See what you need to know about Pelotonia Ride Weekend 2025
More than 7,000 cyclists are expected to put the rubber to the road during Pelotonia Ride Weekend, rolling through central Ohio Aug. 2-3.
- New routes this year include stops at New Albany Schools, Abercrombie & Fitch Co. and Kenyon College.
- Ari and Zak Blumer will DJ the opening ceremony before O.A.R.’s headliner performance.
- New OSUCCC-James CEO Dr. W. Kimryn Rathmell will make an appearance at the event.
Pelotonia’s annual Ride Weekend is coming up, and whether you’re riding, donating or cheering on the sidelines, it’s an event most of Columbus won’t be missing out on.
Taking place Aug. 2-3, more than 7,000 riders will take over the streets “together as one”— per the theme — on routes that span 24 to 190 miles long.
As many travel from different states and even from out of the country to attend this destination event, you’ll want to know what new features are coming in 2025.
In addition to new routes, CEO and cancer survivor Joe Apgar said the event has grown tremendously to improve Ride Weekend each year.
“It’s been really fun to watch Ride Weekend evolve and what it means to people who participate and engage with the organization,” Apgar said. “The organization is an inspiring hope for people, so we want to give them the best experience.”
Celebrating survivorship, Pelotonia’s primary goal has always been to fund cancer research at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James).
With volunteers, sponsors and collaboration with the city of Columbus, raising $310 million over 17 years has been a community effort.
“The organization has evolved based on feedback from the community,” Apgar said.
What’s new in 2025?
Prior to O.A.R.’s headliner performance at 7 p.m. on Aug. 1, indie-pop musicians Ari and Zak Blumer will DJ the opening ceremony from 5 to 6:15 p.m.
The Clubhouse band headlined Pelotonia’s 2024 opening ceremony with member Max Reichert before he passed away Nov. 1 after a six-year battle with osteosarcoma. This year’s stage appearance will honor Reichert, along with a 24-mile ride on Aug. 2.
The band’s 17-member team, including Reichert’s brother and band managers, who will participate in Ride Weekend, have already raised more than $10,000 toward cancer research in Reichert’s memory.
And, participating for the first time as CEO of OSUCCC-James, Dr. W. Kimryn Rathmell will make an appearance over the weekend, according to Apgar.
New routes will also take riders to New Albany Schools, Abercrombie & Fitch Co. in New Albany and Keyon College.
Visit pelotonia.org for more information.
Trending features reporter Amani Bayo can be reached at [email protected].
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.dispatch.com ’
