Goba! Goba!

Over The Back Fence | Spring 2003

The fresh-air freedom of spinning wheels is back dropped by Ohio's rustic landscapes, which have made GOBA an American classic adventure.  Seemingly hidden on the rural roads of Ohio, quaint towns of history and charm, lazily await to be discovered. Scenic byways, rivers, wineries and ancient mounds are some of the sites on the mega-tours organized by GOBA.

In a sea of tents and spandex, 3000 cyclists gather for a six-day tour. Bicycles of nearly every design (tandem, recumbent and pulling kiddy trailers) met in Delaware on June 15 this past year to sign-in and claim their numbers. The cyclists were from Australia, Canada, the Virgin Islands, 45 states in the US and ranged from the ages of 2 to 80.

Their six-day journey would take them to Newark, Lancaster, Chillicothe, London, and Marysville then back to Delaware. The 350-mile excursion was booked with a waiting list of people to join. It began with a costumed parade The night of registration and camping for more than 2,700 people.  By daybreak the sounds of zippers and collapsing of tents signaled the mass movement to the next town.   Each day the 46 to 60 mile trek led cyclists through the countrysides of Ohio to their next destination.  Hills, pastures, farmland and small town views were savored with the silence of nature and the tick of smooth drive chains.

The Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure, known by the short acronym GOBA, has completed its 14'1' annual 2002 Ohio adventure and eagerly awaits 2003. GOBA is a part of the larger non-profit organization, Columbus Outdoor Pursuits (COP, founded in 1937) that provides low-cost recreational and educational trav­el to promote understanding of our history and state. Columbus Outdoor Pursuits isbest known fot its two annual bicycle mega-tours: Tour of the Scioto River Valley (TOSRV) with its two day 100-mile (one way) excursion from Columbus to Portsmouth and GOBA which features a different week-long cycling tour adventure each year.

GOBA has become the largest family-oriented bicycle event in the world.   Each year GOBA plots out a circular path along the narrow rural roads of Ohio with destination to towns that offer festivals, museums and historical sites.

"This is an annual event for us," smiled Matt Micetich, a retired physics teacher. He and his wife, Barb, a nurse, rested after a 53-mile trek from Newark to Lancaster, their tandem bike sprawled before them. "We've done this for five years now.  It began when Barb found out she was going to have surgery and we decided then we both needed to get in shape, so she grabbed our son's bike and we began riding as often as we could.  Some friends had encouraged us to join them on a tour and introduced us to GOBA. We signed up and it's been an annual event for the past five years. We wouldn't miss it."

Those venturous enough to attempt the GOBA tour should note that it is not an easy task and can be physically demanding. "You should be adequately prepared to ride several miles a day — otherwise, you might have a rough time  — you should work up to a fifty mile ride which would match the average day's travel.

But be warned that there are six consecu­tive days of travel, including hills," contin­ues Matt.

Highly organized to almost every detail, GOBA has become a favorite of cyclists in the country.    "We cap the number of par­ticipants at 3,000. This year we had num­bers reaching 3,150 but there were only 3,000 because some don't make the trip and we keep issuing numbers to regis­trants. We never fail to meet the mark because people are on waiting lists.  It's always a sell out," states Julie Van Winkle, Director of GOBA.   "This is an event that has grown over the years and has become one of the best cycling tours in the coun­try." The adventure is a volunteer, non­profit effort, with revenues going to sup­port cycling in Ohio, with such things as education and the Ohio to Erie Trail.
The entourage of support includes four rented semi-trucks for the transportation of tents and luggage.  Each person is assigned by color code to a truck to retrieve his or her luggage at the days end. A medical team, a massage service, bicycle repairmen and drivers to help those riders who may need help are but a small part of the volunteer support.  Local communities and area churches offer low cost meals and welcome the riders to explore their towns.

"This is a well planned effort that seemingly always works. The community support and hospitality is unsurpassed. Most of our camping takes place at fair­grounds or parks, some which have facili­ties, but we augment these by supplying portable restrooms and two shower trailers, which people line up for after a hot day." Julie smiles, "And we offer massages at a traveling tent shelter for those who really feel the day's ride. There is a Sag-Wagon which helps those who cannot make the days trek for some reason or another.  It's not a taxi service but offers help when needed."

GOBA is such a popular event that information materials are issued on December 1" of each year and the deadline for sign-ups is May 15th.  "The earliest advanced planning for a GOBA tour begins about year and a half ahead of time. This year being 2003, we planned a tour to coincide with bicentennial events to help further educate our riders. We never fail to reach our limit on these tours so it is advisable to register early.  It should bean exciting tour this bicentennial year."

"Age is only in your head." At 64, Marlene Welsh is the head of the "Grandma's GOBA Gang" and has enjoyed the GOBA tours for seven years. "I first started with my granddaughter and now, during this past tour, I had 21 mem­bers of my family along.  It is something that bonds us, brings us together.   No tele­vision or video games, just bicycles, camp­ing and us. It just catches on - you acquire a taste for it — and then you crave it.  It's an addiction," Marlene laughs. "GOBA is simply a good time."

To obtain a GOBA application, send a SASE to GOBA, P.O. Box 14384, Columbus, Ohio 43214 or phone Julie Van Winkle, Director of GOBA at 614-447-0971 or visit their website for detailed information at: www.goba.com .  For an extensive list bicycling, canoeing, kayak-ing, rafting, backpacking, hiking, caving, rock climbing, cross country skiing and other outdoor recreation tours check out Columbus Outdoor Pursuits at www.outdoor-pursuits.org .