This September, the Northern Hamilton County Chamber of Commerce (NHCCC) is offering you a way to a enjoy rural and scenic bike ride along winding country roads.
This inaugural bike ride, called the “4 Town Tour,” is set to become an annual event in Hamilton County. The ride is scheduled for Sept. 18 with options for a 50-mile ride, a 28-mile ride, and a shorter family ride in Cicero. The rides will be followed by a luncheon, open to the public, called the “4 Town Taste.”
NHCCC President Liz Foley Nelson told The Reporter the organization represents businesses in and around the communities of Arcadia, Atlanta, Cicero, and Sheridan. The Chamber hosts events each month for its members and frequently for the communities it represents.
“The ride is to highlight the businesses of Northern Hamilton County, increase public awareness of this less-traveled area of Central Indiana, and to benefit the business programs at Hamilton Heights and Sheridan high schools,” Nelson said.
Chamber Board Member Kevin Smith and his committee are organizing the ride with assistance from some very experienced riders.
“For 2021, given the construction on U.S. 31, the ride focuses on the three communities of Arcadia, Atlanta and Cicero, Indiana. After construction on U.S. 31 permits safe bicycle access across the highway (expected in 2022), future tour routes will expand to include Sheridan,” Nelson told The Reporter. “The inaugural ride will offer a 28-mile and 50-mile routes, with a separate family ride of approximately five miles utilizing trails within Cicero.”
All three ride routes begin and end at Cicero Christian Church, 1715 Stringtown Pike, Cicero, and have several Support and Gear (SAG) stops planned throughout the ride.
According to Nelson, the Chamber welcomes sponsor organizations for the SAG stops and anyone interested should email jesy.ide@nhccoc.org.
“The bike course, while almost exclusively on country roads, has a route designed to 1) take advantage of recently paved roads and 2) run through an amazing array of curves, small hills, shade and other interesting riding scenery – it’s not all straight country roads!” Nelson said. See examples above.
The cost is $50 per rider on the day of the event, but only $40 if you register online by Aug. 1. The family ride is $10. Register at 4towntour.com.
The price for the 28-mile and 50-mile rides includes a souvenir T-shirt. Additional souvenir tees can be ordered at 4towntour.com.
“The ride concludes with a lunch back at the Cicero Christian Church, called the 4 Town Taste, which will feature items from our local area eateries,” Nelson said. “You don’t need to ride to eat – so invite family and friends to join the riders from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets are just $10 – riders that complete their tour of the sponsors’ SAG stops eat free.”