Looking for a good way to experience the beauty of Jackson County?
Get out your bicycle, gather a few friends and plan to participate in the Brownstown Exchange Club’s Round Barn Bike Ride on Saturday.
The event, now in its 27th year, is a unique opportunity for local residents and visitors to explore on two wheels scenic areas in the western part of the county.
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Some of the sites on the tour include the county’s two remaining round barns, Starve Hollow State Recreation Area, Hackman Family Farm Market, Tiemeyer’s Farm Market and the Medora Covered Bridge, the longest historic covered bridge in the country. Riders also can visit the historic Medora Brick Plant site.
The ride started when a couple of Exchange Club members were involved in cycling and thought it would be good to start a local ride. The only year the ride was canceled was 2015 when roads in the Medora area were flooded.
Typically, the ride attracts around 100 cyclists with most coming from outside Jackson County and even from other states, including Georgia, Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, Tennessee and Michigan.
The most riders in one year was around 250.
Registration is from 7 to 9:30 a.m. at Brownstown Central Middle School, 520 N. Walnut St. Riders can begin after they register and can go their own pace.
The ride offers distances of 32, 62 and more than 80 miles through some of southern Indiana’s most scenic and picturesque countryside.
The 32-mile ride features flat and gently rolling hills, while the 62-mile and 80-plus-mile distances add challenging hills in the Norman and Kurtz areas. Longer routes are a great opportunity for people to get in some training miles before the annual 160-mile Ride Across Indiana bike ride July 21.
A small part of the Round Barn Bike Ride includes in-town traffic and short distances on state highways.
The cost is $30 for adults and $20 for age 15 and under. The Round Barn Bike Ride is not recommended for small children because of the distances.
T-shirts will be available for $10 the day of the ride.
There are several stops along the routes for cyclists to stop and have a snack. Emergency SAG service also is available for anyone who experiences problems with their bike or is unable to finish the ride.
The ride is among several fundraisers the Exchange Club conducts each year. Others include a 5K during Fort Vallonia Days and two pancake breakfasts — one in the spring and one in the fall.
Proceeds are used by the club to distribute to the nearly 40 local organizations it supports.
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What: Brownstown Exchange Club’s 27th annual Round Barn Bike Ride
When: Saturday; registration is from 7 to 9:30 a.m. with riders to begin after they register
Where: Starts at Brownstown Central Middle School, 520 N. Walnut St.
Distances: 32, 62 and 80-plus miles
Cost: $30 for adults; $20 for age 15 and under; the ride is not recommended for small children because of distance.
Information: Call Brownstown Exchange Club member Joe Bradley at 812-216-0394 or visit brownstownexchangeclub.org
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