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DELPHOS — It may be said that families that “ride” together stay together. Three generations of Richardsons agree, though they live apart from their family’s local roots.
James Richardson, 69, lives in Ottawa. His son, Byron, 46, lives near Columbus and the elder Richardson’s grandson and Byron’s nephew, Nick, 15, lives in New Knoxville. All three have ridden the Greater Ohio Bicycle Adventure in other sections of the state but this is the first year they were able to visit with family along the ride.
“This is an awesome tour for us because, when I was young, I lived in Delphos, then we moved to Converse. Nick lives in New Knoxville and we’ll go through there Wednesday, so we get to stop and see family twice,” said Byron Richardson.
While this year’s GOBA is his father’s seventh, Byron is on his fifth.
“This is my fifth GOBA and I rode the Sciota River Valley tour once. I’ve ridden about 1,000 miles just since we changed to daylight savings time,” he said.
Nick Richardson is riding the tour for the second time, having only 50 miles of preparation.
“Nick has pretty much just climbed on his bike and went. I think he trained for about 50 miles but he rode it last year with two of his sisters. They dropped out but Nick rode the whole thing and he’s the youngest,” Byron said.
The tour began Sunday in Celina with the wind at riders’ backs en route to Van Wert. Monday, the wind was an ‘enemy’ between Van Wert and Wapakoneta.
“The hardest part is heading into the wind in the heat. The wind is the ultimate enemy,” James Richardson said.
The trio says the tour is heavily organized, which makes it easier on the approximate 2,500 cyclists currently participating.
“It’s the best organized tour I’ve ever been on. The sheriffs, state patrol and EMS follow, as do two semi-trucks just for showers. Then, there are two other semis that hold our gear and the routes are all mapped out,” James said.
“From a support standpoint, we have multiple chances to rest, eat and get water; especially when it’s 95 degrees. If anyone drops  out or their bike breaks down, there is a group of volunteers that will pick them up. We have people with ham radios who sit in their cars along the route and some who ride with ham radios who can get crews to them,” Byron said.
He also said tour organizers have portable restroom facilities along the route and massage therapists available at the various camp sites.
The tour is part of Columbus Outdoor Pursuits and is designed for 50 miles per day over five days, beginning and ending in Celina. The large group of riders spent Monday night at Wapakoneta High School after the stop in Delphos. All are resting today and will ride to Troy Wednesday.

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