Tour de Nebraska

About Tour de Nebraska

Tour de Nebraska is a fully sagged bicycle tour that begins and ends near Lincoln. It is organized and hosted by Rich and Susan Rodenburg. The Rodenburgs owned Bike Pedalers, a bicycle store in Lincoln for 24 years before selling it in 2006. The Rodenburgs, (and Elsie, their Basset Hound), take turns driving “sag” wagons with their staff of mechanics, and riding the route. The sag wagons are stocked with fruit and water, and the staff will assist you with mechanical or medical emergencies. You must be prepared to do your own minor repairs and fix flats. Your camping equipment and gear are transported from campsite to campsite. All you have to do is ride and enjoy the scenery and the hospitality of rural Nebraska!

Camping: Tour de Nebraska is a camping tour. We stay at high schools in each town with easy access to showers and all night restroom facilities. Indoor camping is also available in high school gyms, community centers or churches, regardless of the weather.

Meals: We arrange for evening meals and breakfasts (at your own cost), which are usually served by local community organizations or area restaurants. We also designate a lunch stop and rest stops each day along the route. Our favorites are pie stops!

Route: All routes are on paved roads, which are selected for safety and lower traffic counts with the help of the Nebraska State Patrol and Nebraska Department of Roads. Unfortunately, not all Nebraska roads have shoulders. Usually, however, the shoulderless roads have less traffic. Daily route maps are provided.

Training: People of all abilities have ridden and enjoyed Tour de Nebraska. To enhance your experience, however, we recommend that you train by riding 3-4 times a week, 20-30 miles each ride, with at least one longer ride (60-70 miles), at least 4 weeks in advance of the tour. A multi-speed, lightweight bike in dependable working order is a must. Many participants use mountain bikes rigged with slick tires and bar ends. Nebraska weather can be finicky, so be prepared for anything!

Registration: When you register, we’ll send you an official TDN Handbook in April with a packing list, training program, and everything else you need to know about Tour de Nebraska!

The Tour de Nebraska usually fills up by late March, but don’t take your chances. We limit the ride to 200 cyclists.

Weather: The average high for June is 85 degrees, the average low is 60 degrees. Wind is often a factor (we try our best to plan routes with tailwinds, but it doesn’t always work out that way).

Read about the Tour de Nebraska in an article published in "L" Magazine. Download here.

Questions? Call Susan at 402-421-1401 or email her at susan@tourdenebraska.com