A lot of people ride the Great Miami River Trail for recreation never knowing how many places there are to visit along the trail. The July 12 River Ride hopes to change all of that.
“Here’s a chance for cyclists of all abilities to ride the trail, see some spectacular views of the river, and visit a few of the special places just a block or two off the trail in Miamisburg and Franklin,” says Brenda Gibson of the Miami Conservancy District (MCD). MCD is organizing the ride as part of the Drive Less Live More campaign. “We think of the trail for recreation but there are many destinations riders could be exploring just off the trail.”
The River Ride will feature a 13.5-mile ride from Miamisburg to Franklin and back on surface streets and paved trail. Along the way, riders will stop at five different destinations and pick a playing card. Upon returning to the registration table, riders will play their hands and the best poker hand wins a $300 gift card to roll: bike shop. There are also prizes for second and third place. The first 100 registered riders will receive a free Drive Less Live More fanny pack.
Stops along the ride will be:
Great Miami Outfitters in Miamisburg
Gebhart Tavern Museum in Miamisburg
Rice Field in Miamisburg
The historic log cabin post office in Franklin
The Eric Henn mural at Huntington Bank in Franklin
“Once riders finish the ride, we’ll have pizza and drinks, and a couple of bicycle maintenance clinics” Gibson says. “And Fly 92.9 will be on hand from 9 to 11 a.m.”
The ride is free and open to adults, and children age 12 and older. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. in the Miami Avenue parking lot, one block west of Main Street, between Linden and Central avenues. Riders can begin the trip as soon as they register.
Parking is available on Miami Avenue, on Main Street and in city lots along Main Street.
The Drive Less Live More campaign encourages drivers to leave their keys behind and explore different ways of getting around town. The campaign is a partnership of MCD, the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission, Five Rivers MetroParks and the Greater Dayton RTA.