WELLINGTON BIKE PARADE

ATTEMPTS TO BREAK WORLD RECORD

Wellington – Thousands flocked to Wellington on Saturday for the Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure’s 20th annual event in an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest parade of bicycles. Sadly, even though they had almost 2,000 bicycles they still fell short.

Riding in the parade was open to the general public as well as to all GOBA riders. All parade participants had to ride a 2-wheeled bicycle, be able to ride 2 to 3 miles, and had to wear helmets.

The Wellington Police Department led the parade from the Wellington Fair Grounds through downtown ending at the Village Hall where the opening ceremonies took place.

Riders began cycling on Sunday, June 15th, covering an average of 50 miles per day, and will overnight in Galion on Sunday, Mt. Vernon on Monday and Tuesday, Coshocton on Wednesday and Thursday, and Orrville on Friday, and will return to Wellington on Saturday.

The tour is owned and operated by Columbus Outdoor Pursuits, a non-profit organization, for the benefit of bicycle-related projects in Ohio. GOBA's long time sponsor is Bob Evans Restaurants, whose contributions have made the tour possible. In 2007, 2,400 people from 38 states, England, Japan, the Virgin Islands, and Canada took part in the tour. Included in this number were many families: typically, nearly 20% of the participants are children traveling with their parents, making GOBA the largest family-oriented bicycle tour in the world.

The hallmark of the weeklong tour is the partnership with each of the host towns. Planning for the bicycle parade as well as the other festivities on the first weekend are the culmination of the cooperation and hard work of local organizations, such as Main Street Wellington, the Village of Wellington, the Wellington Chamber of Commerce.

To see more photos from the parade: CLICK HERE
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