Started as a father-and-son outing in 1962, the Tour of Scioto River Valley has grown into the largest bicycle touring weekend in the country. Within the cycling world, it is known simply by the acronym TOSRV. For years the tour has drawn riders from across the country ranging from age 2 to 93. 2010 marked the 49th edition of the event, which included about 3,000 riders.
The tour is sponsored by Columbus Outdoor Pursuits, a volunteer based nonprofit organization.
On Saturday morning, the riders gathered at the Ohio Statehouse in unseasonably cold conditions to begin the ride. Riders were expected to prepare for any possible weather conditions, which have ranged in the past from freezing rain to heat winds.
The traditional total distance for the tour is 210 miles; however, construction detours this year stretched the trip to 226 miles.
“I guess the Federal Stimulus had its effect on road construction this year,” said tour coordinator Charlie Pace jokingly.
The tour ran along the Scioto River Valley between Columbus and Portsmouth, where the riders stayed overnight before returning to Columbus along the same routeSunday. Riders were also given the option of participating in a half-tour, starting in and returning to Chillicothe.
Although the tour route avoids the larger hills of southern Ohio, it certainly was not for the casual bike rider hoping to see the Scioto River Valley. The 113-mile route was relatively flat other than the 15-mile stretch near Chillicothe that included a series of short and steep hills.
In order to enjoy the tour, riders are encouraged to have ridden at least 400 miles in the last two months and at least one 75 mile day.
Kyle Matthews, 24, has been training on his bike for nearly a year in preparation for the tour as well as other cycling events.
“I rode a good bit this winter so the cold should not be too big of a problem physically, but with the great weather lately, I was really mentally prepared for it to be like this outside,” he said about the cold and wet conditions. “You just have to find a way to push through it. I figured that out a while ago.”
All hotels in the Portsmouth area were reserved well before the tour for Saturday night. Registered riders were ensured a dry, indoor floor spot to sleep on but were required to provide their own sleeping bags.
The return to Columbus on Sunday saw similarly brisk weather. However, by early afternoon, conditions had cleared up into a dry and sunny spring day. The riders returned exhausted and exhilarated to the Statehouse in the evening following a successful Tour of the Scioto River Valley.
