Amish Amble

The ride starts and stops where Ryker's Ridge Baptist Church, Ryker's Ridge elementary school, and a small park are clustered on a corner about 5 miles northeast of downtown Madison. This ride's a mix of pavement and gravel roads. The gravel is the wild card. some days it's hard-packed and fast, other days it's loose and sketchy. There's no way to predict conditions, so just go out and take your chances. You're in the heart of southern Indiana's Amish country. No schmaltzy tourist ripoffs, no guided tours, no overpriced bed-and-breakfast shacks with Amish quilts from Honduras. This is the real deal. Humble people in dark clothes going about their business. Simple frame homes with white siding, and no electric lines. Their religion prevents them from being photo subjects -- a bibilical prohibition against graven images. Please respect their wishes. You can have fun ripping this ride, but why? Slow down and smell the roses, or honeysuckle, or whatever. Pick up some fossils, shoot some pictures, pack a picnic.