Using the theme, “Celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the Chisholm Trail,” the 2017 Oklahoma Freewheel tour will have an overnight stay in Enid this June.
OK Freewheel is a weeklong bicycle tour across Oklahoma. Executive Director Trevor Steward announced the 2017 tour begins in Wichita Falls, Texas on June 11, will stop in Enid on June 15 and end in South Haven, Kan. on June 17. Other overnight stops along the route are Comanche, Duncan, Chickasha, Kingfisher and Ponca City. Much of the route is along or close to U.S. Highway 81, which is roughly the path of the original Chisholm Trail and has been designated the “Historic Chisholm Trail Bike Route” by the state of Oklahoma. In a press release announcing the route, Steward said the special Chisholm Trail anniversary “guided the route development and will help determine the entertainment that riders will experience in each host town.”
Riders will arrive in Enid throughout the day on June 15 and the cyclists will be on their own to explore the restaurants, shops and attractions in Enid. Most will camp at Government Springs Park North overnight, and the Central National Bank Center will provide breakfast for the group beginning at 5 am on June 16 as the cyclists will leave before 8 am to begin their next day of cycling.
“Once again, Enid has jumped all in to help welcome the Oklahoma Freewheel riders,” said Visit Enid director Marcy Jarrett. “Enid would not have been considered as a Freewheel host city without assistance from the City of Enid, Main Street Enid, the CNB Center and partners throughout the city that will make the riders feel welcome.”
Enid is known as a bicycle-friendly city throughout the cycling community thanks to Tour de Trykes and the Twilight Criterium held each August through the efforts of the Enid Noon Ambucs club.
Participants will travel around 440 miles to complete the 2017 cross-state bicycle tour. Oklahoma Freewheels mission is to promote and strengthen cycling tourism in Oklahoma. For more information on this great ride and to register, visit OKFreewheel.com.
Press Release provided by: Visit Enid
