Overview: Spend 12 unforgettable days cycling approximately 400 roaming miles through the heart of Kentucky’s Bluegrass Region, where the land rolls gently beneath your wheels and every turn reveals another postcard-worthy scene. Quiet country tree-lined roads wind through emerald pastures stitched with white and black fences, home to some of the world’s most celebrated Thoroughbred horse farms. Foaling season in Kentucky in May feels like a celebration of new life: mares grazing peacefully, energetic foals discovering their legs, and iconic farms at their lushest and most picturesque.

Our clockwise loop of cycling begins and ends in Louisville, Kentucky. In between, we ride from point to point and overnight in seven locations. Three locations will be two-night stays for optional loop rides, recovery, group tours, or engaging in hiking and other off-bike adventures.

As a bonus, the schedule for this tour has been planned so that the most enthusiastic cyclists may elect to “add on” and participate in the Horsey 100, a fully supported multi-route premier cycling event headquartered in Georgetown, Kentucky, on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday before Memorial Day.

Itinerary:

Our itinerary follows BAC’s “A Taste of Kentucky Tour” run in September 2014 with a few modifications made after recent scouting in the area.

Sunday May 16 (Louisville): We begin our tour with a group meeting and introductions at 5 p.m. (local time is in the Eastern time zone) at our first hotel located on the eastern edge of Louisville, Kentucky. Following our meeting, we will walk to a nearby restaurant for a group dinner.

Monday May 17 (Louisville to Frankfort - 57 miles, 2800’): Our first day of riding will take us from the eastern outskirts of Louisville to Frankfort, the state capital. Frankfort’s historic downtown is a short walk from our newly renovated hotel. Downtown, you may choose to tour the birthplace of the famous Bourbon Ball, Rebecca Ruth Candy. As a group, we will tour a bourbon distillery with a complimentary bourbon tasting and opportunity to place any purchases from their extensive gift shop in the luggage van. Dinner will be on your own. 

Tuesday May 18 (Frankfort to Lexington – 49 miles, 2450’): We will ride out of town past the State Capitol Building and then by more Bourbon Distilleries such as Castle & Key and Woodford Reserve Distillery. Our route takes us through historic Versailles (pronounced VER SALES) offering multiple outdoor seating lunch options. You may choose to take a short detour off route to check out the Kentucky Castle. The final section of our ride will bring us into the heart of downtown Lexington utilizing the Legacy Trail bike path. Our downtown boutique hotel, with a newly renovated restaurant and bar area, has on view thought provoking contemporary art exhibits and permanent installations. It is conveniently located across the street from the Lexington Visitors Center in the Historic Courthouse Square and within walking distance of the Distillery District for dinners on your own.

Wednesday May 19 (Lexington): On this layover day, an optional morning loop ride will be offered for those wanting to keep their legs fresh. The ride leaders suggest heading out to Keeneland early morning to watch daily training of the 1500 thoroughbreds who are stabled there, including Golden Tempo, the winner of the 2026 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. Visiting Keeneland is free of charge, but the gift shop might make up for that. As Lexington is the undisputed epicenter of Thoroughbred breeding in the United States, our group will be treated in the afternoon to a private scenic tour, with exclusive visits to working Thoroughbred horse farms. Along the way, we will have the opportunity to interact with mares and foals, tour an active breeding shed, and gain fascinating insight into the Thoroughbred breeding industry. If time allows, interested participants may want to visit the Kentucky Horse Park.

Thursday May 20 (Lexington to Winchester – 51 miles, 2575’):  Today’s ride will take us to Evans Orchard Cider Mill for apple cider doughnuts, ice cream, all things strawberry, and perhaps a quick game of Mega Cornhole. Continuing on, we ride through Paris, where there awaits a photo op with a 20-foot-replica of the Eiffel Tower and you will be wowed by massive horse-themed murals on the sides of buildings in the historic downtown. Paris is also an ideal lunch stop. We end our day of riding in Winchester, the birthplace of Beer Cheese and the hometown of Ale-8-One, a ginger and citrus-flavored soda first bottled in 1926. On this night, we will enjoy a catered group dinner at our hotel.

Friday May 21 (Winchester to Natural Bridge State Resort Park – 42 miles, 1485’):  Today we arrive in wooded, serene surroundings. We will stay in the Hemlock Lodge for two nights located in Natural Bridge State Resort Park. All rooms have private balconies with incredible views of the surrounding woodlands. The on-site Sandstone Arches Restaurant will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and the Trails End Tavern will be open Friday and Saturday afternoon and evening.

Saturday May 22 (Natural Bridge State Resort Park):  On this layover day, you may choose to ride an optional 32 mile loop ride through Daniel Boone National Forest. There are also many miles of hiking trails and a pool to enjoy. The highlight of this location is one of Kentucky’s famous landmarks--the Natural Bridge sandstone arch which can be reached by a skylift or various hiking trails. The arch spans 78 feet long, 65 feet high, 12 feet thick and 20 feet wide, allowing visitors to walk across it. This will surely be one of the best photo opportunities on our tour! On Saturday night, you will have a unique after-dinner opportunity. Head down the path from the Lodge to “Hoedown Island” for dancing and clogging with the locals.

Sunday May 23 (Natural Bridge State Resort Park to Berea – 58 miles, 2915’):  Today our destination is Berea, named by Southern Living as one of the most charming small towns in Kentucky. Berea is an artsy, college town known as the Folk Arts and Crafts Capital of Kentucky, a nod to the numerous artists and artisans who showcase their craft in shops, studios and galleries throughout town. We will overnight at historic Boone Tavern Inn located on the campus of tuition-free Berea College, the first interracial and coeducational college in the South. We will enjoy southern dining with a twist in Crafted, their on-site restaurant, the furnishings and decorations of which were handmade by students at the college. Here you will be introduced to spoonbread, a melt-in-your mouth cornmeal soufflé.

Monday May 24 (Berea to Shaker Village – 52 miles, 2520’): Today we ride to Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, a National Historic Landmark and America’s largest restored Shaker community, where we will spend two nights. Our rooms will be in restored historic buildings furnished simply with handcrafted reproduction Shaker furniture but with modern amenities. The on-site restaurant, the Trustees’ Table, is recognized for its seed-to-table approach, featuring seasonal Kentucky dishes made with produce grown on Shaker Village's own farm and ingredients from local farmers.

Tuesday May 25 (Shaker Village): Our stay includes general admission to all exhibits and public tours and programs at Shaker Village, as well as access to the 12 multi-use trails on the property (a total of 30.5 miles). Some time spent browsing in the extensive gift shop where you can find traditional Shaker Oval Boxes is a treat in and of itself. Or, simply relax and enjoy the tranquility of a more simple existence on this layover day.

Wednesday May 26 (Shaker Village to Bardstown – 56 miles, 2900’): We will pass the Lincoln Homestead State Park on the way to Bardstown, the Bourbon Capital of the World. This will be our last night together and we will have a farewell dinner at The Old Talbott Tavern, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its bar is celebrated as the oldest bourbon bar in the world, offering an extensive selection of Kentucky bourbons. And if bourbon in the liquid form isn’t your thing, the seasonal Bourbon Berry Crumble dessert might delight your taste buds.

Thursday May 27 (Bardstown to Louisville – 44 miles, 2000’): Our final day of the tour we will ride back to where we started in Louisville. From here you can depart for home or, now that your legs are warmed up, head over to Georgetown for the annual three day Horsey Hundred ride held Memorial Day weekend and organized by the Bluegrass Cycling Club.

Ride Rating: There are 8 required cycling days and 3 layover days with optional rides on 2 of those layover days for a total of 10 possible riding days.  Most of the riding is on lightly-traveled roads with little or no shoulder, but some riding is on state highways; riders must be comfortable with traffic. Ride directors have scouted most of these routes by car. Kentucky has very little flat ground – everything is up and down, mostly rollers, with relatively few big or steep sustained hills. This ride is on the lower edge of a 3 rating with an average of ~2,500 ft/day. The distance rating is on the lower edge of C with the average of 52 mi/day. Three of the required riding days will be approximately 58 miles with 3,000 feet of climbing.

Bikes: This tour is suitable for road, gravel, hybrid and tandem bikes. The tour leaders will be riding a tandem bicycle.  E-bikes are welcome and must have the battery capacity to travel the mandatory ride distances. Participants will need to bring their own bicycles set up to ride or arrange to rent a bike in Louisville.

Bike rentals or receipt/build of shipped bikes may be available in Louisville and Lexington through local shops. Note that bike shops are CLOSED on Sundays, so Saturday arrival and an extra night stay may be required if participant intends to rent a bike from a local bike shop. Contact Scheller’s Louisville - Middletown for information (Phone: 502-245-1955/Address: 11520 Shelbyville Road, Louisville, KY 40243). Bike rentals are between the participant and the bike shop.

There will be bike shops in Louisville, Frankfurt, Lexington and Berea. Otherwise, they will be limited or non-existent so plan accordingly with respect to repairs and supplies.

Logistics: This tour will commence and end at the Hampton Inn & Suites Louisville East (1451 Alliant Ave, Louisville, KY 40299) on the outskirts of Eastern Louisville, Kentucky to avoid cycling in downtown traffic.

Our first night's hotel is approximately 15 miles from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF). Plan to use Uber/Lyft or a taxi to get to the hotel, as the hotel does not have an airport shuttle van. Lexington Blue Grass Airport (LEX) is approximately 60 miles from our starting hotel.

The first meeting / happy hour will be at 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 16, 2027, followed by a group dinner at 7 p.m. at a nearby restaurant. (Note that Louisville is in the Eastern time zone.) We will depart on our first ride from Louisville to Frankfort approximately 9 a.m. on Monday, May 17, 2027, and return to our starting point mid-afternoon on Thursday, May 27, 2027 (after cycling a 44-mile route).

Parking for vehicles for the duration of the tour will be available complimentary in the parking lot of the first hotel in Louisville.  Bike boxes/cases will be stored in the parked vehicles.

The van and driver are primarily responsible to transport luggage and supplies. While the van will be available to assist with any emergencies, it will not serve as a SAG vehicle and participants are expected to complete the ride each day.  The van will carry tools, snacks, and water to support riders and, at times, be available at stops to carry purchases to the hotels.

We will have a Zoom orientation 30-60 days prior to the tour start date to virtually meet each other, discuss all aspects of the tour, and answer questions.

Online registration for the post-tour optional Horsey Hundred to be held May 28, 29 & 30 will be available in early 2027. The number of riders is limited and it does sell out, so plan accordingly.  The Horsey Hundred is based out of Georgetown, KY. 

Horsey Hundred – The Premier Cycling Event in Kentucky

Overnights:  Louisville, Frankfort, Lexington (2 nights), Winchester, Natural Bridge State Resort Park (2 nights), Berea, Shaker Village (2 nights), Bardstown, returning to Louisville (although this night’s lodging after our last ride is NOT included in the tour cost).

Lodging & Meals: Our lodging will be varied--a mixture of standard chain hotels and unique inns or lodges. Some are recently renovated hotels with full services and others are modest lodging in less populated areas.  Generally 3 to 4 star lodging. We will have three stays of 2 nights. Some of the hotels have coin laundry facilities on site.

The trip cost includes 11 nights double occupancy lodging, 7 breakfasts, 8 social hours (one at each overnight location), and 5 group dinners. Lunches are on your own. Due to strict liquor licensing laws in Kentucky, most of the 8 included social hours on this tour will be a beverage from the hotel bar and light snacks or appetizers purchased through hotel catering.

We have arranged a group rate at the first hotel in Louisville on Saturday, May 15 and also for Thursday, May 27 upon our return. Advise the ride leader if you would like to reserve one or both of the extra nights.  

Luggage: Luggage is limited to two pieces per person. The larger piece should be no larger than a medium sized suitcase limited to 35 pounds.  If you can bring a suitcase as opposed to a duffel bag for your larger piece, the leaders request that the participant consider that option as it is easier to pack the van each day. One additional small bag will be permitted, such as a backpack, gym bag, or tote bag.

Consider bringing hiking shoes or boots and poles for our time in Natural Bridge State Resort Park and Shaker Village.

Weather:  May temperatures are generally comfortable, with cool mornings, warm afternoons, and occasional spring thunderstorms. Average lows are in the 50s and the average high is around 78 degrees. The average precipitation for the month of May is 5 inches. Come prepared to ride in some rain.

Cost & Administration: The estimated cost for this tour is $2,600 per person plus the $85 non-refundable BAC ride fee. This cost covers 11 nights double occupancy lodging, 7 breakfasts, 8 happy hours, 5 group dinners, guided tour and tasting at a bourbon distillery, private guided full afternoon drive and tour of Thoroughbred horse farms, luggage service at Shaker Village, daytime admission access to exhibits and public programs at Shaker Village, RWGPS routes in an Event (downloadable digital cue sheets), and luggage transfer by van. Gratuities are included for group meals and group tours.

As the Horsey Hundred is an optional add on three days of riding in the Georgetown, KY area, the cost of registration, lodging, meals and incidentals for the Horsey Hundred immediately following the termination of this tour are NOT included in this tour.

A deposit of $1,600 is due immediately once your tour attendance has been accepted. The second payment of $1,000 will be due February 1, 2027.

Cue sheets, maps, GPS files: A RWGPS Event will be created and shared with participants outlining the daily routes.  Participants who want printed cue sheets or maps can print them from the RWGPS files. Riders are expected to be able to navigate the tour routes using digital files on their phones or bike computers.

 Singles & Solos Policy: Singles and Solos are welcome on this tour.  A “single” is a member who signs up by himself or herself and wishes to share a room with another participant. A “solo” is a member who signs up by himself or herself and does not wish to share a room.   It is recommended that singles who want a roommate try to find their own. However, after receipt of the initial deposit, a single rider without a roommate will be placed on the ride and given until January 4, 2027, to find a roommate. If they are unable to find a roommate, they will have the option to receive a full refund (minus the BAC Ride Registration Fee and Payment Processing Fee) or pay the $975 Solo Supplement (due by February 1, 2027) and stay on the ride. If a single pays the supplement, they may continue to seek a roommate, but must plan to participate without a roommate if necessary. The Ride Leader will assist by attempting to match singles who apply for the ride.

 The solo supplement payment can be paid by Zelle or check.

To pay using Zelle: 

• In your bank's website, add Bicycle Adventure Club as a new recipient, with email address treasurer@bicycleadventureclub.org
• Initiate a payment
• In the Message block, enter the name of your ride.

If you have questions, contact Nancy Bohnett nbohnett@bicycleadventureclub.org 

Checks should be made out to “BAC” with a notation of the tour name included on the check and mailed to: Bicycle Adventure Club, PO Box 23998, San Diego, CA 92193.

Cancellation Policy: The BAC Ride Registration Fee and Payment Processing Fees are not refundable unless the entire tour is canceled because the number of participants registered is less than the minimum established for the tour. Refunds of tour payments will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up, and on costs that can be recouped. The amount refunded will be based on the principle that the tour’s remaining participants will not incur any additional cost as a result of cancellations. If the canceling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time. If the canceling participant can't be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report are completed. If a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that cannot be recouped the canceling roommate may also be liable for the solo supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour. BAC encourages members to purchase trip cancellation insurance.

Health & Safety: Participants are expected to come to the tour in good health and ready to ride. Should someone's health become compromised and the group’s health and safety placed in jeopardy, a plan will be developed by the ride leaders and communicated to all individuals. The expectation is for the group to work together to mitigate any spread of infection or illness as a means to ensure the tour can continue as planned.

Ride Participant Responsibility: Please remember that BAC Ride Leaders are volunteers, and that successful tours depend on participants providing much of their own support. Participants are expected to come to the ride well trained, in good health and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using well-maintained bicycles. All participants should accept responsibility for a safe and enjoyable tour. We encourage you to read the ride description carefully and respond to requests from the Ride Leader. While on the ride, support your Ride Leader with offers to help with various tasks such as happy hour preparation and cleanup. Please do not interfere with the ride by inviting non-participants onto any portion of the ride or tour. Please keep the Ride Leader informed of any special request you might have and respect the Ride Leader’s decisions.

Insurance: BAC maintains two insurance policies: a) United States, and b) Foreign (all other countries). Both the U.S. and Foreign policies are considered secondary policies to your personal medical insurance policy. They are subject to a $1000 deductible and may not cover all expenses related to an accident. Copies of the current policies are located under the “Docs” tab on the BAC website.

Before participating in any BAC tour, you should assess whether your medical and travel insurance coverage is sufficient. While touring in the U.S, the BAC insurance includes coverage for injuries due to accidents during the bike trip. Members’ personal insurance will need to cover medical emergencies such as sudden and unexpected illness (i.e. treatment for unexpected illnesses, including Covid, are not covered).

Sign-up: To register for this ride, use the sign-up links just above the Ride Description. After preliminary acceptance, you will be moved to the pending list and receive an email requesting you to go back to the BAC site to digitally accept the terms of the Release of Liability (ROL) and pay the Tour Deposit and the non-refundable BAC Ride Registration Fee by credit card. There is an $85 domestic ride fee.

As soon as your deposit has been processed, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List. BAC members with questions may contact the Ride Director by "clicking" the name at the top of this Ride Description.