Registration open for Sept. 9 Amish Country Bike Tour
The 37th Annual Amish Country Bike Tour is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 9, starting and ending at Legislative Mall in downtown Dover.
With routes of 16, 25, 50, 62 and 100 miles, there are options for cyclists of all ages and abilities. A staggered send-off with set start times for each distance will be in place. Riders should plan accordingly.
This year’s tour starts with packet pickup and registration on Legislative Mall from 4 to 8 p.m., Friday, Sept. 8. Day-of registration and additional packet pickup will begin before 6 a.m., Saturday.
The tour is a ride, not a race, and it has a new start time at 7 a.m. with the 100-mile riders, continuing at intervals with the last group departing by 9:30 a.m. The ride includes the traditional pie and up to five fully stocked rest stops, and concludes back on Legislative Mall with an afterparty.
Lunch will be served from one of five food trucks. Beverages are also included. Live music with Glass Onion, deejay, vendors, and other activities will also be on site.
Bike Delaware volunteers are offering, for no additional charge, Sunday morning club rides for registered riders who want to enjoy a full weekend of cycling, and to visit areas in Kent County not typically included during the tour, such as the Monster Mile, Dover’s Air Mobility Command Museum and an extended visit at Harvest Ridge Winery.
“In our ongoing effort to improve this popular event, our volunteers on the Safety Team have been working with DelDOT for special permission to place signs along the routes notifying the public of the upcoming event. We are looking for volunteers to assist in placing and removing signs for this new driver awareness initiative,” said Terri Brown,sig tour coordinator. “We have a SignUpGenius portal, a portal on Volunteer Delaware, and our registration page has a spot for anyone interested in volunteering for one day, two days or year-round. We are a small committee, and we are always looking for more volunteers.”
Riders are encouraged to familiarize themselves with Delaware bicycle laws and read all the materials provided prior to riding. Roads are not closed to traffic.
Rest stops for the tour include the famous Amish Schoolhouse in Dover, where volunteers serve locally baked pie and cookies. Other stops include Emmanuel AME Church in Hartly, Harvest Ridge Winery near Marydel, Painted Stave Distillery in Smyrna, and the Felton Little League, where riders will have time for healthy snacks and beverages.
The presenting sponsor of the 2023 Amish Country Bike Tour is AARP Delaware, and the tour is the primary fundraiser for the nonprofit Bike Delaware. Online registration is open. For more information, go to AmishCountryBikeTour.com.
