Design and layout of a family fun ride to encourage cycling....need input

[Dogg Town Scott]

All bikers,

I am on a committee that is sponsoring a family fun ride in Little Rock, Arkansas. We are trying to help families get ito cycling and have a fun ride every spring. This is the third year of the ride. Last year, the distance was around 17 miles. And I heard lots of complaints (from the novices, of course) about the length of the course. Does anyone have any experiences in working with community rides, as far as distances and ideas. Just wanting to pick some brains for input.

And by the way, are any of you going to the Fitness Summitt this year?

[Ron Rizzardi]

Is this the Tour de Rock?
My daughter and I did it.
If so, yes it was long but there were plenty of short cuts back to the start. She had plenty of opportunities to stop short. No complaints there.

Because she and I with her went the whole way we were at the back of the pack and as we progressed we found support on the trail all but disappeared. We did not know where to turn, didn't know where to finish and didn't even know if anyone of the event organizers knew we where still out there.

If it's going to be a 17 miler, expect there will be some slow, die-hard children that will do their best to ride the whole route you make available to them. Don't forget they are out there, make sure the course officials know their where abouts so they know if anyone is left out there that may still need SAG support.

[Dogg Town Scott]

You got it, Ron. It is the Tour de Rock. Yes, I know that kids will keep going as long as you let them. And the ride organizers really need to work on sweeping up the rear, and have better signage.

The ultimate plan for the Tour de Rock is to take advantage of the Millenium Loop with the two bike bridges once they are complete.

My problem I am having with some of the organizers, is that they are hard core cyclists and lose sight of the purpose of the ride. Being a family based ride, it should be clearly marked and have set turnbacks so people of different skill levels can decide on the length. It should be fun and not stressful and confusing.

I even suggested a shorter kiddie loop around the park like maybe a 2 miler or so.

I know that having volunteers on the course takes a lot of people, but like you, I know that you can't leave people out there wondering where to go.

Ron, thanks again for the input. Maybe one day, I can pick your brain for more ideas.

Food
Flat
Support
Food
Stages--ie 5 mile, 10 mile, 15 mile
Food

[ODBSGIRL]

Is the ride limited to the river trail? just curious, wouldn't it be easier to organize a family ride with plenty of amenities available with a smaller # of volunteers if the "family" ride was done at Two Rivers? Kids don't seem to mind the loops as much as scenery junkie parents do. Just a few volunteers with cookies, fruit and drinks and no one could possibly get "left in the rear" Of course that would mean basically setting up 2 rides-one for "serious" cyclists and one for family riders but it would solve a lot of those volunteer-ride length issues.