OK Freewheel cyclists stopped in Bartlesville for an overnight stay before completing the seventh — and final — day of the 2016 tour, ending in Caney, Kan. on Saturday.
The cyclists rolled into town early Friday, making their way up Bison Road to Tuxedo Boulevard and then west to Johnstone Park, where the group planned to stay overnight before winding up the 2016 tour on Saturday. OK Freewheel is a not for profit group dedicated to “promoting and strengthening cycling tourism in Oklahoma,” according to the OK Freewheel website. The theme for the tour this year was “Tribute to the 5 Tribes of Oklahoma.”
The Bartlesville stop was coordinated by Bartlesville Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Executive Director Maria Gus and City of Bartlesville Community Development/Parks and Recreation Director Lisa Beeman. The City of Bartlesville helped provide electric service and other accommodations for the cyclists at the campground area, Beeman said.
“We’re very excited to have OK Freewheel in Bartlesville,” Beeman said. “The City of Bartlesville has a great park system to accommodate the cyclists, and Johnstone Park is an especially beautiful and centrally located park that worked very well with the group’s route this year. Hopefully, they’ll choose to stay with us again in the future.”
Many in the group of approximately 150 cyclists explored Bartlesville while they were here — particularly the downtown area, said Gus.
“OK Freewheel is a great event to host in Bartlesville,” Gus said. “We have an opportunity to show off our downtown and hopefully attract visitors for the future. Many of our cyclists enjoyed our downtown restaurants and Johnstone Park. They’ll also get to enjoy their final night with a great view of Price Tower. What a great way to enjoy Bartlesville!”
Photos
Top: Some OK Freewheelers pitched tents in Johnstone Park on Friday for the sixth of their seven-day tour.
Bottom: OK FreeWheel Executive Director Trevor Steward, City of Bartlesville Community Development/Parks & Recreation Director Lisa Beeman, Bartlesville Redevelopment Director Chris Wilson and Bartlesville Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Executive Director Maria Gus and Becky Cowen of the BCVB welcomed OK Freewheel cyclists to Johnstone Park.