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Pelotonia will introduce its shortest cycling route yet during this year's Ride Weekend in an effort to make the event more accessible to new riders.
The cycling event is adding a 17-mile loop for 2026, creating a fifth route option on Aug. 1. The new route will start and finish at North Bank Park in Downtown and take riders through Bexley and the Ohio State University campus.
According to an announcement, the route was created in response to long-standing feedback from participants who wanted a shorter option that still allowed them to take part in the Pelotonia experience.
The new route should allow more people to participate overall.
The organization plans to cap the number of riders on each route to improve safety and reduce congestion on roadways during the event.
Total capacity is expected to reach about 10,000 riders, up from a historical range of about 7,500 to 8,000 cyclists, Pelotonia CEO Joe Apgar said.
Registration will remain as first-come, first-served. Pelotonia Ride Weekend is scheduled for Aug. 1-2.
The new loop will be the shortest distance offered in Pelotonia’s history. The next shortest option has historically been the roughly 24-mile route from downtown Columbus to New Albany.
Apgar said many riders have expressed interest in participating but were hesitant to commit to spending most of their day on a bike.
The shorter route provides an option for people who want to ride but prefer a less demanding distance, he said. Pelotonia soft-launched the route on its social media and received positive feedback, according to Apgar.
The route also simplifies logistics because riders start and finish in the same location.
The new route will be added alongside the existing routes, rather than replacing any of them.
Pelotonia’s Aug. 1 rides will still include routes from Downtown to New Albany and Gambier, including distances of roughly 24 miles, 50 miles, 63 miles, and 100 miles.
Aug. 2 ride options are still offered.
Pelotonia officials said about 75% of the road routes remain similar each year, though distances may shift slightly based on road planning and safety considerations.
The last time Pelotonia introduced a new route was in 2021, when a Sunday loop was added that now covers roughly 27 miles.
Reporter Emma Wozniak can be reached at [email protected] or @emma_wozniak_ on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Trending reporter Amani Bayo can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: New route added for 2026 Pelotonia Ride Weekend
Continue reading...
The cycling event is adding a 17-mile loop for 2026, creating a fifth route option on Aug. 1. The new route will start and finish at North Bank Park in Downtown and take riders through Bexley and the Ohio State University campus.
According to an announcement, the route was created in response to long-standing feedback from participants who wanted a shorter option that still allowed them to take part in the Pelotonia experience.
The new route should allow more people to participate overall.
The organization plans to cap the number of riders on each route to improve safety and reduce congestion on roadways during the event.
Total capacity is expected to reach about 10,000 riders, up from a historical range of about 7,500 to 8,000 cyclists, Pelotonia CEO Joe Apgar said.
Registration will remain as first-come, first-served. Pelotonia Ride Weekend is scheduled for Aug. 1-2.
A shorter route is of interest
The new loop will be the shortest distance offered in Pelotonia’s history. The next shortest option has historically been the roughly 24-mile route from downtown Columbus to New Albany.
Apgar said many riders have expressed interest in participating but were hesitant to commit to spending most of their day on a bike.
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The shorter route provides an option for people who want to ride but prefer a less demanding distance, he said. Pelotonia soft-launched the route on its social media and received positive feedback, according to Apgar.
The route also simplifies logistics because riders start and finish in the same location.
Pelotonia's existing routes remain
The new route will be added alongside the existing routes, rather than replacing any of them.
Pelotonia’s Aug. 1 rides will still include routes from Downtown to New Albany and Gambier, including distances of roughly 24 miles, 50 miles, 63 miles, and 100 miles.
Aug. 2 ride options are still offered.
Pelotonia officials said about 75% of the road routes remain similar each year, though distances may shift slightly based on road planning and safety considerations.
The last time Pelotonia introduced a new route was in 2021, when a Sunday loop was added that now covers roughly 27 miles.
Reporter Emma Wozniak can be reached at [email protected] or @emma_wozniak_ on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Trending reporter Amani Bayo can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: New route added for 2026 Pelotonia Ride Weekend
Continue reading...
