Tour d'Oconee Brings Bicycling Into Focus Locally

Smoothly paved and hilly Oconee County rural roads have long been sought out by the serious bicyclists wanting to tear out a quick 40 mile jaunt, with the more recreational pedal pumping people taking their bikes around the streets of Watkinsville and Bishop.

Inside of 80 days from now, the two distinct groups of bike riders will get their chance to come together with the first Tour d’Oconee Saturday, May 7, 2011, pending official approval by (having already been given the thumbs up and reviewed by the and getting help from their deputies).  

The primary course is 62 miles and a solid half mile of elevation changes, but less strenuous routes of 15, 25 and 35 miles are available for those who want to “Tame the Lion” to a lesser degree.

The secondary name of Tame the Lion derives from the outline of the proposed bike route map of Oconee County, which so resembled a lion that the nickname stuck with the group organizing this event (for the consideration of the Board of Commissioners).  I see a graphic tribute to distinctive Hawaiian Lion Coffee in their brown bike race t-shirt logo, but both are world class. Oconee County resident Duncan Harden designed the local logo.

Many “unofficial” groups of bicyclists pedal out of Watkinsville Wednesdays and/or on the weekends with sometimes dozens or maybe one or two riders stretching their legs with the routes generally known and passed on with websites or word of mouth. I like to regularly ride with my son to Bishop just to get the blood flowing, but have not done so lately with the weather and basketball keeping our schedules busy.

The Bishop City Council, headed by Mayor Johnny Pritchett, approved the bike ride coming through the small municipality of several hundred residents at their last meeting Monday. Apparently the last mass bicycle event locally (not at all involving any one with the Tour d’Oconee) did not leave a very good taste in the mouths of some local residents, but the members of the Oconee County Cycling Organization are taking every step necessary to ensure the acquiescence, if not approval, of all concerned.

"We'll be submitting our special event application to the county next week, after we get official approval (I assume) from on Monday," event organizer and OCCO member Dr. Tony Glenn said. "We already have Watkinsville and Bishop approval. Watkinsville is very excited. It fits perfectly with the May 6th 'First Friday.' Even the Oconee Office of Tourism is working with us. Since the sheriff is on board, I really think the BOC will get behind it. After all, we have Spring Hill Suites as a title sponsor.

"One clarification," added Glenn. "The outline of the 62-mile route looked like a lion constellation, not the county per se. Thus the Lion theme."

Riding a bicycle does not require a political belief or religious membership, but I know there is a considerable amount of members of both groups in the OCCO. A large pickup truck (or the driver) is not going to ask you if you are a member of the Republican or Democratic Party before plowing into you or knocking you off the shoulder of the notoriously narrow Simonton Bridge Road.  We need to know the roads where this ride is going to take place, and drive much slower and litter less than we have been doing. I know, I have picked up your garbage on the Oconee Connector.

Between now and then, please practice patience with sharing the road while the weather gets warms and the tires get pumped. Kindly let that pack or solo riders have as wide a berth as you or they pass.  

Let your Oconee County Board of Commissioners know you support the official approval of the Tour d’Oconee and other such pedal-centric events locally. This may be our greatest tourism attraction all things being equal.