35th Annual Amish Country Bike Tour to return Sept. 18
Planning for the 35th Annual Amish Country Bike Tour is underway.
Bike Delaware volunteers have been busy working behind the scenes to obtain sponsors, work with vendors and map out routes as plans continue for this year’s tour, set for Saturday, Sept. 18.
The tour will begin at 7:30 a.m. with a registered rolling start on Dover’s Legislative Mall. Bike support will be available prior to the ride start on the mall. Routes of 15, 25, 50, 62 and 100 miles are planned for cyclists of all ages and abilities, with rest stops spread throughout each route. All routes include the famous Amish School House in Dover and locally made, fresh-baked pies. Bike Delaware volunteers will provide support for riders until 5 p.m.
Longer routes take riders past Harvest Ridge Winery on the state line in Marydel and feature a stop at the Painted Stave Distillery in Smyrna. Riders can enjoy healthy snacks and beverages at all planned rest stops.
When cyclists return to Legislative Mall for the conclusion of their ride, it will be time to celebrate being in the great outdoors with friends and family. Throughout the day, there will be one food truck lunch included with each rider fee, music, a variety of vendors to visit, beer, wine and other food truck choices.
“Our 2020 tour drew almost 2,000 cyclists to Dover for a beautiful, socially distanced ride through the countryside. Between the guidance provided by USA Cycling and our own physician-guided COVID safety protocol plan, we had a great day. We are prepared to continue to implement and improve on those protocols, and registration for 2021 is going very well,” said James Wilson, executive director. Bike Delaware.
New for 2021 is a virtual challenge, available now through Friday, Sept. 17. Sponsored by AARP, the virtual challenge allows riders to follow their choice of any of the routes at their own pace and track their progress.
Registration for both events is ongoing at bikede.org. Those registered for the in-person event will receive email updates as the ride day approaches.
