Heritage Trail Bicycle Tour on May 28 To Offer Something for All Ages, Skill Levels
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WHEELING -- Not only will feet be made for running, climbing, jumping and crawling during the Ogden Newspapers Wellness Weekend presented by WVU Medicine, they'll be made for pedaling, too.
The Heritage Trail Bicycle Tour will set out for its 16th run on Sunday, May 28, as part of the Wellness Weekend activities.
The tour had been moved to Memorial Day Monday, but will return to the Wellness Weekend Sunday for 2023.
The tour opens the Sunday events at 7:30 a.m. Sunday, May 28, to be followed by the Tough As Nails Urban Challenge presented by The Health Plan at noon that day. On Saturday, May 27, the Ogden Newspapers Half Marathon Classic will run, along with the Twin Pops 5K Run presented by Ziegenfelder, the Twin Pops 5K Walk presented by Ziegenfelder, the Ogden Tiny Trot and the Ogden Fun Run, both also presented by Ziegenfelder.
Tour director Jim Adams said the bicycle tour is an event that is a perfect component of Wellness Weekend, a family-friendly excursion that folks of all ages and skill levels can enjoy.
"I think that it's a great fit," he said. "The bicycle tour is just another element of the Wellness Weekend for folks that, in years past, they were runners or walkers and enjoyed those events.
"We find that the cycling event really is multigenerational, So folks kind of at any stage of life, young and old, can enjoy it."
Seasoned cyclists can take a crack at the tour's 100-kilometer path, which will take participants through Brooke County -- a stop at Bethany College is included -- and all the way to the Pennsylvania state line. Adams said there will be plenty of hills to climb along the way.
The 50-kilometer path stays on the Heritage Trail bicycle path and sends cyclists to the Brooke-Ohio County line before heading back to Wheeling. The 15-kilometer path is a shorter course, Adams said, but is one that families will be able to ride and enjoy.
The 50- and 15-kilometer paths are good for the entire family, Adams said, because those are all on the flat rail trail. He said that interest is high for the event this year from riders from West Virginia and beyond.
"We're getting a lot of interest from folks from all over the tri-state area - Columbus, Ohio, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and in southern West Virginia from folks coming up for the weekend," Adams said. "They can take advantage of all of the festivities - live music, being able to watch the other events and being able to enjoy a really nice ride along the river. I think folks are going to embrace that and we should see a lot of participation this year."
Perry Nardo, general manager of The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register, said having the Heritage Trail Bicycle Tour on the Wellness Weekend's Sunday morning is a great way to start that day.
"The Heritage Trail Bicycle Tour has always fit perfectly with what we want to do with the Ogden Newspapers Wellness Weekend presented by WVU Medicine," he said. "It's an event that people of all ages can enjoy. It's something the family can participate in together. And it's another way to get outside, get some exercise and practice a healthy lifestyle."
The tour's Sunday run also gives the most ambitious athletes an even bigger challenge that weekend. They can sign up for the Ultra Urban Challenge by completing the Ogden Newspapers Half Marathon Classic, the Tough As Nails Urban Challenge presented by the Health Plan and the Heritage Trail Bicycle Tour. Registration for all the weekend's events can be found at ogdenwellnessweekend.com.