Bicyclists of all ages and abilities can hit the trails as part of a big community bike ride this August.
The third-annual Tour de CROWN, hosted by Tri-State Trails, is happening Saturday, Aug. 23. The ride starts and ends at Fifty West Brewing Company in Columbia Township along the Little Miami Scenic Trail, with route options for a 9-mile, 17.5-mile or 35-mile loop, with varying departure times depending on the route, starting at 8 a.m. All routes feature ride guides, rest stops and on-route support from Reser Bicycle Outfitters and Tour de CROWN volunteers.
Tri-State Trails says Tour de CROWN is a celebration of the growing Cincinnati Riding or Walking Network (CROWN), a vision for Cincinnati’s first-ever urban trail loop that would connect neighborhoods, landmarks and hidden gems. Communications and Events Manager Caitlin Sparks says the ride changes slightly every year to reflect the trail network’s growth.
New this year is a trail through Xavier University, as well as a new signalized crosswalk at Montgomery Road. Riders will also experience a new connector through Mariemont’s historic Trolley Park, which will eventually link to the Little Miami Scenic Trail.
“People are having eye-opening moments as they discover bike lanes or trail sections they didn’t even know existed,” Sparks told CityBeat. “That’s partly because the network isn’t perfectly connected — yet. This ride helps people experience what we have right now, see how it’s coming together and understand how it can be improved to be safer and more accessible for everyone.”
Sparks adds that what makes the Tour de CROWN special is that it provides experiential learning in real-time. Riders will travel on separated trails, protected bike lanes and on-street bike lanes, allowing them to feel the difference between the trails and understand the safety and comfort that well-designed biking infrastructure provides.
“I love this ride because it’s purpose-driven,” she said. “It’s not just fun — it builds awareness and advocacy.”
Volunteers will also be along the routes for added safety, so riders can focus more on having fun. And Tri-State Trails also works closely with Columbia Township to close an entire lane of traffic on US-50 so riders on the 17.5- and 35-mile routes can safely ride down the hill from Mariemont to Fifty West.
“Our volunteers play a huge role in creating that experience. They’re caring, wise and help make the ride feel safe for everyone,” said Sparks.
Following the ride, participants will be treated to a burger and beer, soda or milkshake at Fifty West. There will also be an expo featuring trail partners and community organizations.
You can sign up for the ride at tristatetrails.org. Proceeds will go toward supporting Tri-State Trails’ advocacy for a more connected regional trail and bikeway network. Sparks says in 2024, the ride nearly doubled the number of participants from the inaugural event from around 325 to 600. This year, they hope to have at least 900 riders.
This article appears in Jul 23 – Aug 5, 2025.
