This weekend, it’s the Michigander and I can hardly wait.
The ride this year is a circle route, starting Saturday and ending Friday July 17 in Edmore, and traveling an average of 40-60 miles per day on the Fred Meijer Heartland Trail, the Pere Marquette Railtrail, the White Pine Railtrail and the Saginaw Valley Trail as well as lots of scenic back roads.
There’s a two day weekend ride Sat and Sunday, a seven day ride that starts Saturday and the six day ride that starts Sunday. The Michigander is one of the best organized, most enjoyable tours you’ll find anywhere in the country. It’s like a gathering of family for me and the highlight of the summer. If you;ve never done one, come this weekend. Just show up, there’s still room. Details are available here.
I’ll be there along with Tina, Wayne, Pat, Mike H, Maury and a couple of others from our regular Saturday morning Bike Fitness training rides. Please, look me up and say hello. I’ll be hangin’ with all those people you see wearing the “I’m with Joe” T-shirts.
My wife, Jennifer, is coming along this year and will help out at the SAG stops. I plan to live Tweet (follow me on Twitter @BikeFitness) and post pics and videos on the Ride forum over on our BikeFitness.net Forums.
Can’t make up my mind what bike to bring so I’ll take both – the Trek Madonne 5.5 road bike and my Gary Fisher Superfly. I’ll alternate between the two.
Hopin’ for good weather… CU in Edmore.
Have a great time on the Michigander. I will not be able to make it due to having a hip replacement about 2 weeks ago. I will be following on this site and hope to ride it again next year.
It will be a great ride. Wish I was going. Looks like the weather should be decent for the week. Even the night time lows aren’t too bad. I remember the great camaraderie amongst the riders, on my last Michigander. Enjoy!!!
Mike,
Are you camping in the Bubba Zone for the week?
No Bubba Zone for me this year. Trying to cut costs. Will be putting my own tent up and down.
Weather looks a bit iffy for rain, but the forecast changes every day as usual. This is my first time and I’m going the pampering route. Mike, are you riding 7 days, and if so, what time do people get going on the trail on Saturday? Is registration usually pretty quick?
WX looks great (see http://wxoakland.com)…
Now that I left the Free Press, watching my money and I’m moteling it about every other night. That’s cheaper, believe it or not, than the Bubba Zone. Not as much fun, though. Besides, I’m bringing my wife (she will work as a volunteer) and since I’m hoping she’ll one day ride the ‘gander, I want her to be as comfortable as possible. I will really miss the zone this year as that’s where a lot of my buds are but after spending way more for a new MB this year, Bubba just wasn’t in my budget
I’ll do the 6 day, arriving early Saturday afternoon in Edmore.
Usually, you wake up around 6 (all that zipper noise chases away sleep as others get up) and the first riders are out of camp by 7… I usually hit the road a little before 8. This year, I vow, I plan to take my time, look around, visit with more people, check out scenery. I usually speed the ride as fast as I can and I think miss a lot of the fun.
Here’s the latest 10 day forecast for the Michigander as of this morning:
Sun Edmore Mostly Sunny 58/79 St Charles Mostly Sunny 80/58
Mon St Charles Partly Cloudy 58/77 Bay City Partly Cloudy 77/60
Tues Bay City Few Showers 61/78 Clare Few Showers 78/58
Weds Clare Showers 57/78 Reed City Few Showers 75/57
Thurs Reed City Mostly Sunny 58/78 Rockford Mostly Sunny 80/61
Fri Rockford Sunny 63/82 Edmore Partly Cloudy 83/62