The Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure (GOBA)

The Great Ohio Bike Adventure (GOBA) is a yearly eight-day bike ride for up to 1,500 riders of all ages. The next GOBA is June 15-22, 2024 GOBA is not a race. You can ride at your own pace and enjoy the scenery, food, and attractions on well-marked routes with mechanical and medical support. Average daily distances are about 50 miles, with shorter options of 20-40 miles. The tour makes a big loop that starts and ends in the same town, where you park your car in a secure lot for the week. You can ride as little as 159 miles or as much as 400 miles during the week, depending on which route you choose. Our host towns welcome us with fun activities in camp and shuttles to nearby events, places, restaurants, and services. On layover days, you can join optional bike rides, including a 100-mile “century” ride. GOBA is a camping tour; tent camping is included in the registration fee. You bring a large bag with your tent, sleeping bag, clothes, and other items. Trucks carry the bags to the next “GOBAville” — usually at a school, college, fairgrounds, or park — where you find showers and indoor space. A GOBA vendor offers optional tent, towel, and chair services, and GOBA sells car-camper passes. Indoor options — such as hotels, dorm rooms, and gym floors — may be available in the host towns, but you must book them yourself. See goba.com for details. One of the best things about GOBA is the tasty and affordable food that local groups sell along the routes and in the host towns to raise money. Many restaurants also serve GOBA riders and may give discounts. Follow these links to learn more about GOBA:

GOBA history: Every town from 1989-2024

How to GOBA!

Download “Way to GOBA” for suggested packing list and all the details you need to know.

GOBA:

It is not just a ride; it is a rolling party with a cool 1,000 bike friends.

Daily Ride:

Expect to hit 45-60 miles of pure eye-candy routes. But hey, if you are feeling more mellow, there is a chill shortcut to cut it down to 35-40 miles.

Stay on Track:

Follow those “A” signs unless you are up for an unplanned adventure. Just a heads up, some signs might get a funky facelift from local “artists.”

Gear Up:

You are in for a sweet mix of hills and thrills, so be ready to rock up to 60 miles. And remember, it is all about that self-sufficiency vibe.

Route Reveal:

We keep the route hush-hush, but sneak peeks of the ups and downs are over at goba.com.

Health Check:

Have a chat with your doctor to make sure you are all good to roll.

Early Birds:

Wheels up between 6 and 9 a.m., and do not snooze on the luggage trucks—they bounce at 8:45 a.m. sharp!

Snack Attack:

Local non-profits and diners are serving up the good stuff along the way. And if you spot something rad, go check it out!

Town Time:

Aim to hit the next spot by 4 p.m. to catch those evening chill vibes.

Your Days:

Mix it up with extra loops, a full-on century ride, or just kick back and soak in the local scene.

Memory Making:

Strap on that helmet, pump those tires, and let us make this GOBA one for the books!

Here is what you need to know:

GOBA will provide five meals during the tour which are included in the cost of your registration. (2 dinners & 3 breakfasts) They will be served at designated times and locations.

Your Responsibility

Apart from the GOBA-provided meals, you are responsible for purchasing your food – both in host communities and along the routes. You can explore local restaurants and grocery stores to find options that suit your taste. In most cases, we will ensure that there are food trucks in GOBAville for after-ride snacks, breakfast, and coffee needs. Treat this like any other vacation where you would seek out dining spots.

Non-Profit Groups

Along the route or in overnight towns, non-profit groups offer food and use the proceeds to support local schools, churches, and other worthy causes. Keep in mind that these non-profit meals must adhere to local health department rules, which may limit their food offerings.

Supplementing Your Meals

To ensure variety, consider supplementing your food from grocery stores and restaurants.
If you have specific preferences, this is especially important. Remember that GOBA cannot accommodate special diets for medical reasons.

Vegan and Vegetarian Options

GOBA provides vegan and vegetarian recipes and advice to our local non-profit partner groups and the caterers that supply our host community meals.

Choosing Your Food

Since you pay for all your meals and snacks, you have flexibility. Decide between non-profit group offerings, restaurant fare, or grocery store purchases. If you need directions to any of these options, visit the local info booth in each camp.

Food Stops along the route

Food stops on GOBA are offered by nonprofit community groups as well as some restaurants. In some locations, there is not an “official” food stop, but the route goes through towns where riders can find convenience stores, etc. for FOYO (food on your own). We try to reduce the number of FOYO stops, though the trend after the pandemic and shortages of volunteers have led some community groups to decline to sell food and drinks, though they have been generous about letting GOBA set up portable toilets and a water station at their properties. The food stop hours that community groups set are based on when a rider who leaves the GOBA camp between 7-9 a.m. might arrive at the stop if riding at an average speed of around 14-15 mph. Riders who leave before 7 a.m. and pedal fast might find that stops are not open when they get there. Similarly, the closing time of each stop is based on the 4 p.m. cutoff time for support on the routes. Best advice: Be sure to carry a little more food in your pockets and fluid in your bottles than you think you might need!

The GOBA camp plans are developed in conjunction with the host community facilities and follow strict guidelines in order to be granted operational permits by the local and Ohio Health Departments. These guidelines have become more stringent in the past few years and we require you follow all camp rules for the health, safety, and liability coverage of GOBA and our participants. Please ensure you set tents only in designated, marked, spaces. No fires or cookstoves are allowed. And for those with Car Camper Passes, please follow facility staff’s direction for car parking. If you are unsure, ask at the information booth. Please respect the quiet hours from 9:30 p.m. to 5 a.m. See the camp rules, which will also be on the info board in the camp.
Luggage – GOBA trucks take your luggage to the official campgrounds; you are responsible for your luggage from there. Transport to hotels or other off-site lodging is not included. 2024 GOBAville CAMPGROUNDS Friday (optional), Saturday, & Sunday, June 14-16: Eaton, Preble County Fairgrounds Monday & Tuesday: Oxford, Tri-Community Center & Park Wednesday & Thursday: Hamilton, Butler County Fairgrounds Friday night, June 21: Arcanum, Ivester Park

FEES AND POLICIES
Fee options
Drivers must register at the current NON_RIDER adult rate of $100. This registration fee covers our expenses for the 5 provided meals and all camp facilities (shower trucks, porta pots, etc.).
Vehicle 18 feet or shorter, including tow vehicle: $50
Vehicle 18 feet to 36 feet, including tow vehicle: $100
Box truck: $150
Car-camper and box truck pass registrations close June 9, 2024… or when 75 car capacity is reached. No refunds after June 9, 2024.
WHAT YOU GET
A pass that allows a non-rider to bring along a vehicle each day and park it in the GOBA-rented facility. All drivers and campers must be registered as GOBA participants (see above) and must wear a wristband. No electricity, water, or other hookups are provided.

Rules
By registering your vehicle, you are agreeing to the following:
I and all occupants of the vehicle are registered, paid participants of GOBA 2024. GOBA wristbands are required.
“CAR CAMP” placards MUST BE DISPLAYED in your windshield throughout GOBA. Strict enforcement this year!
We will not arrive in camp before 10 a.m. (no earlier than noon on June 17 in Jefferson)
We will present your placard upon entry to camp and obey the parking instructions of local and GOBA volunteers and staff at the campgrounds.
We will erect tents and other equipment only on designated camping sites. GOBA will try to provide sites adjacent to vehicle parking areas, but in some camps, this might not be feasible.
We will stay off the bicyclists’ route, except for GOBA-designated rendezvous points.
We agree not to hook up to electricity or water unless pre-arranged with GOBA.
We understand the pass is only valid in a particular camp for the night(s) that GOBA is camping there.
We will drive with caution, remembering that, on this tour, bicyclists come first.
We are not operating this vehicle during the event for profit or commercial purposes.
We understand that a vehicle consists of a car, truck, motorhome, van, or trailer. The length of any tow vehicles shall count toward the overall length used in calculating the fee. The maximum length is 36 feet. The width of a vehicle or camper, regardless of length, shall not exceed 9 feet, including slide-outs.
We will not use an auxiliary, gasoline-powered generator. Built-in RV generators are ok.
We will not bring a pet to GOBA, per GOBA policies.

If you prefer to stay at a different lodging option, such as a hotel or a B&B, in the towns we visit, you are welcome to do so at your own cost. Your GOBA registration does not cover the expenses of such options. To find lodging options on the Internet, we suggest you do a hotel search and contact the local visitor bureaus to get the most updated information on availability, including B&Bs. Ask them how far they are from the campground. We do not guarantee the quality of these places. Most rooms are booked by early spring, or even sooner in towns with fewer beds.
You are responsible for making your reservations and getting to and from these places; GOBA will only deliver your baggage to the designated campgrounds and not beyond. Mention to the motel that you are with GOBA. You may ask them if they have a baggage shuttle service available. Or you can use Uber or Lyft services. Some riders bring a small pannier or backpack to carry their essentials to their hotel or other lodging. Every day, they take what they need for the night from their bigger bag and leave this bag in the campgrounds with a friend. They then ride to their hotel with a light load. In the morning, they ride back to camp with the pannier and put the overnight things back in the bigger bag, put it on the truck, and are ready to go. Hotels and other lodging may not be on the free bus shuttle route in overnight towns, and the free buses DO NOT transport bikes. GOBA 35 PARTNER HOTEL DISCOUNTS Some hotels in the GOBA overnight towns offer discounts to riders, and more may join now that the towns have been announced. Use the web link or call the hotel directly and ask for the GOBA discount. Most properties limit the rooms available for the discount and have a deadline for reservations. GOBA and the town committees have set up the following discounts (prices do not include taxes). Click on the hotel name for a link to its website or click on the reservation link in the description to go to an online form where the discount and/or group codes are already entered. EATON The nearest hotels are 15+ miles away in Richmond, IN I-70 Interchange. The hotel partner is the Holiday Inn – 6000 National Rd East. Richmond IN 47374 – reference “GOBA” when calling.
You will also see 5-6 other hotel options at the same interchange; availability may be limited. Check the Wayne County Visitor’s Bureau for all options. OXFORD Comfort Inn is the GOBA partner hotel. It is less than a mile from GOBA camp 5056 College Corner Pike, Oxford, OH 45056 The room block was released June 1st. There are many other hotels available near GOBAville. Most options are available via the Oxford Visitors Bureau. HAMILTON The Courtyard by Marriot is the GOBA partner hotel. It is in the center of downtown Hamilton and next to the attractions, restaurants, and the amphitheater (concert) where GOBA participants will gather. It is 1.5 miles from GOBAville, located at 1 Riverfront Plaza, Hamilton, OH 45011. To reserve rooms at the special group rate of $124+, call 1-800-Marriot and ask for “Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure Attendee Block” by 5/22/2024 ARCANUM The closest hotel lodging is in Greenville which is 10+ miles from GOBAville. Our partner hotel is the Baymont Inn. Reference “GOBA” when registering. For more B&B possibilities, find a list at the Darke County Visitors Bureau here. AIRBNB & VRBO – Many cyclists use Airbnb and VRBO to book rooms and spaces from local community hosts. Be aware that these places are not commercial and will not offer shuttles or transport to/from the GOBAville luggage trucks. If you choose this option, consider the logistics mentioned above to shuttle via Uber or Lyft and/or to transport essential needs via backpack or pannier on your bicycle.

https://goba.smugmug.com/

https://www.facebook.com/tvhamiltonohio/videos/983802703058398

Drivers beware: Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure cyclists bike into Hamilton

Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure to ride through Butler County as part of 35th anniversary

GOBA bikers visit Golden Gate Park

GOBA, Buckeye Bridge Ride wheeling into area

BBR, GOBA riders converge on county

Weekend Adventures: June Trip Ideas from an Ohio Bike Tour to a Seattle Solstice Party

GOBA is coming to town

GOBA DIGEST NEWSLETTERS

2024 Registrant Update Newsletter #1 – Distributed 5/31/24