2026 Biking events open to all who want to join me in a few adventures in the Midwest

[Andrew Roerkohl]

My biggest event of the year is "Race the Lake" in Fond du Lac Wisconsin on August 16th 2026. We have had up to 4 Cruz bikers join in previous years. If we can get up to 12 the organizers will create a "wave" just for us.

Another event i am organizing is a short 4 day trip circling the southern half of lake Michigan. This trip is mostly for exploring what its like to live out on the road to prepare for the over 900 mile northern loop. This is not a bike packing trip and we will be in hotels for all 3 days. We will travel 70 miles first day, 100 miles second day, 55 miles 3rd day and 60 miles the 4th day. i do not know what weekend we will be doing it but i am planning for Memorial day Weekend.

Another weekend trip i am planning is a 4 day trip from Kenosha to La Crosse Wisconsin and back. This may be a bike packing trip if i have time and money to prepare.

Another organized event i will be attending will be Ride across Wisconsin (RAW) on July 11th. I will be doing the 175 mile coarse.

If anyone has any other events where they would like some company please let me know.

I am also hiking Mount Elbert this year if anyone would like to meet me out in Colorado. its the only 14k mountain you can hike up to the summit in the continental US.

I also have been hiking the "Lake Geneva hiking path". You will not find a more beautiful path to hike while walking the in the back yards of millionaires. If anyone wanted to come visit the beautiful Lake Geneva and needed a hiking partner just let me know.

I am a pretty relaxed rider maintaining about 18 mph in the hills of Wisconsin when i am pushing myself. When i am touring i usually average about 15 mph. I will end the year around 4300 miles but want to ride upwards of 6k next year. if interested just message me and i can help you sign up for one of those events listed above, or join an adventure, or suggest one for myself. thank you.

 

[Mathew Fy]

Andrew, you reminded me of some plans I’ve made but never got around to it. I can’t make any of your trips in 2026, but if I get a three or four day weekend I may follow through on this one:

Mathew's bike tours.

@Mathew Fy it seems to be a picture. Who went on the half pipe in the background with their V? That would be something to see! Yes, the attached file is a picture of the four Vendettas preparing for the last day's ride of the CNC M2C. The video is accessed by clicking the link:

forum.cruzbike.com

Your four day must be similar to my roughly planned loop.

Loop Lake Michigan, rough

456.8 mi, +8992 ft. Bike ride in Ludington, Mason County

ridewithgps.com

 

[Andrew Roerkohl]

Ok to clarify i have updated this post with a little more detail on the southern half of the circle tour I am planning for Memorial day Weekend 2026. I am open to combining the last 2 days into one really long day and am pretty much open to changes in general as well. I am only doing this to learn how to prepare for longer trips. The 900 mile northern route will be completed in 2027 most likely and these practice trips should prepare me for what i need to bring. Attached is the more detailed plan of the trip.

 

[3bs]

three things since you are riding in areas i ride a fair amount. last summer rode down from bridge to new bufallo and around mich cit. with AHDCT. a few years back we rode madison to milwaukee and around the top down the mich side to notre dame. i admit it. i love riding the great lakes.

1. i may be good to join you for the holland to mc run, since you are riding in my neighborhood. might be able to hold lunch at my house, which is about half way (exit 4). depends on what we are doing for the weekend. i have not asked mrs. yet.
2. the ride from mich city to chicago has some good paved trail and some not, but really easy to jump on the road to zip around the crappy part of the trail not paved yet. there are a couple guys who have you tubes on the route. i have ridden most of it but not all the way into the city. i figure i will get to it and then just take the train back to st joe.
3. i have long wanted to do the double ferry square. start in muskegon and catch the fast cat to milwaukee and then ride to manatowoc, take the badger back to ludington, and then ride back to muskegon. always talk never do. i have ridden the routes and taken the badger, but nevert the fast cat and never all at once. maybe i should do it as a part of your little run.

 

[3bs]

All of this great lakes chatter make me wonder if i should revive the Michigan cruzbike alt get together. Look for the old thread. I will not be able to ride this year with the Andean Health group as i will be out of the country.
Or even a couple of ripper day rides. We could do white pine up and back in teo days. Gr to cad. 90 each way. Kal haven from my house to Kalamazoo and back 120 ish. Ive done it on my s40 and my sofrider. Nickel plate in ind. so many options.

 

[Mathew Fy]

revive the Michigan cruzbike alt get together.

Damn Covid! Ruined a great plan.
To read along our journey:

MI Cruzbike retreat 2020 - August 6-9, 2020 Benton Harbor Michigan

Well if were planning a cruzbike ride retreat (hint) I would put it somewhere in west Michigan along the coast. (Hint) The number of bike routes and mup’s and destinations means plenty to do places to go etc. I live on the steelhead trathalon route, which is also a us bike route and a part of...

forum.cruzbike.com

 

[Andrew Roerkohl]

I finally have my hotels booked and if anyone wants to join please let me know and i will personally send you the route and schedule.
Day 1 will be 80 miles
Day 2 will be 70 miles
Day 3 will be 100 miles
Day 4 will be 55 miles
This will be a learning experience for me in preparation to do the northern circle tour in 2027