Ride Idaho, an annual cycling tour, is coming to North Central Idaho this summer. 250 bicyclists from 30 states and 1 provenance will pedal 400 miles from New Meadows to Moscow, August 5 – 11. Riders will make their way North from New Meadows with overnight stops in White Bird (5th), Cottonwood (6th), Elk City (7th), Grangeville (8th), Winchester (9th), and Genesee (10th) until the finish in Moscow on the 11th. Each overnight town has been planning for months to ensure the event is a success for the riders and the community.
New Meadows has announced the kick off activities which will be on Friday Aug. 4 when they arrive. There will be an open concert in the city park where the 300 plus will be camping. New Meadows will be hosting the cyclists for dinner that evening and breakfast early Sunday morning prior to their departure. There will be a photo opportunity at 7:45 am on Sunday. If you have any further questions regarding the event in New Meadows, contact Ricky Luff at 208-347-2194.
Ride Idaho seeks to “show off” the history, culture and hospitality of Idaho’s smaller communities as well as make a positive impact on their economies. Ride Idaho provides fund-raising opportunities to non-profit organizations, and local clubs and businesses by hiring them to provide meals, beverages, porter services and entertainment. The tour will camp at city parks, community fairgrounds, school properties and even one backcountry airstrip in Elk City! Riders will have free time to explore and shop at local businesses as well as scheduled entertainment, usually at their campsite.
Through careful planning and authorization from the Idaho Department of Transportation, this year’s route is mapped for mostly secondary roads but occasionally uses the newer Highway 95. So be on the lookout August 5 – 11, although you probably can’t miss the signage and support vehicles, not to mention all those bicyclists. A full view of the route can be viewed on the website, www.rideidaho.org.
The tour is organized and administered by Ride Idaho, a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization. Rider fees go toward Ride Idaho’s goals of providing a positive economic impact to Idaho’s communities, promoting healthy, active lifestyles and raising awareness of safe cycling. You can read more details about this year’s tour on the website, www.rideidaho.org.
For more information contact Susy at susy.hobson@rideidaho.org, (208) 830-9564.
