A rural ride: Holmes 100 offers bikers a tour of scenic Holmes County
By Kelley Mohr
August 19, 2011
306
Summary: On September 10, cyclists can choose from routes of 25, 60 or 100 miles in the Holmes 100, a bike tour through Holmes County.
Story: Got a bicycle and a sense of adventure? Then lace up those sneakers and head to Millersburg to ride in the Holmes 100, a bike tour of 100, 60 or 25 miles through Holmes Countys beautiful Amish Country on Saturday, September 10.
The Holmes Century 100 Bike Ride will begin at the Millersburg Courthouse and end at Hipp Station. The ride includes a post-ride barbecue chicken dinner for those participating in the 100- and 60-mile routes and is limited to 500 riders.
Eric Yoder, an event organizer, said that this ride is suitable for every type of rider, from expert to beginner. There are three rides happening that day, the main one being the 100 Mile Century, he said. Theres also the metric century [60 miles] and the 25-mile ride which is more family and kid friendly. That one will incorporate mostly the rail trail route because it is safer.
The routes showcase the rural scenery of Holmes County, said Yoder. The 100-mile route takes riders through the heart of Holmes County and reaches to its edges, running as far east as Baltic and as far west as Glenmont.
The Holmes 100 also incorporates the countys hilly geography in this scenic and wide-ranging tour.
We have as much in the way of ups and downs as any part of Ohio in the rolling hills of Holmes County, said Yoder. We actually anticipate there being somewhere around 5,000 vertical feet of gain in the 100-mile route.
The route is attractive because it is beautiful, low-traffic and challenging, said Dr. Jeff Alexander, the bike enthusiast who launched the Holmes 100 six years ago. We have windy, curvy roads that are scenic. Riders coming from the Cleveland or Columbus area are used to flatter areas, he said. Also, traffic is low in our county compared to some of the more populated counties.
These factors make the ride a special experience for visiting participants and for those riding in their own backyard.
This ride has grown with each passing year. After the 30 members of Dr. Alexanders bike club pedaled their first 100-mile ride, more have joined the fun. It had a small root start, then we made it into a larger ride and now we actually have a committee, said Alexander. Were building it from there.
Organizers believe that the ride will continue to grow. I would like to see it go well over 500, said Yoder. We really tried to ramp things up this year, tried to make it something people talk about.
This year, a different route, maps for riders, better food and gift baskets full of Holmes County items such as Guggisburg cheese are improvements that make this ride unique. Also, riders who complete both the Holmes 100-mile route and the Fredericksburg Library Route 62-mile route on Sept. 24 will be winners of the Amish Country Challenge.
Yoder hopes that these promotions will attract more riders to the event, an achievement that would benefit both the Holmes 100 and the towns dotted along its route.
Alexander partnered with Historic Downtown Millersburg when starting the Holmes 100 because the ride exposes riders to the beauty of Holmes County while attracting visitors to the area. As they pedal through the fields and forests of Amish Country, visitors will get a glimpse of the countryside that Holmes County residents know and love.
We have beautiful countryside with challenging hills, Yoder explained. Add in the Amish culture that attracts riders. This should grow into something pretty spectacular.
To sign up or view the route, visit http://www.holmes100.com/ or stop in the Holmes County Park District to pick up a form.
