Greater Cincinnati is celebrating National Bike Month this May, which means you still have 20-something days to take off your training wheels and get those pedals pumping. Fun events and themed rides are available all month for seasoned pros and beginner riders alike. There are over 50 events happening in the coming weeks, but we picked 10 of our favorite ways to be a part of the action.
1. $2 Tuesdays — Red Bike Passes are just $2 every Tuesday this May, so don’t pass up this opportunity to ride through the Queen City on the cheap all month long with Cincinnati’s bike-share system. Red Bike Stations are located everywhere, from downtown to Covington, Newport and Bellevue, so there’s no limit to where you can ride. The discount is accessed through a promo code, so check the Cincy Bike Month website for updates. cincyredbike.com, cincybikemonth.com.
2. Steeples, Spires & BBQ — Tag along on this sightseeing ride for a tour of some of Greater Cincinnati’s most unique churches and other structures that stretch to the sky. This tour covers roughly 20 miles, so stick around afterward to unwind with barbecue on the patio at Newberry Brothers Coffee and Prohibition Bourbon Bar in Newport. 3- 5 p.m. May 12. Free. Red Bike Station, Sixth St. and Washington Ave., Newport, cincybikemonth.com.
3. Breakfast on the Bridge — Come hang out bright and early on the Purple People Bridge for a free coffee and breakfast with good company as a part of Bike to Work Week. If you really feel like earning your breakfast, a guided group will be leaving from the Clifton Library Redbike Station at 6:45 a.m. sharp for a leisurely ride down to the bridge before breakfast. 7- 9 a.m. May 18. Free. Purple People Bridge, 425 York St., Newport, cincybikemonth.com.
4. Brewvolution! #3 — The third in a series of four brewery-themed rides organized by Queen City Bike and Tri State Trails for Cincy Bike Month, Saturday’s Brewvolution journey will take cyclists on a 24- or 28-mile ride that hits several locally owned craft breweries along the way. Participants will start at either Northern Row (then just visit Off Track) or Humble Monk, followed by stops at Westside Brewing, Brink, Fibonacci, Wiedemann’s, Taft’s Brewpourium and Urban Artifact. The ride’s free: just bring your bike, drink money and a valid ID. 10 a.m. for Northern Row, 111 West McMicken Ave., West End; Noon for Humble Monk, 1641 Blue Rock, Northside, cincybikemonth.com.
5. CORA Mountain Bike Group Ride — Advanced riders and beginners alike are invited to join the Cincinnati Off-Road Alliance (CORA) on their second group ride of the 2018 season. Multiple speed groups ensure that everyone has an enjoyable ride and no rider gets left behind. Mets and brats will be served afterward, and riders are asked to bring a snack to share. (Cookies, anyone?) 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. May 19. Free. England-Idlewild MTB Trail, 550 Idlewild Road, Burlington, KY. cincybikemonth.com.
6. Second Annual Cincy Hill Ride — This is a ride for those of you out there with particularly spectacular calves and quads. Starting downtown at Fountain Square, you’ll ride some of the toughest hills Cincinnati has to offer. The exact route is still to be determined, but there’s a tentative plan to end in Northside for some well-earned Dojo Gelato. 11 a.m. May 20. Free. Fountain Square, Fifth and Vine streets, Downtown, cincybikemonth.com.
7. Ride Cincinnati: Group Ride and Happy Hour — This short, one-hour ride will be lead by a Fifty West Cycling Co. guide along bike trails near the Little Miami River. After the ride, head over to Fifty West Brewing for a trivia happy hour. Ten percent of all purchases at Fifty West will be donated to the Ride Cincinnati Foundation. 6:30- 9 p.m. May 23. Free to ride. Fifty West Cycling, 7669 Wooster Pike, Columbia Township, cincybikemonth.com.
8. Film Screening: The Triplets of Belleville — Cruise on over to the Mini Microcinema for a free screening of the 2003 French animation The Triplets of Belleville, the story of a grandmother, a dog and a set of singing sisters who set out to rescue a young boy who is kidnapped during the Tour de France. Free popcorn and drinks provided. 7- 9 p.m. May 24. Free. The Mini Microcinema, 1329 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, cincybikemonth.com.
9. The Night Bike Ride — Everyone ages 10 and up can visit Miami Whitewater Forest after-hours with this nighttime ride. Cruise around the 7.8-mile Shaker Trace Trail through the sunset as darkness sets in. (Or bike it twice for a total of 15.6 miles.) Register no later than Wednesday, May 23 to get in on the action. Helmets and front and back lights required. 8-10 p.m. May 25. $12. Miami Whitewater Forest, 9001 Mount Hope Road, Harrison, cincybikemonth.com.
10. Noodle Noodle Noodle Ride — Bike riding? Super. Noodles? Delicious. Taking your bike to get some noodles? A match made in heaven. Ride along for a noodley adventure with stops at Pho Lang Thang, Thai Express, Blue Gibbon and Wok Inn with a finale at Bridges for dumplings and dessert. Bring a bud to share some ramen with and don’t forget a few to-go containers to pop in your bike basket for later. 2- 7 p.m. May 27. Free to ride, but bring money for your noodles. MoBo Bicycle Co-op, 1415 Knowlton St., Northside. cincybikemonth.com.
For a full list of Bike Month activities, visit cincybikemonth.com.
This article appears in May 9-16, 2018.