown." Riders will make stops along the way for food and refreshments and will go through Waterford, Fairfield, Bloomfield, Willisburg and Springfield.

Spalding Hall and Bardstown High School will again be the destination for this year's tour. Tour director Kathy Schmitt says that this year's ride will not only surpass previous participation levels but will also add some new elements. "Everyone enjoys being at Spalding Hall and visiting the other sights in downtown," said Schmitt. "People in Bardstown make the cyclists feel welcome. We'd like to reciprocate by inviting everyone to join us for a concert by the Juggernaut Jug Band starting at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday evening at Spalding Hall."

One of the new events will be the race-against-the-clock for semi-pro and professional bicycle racers competing for the fastest time to complete the 102-mile route. "Last year's fastest individual winner was Chris Heintz, who made the trip in four hours and 58 minutes," said Schmitt. "We'll see if anyone can beat those records this year."

Contact Kathy Schmitt for more information: (502) 561-4779. Or visit our website at www.okht.org.

The American Lung Association's annual Bike Trek to Shakertown, sponsored by Kindred Healthcare, is on a roll with registration already well underway for the autumn bicycle tour, which is slated for September 13-15, 2003. Considered a premier cycling event in Kentucky, the bike trek features spectacular countryside, historic landmarks, first-class service and a choice of routes for different ability levels.

Old Ft. Harrod State Park in Harrodsburg serves as the start and end point for the event. On Saturday, September 13 the first day's ride will culminate at Danville's Pioneer Playhouse, which will provide hot meals and lodging for the group. Massage therapists will be on hand to soothe tired muscles. After dinner, Don Burch, owner of Quest Outdoors in Louisville, will entertain with slides and tales of his high-adventure mountain-climbing escapades.

On Sunday, cyclists will pedal their way to Shakertown for a full day of activity and fun. Their afternoon at the historic village will include a tour of the grounds and buildings, a riverboat cruise and a "country gourmet" dinner. Pickintime, a bluegrass band from Lexington, will present a free concert.

On Monday, the riders will pedal back to Harrodsburg to complete the round-trip loop. For cyclists who cannot participate all three days, a 2-day option (Saturday and Sunday only) is available, which includes a visit to Shakertown, but no overnight stay.

Some of the services available to riders include gear trucks for luggage, free on-the-road bicycle repair service, rest stops with high-energy snacks, roving hospitality vans and nightly entertainment.

Routes are planned each day to accommodate the experienced rider, as well as the "neighborhood cyclist." Novice riders can opt for the trek's basic at-your-own-pace route of 30-35 miles each day. Cyclists seeking more of a challenge can choose a 61-mile ride on Saturday and a metric century (65 miles) on Sunday of the event.

To register for the trek, each rider will pay a $50 registration fee and agree to raise pledges to fight lung disease. Participants can qualify for a wide array of prizes as they reach various pledge levels. This year's Grand Prize for fundraising is two Continental Airline tickets to any destination in the continental U.S., courtesy of Carlson Wagonlit Travel. For more information about the Bike Trek to Shakertown, including pre-trek information programs and corporate teams, call the American Lung Association at 1-800-586-4872 or visit www.kylung.org.

26 th ANNUAL HARVEST HOMECOMING BICYCLE TOUR

The 26 th Annual Harvest Homecoming Bicycle Tour will be held on Sunday, September 28. The tour will wind along the top of the knobs of Southern Indiana with magnificent views of the fall colors accenting the Ohio River valley. This is a leisurely tour for the beginner, intermediate and experienced cyclist. The routes vary from gently rolling to hilly. The ride will begin and end at Floyd Central High School, located at 6575 Old Vincennes Road. There will be a 25-mile ride, a 40-mile ride and a 60-mile ride. The ride starts at 8:30 a.m. Registration includes a T-shirt, great SAG stops and a "World Famous Chris' Cakes Pancake Breakfast." The entry fee is $20 before September 22 and then $25 for late registration. The entry fee for children under 12 is $10 before September, $15 thereafter. For more information contact the Southern Indiana Wheelman at 812-958-2453, www.aye.net/~siw.

Barbara Day , M.S., R.D., C.N., is the publisher and nutrition editor of KHF and a runner, cyclist and hiker.