*****UPDATE-Route has been approved*****
400K ACP Anniversary Ride, Starting and Finishing in Kokomo, Indiana.
Start/Finish: Industrial Heritage Trail (Southern Trailhead/Terminus, located behind Los Amigos Mexican Restaurant, 2909 S Reed Road Kokomo IN). There is an adjacent hotel complex that has a Hampton Inn, Motel 6, Best Western, and Baymont Inn with quite a lot of parking and a convenience store. The start can be accessed from the hotel complex by walking a pedestrian path that starts by the Hampton Inn and then crosses under US 931 to Los Amigos, or by riding Lincoln Road from the hotel complex to Los Amigos or trailhead access at Lincoln Road/Home Avenue Intersection.
Trails Used: Industrial Heritage, Nickel Plate, Converse Junction, Sweetser Switch, and Cardinal Greenway
Trail Surface and %: Paved, and about 70% of the route is trails
Start Time: 0600
Route Description:
A very scenic and low-traffic 400K route, primarily using Rail Trails with bike route road connectors between the trail systems. The trails are paved and make up about 70% of the route.The route starts in Kokomo, IN and takes the Industrial Heritage/Nickel Plate trail North to Rochester IN. The route then returns South on the Nickel Plate to Cassville, IN before taking a short road route to Converse, IN and connecting with the Converse Junction/Sweetser Switch/Cardinal Greenway trail system.. This section goes through several towns, including Marion, before taking another short road connector to Gaston, IN and the Cardinal Greenway. Riders will take the Cardinal Greenway to the Losantville turn around. From Losantville, riders will take the same route back to Cassville before heading South on the Nickel Plate/Industrial Heritage Trail to the start/finish in Kokomo.Services are readily available at the Controls, as well as the towns the trails pass through. There are also rest stops on many of the trails (restrooms, shelters, and bike repair stands).
An enjoyable route. I appreciate the extra effort to provide the hydration and fueling guide before the ride.
Because this is route is a good 1st time 400K route. I would suggest moving start and finish to Rochester. Kokomo is a larger town and has some shady looking people on the trails late at night. I think it would shift the ride enough that the gas stations in Gaston that close earlier would still be open and available for most rider. Peru controls gas stations are open 24 hours which would give a good spot to refuel for the rest of the ride. I think it would put most of the late night riding on the nickel plate instead of the section between Converse and the Nickle Plate. I'll note there was no traffic on the roads for me between Converse and Nickle Plate but I could see that some people would feel safer doing their first very fatigued portion of a ride on a trail rather than roads
Thanks...Fun 400K. This would be a great region for a 600K. Thanks, again.
Enjoyed the route and riding with Bill and Ted on their “Excellent Adventure”. Thanks for the assist you two!