GREENFIELD – More than 1,100 bicyclists will pedal their way through Hancock County this Saturday for the annual Hancock Flat 50 bike ride.
Over 1,100 riders were registered as of Monday morning, and more are expected to sign up throughout the week.
“We have riders coming from 13 states, and someone registered this morning from California,” said race organizer Teri Gottschalk, community outreach and engagement coordinator at Hancock Health.
Other riders are coming from as far away as New York, Florida and North Carolina, she said.
The Hancock Flat 50 has grown exponentially since it was first introduced in 2016 when 150 participants signed up to ride.
More than 750 participated in 2023, and Gottschalk said more than 1,200 riders might be registered for this year’s ride by the end of the week.
Race organizers are working closely with local officials to ensure a safe event.
“Safety is top of mind for all of us,” Gottschalk said.
Last Sunday, Flat 50 officials marked directional signage on the roads in bright pink paint and placed yard signs along the route letting residents know to expect hundreds of bicycles to pass through this Saturday.
Gottschalk asks for the public’s patience as the riders make their way throughout the county, and requests that anyone along the route keep dogs confined Saturday morning, “especially if they have a dog that’s a chaser,” she said.
The Flat 50 is divided into two sections – one for riders biking 50 miles and another for those biking 25.
The two groups set out at 8 a.m. and 8:05 a.m., respectively, Saturday morning at the corner of North and Pennsylvania streets in downtown Greenfield.
Both groups stay together for the first portion of the ride, which heads east on U.S. 40, north on Jaycee Phelps Drive, east through Wilkinson and back south along CR 600E.
At U.S. 40, the 50-mile riders continue south towards Morristown while the 25-mile riders return to the start/finish line.
Gottschalk said the earliest finishers are expected back between 10 a.m. and 10:30, and the majority of cyclists are expected to complete the course by around 1 p.m.
To ensure a safe start, cyclists will pass through a narrow chute as they cross the start line, enabling riders to fan out once they’ve crossed over.
“It will be a tight start, so we’re just cautioning riders to use care and follow the direction given by the uniformed officers and safety signals along the route,” Gottschalk said.
While the Hancock Flat 50 is a timed event drawing experienced riders from multiple states, Gottschalk said the event is open to all ages and abilities.
“We want to emphasize that you don’t have to be fast. It’s a great day just to enjoy a planned ride,” she said.
Packet pick-up for the ride is from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday at the Family Bike Chain shop at 101 E. Main St. in downtown Greenfield.
While the race starts at 8 a.m. Saturday, the party gets started Friday night with a two-mile, family-friendly bike ride along the Pennsy Trail. Riders are invited to meet at the Hancock County Courthouse Annex parking lot at 6 p.m. to bike along the Pennsy and the Brandywine connector all the way to Brandywine park and back again.
Families are invited to stop by the annex as early as 5 p.m. for a bike decorating station and free bike helmet giveaway, while supplies last.
The whole community is invited to a Flat Friday Event in the North Street Living Alley from 6-9 p.m. Friday, just west of Wooden Bear Brewing Co.
The party features live music, vendors and a cornhole tournament, as well as a specialty beer called Pedal Pushers, brewed by Wooden Bear.
Same-day registration for the Flat 50 starts at 7 a.m. Saturday.
After the race, cyclists are invited to stick around for the Flat 50 Festival in the Living Alley from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, which features a beer tent, live music, food trucks and a Flat 50 Merch Recovery Zone.
Gottschalk is hopeful the Flat 50 will continue to generate an interest in cycling for fun and fitness, as well as an awareness about cyclists on city and county roads.
“You see a lot of comments about the bike lanes on U.S. 40 and that some people don’t feel that it’s worthwhile, especially when there’s a paved trail, but multi-use and multi-forms of transportation are really growing in popularity everywhere,” she said.
“Bicycling is a growing means of transportation, and a lot of communities are seeing the bike lanes and biking trails. With the expansion of the connector trails the community has here, we’re hoping our event can bring awareness to the popularity of biking for transportation and general health and enjoyment,” said Gottschalk.
Each year, proceeds from the Flat 50 are used to help support and fund projects that create or extend Hancock County Trails, including bike pumps along the trails and kids’ activities throughout the year.
This weekend cyclists and their supporters have been encouraged to park in a number of spots throughout Greenfield and three downtown parking lots, including the courthouse annex lot, the lot just south of Bradley United Methodist Church and the one at South and Pennsylvania streets near Depot Street Park.
Riders are also welcome to park at Hancock Regional Hospital as well as the Hancock County Community Foundation, where they can access the Pennsy Trail to ride into town. Parking is also available at Greenfield-Central’s Academy at 700 N. Broadway St. as well as Weston and Harris elementaries and Greenfield Intermediate School.
For more information, visit hancockflat50.com or call 317-468-4231.
