The Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure (GOBA) is a week-long

bicycle tour Bicycle touring is the taking of self-contained cycling trips for pleasure, adventure or autonomy rather than sport, commuting or exercise. Bicycle touring can range from single-day trips to extended travels spanning weeks or months. Tours may be ...

. Each year it features a different part of

Ohio Ohio () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The sta ...

. The tour averages 50 miles each day. As with other bicycle tours, GOBA is not a race. There is plenty of time to complete each day's ride as well as stopping at the

tourist destination A tourist attraction is a place of interest that Tourism, tourists visit, typically for its inherent or an exhibited natural or cultural value, historical significance, natural or built beauty, offering leisure and amusement. Types Places of ...

s along the route. One of the things that smake this bicycle tour significant is that it has been around since 1989. The tour has grown to accommodate 3000 riders who visit from around the word. GOBA is primarily a tent camping ,tour but trucks deliver riders' bags to the designated campgrouns. Typical campgrounds are

fairground Fairground most typically refers to a permanent space that hosts fairs. Fairground, Fairgrounds, Fair Ground or Fair Grounds may also refer to: Places Canada * Fairground, Ontario, a community United States * Fairground, St. Louis, a neighbo ...

s, sch ,ools and pars. When GOBA arrives in a host town, the

red carpet A red carpet is traditionally used to mark the route taken by heads of state on ceremonial and formal occasions, and has in recent decades been extended to use by VIPs and celebrities at formal events. History The earliest known reference ...

is rolled out with entertainment and food. Unlike other tours like

RAGBRAI RAGBRAI is an acronym and registered trademark for the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, which is a non-competitive bicycle ride organized by ''The Des Moines Register.'' The course runs across the state of Iowa from west to east ...

, SAGBRAW or BRAG, GOBA ends its route in the first day's departure city. Since 1993, there have been ''layover days'', where you can take an optional loop or stay in that city. There used to be only one, but now there are 2. GOBA is a project of Columbus Outdoor Pursuits (COP), a volunteer-based organization that provides opportunities and education for

outdoor recreation Outdoor recreation or outdoor activity refers to recreation done outside, most commonly in natural settings. The activities that encompass outdoor recreation vary depending on the physical environment they are being carried out in. These activitie ...

External links

GOBA website

Bicycle Tour Network Directory

Columbus Outdoor Pursuits
Cycling in Ohio Bicycle tours Cycling events in the United States {{Ohio-sport-stub