It’s official. The Oklahoma Free Wheel has finally announced its 2018 tour schedule featuring LUTHER as one of the stops.
The annual recreational bike ride across the state is making a stop in Luther June 12 – 13, 2018. It’s part of a celebration of the Mother Road, a tour along Route 66 that begins in Elk City and ends this side of Joplin.
The Freewheel organization has been around since 1979 promoting bicycling and tourism with cross-state tours. It’s the first time Free Wheel is stopping in Luther.
What can we expect? A lot of fun. The tour could bring up to 500 bicyclists to Luther. The day they roll in, the riders will have left from El Reno. They will swing north of Oklahoma City and Edmond and then swing down to get back on Highway 66 in Arcadia before pushing on to Luther. Once here, a little village will set up with tents, portable showers and other comforts for the bicyclists who take time off of jobs and travel to have this unique experience combining fitness and tourism. They’ll spend that Tuesday in Luther and wheel off early the next morning on their way to Bristow.
The tour emphasizes healthy living, offering a challenging bike ride and plenty of opportunities to “stop and smell the flowers” along the way by enjoying an Oklahoma you don’t see from out of your car window. Some riders say they like to ride a while, stop and look around a while, and always get something good to eat at restaurants and food stands all along the way. 
The Luther Parks Commission has been working on preliminary plans with an emphasis to let local businesses and organizations have an opportunity to showcase what’s great about our town. While many Oklahomans take part in Free Wheel, the tour is expected to welcome bicyclists from many states and other countries.
If you would like to know more or get in on the planning, the Parks Commission has a meeting on Thursday, Feb. 8 at 6:30 pm at Town Hall. The public is welcome.
If you want to get in on the Free Wheel tour on Highway 66, read about it here.
