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

[benphyr]

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 the ride around Lake Michigan route. Also not far from the Great Lake to lake route #1 to the south of me is the apple cider century, and going north the options awesome all along the coast and a little inland like Grand Rapids - home of velocity wheels and the traverse city sleeping bears dunes area (hint hint hint) and the terrain is perfect for cb. Gingerman raceway would make a perfect criterion track.

as for my n+1 collection, I am a mere piker.

but, I am not a bad host....

@3bs This is within range for me so let's plan on getting together and if others are interested in joining then the more the merrier. Maybe mid-August? What do you think?

Interested:
@benphyr, @3bs, @woodguy, @Rods @cranky cyclist, @CruzLike
Hoping to entice: @Jim Parker, @Robert Holler,
Expressed interest: @mbaulfinger, @Merczak73, @castlerobber
Unable to attend 2020 - covid mostly:
@velocio, @Mathew Fy, @super slim,

 

[3bs]

Great idea. Early august may work better. Need to check calendar for both local events and my family calendar of course.

Where depends some on rider preferences. Paved trail versus roads, distances, other attractions, and lodging, etc.

For example one really fun ride is to combine two bike rides with two ferry trips. Start in ludington, quick ride down to Muskegon, take the fast ferry to Milwaukee, then ride north to manatowac and take the slow ferry back to ludington. That’s more of an adventure weekend by itself

or just head to holland andGrand Rapids and ride the mups. There is one up there that is like 90 miles one way.

or do the tunnel of trees and other rides around m22 and the wineries of the lelineau peninsula.

or down by me there are great rural rides and more wineries and brew pubs and distilleries

I can add some links to this and we can see what people might want to do.

 

[velocio]

I'm also interested in knowing if a MI event is planned. I'm in NC now, but from MI originally and go back to visit family at least once each summer. Last summer I had planned to ride the Kalhaven Trail from Kalamazoo to South Haven then up the coast, a few days, then back, but my MI trip was cancelled. If a multi-day get-together would this be organized around stays in hotels/motels? I'd be more into a loaded touring with camping kind of thing, but I realize I'm in the minority on that!

Cheers,

-Jack

 

[woodguy]

August would probably work for me coming from Wisconsin. The ferry/bike ride combo would be fun, but pricey. I’d vote for a fixed location with rides that could fan out in different directions. Kind of like the Cruzbike retreat format, but hopefully with not quite as steep of hills as Kentucky.

 

[Mathew Fy]

I'd love to join this group for a weekend. A good location may be the Double JJ Resort on the west between Ludington and Grand Rapids. The resort is close to a rail-trail, sand dunes, and the lake shore.
The ODRAM has recently made this their starting point for their cross-state ride, expect them to use it again August 7-8.

(I'm currently planning a return ride for or part of the Shoreline West the first week in August. It looks like they plan to make it Montague > Ludington > Frankfort > Northport > Traverse City > Central Lake > Harbor Springs > Mackinaw City.)

 

[Rods]

I would also love to attend a Retreat here! Michigan has been on my ride bucket list.
A weekend plus would interest me.

 

[benphyr]

I'm going to lose track so I'm going to specifically add interested parties to the initial post.

 

[cranky cyclist]

You can add me to the list. I live in Wisconsin but would be like to bike in Michigan.

 

[3bs]

august you run into a few challenges when it comes to hotel motel resort pricing. i recommend shoulder season on both sides of summer, but fall is pretty busy too, harvests, and quite pretty as trees change.

@Mathew Fy i have ridden that route north to south in segments. great ride. tons of interesting stuff along the way.
@cranky cyclist you can take a ferry over

assuming a 3 day event, and that people would want to be coastal, i would really recommend

http://eyeonmichigan.com/trails/

https://mitrails.org/interactive-map-west-michigan-trails.php

https://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,4616,7-151-9615_11223-146053--,00.html

https://traversetrails.org/us-bicycle-route-35/


i think for most people who have not ridden the state, i would recommend one of these:

1. the traverse city/northport/frankfort triangle, or

https://traversetrails.org/trails/

https://betsievalleytrail.org/

http://www.upnorthmichigan.com/Drives/tunnelTrees.htm


2. south haven saugatuck holland grand haven shoreline strip

https://www.southhaven.org/resources/trail-maps

https://michigantrails.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/GLTLTOverviewMap-5-10-2018.pdf

https://www.fotbst.org/lakeshore-harvest-ride.html

https://visitgrandhaven.com/things/outdoor-activities/biking/trails-routes/


3. the south berrien county north st joseph county indiana michigan corridor

https://www.applecidercentury.com/backroad-bikeways

https://www.swmpc.org/inmitrail.asp

so as you can see. any of these places results in bike route overkill. each of these areas have lots of road and mup. each has lots of restaurants wineries, distilleries breweries and shopping. each of these has lake Michigan shoreline riding and rural inland riding, with flats and rolling. each have different levels of accommodation from camping to high end hotel/resort. each has a pretty strong riding community. if you have a person who wants to come along and not bike, there is plenty to see and do.

i live between #2 and #3, but i bike all of these areas.

for people who are not close, you are just off of interstates, and there is rail, and airports.

 

[3bs]

Did I mention that if @super slim or @bladderhead show up I will loan them a CB or something else worth showing up to ride? (Offer not good for North Americans)

 

[benphyr]

@super slim Hear that! I think that this might coincide with your touring plans..

 

[super slim]

@super slim Hear that! I think that this might coincide with your touring plans..

These Rail trails/BUP look very interesting!!

Yes, as I am currently looking at Adventure Cycling America tours :-
ACC Cabot Trail self support 1/8/20 to 8/8/20
ACC Maine Coast Van support 16/8/20 to 22/8/20
ACC New England Mountains Van Support 23/8/20 to 3/9/20
ACC C&O Canal /Gap Van Support 12/9/20 to 19/9/20

But I am waiting on Cycle Canada releasing the 2020 tour dates for these 2019 dates:-
CC Toure Vert, Montreal to Quebec, Van support 4/8/19 to 9/8/19
CC Toure Gaspe, Quebec to Campbellton, Van support 6/8/19 to 20/8/19
CC Cabot Trail, Sydney to Sydney, Van support 18/8/19 to 25/8/19

I will Go to a Cruzbike tour in preference to a ACC or CC tour!

 

[3bs]

@Jim Parker
@Robert Holler

hint hint

cruzbike loaner fleet:

Aussie trike loaner fleet:

 

[Ross Jantz]

Well, I'm still partial to a California CB retreat - preferably in my neighborhood here among the coastal redwoods - but Michigan is closer than Kentucky or South Carolina so

​

.

 

[3bs]

@Ross Jantz
you are on "the" west coast, i am on the "other" west coast. i love it out there too, and nasty climbs can be avoided with good route planning.

 

[chicorider]

I second the idea of a California CB retreat. And while yes, good route planning is important, some of our best rides are that way because of those nasty climbs.

 

[Seth Cooper]

I am also in west michigan, so if ppl come up I'd happily join in. I can't take time off for a trip though, already have all my vacation days planned.

 

[super slim]

There seems to be a LOT of Cruzbikers in West Michigan, OR are they just a few that are more vocal than the rest of us!????

Could Cruzbike update the map of Cruzbikers, even if only with the number in each state?

Could the next Retreat be in the state with the highest number, then the following year, the second highest number, etc????

I think it will be a LONG time before the retreat comes to SUNNY South Australia, with three Cruzbikers!!!!
But it will be BEFORE the Fire raged New South Wales, with only ONE (Jond) Cruzbiker!!!!

 

[Mathew Fy]

Cruzbike doesn't share publicly locations of purchasers, probably for privacy & safety concerns. With so many people selling & buying used, a current map would be nearly impossible. There was a google map we were volunteering locations, but that is gone.

I like the idea of having a retreat in different areas to get as many owners together to share their experience & ideas. I wish I could have been to attend the Oregon & North Carolina retreats, or even the unofficial get-togethers. The western Kentucky one this year was a pleasure. Team Cruzbike really knows how to put these together.

@benphyr, Thanks for taking some initiative in putting this fan-based retreat together. I hope we can make something fun.

 

[Seth Cooper]

the retreat comes to SUNNY South Australia

Ha. I'd love to pedal a bit 'round Australia. One day, one day.