The Bottleneck Bridge Ride will begin and end at Main & Mill Brewing Co. in Festus.

Expect to see hundreds of people riding bicycles along stretches of southern Jefferson County roadways the morning of Aug. 17.

The 10th annual Bottleneck Bridge Ride will be held that day, with the rides beginning and ending in front of Main & Mill Brewing Co. at 240 E. Main St. in Festus. Riders may choose from several routes, either 14, 34, 41 or 67 miles.

Registration begins at 6:30 a.m., with an all-route ride start at 8 a.m. Live entertainment starts at 11 a.m. at the finish line.

The Festus Tourism Commission presents the event, which is co-hosted by the Jefferson County Growth Association and Trailnet, a St. Louis-area group that advocates for better walking, riding and transit.

Andy Held, an organizer since the start of the annual event, said even he could not foresee how popular the ride would become. The event also includes an afterparty with live music and other related activities.

“In 2016, when I started this, I never thought I’d be standing here 10 years later,” he said. “This year we’re expecting right at 500 riders.”

Held said the ride attracts people from all around the St. Louis area and beyond due to its reputation and beautiful ride routes.

“I think it’s remained popular because it’s a challenging, but refreshing change for most riders,” he said. “Last year, 87 percent of the riders were from outside of Jefferson County.

“You’ve got the hills and an amazing amount of scenery along the routes, plus some very outstanding rest stops.”

Stops along the routes include wineries and breweries; restaurants; and historic sites like the Sandy Creek Covered Bridge in the Hillsboro area, according to information from organizers. Depending on the route, riders will pass through Festus, Crystal City, Herculaneum, Hillsboro and De Soto.

Barb Lowry, the Festus recreation and tourism director, said she’s glad the city plays a part in bringing the ride to the area each year.

“The Bottleneck Bridge Ride is a fantastic event that Festus Tourism is proud to sponsor,” she said. “It brings so many people into the area, and they all get to experience what a fantastic town we have. Hats off to the team that organizes the event, and thank you to all the volunteers who make it possible.”

Held said volunteers are vital to the event’s success.

“It takes a great deal of volunteers – 50 to 70 – to pull this off,” he said.

A Kids Bike Safety Rodeo and Helmet Clinic sponsored by the Twin City Area Optimist Club is being held in conjunction with the ride. The rodeo and clinic will take place from 12:30-2 p.m. at the city of Festus parking lot off South Second Street. The free event for youngsters aged 3 to 14 offers a space for participants to practice bike handling skills, said Katie Huck of the Optimist Club.

“They must bring their own bike to participate in the rodeo,” Huck said. “There are eight different stations, all involving bike safety. We had 29 participate in it last year. We’re hoping to have more this year.

“We’ll have plenty of helmets on hand to give out. You don’t have to bring a bike to get a helmet. We give out free bike helmets and fit them properly.”

Registration for the rodeo and clinic is preferred, but not required, she said.

Living Life on 2 Wheels, a nonprofit group that promotes bicycle riding, will once again offer a Kids Strider Bike Race. This year’s race starts at 2 p.m. on Main Street in Festus. It’s free to participate.

For more information, visit

runsignup.com/bottleneckbridgeride or bottleneckbridgeride.com. Information is also available on the Bottleneck Bridge Ride Facebook page.

(2 Ratings)