Michigan has some of the richest bike offerings in the country, and the League of Michigan Bicyclists has much to do with that. Part ride-organizer, part educator, part advocate, LMB tries to get each and every Michigander onto a bike.
One of the most prominent ways they do this is by publishing an annual calendar of organized rides ranging from hard-core century time trials to a leisurely dozen miles in Dearborn each New Year Day. The calendar is an astonishing document that can't help but inspire even the most dedicated couch potato to dust off that Huffy and get to pedaling.
There are a few cool spring rides coming up in the Southeastern Michigan area that metromode wanted to be sure you knew about.
The Downriver Cycling Club is hosting its annual Metro Grand Spring Tour on May 6. The ride routes along the Huron River and country roads in Wayne and Monroe counties. Riders can choose from 25-, 45- and 62-mile routes, and there is a must-see-to-believe "Chris Cakes" pancake breakfast along the route. Online registration is available at www.lmb.org/dcc/mgst/ until May 2.
May 16 is a day that cyclists around the world recognize with "Rides of Silence" http://www.rideofsilence.org/ that honor riders that have been killed on the road and raise awareness about the rules of the road. There are several planned in the area, including:
Ann Arbor: A 12-14-mile ride that takes off from Wheeler Park. Meet at 6:30 p.m. to ride at 7 p.m. For more information, contact Mark Erzen.
Detroit: Meet at Scott Fountain on Belle Isle for a 10-mile ride at 7 p.m. Contact Marc Broadnax.
Westland/Wayne County: Ride 15 miles of Hines Drive. Meet at Nankin Mills. Contact Joseph Foy for more information.
Memorial Day weekend is the annual Wolverine 200, when cyclists gather on Belle Isle to ride anywhere from 25 to 200 miles in from 2 to 12 hours. The bonus is that Friday night, May 24, is the only night that camping is allowed on Belle Isle.
Regular rides abound as well.
Dearborn's Saddlemen host Hines Drive rides every weeknight, geared toward different ability groups.
Beat the Train takes off from Fort Wayne in Southwest Detroit every Saturday morning for a 6 a.m. "urban mountain bike" ride through the streets of Detroit.
Sister's Cycling, a group for female cyclists, ride four times a weekâin Southfield, on Belle Isle and at Rouge Park.
And Mt. Clemens-based Slow Spokes hosts rides regularly throughout the season in Macomb County.
Helmets are mandatory for all of these rides. metromode will do an area mountain biking overview in the coming weeks.
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh
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