GOBA - About Us

What Is GOBA?

GOBA's mission is to organize a yearly one-week bicycle vacation, in order to inspire independence and nuture personal growth; to learn about Ohio, it's people, geography, and history; to provide inter-generational recreation; to enhance the image of bicycling in Ohio; and to raise funds for bicycle-related projects in Ohio.

GOBA has been described as "an adventure on two wheels with 2,999 of your closest friends." Each year the GOBA route features a different part of Ohio, traveling through peaceful countryside and stopping at exciting tourist destinations; click the map to see the towns visited by GOBA over the years. The week-long adventure offers fun, Ohio town hospitality, and the challenge of your life.

Around 3,000 cyclists from all across the country (and from outside the U.S.) participate each year, riding a 50-mile (average) route each day through some of Ohio's most scenic areas. GOBA is a tour, not a race; most riders find plenty of time during the day for sightseeing, snoozing on the grass, and enjoying food along the way.

GOBA lays out and marks all the routes, offers guidance to the host towns, and gives riders maps, commemorative items, and informational materials for the week. Delicious and reasonably priced food is provided by civic, social, and church groups along the route and in the towns.

GOBA is primarily a camping tour. Each rider brings a large bag containing their own tent, sleeping bag, clothing, and other gear. Each morning, riders load their bags into waiting trucks, then start riding the day's route, leaving when they want and riding at the pace they desire. Meanwhile, the baggage and support personnel travel by a different route to the next host town, and begin to set up the next "GOBAville." As riders arrive, they locate their baggage and set up camp.

Different kinds of entertainment await the riders each night, including the Tour of Ohio, a criterium series showcasing some of the top teams and racers in Ohio.

For detailed information on GOBA, including how to pack, what to expect on the tour, etc., see our rider handbook, The Way to GOBA.

Tour Organizer

GOBA is a project of Columbus Outdoor Pursuits (COP), a volunteer-based participatory organization created to provide opportunities and education for outdoor recreation and activities.

While perhaps best known for its bicycle tours, the Tour of the Scioto River Valley (TOSRV) and GOBA, COP also features a comprehensive program of activities and education in bicycling and bicycling safety, leadership training, flat- and white-water boating, caving, backpacking, rock climbing, skiing, and other modes of outdoor recreation.

Membership information and a schedule of activities can be obtained by visiting the COP website or by calling 614-442-7901.

Trademarks

The trademarks "Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure", "GOBA" and the GOBA symbol (cyclist profile with sunshine overhead) are all protected marks owned by Columbus Outdoor Pursuits, Inc. Unapproved use of any of these marks, or similar words or symbols could cause prohibited confusion, which cannot be permitted under Federal and State law. Legal action will be taken against any person(s) or parties who misuse the trademark or use it without authorization. If you have any questions about trademarks, please contact us BEFORE using them. Under some circumstances we occasionally authorize select companies to use our trademarks. However, we will NOT approve trademark use by anyone who has already begun using a mark without permission.