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Northern Michigan Ride – Leelanau Peninsula

Accommodations
Summer Camps, Camping (hotel options available)
Total Mileage
220 – 285
Group Size
85
Range of Daily Mileage
48 – 85
Fundraising Commitment
$2,800
Trip Length
4 Days

This new 4-day charitable bike ride brings the excitement and impact of Climate Ride to the Midwest. The cycling event begins in the bike-friendly city of Grand Rapids, and meanders through Michigan’s northern woods and picturesque farmlands, to the scenic sandy beaches of the Great Lakes and into the heart of the verdant Leelanau Peninsula.

Climate Ride Michigan spans 285 miles and explores Michigan’s lower northern shoreline (known affectionately as the Third Coast) all the way to the scenic Leelanau Peninsula. From the exciting trip start in Grand Rapids – one of Bicycling Magazine’s Top 50 Bike-Friendly Cities, home to the world’s largest art competition (ArtPrize), and known as the “Beer City” due to its many craft breweries – to the triumphant arrival on the Leelanau Peninsula, Climate Ride Michigan will challenge, inspire, and surprise you as you cycle and connect with thought leaders, advocates, and like-minded people dedicated to advancing sustainability.

On Climate Ride Michigan you’ll spend four days cycling on a scenic journey that explores the back roads of Lake Michigan. You’ll discover amazing scenery, stay at comfortable retreats and classic summer camps, and experience the thrill of touring by bicycle with a community united by their passion for sustainability, renewable energy, and bicycles – the ultimate carbon-free form of transportation.

During the cycling event, we’ll travel on some of Michigan’s multi-use trails (the state has 2,600 miles of trails!), riding past historic lighthouses, fruit orchards, quaint villages, wineries, cider houses, and family farms. We’ll also visit Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore before pedaling to the tip of Michigan’s Leelanau Peninsula to a spectacular lighthouse. Evening programs and dynamic speakers combine with world-class cycling to make this charitable event exciting, informative, and fun.

Our professional Climate Ride staff takes care of all the details, so you can focus on riding the 40-80 miles per day of carefully-planned routes on scenic roads. It’s challenging yet achievable, and you have all day to make it to the next rest stop. On the road, the Climate Ride support team is always nearby to assist you, keep you happy and healthy, and make your ride worry-free and memorable. Bike rental options are available in Grand Rapids.

Daily cycling mileages to suit all types of cyclists. This is a fully supported ride which means you can focus on the pedaling and making connections with your new friends while we take care of everything from overnight details, meals, snacks, luggage transport, and much more to make your trip as enjoyable as possible. Learn more in the FAQ.

You can choose from our full list of beneficiaries and proceeds will be distributed to the Climate Ride grants program based on your beneficiary selection. You will have access to our superb personal fundraising software and the full support of our team. Participants may select their beneficiaries from our list of more than 100 extraordinary non-profit organizations.

Interest List!

Accommodations & Meals

We will be staying in cabins and dorm-style rooms at full-service summer camps on this trip with dining halls and conference facilities. At some of the camps, tent camping is optional, and we also have hotel-style options available at your own cost. Amenities at our overnight locations include hot showers, a first-aid station with 24/7 ice, a merchandise table, clean restrooms, and shared rooms with vinyl mattresses. You should bring a sleeping bag and a fitted sheet.

All dietary restrictions will be accommodated on this trip by our staff and caterers. There will be a variety of hot breakfasts, picnic lunches, hearty dinners and plenty of snacks in between to fuel you for multiple days of bike riding.

On Climate Ride Michigan, we bring together a dynamic community. Each evening after dinner, we’ll gather for our Evening Program which features speakers, roundtable discussions, and other events.

The Ride Start

This charitable bike ride will begin in Grand Rapids, MI on Saturday, at 8:30 am. The location for the Ride Start, as well as the Registration and Kick-Off events, will be announced in the Travel Planner (available in April and after you register).

We will host a Registration and Bike-Drop Off event the evening on Friday, from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm at the same location as the Ride Start. You can drop off your bike, fill out any last-minute paperwork, and then riders will gather at a nearby brewery for some pre-ride revelry. It’s your first chance to meet and network with other Climate Riders, so we highly recommend attending. By registering this evening and dropping off your bicycle, you will save time in the morning and help with our logistics.

The next morning, the big bike ride begins! You should arrive at the start location between 7:00 am and 7:30 am to drop off your luggage, prep your bike and pack snacks. Give yourself time to get organized before a mandatory 8:00 am safety talk. The ride officially starts at 8:30 am!

Getting to Grand Rapids

We recommend you arrive in Grand Rapids by 6pm on Friday, September 14th (the day before the ride) so you can register and enjoy the kick-off event where you can meet other Climate Riders.

TRAIN/BUS: If you’re coming from Chicago or another state, you can take Amtrak. Both Chicago and Grand Rapids have Amtrak stations. Visit the Amtrak website for general information and reservations, or click here for how to bring your bicycle on Amtrak trains.

Greyhound has bus terminals located in Grand Rapids and Chicago. The cost is $29-34 each way and it’s about a 5 to 6-hour trip between the cities. They accept bicycles as luggage. Visit the Greyhound website for more information.

TAXI: Taxis are an easy way to get around Grand Rapids. They aren’t as plentiful as they are in big cities, so it’s best to call ahead. Each of the companies listed below has said that their cabs can usually accommodate bicycles as long as you mention it when you book the cab. Request a minivan or SUV, and know that you may need to take the front wheel off to make it fit.

Metro Cab of Grand Rapids  616-827-6500
Yellow Cab  616-459-4646
Dadd’s Magic Bus and Limousine  616-235-3233
Calder City Company  616-454-8080

PLANE: Gerald Ford International Airport (GRR) is the closest airport to the Ride Start and offers many airline options.

It is conveniently located 25 minutes southeast of downtown Grand Rapids. To get to downtown Grand Rapids from GRR, you can take a taxi. Metro Cab (616-827-6500) offers traditional taxicab and luxury sedan service at the curbside), take a luxury sedan service to downtown Grand Rapids (approximately $37), or use the Rapid – the city’s bus system. For more information about GRR ground transportation, visit this website.

BICYCLE RENTAL: If you’re traveling to Michigan for the bike ride, there are bicycle rental options as well as the possibility of shipping your bike straight to the Ride Start location and having it assembled for you. More information will be available in the Travel Planner.

After the Bike Ride

Climate Ride will end on the Leelanau Peninsula at approximately 4 pm on Tuesday, September 18, 2018. There, we’ll celebrate the end of the charitable ride with a group photo, before packing up our luggage/gear and departing.

The Climate Ride Shuttle Back to Grand Rapids: At the end of the bike ride, you’ll have access to your gear and we’ll load everything up for the shuttle back to Grand Rapids (or to Traverse City). This bus shuttle is included in the trip and it’s about a 3-hour drive back to Grand Rapids. We’ll arrive at the same location as the Trip Start at about 7:30 pm on Tuesday, September 18. We recommend not making flight or travel arrangements from GRR before 9:00 pm or from TVC before 7:00 pm.

Departing the Bike Ride Early: If you need to leave the trip early to travel home for the Yom Kippur holiday, we have several options that will work for you. Please contact us.

Transporting Your Bike: If you are traveling to the ride with Amtrak, you may be able to bring your bike onboard! Learn more here.

More information on traveling with your bike or where to rent a bike for this event will be made available once you have registered.

Fundraising Beneficiaries

Cyclists can choose from the more than 100 incredible beneficiary organizations in our network! One of the things that make Climate Ride such an effective charitable event is that you can select the organization(s) you wish to fundraise for from our extensive list of beneficiary organizations. Our beneficiaries were selected for their work on the environment, conservation, sustainability, climate education, and active transportation advocacy. At the end of the year, Climate Ride grants the proceeds from our events to these hard-working organizations.

Fundraising and Transfer Deadlines | Important Dates

Fundraising Deadlines:

$500 to be raised by:TBD
$1,400 to be raised by:TBD
$2,800 to be raised by:TBD

Transfer Deadline: TBD

Note: If you’d like to register after or near a fundraising deadline, don’t worry, we’re here to help you get up to speed!

More Questions?

Be sure to review our general FAQ and policies or contact us!