June 17-24, 2023

GOBA 34 – – Beaches, Bridges, and Buggies in Northeast Ohio! Come join the weeklong adventure that is a perfect full-service introduction to extended bicycle touring.

CLICK HERE FOR REGISTRATION DEADLINES, FEES

GOBA is Ohio’s premier 7-day tour that explores a new region of Ohio’s friendly towns every year. GOBA has provided a safe, family-friendly, perfect introduction to extended bicycle touring for 34 years. GOBA saves you planning time, reduces risk, and provides a full-service adventure that will create lifetime memories with friends. Learn more about the GOBA vibe at the About GOBA page.

NOTICE: CORONAVIRUS AND GOBA

We anticipate that the COVID pandemic will not impact GOBA 2023. However, we will remain vigilant of any recurrences and honor any directives from the State of Ohio and/or the counties and municipalities we plan to visit. We will not impose mandates beyond those directed as above. Our first priority is the health and safety of participants and the communities we visit. Outdoor Pursuits retains the option to cancel or downsize GOBA 2023 if a pandemic warrants.

GOBA 34 - Beaches, Bridges, and Buggies in Northeast Ohio! Come join the weeklong adventure that is a perfect full-service introduction to extended bicycle touring.

In its 33 year history, GOBA has never explored northeast Ohio. Well, the 34th time’s a charm!! Join us from June 17-24, 2023, on a bicycling voyage to the region of Beaches, Bridges, and Buggies!

We’ll cycle through five counties in far northeast Ohio – Lake, Ashtabula, Geauga, Portage, and Trumball and stay in four host communities – Jefferson, Willoughby, Kent, and Burton.

The region offers exceptional cycling opportunities, but the limited options of facilities capable of hosting our 1,500 riders, made this year’s GOBA a challenging puzzle. We’ll need to bring in/cater meals for our stays at Jefferson and Burton fairgrounds; we’ve increased the registration fee by $55 to include the cost of five meals that will be provided by GOBA (2 dinners & 3 breakfasts).

The 34th GOBA will feature several routes along Lake Erie shoreline, a loop that’ll highlight a dozen covered bridges, Ohio wine country, the charming estates along the Chagrin River valley, and extensive miles in one of America’s largest Amish settlements. After 34 years, we’re excited to finally showcase the far northeast region of Ohio!

On GOBA you set your own pace while making memories with family, friends and up to 1,500 other riders. The itinerary is designed to showcase the area's treasures, both natural and man-made, for cyclists of all ages and interests.

GOBA will have four "mandatory" riding days and three layover days, giving you more opportunities to sightsee, do optional rides or just sleep in.

GOBA also gives you more choices on how far to ride. Want a challenge? Ride every day on fully supported routes, including an optional 100-mile century test, for a total of about 400 miles. Looking for less? Skip the three layover day rides and use our supported shortcuts on the routes between the three host towns to reduce the distance to about 160 miles for the week.

As always, outdoor camping is a fun part of the GOBA experience. We sleep in tents at schools, parks and fairgrounds while enjoying the hospitality of the towns we visit. Your registration fee includes luggage trucks that transport your gear as you bike from town to town, and modern shower trucks that keep the hot water flowing all week.

Don't like to camp? GOBA sells car-camper passes for RVs and trailers, and some of our overnight towns might rent indoor sleeping space on a floor. And there are multiple hotels within 5-10 miles of the four GOBA camps.

Don't have a tent or don't like setting up one? You can purchase "deluxe" and "community" camping services, with two levels of pampering. And all riders can purchase towel service or rent a chair.

Sign up for GOBA before the early-bird deadline at midnight EDT on Sunday February 5, 2023 to get the best price and be sure to add GOBA jerseys, T-shirts and other valuable extras. And buy a $5 raffle ticket for a chance to win a free registration and other perks as Rider 34.

Join us for Beaches, Bridges, Buggies, and a whole lot more on GOBA 34!

REDEEMING 2020 GOBA DEFERRALS

The cancellation of the 2020 GOBA at the onset of the COVID pandemic had a significant financial impact on our operation. Outdoor Pursuits had already expended significant resources for staffing, planning, and non-refundable contractual obligations associated with GOBA. We are grateful for our participants’ patience and flexibility during this truly unprecedented time.

Thanks to your cooperation with the deferral-redemption proccess in 2022, we have ensured the continuity of GOBA into the future. We will not manage the redemption of 2020 deferred registration in “blocks” as we did last year. All riders holding a deferral registration will be e-mailed a “coupon code” to utilize during the 2023 registration process. If a 2020 deferred rider chooses not to redeem their deferral in 2023, it will remain in our system for one more year.

*2023 – 5 meals included* – You’ll note that all regular, adult, 2023 GOBA registrations will increase by $55 to cover five (5) meals provided by GOBA in remote host communities. Your 2020 deferral will reduce the registration by $350 and require a payment of $55 to cover the costs of these five meals in 2023.

Click here for more details and a schedule of important dates.

Click here if you’re interested in transferring your deferred registration to someone else.

GOBA MEMORIES

Memories are made during GOBA, and each year our photographers capture them. One way to get a sneak preview of the fun and adventure GOBA offers is to look at the photo albums from year’s past, including a 24-page scrapbook that documents the eight days of the most recent GOBA in 2019. Graphics, quotes, notes and artist Deborah Rubenstein’s compelling design also help tell the story. The booklet is both a keepsake for 2019 participants and a sneak preview for anyone considering their first GOBA, showing the fun and adventure that await. Enjoy!

2019 SCRAPBOOK (LOW-RES PDF)

GOBA PHOTO GALLERIES (2017-2019)

The Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure is organized by Columbus Outdoor Pursuits, an organization with a full range of non-competitive outdoor activities.

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