Eddie Mowen Jr. | The Register-Herald
While hundreds of bicyclists converged on Preble County for the Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure, which began last weekend, some 511 of them took on the Friends of Preble County 4-H annual Buckeye Bridge Ride Saturday morning, June 15.
Eddie Mowen Jr. | The Register-Herald
Eddie Mowen Jr. | The Register-Herald
While hundreds of bicyclists converged on Preble County for the Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure, which began last weekend, some 511 of them took on the Friends of Preble County 4-H annual Buckeye Bridge Ride Saturday morning, June 15.
Eddie Mowen Jr. | The Register-Herald
Eddie Mowen Jr. | The Register-Herald
Eddie Mowen Jr. | The Register-Herald
Eddie Mowen Jr. | The Register-Herald
Eddie Mowen Jr. | The Register-Herald
Eddie Mowen Jr. | The Register-Herald
Eddie Mowen Jr. | The Register-Herald
Eddie Mowen Jr. | The Register-Herald
Lisa White | For The Register-Herald
Lisa White | For The Register-Herald
Lisa White | For The Register-Herald
Lisa White | For The Register-Herald
EATON & PREBLE COUNTY — While hundreds of bicyclists converged on Preble County for the Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure, which began last weekend, some 511 of them took on the Friends of Preble County 4-H annual Buckeye Bridge Ride Saturday morning, June 15.
Friends of Preble County 4-H’s Harold Niehaus deemed the BBY “a great success.”
GOBA is an annual eight-day cycling journey that attracts up to 1,200 riders from 40 states. This year’s ride began Saturday, June 15, at the fairgrounds-based “GOBAville” camp for ride participants. Tents and trailers filled the fairgrounds, sheltering the riders who were checking in to kick off this year’s advernture. Other host communities include Oxford, Hamilton, and Arcanum. The bikers will do various legs of the the ride for the next week, leaving Eaton to head toward Oxford on Monday, riding Oxford to Hamilton Wednesday, Hamilton to Arcanum on Friday, June 21, and returnding to Eaton on Saturday, June 22 to end the tour.
Interested GOBA riders got an extra day of cycling during the Buckeye Bridge Ride, offering GOBA participants a chance to join riders from Preble County and others from across the country for a day of cycling throughout Preble County and its covered bridges.
Participants in Saturday’s BBR a scenic bicycle ride around Preble County and experience up to four of its covered bridges. The BBR offered three different route options, allowing riders to travel 10, 39, or 51 miles of scenic countryside views and the covered bridges in the Gratis, Lewisburg, and Eaton area.
Created by the Friends of Preble County 4-H as a fundraiser, the Buckeye Bridge Ride has provided over $23,740 in 4-H scholarships according to organizers.
The ride kicked off at the Preble County Fairgrounds on Saturday, with its mass start of approximately 150 riders at 7 a.m. Other pleasure rides/touring groups staggered starts throughout the morning. Candy buckeyes and other refreshments were available at each “Stop and Go” (SAG) station.
To close out Saturday, GOBA riders who were camped at the fairgrounds were invited to Downtown Eaton’s Community Fun Fest, where there were games and activities, food trucks and vendors,and music from Tom Lee, and Tyler Michael Walton and the Mayflower Satchel for them to enjoy and wind down.
All proceeds from the ride benefit Preble County 4-H activities and events, including 4-H Camp scholarships, Leadership Camp, camp supplies and more. Additional Buckeye Bridge Ride information are available at www.buckeyebridge.org.
More information about GOBA can be found at www.goba.com.
Reach Eddie Mowen Jr. at 937-683-4061 and follow on X @emowenjr.
