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• Friday
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The Rides

All of Friday’s rides depart from the Galt House East and pass through one of Louisville’s historic neighborhoods – Butchertown, home to the stockyards and slaughterhouses – before emerging onto River Road, which skirts the banks of the Ohio River. The Water Tower rises up on the left as you leave downtown behind. This stunning Beaux Arts structure is a relic of an era in which public works buildings were symbolic of the prosperity of a city. It now houses the Visual Arts Association. Take note of Captain’s Quarters, one of the area’s finest riverside restaurants. You might want to return for dinner!

Downtown Louisville and River Road are situated on the river’s floodplain; in fact, this part of the ride was underwater in the flood of 1997. Take advantage of the flatlands to get a good warm-up — it is the gateway to the highlands, where some climbing awaits! The descriptions below describe the highlights of the various ride distance options on this set of rides. The ratings are indicated in parentheses.

Mockingbird Valley 12 (9:30 am, 11:30 am, 2 pm)

Mockingbird Valley Road is one of the city’s most graceful and exclusive neighborhoods. This route will take you to Crescent Hill Reservoir — Louisville’s largest — and return along Frankfort Avenue, home to art galleries, antique stores, and trendy restaurants before bringing you downtown for a tour of the Thomas Edison House, historic Butchertown, the Center for the Arts, the Kentucky Arts & Crafts Gallery, the Louisville Science Center, and the Louisville Slugger Museum.

Cherokee Park 20 (9 am, 10 am, 1:30 pm)

This ride traverses some of the city’s nicest residential areas on the way to Cherokee Park, one of the jewels in the Emerald Necklace of parks designed by famed 19th century landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted.

Sleepy Hollow Loops 35 (Times TBD), 45 (8:30 am, 9:30 am, 11 am) 50 (8 am, 9 am, 10:30 am)

Sleepy Hollow is one of the most picturesque areas near Louisville. On the way to Sleepy Hollow, you will cross several tributaries to the Ohio River, and if you look carefully, you may spot a great blue heron. Rose Island Road will lead you to Henry’s Ark, the privately owned zoo of a local eccentric. The flatlands end at Goshen Lane — ominously dubbed “The Wall” — which begins the climb up from the floodplain. US 42 and KY 1694 (Sleepy Hollow Road) form the boundaries of Hermitage Farm, a thoroughbred horse farm that is home to Kentucky Derby winners. If you are lucky, the colts will canter with you as you cycle by the fence. Riders on the 45-mile option will descend Covered Bridge Road for the return ride to the hotel. The 50-mile option continues on Sleepy Hollow to Wolf Pen Branch Road, one of the most exclusive residential areas of Louisville, before returning to River Road and the flat ride back to the Galt House. Riders on all distance options have the opportunity to take a one-mile detour up Blankenbaker Road for a tour of Locust Grove, the last home of George Rogers Clark, founder of Louisville, the man responsible for securing the Northwest Territories for the United States and brother of William Clark of Lewis & Clark fame.

Mountain Bike Rides

Cherokee Park (4:15 pm)

The ride will depart from Galt House via bike route. Sport (intermediate) and expert level off-road rides only: technical trails with steep climbs, water crossings, and all varieties of singletrack. Beginners are welcome to ride along on the roads and enjoy our beautiful park system.

Moonlight Ride (8:45 pm)

Put your headlights on, grab those fat tires and head out on the RiverWalk for a moonlight ride! The RiverWalk is a multi-use recreational trail that skirts the Ohio River from the Wharf at 4th & River Road to the Olmsted-designed Shawnee Park. The ride will be up to 12 miles depending on the conditions and the crowd. On the return to the hotel, you will be inspired by the sight of the lights of Louisville reflected in the Ohio River. (Headlights and rear reflectors required; hybrid or mountain bike tires recommended)

Saturday’s Rides

The primary set of Saturday’s rides start from a remote location, at Middletown Station (bigg’s hypermarket).

Taylorsville Lake Rides

The Taylorsville Lake Rides include: Ostrich Run 18 (9 am, noon); Short but Hilly 29 (9:15 am, 10:30 am; 12:15 pm); Plum Creek Crawl 45 (8:45 am, 9:30 am, 11 am); Kentucky Hills ’n’ Hollers 62 (8:30 am, 9 am); Taylorsville Dam 77 (8:15 am); and The Run to Rooster’s Run 101 (8 am).

All of today’s routes traverse some of the most beautiful and scenic areas of the Bluegrass State. The area is still very rural, consisting primarily of dairy, corn, tobacco, and soybean farms. This is why you came to Kentucky — to take in the countryside. The return trip along a ridge will afford you with wonderful views of the Floyd’s Fork watershed. If you want to take home a souvenir, drive over to Finchville Farms after the ride and pick up a good, old-fashioned country-smoked ham. It’ll keep just fine in your hotel room!

Riders on the 45-mile Plum Creek Crawl may have a water adventure — be prepared to ford Plum Creek if the water level is high. But don’t worry, there is no danger and you’ll be dry before you know it. Try not to blink or you will miss downtown Wilsonville — only two houses remain of the town since the main road was relocated a few miles to the east.

Kentucky Hills ’n’ Hollers 62, Taylorsville Dam 77, and The Run to Rooster Run Century all visit the city of Taylorsville, county seat of Spencer County. Taylorsville was named after the hero of the Battle of Tippecanoe, which took place “up the road a piece” in Lafayette, Indiana, site of the League’s 1997 National Rally. 77 and 101-mile riders will ride across the dam on the Salt River that created the lovely Taylorsville Lake. Check out the Visitors Center and the Overlook before gearing down for the climb out of the Salt River Valley. The century ride continues on to — you guessed it — Rooster Run, a wide place in the road occupied by a very large chicken... statue, that is! Buy a t-shirt with the famous “whereinthehellisroosterrunky” logo.

RiverWalk & More 12-37 miles (2 pm)

Join Bill Herron, Louisville’s Director of Public Works, for a guided tour of RiverWalk, a six-mile multi-use trail hugging the banks of the Ohio River from the Wharf just across from the Galt House to the Olmsted-designed Shawnee Park. A highlight of the trail is a close look at the Portland Canal and the McAlpine Locks and Dam that make the river navigable around the Falls of the Ohio. The RiverWalk is a prime example of ISTEA funding in action, as it was constructed with $1.7 million of “TE” funds and $430,000 of local funds. After the conclusion of the guided portion of the ride, the choice is yours! Add five miles and a bridge by crossing into Indiana for a visit to the Falls of the Ohio State Park’s amazing fossil beds and a fabulous ice cream cone. Or stay in Indiana and extend your ride twenty miles along the Ohio with an out-and-back to the small town of Utica. You’ll be hard pressed to find a flatter ride than this!

Mountain Bike Rides (8:45 am)

Otter Creek Park (one hour south)

Otter Creek Park is a beautiful huge park in timberland with long, fast singletrack and gorgeous overlooks. The terrain ranges from the relatively technical to the easy 8.1-mile Blue Trail Loop. The group will be divided into two sections: sport (intermediate)/expert and beginner to sport. Both groups will ride in the same direction on the marked blue trail so the second group an pick up anyone who may want to drop back. Maps will be provided. Keep your eyes open for members of the Kentucky Mountain Bike Association (KyMBA) doing trail maintenance in observance of National Trails Day.

Sunday’s Rides

The primary set of Sunday’s rides have a remote start from E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park – 3000 Freys Hill Road. A Ride-to-the-Ride Option is available.

The Rides to New Castle

The Rides to New Castle include: Reamers Road Ramble 15/25 (9:30 am, 1 pm); The Tour of Anchorage 39 (9 am, 10:30 am); Eastern County Countryside 47 (9:15 am, 9:45 am); Ride to Eminence 60 (Times TBD); New Castle Metric Century Plus 71 (8:15 am); and the Lockport Century Challenge Option 104 (8 am).

As the rides depart from Sawyer Park en route to New Castle, they first pass through Anchorage, originally a summer retreat for Louisville’s wealthy back in the early days of the twentieth century. Graceful Victorian homes are now interspersed with modern mansions as the quest for the genteel life continues. The ambition of the descendants of those early inhabitants is to someday own the homes of their forebears. Don’t miss the Duncan Memorial Chapel, built by a wealthy New Yorker in tribute to his wife, a “local girl.” If you are not superstitious, drop in and fill your water bottle from the spigot in the cemetery. After Anchorage, just sit back, relax, and enjoy the rides as they take you through the river counties on the way to northern Kentucky. This is the Kentucky you have dreamed about — rolling terrain dotted with dairy, tobacco, and horse farms.

The New Castle Metric Century Plus, the Ride to Eminence, and the Lockport Century Challenge all actually reach New Castle, which is the county seat of Henry County, named for Revolutionary War hero Patrick “Give me liberty or give me death” Henry. The town square is one of the finest examples of municipal architecture in the state. The rides then continue along to Smithfield, home of Our Best Restaurant and Flour Mill (check out the beans and cornbread) and on to Eminence, a small town reminiscent of Mayberry, RFD. Look for the Chat ’n’ Nibble Cafe on the Town Square — a favorite stop on LBC rides. Stop for water and a break by the lake in Long Run Park before returning to Sawyer Park to catch the excitement of the competition at the BMX track. If you find yourself back at the park early, grab a lunch at The Station in Anchorage — a train station turned restaurant — go for a swim, or take a quick spin on the Reamers Road Loop.

Century riders take note: the 33 miles to Lockport are remote ones — few shops and very little open on Sunday. This optional mileage will not be sagged. Please do not select this option unless you are fully prepared to be self-supporting.

Starlight Ramble 20 (11 am)

The Starlight Ramble is a ride that ranks as one of the best in the Louisville area. It offers just about everything a rider could want, including rolling terrain with some moderate hills, outstanding vistas of the Louisville skyline and beautiful southern Indiana scenery. Traffic volume is low and the roads are good. The Winery also offers non-riders a relaxing couple of hours, as there is a gift shop, cheese factory, petting zoo, and a fruit and vegetable barn. The strawberries will be ripe for “u-pick-em” or already picked, ready for purchase.

Old Louisville Victoriana Ride (2 pm)

This a ride that offers a rare treat — a chance to cycle “back in time” and follow in the tire tracks of the 10,000 wheelmen who paraded to the Iroquois Cycle Club in 1897. That parade drew 50,000 spectators; this “parade” will be much more low key, but equally fun. Local history buff and Old Louisville Neighborhood Association member Dave Stewart will lead you on a guided tour to notable 19th Century spots that are integral to the history of both the City of Louisville and cycling. First, we’ll visit the Old Louisville Victorian District, a 48-square block collection of the longest continuously residential Victorian architecture in the U.S. A collection of antique bicycles will be on display at the Old Louisville Information Center. The ride will continue on past another legendary Louisville landmark: the 126-year-old Churchill Downs, home to the famous Kentucky Derby and its “Run for the Roses... The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports.” The lookout on Iroquois Hill marks the midpoint of the ride. From this spot near the home of the Iroquois Cycle Club, the entire city of Louisville is visible, including the “Emerald Necklace” of parks designed by the architect Frederic Law Olmsted, the designer of Central Park in New York City. The return trip features the Wheelmen’s Bench, erected by the Kentucky Division of the League of American Wheelmen in the late 1800’s as a tribute to Mr. A.D. “Pap” Ruff. Mr. Ruff was most famous for his cycling trip to Yellowstone. This slow-paced urban ride will cover approximately 22 miles and will, with the exception of Iroquois Park, be flat.

Mountain Bike Rides (8:45 am)

General Butler State Park, one hour north

BikeButler is a mountain bike area at beautiful General Butler State Park, a former ski resort that is now home of NORBA National Champion Series racing and a former National Collegiate competition venue. This is a technical course with lots of singletrack, climbs and switchbacks. Sport/expert level riders and fit beginners. Sign up for carpools at the Local Info Desk.

Monday’s Rides

Monday’s ride depart from the Galt House.

Riverwalk Ride 12 (8 am)

Locust Grove 25 (9 am)

Iroquois Overlook 20 (9:30 am)

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