Recollections from a Bike Ride 30 Years Ago & What It's Developed Into

Happy Anniversary Wishes to the Best 'Wurst' Bike Ride

"The first ride was held in 1974, in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of the founding of New Washington, Ohio," said George O'Briant. "The ride consisted of a 100-mile course to commemorate the anniversary year."

According to O'Briant, the ride went over well enough that the group of riders, named The Dutchtown Wheelmen, decided to do it again. In 1978, interested members of this group merged with riders from Bucyrus and organized the Crawford County Cyclists club. That year, the first ride (which became the official Best 'Wurst' Bike Ride) during the Bratwurst Festival was held. A news article touted that the "Crawford County Cyclists had risen, Phoenix-like, from the ashes of the old Dutchtown Wheelmen."

"We had a lot of good bicycling for several years," said O'Briant, who volunteered to help the staff at the gazebo stop in New Washington during the 2007 ride. "I really look forward to seeing some of the folks that were in that group and becoming involved again."

The CCC hosted the ride for several years using a metric century (62-mile) course, plus a smaller 25-mile ride during the Bratwurst Festival. Eventually the CCC renamed it the Best 'Wurst' Bike Ride. In 2003, the group and its ride merged with the newly formed Bucyrus Tourism & Visitors' Bureau. The CCC is currently an inactive riding club, but several members are still riding independently and some are actively involved in lending a much appreciated helping hand on the annual ride day.

This year during our 30th Anniversary celebration, the Best 'Wurst' Bike Ride returns once more to its roots, using New Washington's beautiful downtown gazebo as a stop on the 62-mile ride.

Barb Dolch, Best 'Wurst' Bike Ride co-ordinator