For Immediate Release
January 9, 2007
Contacts:
, 800-755-2453 x229
, Brown County Economic Development, 513-304-1523

A Taste of Freedom: Adventure Cycling releases first-ever day trip maps

New bicycle routes guide day-trippers — from beginners to experienced riders — through landmarks of Underground Railroad

Missoula, Montana —Adventure Cycling today announced three new Underground Railroad day trip bicycle routes in the Ripley, Ohio area. As its first foray into creating maps for the day-tripper, Adventure Cycling predicts these routes will appeal to cycling newcomers as well as seasoned cyclists, featuring a short loop for beginners and longer loops for intermediate and advanced riders. Created by a partnership between Brown County Tourism and Adventure Cycling, the three loop routes start and end in downtown Ripley and take in a rich variety of Underground Railroad historic sites along the way.

“We’re pleased to help bring these fantastic new bicycle routes to people looking for a healthy outdoor activity that explores the rich heritage of this important and beautiful area,” says Jim Sayer, Executive Director of Adventure Cycling.

All three rides emanate from Adventure Cycling’s new and acclaimed Underground Railroad Bicycle Route, hugging the Ohio River briefly on their way out of Ripley, then, like the history they represent, branch out into three distinct routes. While the 2,028 mile Underground Railroad route originates far to the south in Mobile, AL and continues north to Owen Sound, Ontario, the new loops offer more bite-sized rides as they amble through the picturesque village of Ripley and the Ohio countryside while taking in the Rankin House, the Parker House, and other historic sites. The beginner Ripley Loop, which is perfect for riding with older children, covers an easy 8.9 miles, while the advanced Georgetown Loop stretches 26.5 miles on its way to the village of Georgetown.

Besides further enriching the Underground Railroad Route and creating a new attraction for the region, the routes break new ground for Adventure Cycling by serving as their first-ever routes designed specifically for shorter day trips. Typically, Adventure Cycling’s routes and maps cover hundreds or even thousands of miles.

“We will continue to develop longer distance routes,” says Sayer, “but we thought it was time to make it easier for beginners and other cyclists to get introduced to our routes.” Sayer also noted: “It’s really no different from river rafting. Most people get their first taste of floating on the river during a day trip, not by rafting the whole river.”

One important objective of the Underground Railroad route project is to reach out to beginning cyclists and people who haven’t considered bicycle travel. These new day trip routes will enable riders at all experience levels to do just that.

The maps for routes — which feature color-coded directions, historical information, and tips for dining and lodging — are free and can be found at participating bike shops and tourism bureaus in the southern Ohio and northeastern Kentucky region. They can also be downloaded from Adventure Cycling’s website at www.adventurecycling.org/ugrr/ugrrdaytrips.cfm.

Funding for the maps was provided by Governors Office of Appalachia through the Appalachian Ohio Underground Railroad mini-grant program and Brown County Tourism (www.browncountytourism.com). Michael Hart of Mycle’s Cycles in Georgetown, Ohio conducted the route research.

Adventure Cycling Association is the premier bicycle travel organization in North America with more than 42,000 members. A nonprofit organization, our mission is to inspire people of all ages to travel by bicycle. We produce routes and maps for cycling in North America, organize more than 40 tours annually, and publish the best bicycle travel information anywhere, including Adventure Cyclist magazine and The Cyclists' Yellow Pages. With 37,210 meticulously mapped miles in our route network, Adventure Cycling gives cyclists the tools and confidence to create their own bike travel adventures. Contact us at (800) 755-BIKE (2453), , or visit www.adventurecycling.org.

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