Spring weather has arrived to the Miami Valley, and May is Bike Month! We at Miami Valley Bike Trails are happy to see trail season in full swing. In this issue of Trail Talk we begin a new series of "City by Bike" articles. With this and future installments we'll be highlighting the destinations and attractions in cities or villages you'll find along the Miami Valley trails. We start with Miamisburg, along the Great Miami River Trail in southern Montgomery County.
In addition, read up on other Bike Month events: the Bike to Work Day Pancake Breakfast (May 17) and the Cycling Summit (May 31), and big summer rides coming to the Miami Valley Trails: GOBA and the Greene Trails Cycling Classic. There are exciting developments going on along the Simon Kenton Trail; learn how you can pitch in and make a contribution. It's all below in Trail Talk.
How do you combine great food, great exercise, great scenery, and a great experience? All you have to do is head to downtown Miamisburg three miles off of I-75 and you have entered a cycling haven. There are several locations you can hop on the Great Miami Bikeway, but we would recommend parking at Riverfront Park, 3 Miami Avenue. From Riverfront Park you can head south or north, whichever way you desire. Heading south you could ride through Franklin, Middletown, and eventually all the way to Hamilton. As you journey on the path, you will see plenty of wildlife through woods, parks, and along the river. If you choose north you can ride to downtown Dayton or beyond and enjoy a more urban experience along the path.
What makes this trip complete is ending back at downtown Miamisburg for some delicious local food and adventurous local shopping. Whether you choose to have some ice cream, custom cupcakes, craft beer, juicy hamburgers, or one of a kind pizza, downtown restaurants and their outdoor patios are the place to be. 
Once you satisfy your hunger take some time to browse the specialty outdoor adventure shops, trendy boutiques, or a local brewery. For a complete listing of restaurants, shops, or bed and breakfast, please visit www.exploremiamisburg.com.
Downtown welcomes and embraces cyclists and continues to boost amenities for riders. Several custom bike racks have been installed to allow easy parking. If the bike racks are full, the several outdoor patio fences make great places to lock up a bike. Be on the look out for a special “business bike route” off the path. Planning your family trip or solo trip just got easy with all the great things to explore from downtown Miamisburg!
Get these big Bike Month events on your calendar:
Friday, May 17 - Bike to Work Day Pancake Breakfast - the FREE breakfast runs from 7 am to 9 am at RiverScape MetroPark in downtown Dayton.
Friday, May 31 - The 3rd Miami Valley Cycling Summit - the FREE all-day event will be in downtown Springfield at the Hollenbeck Bayley Creative Arts and Conference Center. Register for your FREE lunch.
The Simon Kenton Pathfinders have raised about $200,000 of the $300,000 in matching funds required to finish the project. So, 2013 will be an important year.
In June of 2012, SKP celebrated completion of the first phase of the northward expansion – a 1.25-mile section of trail from the Urbana Depot to Grimes Field, from where the northward extension will continue to West Liberty and Bellefontaine. Learn more about the Simon Kenton Trail and the Simon Kenton Pathfinders at their web site.
The Miami Valley Cycling Summit aims to use the power of cycling to drive economic development in communities both large and small throughout the region.
CYCLING CONNECTS
This year’s theme is “Cycling Connects.” National experts will detail how cycling can connect numerous aspects of our community, region, and nation. Join key members of the Miami Valley’s cycling community on May 31, 2013, in Springfield.
The Summit is your chance to further engage in the region’s bike agenda and learn about the past, present and future of cycling in the Miami Valley. Get ready for influential speakers, powerful break out sessions, and motivating discussions! In 2011, the Miami Valley Cycling Summit brought together over 300 cycling enthusiasts, representing 12 cities, 40 area organization and hundreds of cycling supporters. Register today so you can be a part of the 2013 Cycling Summit!
The Miami Valley Trails will host two huge cycling events this summer: the Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure (GOBA) and the Greene Trails Cycling Classic. GOBA is an annual event, but it isn't always held in the Miami Valley. This June, the route includes stops in Urbana, Troy and an optional day trip to Dayton. Most of GOBA is road riding, but there is a day on the Great Miami River Trail between Troy and Dayton. Check out all the details and register at the GOBA web site.
The Greene Trails Cycling Classic is an annual event that courses over all of Greene County's trails for up to five days in July. 
This is an ideal event for those interested in giving bike touring a try, because each day returns to the same campsite at the Greene County Fairgrounds in Xenia, and you can tailor your trip to your schedule, needs and abilities. The Greene Trails Cycling Classic is an important source of funds for maintenance of the trails in Greene County, a hub of the Miami Valley Trails system.
Why not give one or both of these events a try?
Advertising on miamivalleytrails.org is a great way for your business to be recognized as a supporter of the Miami Valley Trails and of trail users. Read up on our advertising programs and begin your ad submission process at our Advertisers' Page. Sponsor messages can be set up for as little as $35 or $75 per month! Interested in the printed map sponsorship as well? We can create a custom sponsor package that fits your needs. Get started here.
