About 150 bicyclists from across the country came riding into town Thursday afternoon on the sixth day of their state tour.
The 13th-annual Across Ohio Bicycle Adventure, sponsored by XOBA, began in Calcutta, Ohio and will end in the east side of Cincinnati on Saturday.
Washington High School served as a resting spot for the bikers Thursday as they unloaded their belongings, hit the town and then spent the night in the high school gymnasium.
"We all have a lot of fun doing this," said Tom Hardin, who's driven the baggage truck for the riders for the past eight years. "The youngest person we have riding this year is a high school freshman, 14 years old. And I think the oldest we have is 87 years old."
This year's adventure visited the Ohio River as it entered the state at East Liverpool and then skirted the hilly southeast until rejoining the river at Ripley.
"Although the age of riders has ranged from as young as 10 years old, many of them are retirement age, with most tending to be in their mid-50s," said Maureen Williams, the director of the Across Ohio Bicycle Adventure. "The tour includes cyclists from as far away as California."
Cyclists normally spend about $50 on food and supplies per day during the tour, according to Williams. The bulk of these expenses are spent at overnight locations for dinners.
The tour is expected to yield a substantial, positive economic impact for the small towns along the way, said Williams.
"Small diners and cafes do more business in a day than they would the entire year," she said.
A single truck carries the tents, luggage and supplies for the riders. Cyclists were provided a list of restaurants and tourist attractions in Washington C.H.
The Across Ohio Bicycle Adventure is owned and operated by Columbus Outdoor Pursuits, a non-profit organization devoted to non-competitive outdoor recreation, founded in 1937 to promote greater understanding of the world by providing low-cost recreational and educational travel.
