Hot Tamale Bicycle Tour

Sat. June 1, 2024

Registration opens 7am,

Ride begins at 8 a.m.

The Hot Tamale is a beautiful, relatively flat ride in north central Ohio. This year we will offer 5 distance options, as well as an option for a virtual ride if you want to support the Tallgrass Trail, but just can’t make it to Waldo.

Stretch your donation! Modern Woodmen is matching the first $2,500 that we raise. Many Hot Tamale participants add an optional donation for the Tallgrass Trail.

Important route note (44 and 62 mile routes)
At mile 25, the route turns into the beautiful park in Richwood and follows a paved trail about 3/4 of the way around the lake before continuing on. There is also a fishing tournament at the park tomorrow, so there will be lots of pedestrians. You will need to proceed slowly and with care. If you prefer not to go slowly around the lake, you can easily bypass this by continuing straight when the route turns into the park. The course will rejoin the road in a hundred yards or so.

We do not have a food stop in this park, but there are bathrooms available.

We will have 5 routes in 2024.

A 11 mile family fun route will follow quiet country roads near Waldo, with snacks at the finish.

A 16 mile route will take cyclists to a snack stop in the village of Prospect before returning.

Our 29 mile route will feature two snack stops, the first at Gallant Woods Park in northern Delaware County at mile 10, followed by a lovely ride along the Scioto River into Prospect, for a second snack stop at mile 22, before heading back to Waldo.

Our 44 mile route will also visit Gallant Woods at mile 10. It will cross the Scioto and pass and will visit the new paved trail around the lake in the village of Richwood (restrooms and water available) before heading to Prospect for a snack stop at mile 36.

The 62 mile route is the same as the 44 mile route for the first 36 miles, and then adds an extra loop to visit the Kings Mill Covered bridge and some beautiful country roads.

See pictures of past rides or read quotes here.

How Do I Sign Up?

On-line registration has ended, but you can register on the day of the ride (see below).

Can I register on the day of the tour?

Yes. To save time, you can print a day of ride registration form to fill out at home and bring with you, or just fill out a form that day.

Is a GPS download of the route available?

Here are the routes:

The 11 mile route (was 10 miles until we tweaked it to quieter roads).

The 16 mile route, which goes to Prospect for a snack stop. Be sure to turn into the park in Prospect, as your mapping program may jump ahead and skip the snack stop.

The 29 mile route, which goes to Gallant Woods and to Prospect. There are a few stretches of potholes along the river south of Prospect, so keep your eyes open. Also, be sure to turn into the park in Prospect, as your mapping program may jump ahead and skip the snack stop.

The 44 mile route, which goes to Gallant Woods for the first snack stop, circles the lake in Richwood (bathroom opportunity), and then to Prospect for a second snack stop, before heading back to Waldo. Be sure to turn into the park in Prospect, as your mapping program may jump ahead and skip the snack stop. (See important route note above)

The 62 mile route, which is the same as the 44 mile route for the first 37 miles, but then meanders on beautiful roads for 25 miles instead of going directly back to Waldo. As with the other routes, be sure to turn into the park in Prospect, as your mapping program may jump ahead and skip the snack stop. (See important route note above)

If you have a Garmin or similar device, you can download the route to your device. Another option is to install the RideWithGPS app on your smart phone. The free option will let you see the route and see where you are, while the paid option can be set to talk and give you directions.

We’ll also have paper maps available on the day of the ride, or you can download them in advance. You can also print cue sheets for the 11, 16, 29 miles, 44 miles, and 62 mile routes.

Where's Waldo?

The ride begins in the Waldo Community Park in Waldo, Ohio. Waldo is on US Route 23, between Delaware and Marion, Ohio. If entering Waldo from Rt. 23, turn left at the BP station and right at G & R restaurant. The park is about 1/2 mile ahead on the left. Just follow the signs! Click here for a map.

Great Eats!

Homemade cookies, fresh strawberries, bananas, sandwich fixings, and much more!

Cool Shirts!

We will have bright red shirts featuring the design at right.

Got Questions?

Check our frequently asked questions page or send us a message on our Facebook page.

Bring Your Kids!

Kids love the Hot Tamale! We'll welcome you with smiling faces and special gifts for the kids. Our 16 mile ride is perfect for older children, and our 10 mile family fun route is just the ticket for kids who aren’t ready to a longer ride. You'll love our homemade cookies! Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Hot Tamale Bicycle Tour

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