Welcome to the neighborhood – are you ready to Bike the Cbus?

Discovering Bike the Cbus:

Almost 15 years ago I stumbled across a special neighborhood bike ride, well before I would have called myself a part of the cycling community. A friend I’d never ridden with planned to take to the streets of Columbus, OH on this well-supported, group ride. I thought I’d tag along!

Bike the Cbus is the city’s original city-wide ride, since 2008. It is a ride designed to take you through the great diversity of Columbus neighborhoods. Ride organizers are showcasing hidden gems and showy floral gardens as well as neighborhoods just barely getting by, working hard in a community garden out of necessity, rather than as a hobby.

The route changes from year-to-year, including its starting point.

I have a vague memory of starting my first Bike the Cbus at Scioto Audubon Metro Park. Then again, it’s possible that’s a false memory. I do have a photo of my friend and myself at that park, with the park’s water tower behind us, but now that I think about it there’s a good chance this was a mid-ride photo. The ride likely began in the King-Lincoln District.

My friend had a 5k run in another Ohio city later that afternoon, so she cut the bike route short. I felt well supported, surrounded by cyclists of all abilities, ages, and experience levels. A small group saw my friend peeling off and took me under their wing, letting me tag along with their group. I was able to simply follow the bike in front of me and there was no chance of getting lost or left behind.

“Join our annual, one-day bicycle tour which takes you through various neighborhoods, past historical sites and along beautiful waterways in and around Columbus, Ohio. The route will be approximately 30 miles long with a shortcut for a 10 mile option, making it accessible for riders of all ages and skill levels.” (Yay Bikes! website)

Back then I had no real understanding of who was putting this community ride on, supporting the cyclists, or how much work it takes to pull off an event like this. I had no sense of what Yay Bikes! was, as a community organization, introducing so many folks to cycling and to their city. As a result, it was several years before I thought about getting back out on the city streets, to bike Cbus again.

Joining (eventually) Bike the Cbus:

My father had been a cyclist and as children we made a yearly journey from Chicagoland to Three Oaks, MI to participate in the 25 mile route of the Apple Cider Century bike ride. While our moms toured the surrounding area, full of pumpkin patches and locally-sourced wine and chocolate shops, the dads took us kids out for an adventure by bike. We followed red, green, and yellow apples stenciled in spray paint on the road, their bent stems establishing our route, telling which way to turn.

My sister revived the tradition, during our college and post-college days, bringing together a gaggle of friends and family to ride around Three Oaks, explore the restaurants St. Joseph, and indulge in the wineries of the surrounding sandy hills. It was a refreshing, long-lasting tradition that I very much enjoyed.

In those years after my first Bike the Cbus I rode from time-to-time, mostly on the city’s bike trails. But I was also discovering the colorful world of Zumba, first as a student and then a certified instructor. Zumba music is intoxicating! The colorful clothes and accessories and personalities are energizing! The workout is unbelievable! At Zumba Columbus I found a community of like-minded women and men who were worn out when one song ended, then invigorated when the first notes of the next song began.

Zumba was good to me! However, wanting to diversify my workouts and spend time with friends who were training for Pelotonia, a ride to raise funds for cancer research (see link below), I decided it was time to invest in a “real bike.” With this in mind, I headed to the local Trek store. I bought the bike affectionately known to me as ‘purple bike,’ upgrading to a more advanced model (with a higher price tag) because the bike was. . . well, purple!

I needed somewhere to ride, where I felt safe and where I’d learn about bikes and cycling etiquette. Not many of my Zumba friends owned bikes, so I looked elsewhere. I was thrilled to be introduced to multiple networks of cyclists to ride with – one was a ragtag group of Tuesday night riders who I once described as Peter Pan’s Lost Boys! I rode at night in their company, year round. They were stronger, more experienced riders than me. They pushed me and I grew stronger!

The other, more structured group I rode with was Yay Bikes!

Yay Bikes puts on monthly themed rides that invite new riders to a “no drop” riding experience with destinations that matched the theme — international grocery stores, sustainability, beer, roadside attractions, or even ice cream!

By the end of the ride you’d ridden a distance just under 20 miles, sometimes without realizing it. Stops were frequent, interesting, and sometimes educational. A prohibition ride or Underground Railroad ride taught us about Ohio history. A culinary ride or wine-themed ride gave us a taste of Ohio. A Valentines ride (with every sort of ‘romantic’ stop) might mean a cold, snowy winter ride with icicles forming on our eye lashes. A record store ride introduced a slightly retro feel to a ride.

Advocates of bike safety and improved cycling infrastructure, Yay Bikes! was the force behind Bike the Cbus. And it took a lot of volunteers to keep the organization and the bike tour alive.

Supporting Bike the Cbus:

So, I was swept into the world of Yay Bikes! by a very persuasive volunteer recruiter.

First I was encouraged to ‘lead’ a ride, which involves planning the route, setting up the relationships with the shops and community organizations we’d be stopping at, and riding up front on the day of the ride. Nervous about all this responsibility and not very familiar with getting around Columbus, I enlisted the help of others in the planning… and the ride day leading.

I was pretty proficient at establishing community relationships, which means that I was asked to lead more than one ride. The pressure of leading, however, was not for me. So, I volunteered to be a Love Boat-style cruise director, welcoming new riders, chatting about the ride to distract them from the number of miles left to go, and making sure that no one was left behind.

For years I volunteered to help to hang signs to mark the route for Bike the Cbus, arrive SUPER early in the morning to set up for the start of the event, and hang out after the ride to serve beer, hand out raffle prizes, and manning the bike corral, where cyclists would ‘park’ their bikes while they enjoyed food trucks, music, and each the company of other riders.

It takes a lot of volunteers to manage a ride of this magnitude! Many of those volunteers do not actually ride their bikes on the day of the ride, though they may have ridden the route many times prior to that day, planning a safe, engaging, and empowering ride that showcases Cbus neighborhoods.

I’ve never been a fan of ride t-shirts because, well. . . I don’t wear t-shirts. But Bike the Cbus has had some creative shirts designed by local artists. After a couple of years volunteering in a colorful t-shirt I started turning the volunteer “uniform” into a tank top by cutting off the arms. A few years later there was an option to opt out of the t-shirt, so I took it. I’ll be the first to sign up for a tank option.

There is a great deal of camaraderie – and fun – being a volunteer, however. Introducing new riders to the cycling community is a bonus.

Pausing Bike the Cbus:

Eventually, under the pressure of competing bike rides, Chicago’s Bike the Drive pulled me away from Bike the Cbus. What an opportunity! The city shuts down Lakeshore Drive, in downtown Chicago, for a morning. Cyclists are invited to ride up and down this beautiful stretch of lakefront. It’s a view of the city that many people never have. Free of cars, it’s a cyclist’s paradise!

Exploring Lakeshore Drive at the speed of a bicycle is a treat! There is some pressure to keep moving, however, and an early start is encouraged. The city can only keep this busy stretch of road shut down for so long before cyclists are ushered off the street and on to the bike paths. Chicago is blessed with a long stretch of Michigan lakefront that is graced by bike-friendly trails. This is important because the high speeds on Lakeshore Drive generally prohibit cycling.

Then COVID happened.

The cycling community that I was a part of fractured a bit, during the pandemic. We rode in smaller groups – in our pandemic “pods,” you might say. Larger, organized rides were paused all together. Even years later some of my cycling relationships were still paused. I fell out of the practice of group riding, bought a house, threw myself into gardening, and deepened existing relationships. The fun of meeting new characters on bicycles wasn’t as frequent.

I missed Bike the Cbus.

While I was away, management of Yay Biks! changed hands. New cyclists took leadership roles. I heard that the ride was back in full swing, but I was somewhat detached. I still rode my bike, but… well, I don’t know what.

Rediscovering Bike the Cbus:

So, this year I rode Bike the Cbus! Why? Old friends and new friends!

It turns out I really missed some of the cycling friends I had not seen since 2020. Some were active in bike advocacy circles, many were still tied to Bike the Cbus, and most were still riding or volunteering. The ride, you see, went on without me! I was ready to rejoin it. There is still co much of the city to explore!

This year a friend who is newer to cycling challenged herself to her first organized, supported ride. I was honored to help her attach her first cycling bib, as she geared up for the 16 mile route of Bike the Cbus. I’d be riding the 30 mile route, in an effort to reconnect with some old friends who were ‘sweeping’ the route – making sure everyone made it back to the starting point safely.

All riders had the opportunity to indulge in donuts and take in some necessary morning coffee before setting off. Riders applied sunblock, volunteers handed out safety pins to attach rider #s, and a local bike shop checked (and righted) air pressure, as needed. It was a beautiful morning for a ride. Food trucks rolled in as riders rolled out, to prepare for hungry post-ride cyclists.

I was happy to be there, surrounded by friends, new and old.

The ride was energizing, the support was cheerful, and the route was carefully planned. I saw friends tho had never missed a beat, those who were just returning (like me!), and met some new friendly faces along the way.

I highly recommend that you check out Bike the Cbus next year!

I’ll be there!

About Yay Bikes!:

“Yay Bikes! is a leader in bike advocacy, education, and events in Central Ohio and effectively:

• Advocates for mobility justice
• Advances the implementation of safe, comfortable, accessible, and equitable bike infrastructure, programs, and policies
• Activates a robust partnership network
• Accelerates equitable and inclusive opportunities for community outreach and participation” (Yay Bikes! website)

About Bike the Cbus:

“This event is run and organized by Yay Bikes! A cycling advocacy and education organization in Columbus. The funds raised from this ride support Yay Bikes! initiatives and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Franklinton Cycle Works. This local bike shop does great things in our host community of Franklinton and throughout the Columbus area.” (Yay Bikes! website)

The Future of Cycling in Columbus, Ohio:

“Yay Bikes! [hosted] its 2nd Bike and Mobility Advocacy Summit on June 6th from 5-7:30 pm.  We hope you’ll join us!  Individuals and organizations interested in improving bicycling, mobility and equitable access to transportation [were] invited to attend and join a coalition focused on improving mobility for all in Columbus and beyond.” (Yay Bikes! website)

Join me on my next adventure,

~ Kat

Related Links:

Yay Bikes!: https://www.yaybikes.com/

Bike the Cbus: https://www.yaybikes.com/bike-the-cbus

Pelotonia: https://www.pelotonia.org/

Yay Bikes! on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yaybikes614/?ref=bookmarks

Yay Bikes! on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yaybikescbus/

Yay Bikes! on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/yay-bikes-/