A Grand Touring ride is a group social ride. Ride Leaders ride with the group and provide directions and support to the riders. Routes are not marked. Maps and/or Cue Sheets will be provided. Grand Touring rides are often at remote locations an hour or more distant from Central Indiana and often focus on festivals, museums, restaurants and other similar tourist attractions.
Grand Touring riders support local businesses
for food and facilities. Typically ten to twenty riders will attend a Grand
Touring ride. Riding is at a moderate pace and riders try to stay together.
Nobody is left by themselves unless that is what the rider wants.
Grand Touring Ride Philosophy: To emphasize the enjoyment of bicycling as a group and social activity and as a method to explore and discover Indiana and other destinations.
If the weather is not suitable for riding, Grand Touring ride leaders may cancel the ride since riders usually drive long distances to attend rides. Please contact the ride leader before leaving home if the weather looks questionable. Other types of CIBA rides can be found at www.cibaride.org.
Grand Touring Ride Leader Guidelines
Grand Touring Maps & Cue Sheets
Map and cue sheets are intended for individual personal use. If you would like to use the map and cue sheets for an organized event, please contact the ride leader.
Rides Previously Held In 2024
May
Eastern Brown County Dogwood Meander
Date: Saturday, May 11, 2024
Start Time: 10:00 am
Ride Leaders: Randy and Connie Schmucker, 317-257-5607, 317-777-9630, rsdesign@ieee.org
Route Lengths: 41 and 54 miles - hilly terrain
Start Location: Columbus, IN: Jay C Food parking lot - SR 46 & Goeller
Rd
Directions to start: I-65 South. Exit west on SR 46, go 0.5 miles, turn right
at light, Goeller Rd, into parking lot.
Ride Description: Enjoy a nice spring day with the dogwoods and spring flowers in full bloom in the hills of western Bartholomew County and eastern Brown County. This ride will meander through Grandview Lake, Pikes Peak, Hoosier National Forest and other Indiana back road delights. Contact Ride Leaders if the weather is questionable before making the trip.
June
Metamora Strawberry Fest
Date: Saturday, June 1, 2024
Start Time: 9:30 am
Ride Leaders: Randy and Connie Schmucker, 317-257-5607, 317-777-9630, rsdesign@ieee.org
Route Lengths: 26 and 48 miles - hilly terrain
Start Location: Metamora, IN: Visitor parking, (Public Restrooms on top
of the hill)
entry sign to parking lot reads
“ Whitewater Canal State Historic Site Indiana State Museum System Visitor
Parking”.
Directions to Start: From I-465, take I-74 east. Turn left on south S.R. 229. Turn right on east S.R. 52. In Metamora turn right on Duck Creek Rd at gas station and follow 2 blocks to parking lot.
Ride Description: Strawberries! Ice Cream! Shortcake! Whip Cream! Today is Metamora's Strawberry Festival. This tour takes in the scenic Whitewater River valley and hills in scenic southeastern Indiana. Metamora is one of the villages on the historic Whitewater canal and the Duck Creek Aqueduct can still be seen as well as portions of the canal. You can even take a ride on the canal. After the ride we will find the strawberries and eat and listen to folk music. If shopping is your pleasure, shop until you drop at the abundant craft houses. Metamora's website: www.metamoraindiana.com. Contact Ride Leaders if the weather is questionable before making the trip.
July
Summertime Hills Frolic
Date: Saturday, July 27, 2024
Start Time: 9:30 am
Ride Leaders: Randy and Connie Schmucker, 317-257-5607, 317-777-9630, rsdesign@ieee.org
Route Lengths: 47 and 53 miles - hilly terrain
Start Location: Columbus, IN: Jay C Food parking lot - SR 46 & Goeller
Rd
Directions to start: I-65 South. Exit west on SR 46, go 0.5 miles, turn right
at light, Goeller Rd, into parking lot.
Ride Description: Wander and roll through the scenic hills and views around Beck's Grove, Pike's Peak and Orchard in western Bartholomew county and eastern Brown county. There will be lots of shade. Story is the only place to find food and opens at 11:00 am. Prepare accordingly. After rolling around Grandview Lake refresh yourself with ice cream and goodies at Jay Cs. Contact Ride Leaders if the weather is questionable before making the trip.