It’s been a few years since OBS has had a Grand Tour. For those who may not know what this is, it’s a multi-day bicycle tour planned by an OBS member known as the Grand Tour Director, sometimes with the help of a Grand Tour Committee. These tours are usually a week long, give or take a day or two and most often are out of state. Past tours have been in Wisconsin, Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Ohio.
For 2021, OBS member Alice Patillo has volunteered to organize a shorter version, thus the “mini” term. Here’s what Alice has planned.
Participants will head to Springdale, Arkansas to spend three days exploring the trails and roads around Springdale. Two days will be spent riding the Razorback Greenway Trail. This is a paved trail that extends from Bentonville to Fayetteville with Springdale being approximately in the middle. The third day will be a road route in the Springdale area.
Tentative Schedule:
Thursday – Travel to Springdale. You might want to ride the Tulsa trails on your way to Springdale or arrive in Springdale and begin riding the Razorback on your own.
Friday – Ride the Razorback Greenway Trail to Bentonville (about 35 miles round-trip). We plan to spend several hours exploring Bentonville and then gather for the ride back to Springdale. Bentonville has the Walmart Museum, Crystal Bridges art museum and The Momentary.
Saturday – The plan is to ride an approximate 40-mile road route in the Springdale area. We will be joined by members of the Springdale bike club who will be arranging the route for us.
Sunday - Ride the Razorback Greenway Trail to Fayetteville and possibly beyond to the end of the trail. This will again be about a 35-mile round-trip. In Fayetteville, there is the U of A campus to explore and Alice will provide a map of locations around Fayetteville where there are art objects on display. Ride back to Springdale and drive home.
Hotel – Alice has reserved a block of rooms at the Springdale Fairfield Inn, 1043 Rieff St., Springdale, AR 72762 (479-419-5722). When reserving a room, tell them you are with Oklahoma Bicycle Society event. You will need to book for Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
This should be a fun, casual riding weekend and we hope to see you there.
Questions? Contact Alice at 405-990-3185 or thepattillos@sbcglobal.net.