The Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure Announces
Southwest Ohio Route for 2006

Julie Van Winkle, Director of The 18th Annual Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure (GOBA), announced today that the 2006 tour, June 17-24, will feature the southwestern section of Ohio. The 3,000 riders will start gathering for the tour on Saturday, June 17, at the Greene County Fairgrounds in Xenia.  They will begin the tour on Sunday, June 18th, and will overnight in Wilmington on Sunday, Hillsboro on Monday and Tuesday, Circleville on Wednesday and Thursday, and London on Friday, and will return to Xenia on Saturday.

Some of the many attractions featured on this tour include the Highland House Museum & Log Cabin; world-class bike trails; Caesar Creek State Park; Blue Jacket Outdoor Drama; Serpent Mound; Ted Lewis Museum & Theatre; Tecumseh! Outdoor Drama; Green's Heritage Museum; London Strawberry Festival; London Fish Hatchery; Clifton Mill; National Afro-American Museum; and other historic sites, covered bridges, and nature areas.

Other events include the traditional bicycle parade and the gala opening ceremonies in Xenia, two layover days with bicycling options of 50- or 100-mile loops, local entertainment each night, options for adventure canoeing or a trip to Kings Island, watching professional bike races, and the ever-popular GOBA Song Contest.

"GOBA-2006 will offer an exciting variety of terrain, from the hills in the southern part of the route to the gently rolling plains.  The tour participants will enjoy the best of Ohio hospitality sprinkled among the charming museums, the unforgettable scenery, and amazing learning experiences," Van Winkle stated.

This will be the eighteenth year for GOBA. The tour is organized by the Columbus not-for-profit group, Columbus Outdoor Pursuits, for the benefit of bicycle-related projects in Ohio. GOBA's long time sponsor is Bob Evans Restaurants, whose contributions have made the tour possible.  In 2005, 3,000 people from 43 states and Canada took part in the tour. Included in this number were many families:  nearly 20% of the participants were children traveling with their parents, making GOBA the largest family-oriented bicycle tour in the world.

Over the past seventeen years GOBA has been responsible for more than eight million dollars in tourism revenues, as well as exposing people from all over the country to Ohio's rural treasures.  "GOBA riders are constantly surprised at what a wonderful state Ohio is for bicycling. Our wonderful back roads and rail-trails, our welcoming towns, and great parks and historical sites make it perfect for bicycle touring," Van Winkle stated.

Those interested in receiving registration information and tour details can request a brochure by calling 614-273-0811, by visiting the website at www.goba.com, or by writing to GOBA at 1525 Bethel Rd., Ste. 100, Columbus, Ohio 43220.  Brochures will also be available in the spring in Ohio Bob Evans Restaurants and selected bicycle shops.  Application deadline is May 17, 2006.