Ozark Mountain DareDevils Ride

I'm excited to announce the high level plan for our 3^rd annual ride. Based on discussions we had during last year's Badlands ride we wanted to find a location that was a day's ride from Chicago and that had ample blacktop for the type of touring we've enjoyed in the past. We also wanted to keep the early June timeframe as it was easier for everyone to plan around. And we discussed shortening the trip so as to make it easier for others to join. Given those parameters I think we have a great ride location planned.

The Ozarks! More and more bikers are discovering the exhilarating routes, scenic overlooks, quaint stopovers and gorgeous natural vistas Arkansas offers. The state is extremely biker-friendly. The terrain of Arkansas is as varied as the bikes that crisscross it. We can open 'er up in the flatlands of the Arkansas Delta, twist the throttle through the twisties of the Ozark or Ouachita Mountains, ride the undulating hills of Central Arkansas and the River Valley or coast through the sun-dappled back roads of the Timberlands. Wherever we roam, we'll discover friendly people, plenty of attractions and good food and drink.

I'm looking at base camp options in the Mountain Home area because it's a day's ride from Chicago (approx. 550 miles) and it's fairly developed. I've already identified a few options, some of which are on some form of water which will provide even more fun. And I'm looking to keep the rate a less than $100 a night. That said, our options for base camps that can accommodate our size group are very limited, so we'll need to act fast to reserve a cabin/house (which translates to locking in your commitment ASAP).

As for the itinerary my initial thoughts are that we keep the ride to 5 days. Departing Chicago on Saturday, June 4^th. We'd then have 3 full days of riding in the Ozarks before we depart for Chicago on Wednesday, June 8^th.

As an option for any riders (including me) who want to make this ride a whole week I have some thoughts on how we could extend our ride that we can flush out in the coming weeks.

As always, I'm open to any and all suggestions (dates, location, duration, etc). Ultimately, I just want a ride that everyone will enjoy.