More bike route announcements for across-state summer tours

Across state bike ride organizers are firming up routes and overnight host cities for many of this summer’s week-long bicycle tours.

You may hear more about long-distance bicycle tours this summer as this marks the 40th anniversary of the first Bikecentennial bike rides in 1976.

Here’s a quick list of across-state bike tours that have announced their routes in recent weeks (a full list can be found at Across-State Bicycle Tours at BikingBis.com):

Katy Trail Ride: 240 miles on Missouri’s Katy Trail from St. Charles to Clinton. Overnights at Hermann, Jefferson City, Boonville, and Sedalia. June 20-24, 2016; registration opens March 1.

Cycle Oregon: 365 to 457 miles along the Oregon coast. Host cities are Myrtle Creek, Camas Valley, Bandon, Gold Beach, Indian Mary Park, and Glendale. Sept. 10-17, 2016; registration ongoing.

RAGBRAI (Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa): 420 miles. Starts in Glenwood and ends in Muscatine with overnights in Shenandoah, Creston, Leon, Centerville, Ottumwa, and Washington. July 24-30, 2016; registration ongoing through Feb. 15 or paper registration and April 1 for online registration; lottery announcement is May 1.

Ride the Rockies: 403 miles, climbing Independence, Fremont, Tennessee, Vail and Ute passes; host cities of Carbondale, Aspen, Copper Mountain, Grand Lake, Estes Park, and Fort Collins. June 11-17, 2016; registration for lottery through Feb. 28.

B.A.K. (Biking Across Kansas): Begins in Saint Francis and ends in Elwood with overnights in Oberlin, Phillipsburg, Mankato, Belleville, Marysville, Sabetha, and Troy. June 4-11, 2016; registration ongoing.

GOBA (Great Ohio Bike Adventure): 240 t 395 miles in southwestern Ohio, depending on options. Host cities of Hamilton, Eaton, Oxford, Brookville, and Miamisburg. June 18-25, 2016; discount registration available now.