ROV (Ride-around Our Valley) with HRVRC
Celebrate Hood River Valley by bike!


Friday April 25, 2008
Peter Cornelison


On May 10th  a free public bike ride is planned for Hood River County, please save the date. The reason for the ride is simple, there is no better way to experience the beauty of the Hood River Valley than by bike and spring is a great time to ride! The route is mostly on low traffic backroads and can be tailored to any length desired. However the entire route, Hood River - Parkdale - Hood River, is 48 miles, a good challenge, with some hill climbing.
 
On Saturday May 3rd the Hood River News will publish a map of the bike route, which is being called the Hood River "Ride-around Our Valley" ride or Hood River R.O.V. . A map of the bike route can be viewed ahead of time at  www.hrvrc.org  . On the map are listed the times when the ride will reach each community, starting off at 9 AM at the parking lot across from China Gorge in Hood River and traveling clockwise through the Valley, to Pinegrove, then Odell - in time for coffee between 10-10:30 AM, then up to Parkdale by 12 PM for lunch and finally back to Hood River for a rousing finish around 3 PM at Double Mountain Brewery.
 
Riders who wish to join in should cut the map out of next Saturday's paper and use it to join the ride at any point along the route. Families and kids are welcome - in particular on the Pine Grove to Odell section - which is mostly flat. Expert riders are also welcome and can do loop routes to add more miles. Everyone is encouraged to ride at their own pace and required to observe the rules of the road, which include wearing a helmet and not riding two abreast.
 
The Hood River R.O.V. is a no host event but is a project of the Hood River Valley Residents Committee (HRVRC) who for over 30 years have been protecting the farms and forests of the Valley. Other groups who are supporting the event include the Hood River Toastmasters and the Hood River Centennial Committee, who have designated this ride as one of this year's 2008 Centennial Events.

For map and details, click here.