This June 10 prepare to see a lot of bicycles rolling around Maysville and the surrounding area!
Better yet, bring your bike and join in!
The 9th annual Limestone Cycling Tour – also known as the “Ride to Remember” – kicks off at 8 a.m. June 10 from the Washington Opera House, and plays host to one of the most gorgeous bicycle rides in the state.
Ask any cyclist in Mason or one of the surrounding counties and they will quickly let you in on a pretty well known “local secret.” This area is a treasure trove of perfect roads for riding a bike. Miles and miles of choices are available springing in almost every direction from downtown Maysville, and the Limestone Cycling Tour is just the way to enjoy a few of them to their fullest.
The LCT began in 2009 as the Ride to Remember, a bicycle ride created by a cyclist in memory of his friend Zach who had passed away not long before.
Zach had been an avid cyclist, and an annual group ride was the perfect way to commemorate the life of a good friend gone too early.
Over the first couple of years the Ride to Remember bike routes began near Old Washington near Maysville and spread out into Mason County from there. As the numbers attending the event grew, the Ride grew with them. Longer distance routes that spread out from Mason through Lewis, Robertson, and Bracken Counties were added to appease the more serious riders attending, as well as easier and more leisurely geared loops catering to riders with a more relaxed pace in mind.
Previous attendees returned raving about the beauty of the roads, the lack of traffic, and the challenge of the hills on the longer routes. In 2014 the Ride officially moved its start to the Washington Opera House in Downtown Maysville and the Ride to Remember turned into what it is today – the Limestone Cycling Tour.
The LCT showcases some of the finest biking to be had in the area with three days of group rides.
The Friday and Sunday rides are shorter and unsupported, guided by local cycling club the Limestone Cycling League and designed to bookend the main event on Saturday, June 10th.
It offers routes for riders of all skill levels with 21, 40, 64, and 102 mile options to choose from. All routes have support stations along the way with snacks and drinks to refuel. Two famous local covered bridges are included as stops, along with some of the most fantastic rolling countryside you’ll ever pedal across.
Post ride Saturday afternoon you’ll be right in the middle of the city’s annual wine festival, Maysville Uncorked. With local wines, craft beers, restaurants and food booths all within walking distance – the LCT is the perfect excuse to ride your bike all weekend long!
The ride is co-sponsored by the Kentucky Gateway Museum Center and proceeds raised from sponsorships, donations and entry fees will be donated to the Zachary Ruble Memorial Scholarship Fund administered by the Hayswood Foundation in Maysville.
If you’d like to learn more of what the Limestone Cycling Tour is all about or would like to register to ride, visit www.limestonecyclingleague.com or follow LCT on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/LimestoneCyclingTour/. Email: lcl.ride2remember@gmail.com
