Tour de Darke
About this race
Join Darke County Parks for our 5th annual Tour de Darke!
Spend your Sunday morning in the saddle on a leisurely ride through the scenic countryside and quaint communities of Darke County. This event is not a race, and instead a tour of the sites. There are six scenic routes to appeal to all cyclists - Mini (14 miles), Bambino (25 miles), Medio (40 miles), Gran (65 miles), Gran Max (83 miles), Ultima (100 miles). All routes begin and end at the Bish Discovery Center (404 N. Ohio St., Greenville OH 45331)
In order to ensure proper support from our volunteers, we ask all cyclists to begin their ride as listed below.
~~ Mini - start at 8am; no later than 9am
~~ Bambino/Medio - start at 7am; no later than 8:30am
~~ Gran- start at 7am; no later than 7:30am
~~ Gran Max- start at 6:45am; no later than 7am
~~ Ultima - start at 6:45am; no later than 7am
Cyclists are encouraged to finish their selected course by 2pm - please adjust your departure time as needed. Thank you.
Fully Supported w/ Rest Stops (snacks/drinks!) and SAG provided.
All roads are marked and a portion will include the Tecumseh Trail Multi-use Bike Path, with proceeds benefitting future bike trail projects. Register early to get the best price!
First time or just Looking for a Group (LFG)? We encourage solo riders and/or willing group leaders to gather at our "LFG" yard signs at the starting area. Hang out around the area, discuss desired ride speeds, and let cycling magic happen! While we can't guarantee a group pace that fits your needs, we are asking our awesome riders to consider letting others join you for that peloton group ride effect and fun! **Please note, LFG riders will plan on leaving within 5-10mins of the set start time for each route... please be prompt.**
Pre-order a Tour de Darke Jersey to wear during your tour past iconic Darke County locations such as Maid-Rite and Historic Bear’s Mill. - Check out our store link above to order! Custom Jersey pre-orders CLOSE mid-May (date TBD). There will be NO OPTION to purchase a jersey or shirt after these deadlines. Please ask if you have questions on sizing, as we may not be able to exchange.
Parking will be near the start location (requiring a short ride to the registration site), and details will be listed here or emailed closer to the event.
Food - Coffee will be available from Blue Bus Coffee beginning at 8:30 am, and throughout the "after-party," & we have an After-Tour Brunch option for those who pre-register.
The Tour de Darke brings an exciting 20K, Ultra, 4.8K to Greenville, Ohio on August 6, 2023. Don't miss this beautiful event!
Pick your distance
Cycling
Mini Route - 20k (~14mi)
This route will follow the Tecumseh Trail out of Greenville, under US-127 along the pretty Bridge Creek, heading through some rolling hills towards Historic Bear’s Mill. This route has one rest stop at the Mill, upon which you will climb back up the hill away from the Mill to head back to the Bish Discovery Center. This entire route is a part of the Tecumseh Trail, although there will be sections that are “Share the Road”. This route is ideal for beginning cyclists looking to expand their road-riding skills. We ask all cyclists to begin this route no later than 9:00 am to ensure volunteer support.
Mid Route - 50k (~34mi)
This route will trace the Tecumseh Trail through Greenville, departing town on the east side and heading onto scenic country roads to begin your Tour! Along the rolling hills (and even a surprising KOM option!) thru Wayne Lakes on your way to Arcanum. From Arcanum, you’ll head north towards Historic Bear’s Mill. Departing the Mill, you’ll jump back onto the Tecumseh Trail to begin your return to Greenville. This route has two rest stops with snacks, drinks and friendly volunteers. We ask all cyclists to begin this route no later than 8:30 am to ensure volunteer support.
Full Route - 100k (~63mi)
This route will trace the Tecumseh Trail through Greenville, departing town on the east side and heading onto scenic country roads to begin your Tour! Along the rolling hills (and even a surprising KOM option!) thru Wayne Lakes on your way to Arcanum. From Arcanum, you’ll head north towards Historic Bear’s Mill. Departing the Mill, you’ll continue north towards Versailles, enjoying picturesque countryside views. Heading south out of Versailles, you’ll dip into Bradford, past the Railroad Museum and head through Gettysburg, following the Tecumseh Trail back into Greenville. This route has four rest stops with snacks, drinks and friendly volunteers! We ask all cyclists to begin this route at first light and no later than 7:30 am to ensure volunteer support.
Family Ride
This 3-5mile route (TBD) route is for those with younger cyclists just getting their “wheels”. Depart from Alice Bish Parking lot; head down the Tecumseh Trail through the City Park and to the Terminus of the Tecumseh Trail just south of Garst Museum. Enjoy a quick snack and then head back along the trail to Alice Bish Park starting location. This ride will have a mass-start scheduled for 9:00am.
About Greenville
Tour de Darke takes place in Greenville, Ohio, United States. The local timezone is America/New_York.
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Race information has been sourced from the event's official website and other publicly available resources. For the most up-to-date details, please refer to the official website directly. If you notice any incorrect or missing information, don't hesitate to reach out to us by email.