Goldenride is a weekend cycling event that starts at Louisville State Recreation Area and connects to the scenic MoPac Trail. Ride as much or as little as you’d like while enjoying live music, games, food trucks, football watching, craft beer, and river fun like kayaking, tubing, and canoeing. Inspired by Nebraska’s state flower, the goldenrod, Goldenride celebrates the the spirit of fall, football season, and the beauty of rural Nebraska along the Platte River.
This weekend ride is geared to highlight local communities in Nebraska and our state’s beautiful rural scenery. The route is trail based to attract the widest variety of riders from novice to experienced, and will feature rest stops in rural Nebraska towns. It is a fully SAG supported event, which means that our mechanical crew will be near the route, ready to assist with any mechanical issues.
Each friend who signs up with your referral code gets $20 off — and you get a $20 refund. Let’s make it a Party on the Platte. The more the merrier!
This event is Nebraska’s signature bike ride that truly is for riders of all ages and and experience levels. Enjoy the ride and let’s make it happen.
Here’s what you get with your registration fee:
Includes Friday & Saturday night meal & drink voucher, and two grab-and-go breakfasts (hot coffee, breakfast bars, fruit) on Saturday & Sunday
Download the Ride with GPS App for virtual training and event day directions
Riders will enjoy live music and a meal and drink ticket
Goldenride’s wonderful SAG crew provides mechanical support to keep you on the trail
Rest stops in Murdock, Elmwood, Eagle, Heron Bay, and Springfield, provide a moment to relax, refuel, and soak in the journey.
At Louisville State Recreation Area
After Saturday’s ride, enjoy complimentary craft beer and other drinks during our post-ride happy hour at the park. It all starts at 4PM — a great way to unwind and catch up with friends.
Community partner will assist with shuttling to and from park and downtown and parking on Friday night.
1. Friday Check-in party
2. Saturday Ride from Louisville to Eagle & back
3. Sunday Ride from Louisville to Lied Bridge, Heron Bay, Springfield & back
✱ Rest stops
Helmets must be worn at all times while on your bicycle.
Choose your camping adventure! Pitch your tent at Louisville State Recreation Area (up to 10 tents per site), with easy gear drop-off and shuttle access. Or, stay just minutes away in cozy cabins at Platte River or Mahoney State Parks. Support Nebraska Parks with an annual pass — worth it for the outdoor adventures and the VIP parking!
The MoPac Trail in Nebraska follows the route of the former Missouri Pacific Railroad’s Omaha Belt Line. This line was active until 1984 when flooding damaged the tracks. The trail is now a recreational path, with sections purchased by the City of Lincoln and the Nebraska Trails Foundation and managed by the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District. Let’s give some support and awareness to the MoPac vision to connect Omaha and Lincoln to make this the premier destination for Nebraska tourism and recreation.
The Lied Platte River Bridge opened in 2002 and provides amazing connection and scenery. Take in the beauty of the Platte River and have fun posting selfies of the “good life” in Nebraska!
The MoPac Trail is packed limestone. There is about 6 miles of gravel before connecting to the MoPac Trail on Saturday. This trail is suitable for all types of bikes (road, hybrid, e-bikes, mountain, gravel, tandem, fat). For the smoothest ride, we recommend tires no skinnier than 25mm. We encourage all riders to visit their local bicycle shop to make sure their bikes are ready to roll!
To maximize your enjoyment of this adventure, we recommend that all riders prepare themselves mentally and physically by riding a few times a week, up to 10 miles each with a longer ride on the weekend, starting at least 4 weeks prior to the event.
This two-day bicycle event is born out of a growing demand for outdoor recreation during the pandemic and the recent boom in cycling. Goldenride is a fundraising platform to add value for stakeholders, members, the cycling industry, community partners and healthy lifestyle providers throughout the State of Nebraska. And, it further promotes trail development, bicycle tourism, advocacy and outreach.
This ride is for new and experienced bike riders of all ages. This family friendly experience requires that you must be 10 years and older, with the goal of attracting 300-500 riders this first year. All but a few blocks of this route is on a recreational trail. This unique feature makes it a perfect weekend bicycle event for those who have never experienced a multi-day ride or may not be comfortable riding on Nebraska’s highways. There is growing potential that this event has the capacity to handle upwards of 700 riders in future years.
Verano, LLC will produce Goldenride and also produces Tour de Nebraska. Over the last 30 years, there is a legacy of proven success, building community partnerships and lasting economic impact.
