Trailnet and the Jefferson County Growth Association are hosting the fifth annual Bottleneck Bridge Ride. Starting Saturday, August 15, and running for four weeks, the bike ride takes riders on Jefferson County’s back roads and main streets – visiting local businesses along the way.

This year’s ride uses a do-it-yourself format designed to promote social distancing and allows riders to choose between three routes that are 33, 41, and 66 miles long.

“The riding in Jefferson County is beautiful, expansive, and it really fits our DIY format. We’ve adapted to promote social distancing and support Jefferson County businesses without taking away from the heart of the ride,” Matt Hartman Trailnet’s rides manager said.

“This event promotes tourism of Festus and the Jefferson County Area by taking participants to many of our wineries and breweries. Jefferson County has so much to offer, from city and county parks to amazing restaurants and shopping.  It has been great to introduce many cyclists to the amazing riding here in Jefferson County,” said Andrew Held, board member of the Jefferson County Growth Association.

Presented by the Festus Tourism Commission, the three different routes begin in downtown Festus and take riders to stops at: Villa Antonio Winery, Wild Sun Winery, LaChance Vineyards, DeSoto Farmers Market, The Russell House Restaurant and Inn, and Sandy Creek Covered Bridge State Historic Site.

Participants should check operating hours of each business before planning a stop.

Trailnet and the ride sponsors are also offering special prizes and giveaways each week of the ride.

Normally a one-day event, because of COVID-19 the routes will be available to riders as a month-long, do-it-yourself ride. Once a person registers, they’ll be given links to a GPS route, a map, and paper turn-by-turn directions to all of the routes. Riders can then head out on the route anytime and as many times as they want.

Registration is available now at trailnet.org and is $20 for the public and $15 for Trailnet members. This ride supports Trailnet’s work to improve walking, biking, and the use of transit throughout the region.

This ride is made possible by Festus Tourism Commission as well as Villa Antonio Winery, Govero Land Services, Main & Mill Brewing Co., Wild Sun Winery and Brewing Company, Trek Arnold, Jefferson County Growth Association, LaChance Vineyards, Dobbs Tire & Auto Center, and Comtrea.