Third Annual Tour de Tippah

The third annual Tour de Tippah will be held Saturday, October 8, 2011, (RAIN OR SHINE) beginning at 8:30 a.m. On-site registration will begin at 7:30 a.m.

Started in 2009, the first Tour de Tippah was a Girl Scout Gold Award project. Geordi Talley of Ripley thought it would be great if Tippah County had its own yearly bicycle ride that would promote cycling awareness in Tippah County and bring visitors from other cities into North Mississippi. Her goal was to create an event that would carry on long after she finished high school and off to college. She worked with avid cyclists and Girl Scout supporters to create the Tour de Tippah, which was held in the fall of 2009 with approximately 30 riders. In 2010, Ripley Main Street Association took over sponsorship of the event, and the ride continues to grow each year.

The Tour de Tippah is one of the smaller late season rides, with approximately 40-50 riders attending. Even though we welcome the growth each year, we also enjoy the intimacy of getting to know the participants and to be able to sit and chat with most everyone. We may not be one of the most high-tech rides with lots of frills, but you will be showered with genuine and sincere Southern hospitality from the moment you arrive.

There will be three routes available; a 20 mile. 40 mile and 62 mile (metric century) loops that let you meander through the rolling hills and backroads of Tippah County while enjoying the colors and coolness of fall. Riders will learn quickly that this is not a flat ride. There are some challenging climbs on each of the longer routes. Traffic is minimal and courteous. People waive from their porches and vehicles. There are no leash laws in Tippah County, but the dogs here are generally just curious and most are lazy. The roads range from smooth pavement to chip seal. The county chip sealed many roads last year right before the ride, but this year the roads should be much smoother.

The Tour de Tippah rest stops are some of the best. Your rest stop hostesses will be local Girl Scout troops that make stopping not only a relief from the ride but fun. The girl scouts will cheer you on, get your snacks for you, fill up your water bottles and even hold your bike while you take a break. Pre-registered riders will be guaranteed a Tour de Tippah t-shirt and biker’s goodie bag, filled with useful items for cycling and every day. There will even be a drawing for a special prize.

After the ride, the Ripley Middle School Beta Club will serve participants all you can eat of some of the best locally smoked pulled pork bbq sandwiches and fixins. The desserts are a variety of all homemade cookies and brownies, along with lots of tall tales from the ride.

The ride will begin and end at Ripley High School’s Event Center located on Highway 15. From Highway 15 South, turn right at the first red light onto South Main Street. Then take the first left onto Cotton Gin, then the first left onto School Street. Parking is located 1/10 mile on the right at the Event Center parking lot. From Highway 15 North, turn left at the third red light onto South Main Street, then follow the directions above.