Watch for Bicyclists this weekend in OC

Hundreds of bicyclists are expected in Oconee County this weekend for the 2017 Issaqueena’s Last Ride, says Ken Sloan, President and CEO of the Mountain Lakes Convention and Visitors Bureau. “This will be the 20th year in a row that we have had Issaqueena’s Last Ride. It starts in Walhalla at St. John’s Lutheran Church. So, there will be about 200 bike riders this Saturday morning at 9am leaving from St. John’s and crossing Main Street. We will have police officers blocking off the road for a few minutes so they can get across and then they will be taking off on routes of their choice. They can ride the 30 mile route, the 50 mile route, the 60 mile route, 80 mile route, or the 100 mile route; its their choice. If they take the 80 or 100 mile routes, they will be going up Highway 130 to the Wiggington Overlook, which is just an incredible steep, difficult, and challenging ride. They love it and come out every year to do it. So, as always whenever we talk about bike riders, we just ask the public to be mindful of the fact that these folks are out riding on the streets and if you would drive safely, drive around them, and just be courteous. Please understand these are visitors to our community, they are coming from all over the United States. They look forward to this ride and they have always complimented us on our hospitality as most people do. So, just be mindful of these riders on the road and be on the lookout for them and be careful.” The 2017 Issaqueena’s Last Ride takes place Saturday, April 22, from 9am to 5pm. You can still register to ride by visiting www.localraces.com.