Ride Name: Overnighter - Loveland to John Bryan State Park (Yellow Springs)
Ride Date: May 21-22, 2022 (rain date May 22-23)
Ride Location: Loveland to John Bryan SP on Saturday, John Bryan SP to Loveland on Sunday
Ride Leader: Bob Kissinger
Ride Cost: There is a $10 non-refundable camping fee (plus $0.59 fee if using credit card) to cover the shared cost of non-refundable campsite reservation fees. The ride leader must receive your non-refundable camping fee before your registration is confirmed. Registration is limited to 12 campers on a first-paid, first-reserved basis. All other costs are the responsibility of the individual. If you only want to ride up to John Bryan State Park and not stay overnight, then you do not need to register and pay a fee. The $10 camping fee can be paid on-line via PayPal (Sending to a Friend) to rdkissinger@cinci.rr.com. Be sure to add a note with your name to confirm the reservation. You can also mail a check to Bob Kissinger, 10551 Storybook Drive, Montgomery OH 45242.
Ride Description: The primary purpose of this event is to introduce self-contained bike touring to riders who have little or no bike touring experience. The ride is also a fun social event, with riders of all experience levels welcomed. The route is 53 miles one way on mostly flat, paved surfaces. Experienced tour leaders will share their knowledge about bike touring throughout the trip. You must register for this event, so please register and pay the non-refundable camping fee early if you want to attend. Registration is limited to 12 campers on a first-paid, first-reserved basis.
The group will meet at the Linda Cox overnight parking lot on Saturday, May 21, at 7:30am, then depart for Morrow for a group photo at 9am. We are allowed to park our cars in the lot overnight. The route follows the Little Miami Bike Trail north towards Yellow Springs. About one mile before Yellow Springs, the route leaves the trail and follows local roads to the state park (campsites #42 and #44). The entire route consists of paved surfaces. We will not ride as one group. You will ride at your own pace, and take breaks whenever you feel like it. Riders have the choice of eating dinner at a Yellow Springs restaurant, or cooking dinner at the campsite. Note that it is a 3 mile ride one way from the campsite to the nearest restaurant. You could also cycle on the trail directly to Yellow Springs, order take-out, and carry the food to the state park. The campsite has showers, water and pit toilets.
On Sunday morning, riders will either cook breakfast at the campsite before departing for Morrow and Loveland, or have breakfast at a restaurant in Yellow Springs.
Ride With GPS Bicycle Routes:
Saturday https://ridewithgps.com/routes/39485274
Saturday Detour https://ridewithgps.com/routes/39430357
Sunday https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38592918
Sunday Detour https://ridewithgps.com/routes/39437845
Campground to Yellow Springs https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38592941
Mandatory Equipment: All cyclists must wear helmets while riding.
If inclement weather is forecasted for Saturday, the ride might be delayed one day (depart Sunday from the East Loveland Nature Preserve, return Monday).
Do you need assistance in moving your camping gear to and from John Bryan State Park Campground? There is a company in Cincinnati (Vega's Velo Bicycle Transport) that will pick up your camping gear at our staring point (East Loveland Nature Preserve) on Saturday morning and move it to the John Bryan Campground, then pick your gear up on Sunday morning and move it back to the East Loveland Nature Preserve. The only catch is that they need at least four people to sign up for the service. If they get four people, the cost is $50 per person for the weekend. So find three other cyclists who would like to do the Overnighter and you are set to go! For questions, more information, and reservations, contact Jackie and Jim at Vega's Velo Bicycle Transport (vegasvelo.transport@gmail.com, 513-620-8812).
There will be no SAG support for this ride. If you do not want to camp, then there are hotels/B&B’s in the Yellow Springs area.
Riders must have the tools for, and be able to perform, basic bike repairs, e.g. fix a flat tire.
This event is a perfect opportunity for an equipment check-out ride prior to our extended weekend trip planned for June 10-13.