Published: April 21, 2008 11:54 am            

Outdoor Chattanooga and Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park partner for guided battlefield bicycle tours

CHATTANOOGA – Outdoor Chattanooga and Bike Chattanooga have joined Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park to lead series of free, monthly historical bicycle tours through Chickamauga Battlefield, April through October, 2008.

Beginning Saturday, April 26 at 9:30 a.m., Outdoor Chattanooga and Bike Chattanooga staff and volunteers will assist National Park Service interpretive rangers as they lead group rides through the Battlefield’s historic back roads.

“Partnering with Chickamauga & Chattanooga for these rides was a no-brainer for us,” says Outdoor Chattanooga Executive Director Philip Grymes. “Chickamauga Battlefield is already a very popular place for recreational cyclists. These guided rides will give even more people the opportunity to get out and play in this beautiful and historically-significant setting.”

The public is encouraged to bring their own bicycles and helmets and join the tours. Loaner bikes will be available from the Outdoor Chattanooga Bicycle Fleet. The 8-speed Bianchi Milano cruiser bicycles are part of a Bike Chattanooga program designed to encourage people in the Chattanooga/Hamilton County, TN area to use bicycles for transportation. The fleet has been funded by a Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) grant, with assistance from the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA), through 2008.

The once-a-month tours will begin at the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitors Center. Ride lengths will be approximately 7 to 10 miles on flat to moderately hilly terrain and take approximately 3 hours. The rides will be appropriate for adults and children ages 8 and older when accompanied by an adult. All participants will be required to wear helmets.

Bicycles from the Outdoor Chattanooga Fleet will be available for riders 5’ tall and over with advanced reservations. Reservations may be made by calling the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitors Center at 706-866-9241.



Battlefield Bicycle Rides 2008 Schedule:

Saturdays, April 26, May 24, June 28, July 26, Aug. 23, Sept. 20, Oct. 18

All rides begin at 9:30 a.m., EDT



More information:

Outdoor Chattanooga www.outdoorchattanooga.com

Bike Chattanooga www.bikechattanooga.org

Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park www.nps.gov/chch

        

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