Wabash County Dam To Dam Bike Ride Rolls Sept. 8
Bicyclists are shown wheeling along during the annual Wabash County Dam to Dam Ride. Registration is open for this year’s ride, which takes place Sept. 8. Photo provided.
News Release
WABASH — Summer registration for the 15th annual Wabash County Dam to Dam Ride — or “D2D” — will change to last chance registration pricing Thursday, Aug. 8, according to a news release from Visit Wabash County. The ride takes place on Sunday, Sept. 8, and is chiefly sponsored by Inguard.
D2D is a bike tour designed by cyclists for cyclists, featuring six catered support and gear stops. The tour emphasizes camaraderie, outdoor recreation and the scenic rural beauty of Wabash County. Over the past 14 years, the event has grown from nine riders to nearly 1,000, drawing participants from 24 different states.
Inguard has committed to supporting the event at the title sponsorship level consecutively for the last five years. Inguard is a full-service insurance brokerage that specializes in risk management, insurance placements and a variety of health benefit programs. To advance its mission of making healthy choices more accessible, Inguard’s president, Daniel Schmitz, supports events that inspire health in Wabash and around the region.
“People coming together in the spirit of community health and fun is what Inguard is all about,” said Schmitz. “Events like Dam to Dam uplift the health journeys of our friends and neighbors, and we’re excited to be part of that.”
The event is geared toward cyclists of all riding levels and ages and gives participants the choice between riding anywhere from 15 to 150 miles. D2D is organized by Visit Wabash County staff with the help of committee volunteers, including David Mann, Greg Garner, Adam Stakeman, John Trimble, Don Peterson, Chris Wetherford, Shelly Baucco, Mike Paul and Roger Peebles.
“D2D is meant to showcase all that Wabash County has to offer,” said event director and experiences manager Stephanie Rogers. “This event would not be possible without the help of the sponsors and hundreds of volunteers that come together to serve as ambassadors for Wabash County.”
Volunteers can be found throughout the county running six supply and gear stops that are catered to anticipate the various needs of each cyclist. Wabash County emergency management, Wabash City Street Department, Wabash City Parks Department, Wabash City Police Department, North Manchester Park’s Department, Town Manager Adam Penrod, Wabash County Sheriff’s Department, Wabash County Highway Department, Wabash County YMCA and Mayor Scott Long all work together to ensure the overall safety of the event.
Parkview Wabash Hospital is the community health partner that supports the Liking for Biking club, which runs from May to August each year. The group teaches road safety and how to build endurance for long-distance rides.
The 2024 sponsors include: Inguard, Alley Cat Outfitters, 5-Hour Energy, Wabash County YMCA, Borders & Beyond Gallery, Parkview Wabash Hosptial, Paperworks Inc., Visit Wabash County, City of Wabash, Augie’s Friends, Kroft Chiropractic, Intertech Inc., Wabash Hardware & Rental, Ford Meter Box Co., Puckerbrush Photography, The Paper of Wabash County, Intrasect Technologies, Spirit Wear, Gaunt & Son Asphalt Inc., Schlemmer Brothers Metalworks, 95.9 Kiss FM, Wabash Valley Chrysler, Kirtlan Automotive, Midwest Eye Consultants, Crossroads Investment Center, Beacon Credit Union, Josiah White’s Teen Recovery, Clear Water Systems, 105.9 the Bash, American Health Network, Red Earth, David L Mann Financial Advisor, Town of North Manchester, Paul’s Well Service, Downs, Tandy & Petruniw, PC, Dawes and Pugh CPAs LLC, Brandt’s Harley-Davidson, Charley Creek Inn, Wabash County Pork Producers, Downtown Wabash Inc., Pettit Printing Inc., LRS, Arc Light Media, Grow Wabash County, First Farmers Bank & Trust, Manchester Alive, Thorne Insurance, Grandstaff-Hentgen, 950 Speakeasy Bistro, Rettig’s Industrial Supply, Big City Paints, The Huntington Bicycle Shop, Shepherds Family Auto Group and Golden Harvest Trinity Seeds.
Summer registration is $50 per person with a guaranteed T-shirt until Aug. 8 and last chance pricing is $60 per person and runs through noon Sept. 8. Riders younger than 18 ride for free. Register online at VisitWabashCounty.com/dam-to-dam. Registration in person on the morning of the event is also available.
Registration includes breakfast, lunch and a commemorative T-shirt.
Those interested in participating or volunteering for the ride can get more information online at visitwabashcounty.com or by calling the Welcome Center at (260) 563-7171. Follow Dam to Dam Century Ride on Wabash County Adventure Series Facebook and Instagram Page.