Some of the Best Bicycling in Delaware: the Amish Country Bike Tour
***FLAT, SCENIC BACKROAD CYCLING IN AMISH COUNTRYSIDE***
***Earlybird Registration Deadline is July 31***
Pedaling through scenic back roads in tandem with Amish buggies,
being surrounded by fields dotted with farmers steering horse-drawn
farm implements as they harvest fall crops, is part of the scenery that
makes Delaware’s Amish Country Bike Tour a memorable ride for cyclists.
This year’s tour is scheduled for Saturday, September 7, 2013.
Cyclists can save $10 when they register by mail or online by July 31 at
http://www.AmishCountryBikeTour.com. There are five loops – 15, 25, 50, 61 and 100 miles — so cyclists can choose their own course. From beginners
and families with young children to the experienced distance cyclist, the
Amish bike tour sees participates from 2 to 82 years of age. Presenting
sponsor of this year’s event is WSFS Bank.
Every fall for the past 27 years, cyclists from all over the country have
rallied in Dover, Delaware’s historic capital, to participate in this event.
Many refer to the Amish Country Bike Tour as their “warm up ride” for a
series of fall cycling events to come. Others make it a pleasant weekend
getaway, and some come just for the locally-baked apple, cherry, blueberry
and pumpkin pies that are served at the famous “pie stop” (Amish school
house).
The ride begins and ends on Legislative Mall in the heart of Delaware’s
historic capital city. After cycling by beautifully manicured city parks
and a host of historic buildings, the tour takes cyclists on a journey
throughout Kent County during a beautiful time of year – the beginning of
harvest season, when apples are ripening at our local orchards and farmers
are ready to gather their crops.
“There’s a reason why the Amish Country Bike Tour is one of the
longest-running and perhaps most popular bike tours on the East Coast,” said
Lorraine Dion, event coordinator. “Our roads are flat, flat, flat – we’re
at almost zero degrees sea level, which is a great benefit for cyclists who
normally only get to ride in hilly areas,” she said, “Plus, it’s not a race,
so cyclists can go at their own pace.” Last year’s event drew 2,200
cyclists from a 25-state region.
Following the tour, a catered barbecue meal of pulled pork and chicken is
served at historic Legislative Mall. Vegetarian options are also included.
This year, Fordham/Dominion Brewing, located in Dover, will be on hand from
12 noon to 3 p.m. serving samples of their locally-brewed craft beer to
those 21 and older. Delaware Friends of Folk will also perform from 12 noon
to 3 p.m., making the after-tour party a festive event.
“This year, jazz lovers may want to come to town for the weekend as the
famous Emmy award-winning jazz guitarist Earl Klugh will be performing on
Friday evening at the beautifully-restored Schwartz Center for the Arts in
Dover,” Ms. Dion said. Tickets are now on sale at
http://www.schwartzcenter.com. For more information about the concert,
visit http://www.demusic.org.
To register or for more information, call Kent County Tourism at
800-233-5368 or visit http://www.amishcountrybiketour.com.
(Kent County Tourism Photo/CM Baker
Photography)
