Tour de Lincoln returns for 21st ride

If you are looking for a nice bike ride that includes snacks, get ready for the Tour de Lincoln, coming to roads near you Oct. 21. You can tell it's a special ride because the title has "de" in it instead of "of." The Tour de Lincoln has been voted one of the best metric centuries in the state. This is the 21st TdL, produced by and benefiting the Lincoln Rotary Foundation, helping to continue the club's many community projects. Do you think you're not ready for a "Tour de"? I think you are. There are three separate routes, including the undeniably tough 100K (62 miles), a nice 50K (30 miles) and a family-friendly flat 25K (16 miles). All rides start and end at McBean Park in Lincoln and include fully-stocked rest stops and a post-ride BBQ for your $75, $65 or $55 registration fee. You can leave on the century between 7 and 8 a.m., and the other two routes between 8 and 9:30. All riders are given a "cue sheet" and map and there will be color-coded arrows before every turn. Or just fall in behind riders who look like they know where they are going. Plenty of tour volunteers along the routes will help out in any way needed. If for any reason you can't complete the entire route, there will be "SAG Wagon" there to transport you and your bike back to the park. There are two ways to register. Go to Active.com and search "Tour de Lincoln." Active.com has been doing this for a long time and the process is easy. You can also pay for the pre-ride spaghetti carbo-load at Turkey Creek and order the tour T-shirt (It's nice.) Or, you can also just "walk in" (or is it "ride in"?) to McBean Park the morning of the tour to register. I'd get there before 7 a.m., but it's usually not crowded, and again, the process is easy. Rest stops are staffed by local service groups. These folks are out there to be sure you have a good time and can find a little cup of trail mix to keep you going. Be sure to thank them. Rest stops for the Metric Century are at the Ophir Park'n'Ride in Newcastle and way out there on Riosa Road. All three rides go through the rest stop on Mt. Pleasant. This will be my 15th year riding the Tour de Lincoln. Every year has been a blast. There just isn't any finer place to ride your bike. Say "hi" and "on your left" as you pass me going up Ridge Road to the first rest stop on Ophir.