August 1-2, 2026

ride weekend

Join us on July 31 for Opening Ceremony and August 1-2 for Ride Weekend 2026!

Our signature event, Ride Weekend welcomes more than 7,500 Riders annually, crossing Central Ohio on routes ranging from 17 to 165 miles, including one- and two-day ride options.

ride weekend
countdown

UNTIL RIDE WEEKEND 2026

Join us on July 31 for Opening Ceremony and August 1-2 for Ride Weekend 2026.

ride weekend 2026 routes

Sat 8/01

$1,250 Fundraising Commitment

Downtown Columbus Loop Route

17 miles

Designed for cyclists of all experience levels, this will be our shortest route with minimal elevation gain. This loop route will take Riders through Bexley and the Ohio State campus before finishing back at North Bank Park.

Sat 8/01

$1,250 Fundraising Commitment

Downtown Columbus to New Albany

23 miles

Designed for cyclists of all experience levels who are ready for a few extra hills, this point-to-point route begins in Downtown Columbus and concludes with a strong finish in New Albany.

Sat 8/01

$1,500 Fundraising Commitment

Downtown Columbus to New Albany

46 Miles

Ideal for intermediate Riders with some training under their belt, this point-to-point route begins in Downtown Columbus and finishes in New Albany, featuring more hills for Riders ready to put their training to the test.

Sat 8/01

$2,000 Fundraising Commitment

New Albany Schools to Kenyon College

66 Miles

Riders will set off from New Albany, pass through historic Granville and Homer, and tackle a final stretch of hills before crossing the finish line in Gambier.

Sat 8/01

$2,000 Fundraising Commitment

Downtown Columbus to Kenyon College

100 Miles

Riders will set off from Downtown Columbus, pass through historic Granville and Homer, and tackle a final stretch of hills before crossing the finish line in Gambier.

Sun 8/02

$1,250 Fundraising Commitment

New Albany Loop Route

27 miles

A loop option for beginner to intermediate Riders, this scenic route will start and finish in downtown New Albany. This route can also be added to any Saturday ride for a fundraising commitment of $3,000.

Sat 8/01

Sun 8/02

$3,000 Fundraising Commitment

New Albany Schools to New Albany Schools

131 Miles

This challenging 2-day option includes a New Albany-Gambier 66-mile route on Saturday and a 65-mile Gambier-New Albany return route on Sunday. 

Sat 8/01

Sun 8/02

$3,000 Fundraising Commitment

Downtown Columbus to New Albany Schools

165 Miles

This challenging 2-day option includes a Downtown Columbus-Gambier 100-mile ride on Saturday and a 65-mile Gambier-New Albany return on Sunday. 

interested in gravel day?

Gravel Day provides unique adventures in beautiful Southeast Ohio. Participants can select from a looped Trail Run/Hike, looped gravel cycling routes, plus, new for 2026, looped mountain biking routes!

Learn More About Gravel Day

ride weekend routes

register early!

Because safety and participant experience are our top priorities, each Ride Weekend 2026 route will have a set capacity. Routes will fill as participants register. Once a route reaches capacity, it will be sold out.

Register early to secure your preferred distance and start making your impact!

resources

ride weekend 2025 event handbook

This comprehensive resource includes safety guidelines, training tips, and packing lists to prepare for Ride Weekend. Rider schedules are outlined for Saturday and Sunday routes, plus important information for all Riders to know about the ride.

Stay tuned for the 2026 handbook coming soon!

Save the date: July 31, 2026

opening ceremony

Opening Ceremony is a can’t-miss celebration featuring entertainment, impactful storytelling, delicious food, and brand new Pelotonia merch.

Opening Ceremony 2025 took place on Friday, August 1, in the Arena District of downtown Columbus, Ohio. The event welcomed nearly 20,000 guests and included an iconic headliner performance from O.A.R.!

Ride weekend faqs

The countdown to next year’s Pelotonia events is on! Opening Ceremony is July 31, 2026, and Ride Weekend is August 1-2, 2026.

More details for Ride Weekend 2026 will be added to this page as they become available!

The minimum age to ride or volunteer is 14; however, any age can participate in Pelotonia as a Challenger.

Yes! Anyone can participate in both Ride Weekend and Gravel Day. Riders’ fundraising commitment will increase based on the Ride Weekend route that they select. High Rollers ($5,000 fundraising minimum) will be able to participate in both events with no additional commitment increase.
Riders do not need to create a separate fundraising profile to participate in both events. If you add a Ride Weekend route to your existing Gravel Day registration, go to pelotonia.org/register and log in to the account that holds your current Gravel Day registration. Once you are logged into the registration process, select the Ride in Ride Weekend option and complete the registration process.
High Rollers are Pelotonia’s biggest fundraisers. These individuals set big goals and thrive in the quest to make them happen.
Pelotonia participants can commit to the High Roller fundraising minimum of $5,000 in their personal profile and will be acknowledged as a High Roller if they maintain a minimum of $5,000 in donations after the fund-share period. By committing to raising $5,000 as a High Roller, you’re agreeing to have your credit card charged for the remaining amount if it isn’t met by midnight on Thursday, October 15, 2026.
Pelotons

Start or Join a team

Interested in starting or joining a Peloton? Contact the Community Engagement team at pelotonia@pelotonia.org.

Funding Partners

Thanks to our generous funding partners

100% of every participant-raised dollar goes to innovative cancer research at the OSUCCC – James.