Pedal for Pride2027 event
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Two Pedal for Pride cyclists riding together on a wooded Michigan road during the 2026 ride.

Third annual cross-state ride

Pedal for Pride 2027

August 15–19, 2027

Pedal for Pride returns for its third year with five days of riding across Michigan in support of Affirmations. The planned journey brings cyclists and volunteers together around visibility, community and the belief that every mile can help LGBTQ+ people feel safer, seen and connected.

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Riders on the road south of Traverse City during Pedal for Pride 2026.

2027 at a glance

Five days planned across Michigan

The 2027 route is being developed around the established Traverse City-to-Ferndale concept. Confirmed route and participation details will follow as planning continues.

Dates
August 15–19, 2027
Duration
5 riding days
Planned journey
Traverse City to Ferndale
Edition
Third annual ride
Community partner
Affirmations
Participation
Riders, roadies and volunteers

Community, visibility and care

Why Pedal for Pride rides

A cross-state ride puts LGBTQ+ visibility on Michigan roads while directing fundraising to a community center that provides affirming care, resources and connection.

Long days on the bike ask people to look after one another. Riders share the pace and the physical work, while roadies keep food, water, gear and camp moving from one stop to the next. That shared effort is central to the event, not a detail behind it.

The journey also creates a visible LGBTQ+ and ally presence across small towns, rural roads, lakeshore communities and city streets. It makes room for health, belonging and Pride to travel together across the state.

Fundraising supports Affirmations LGBTQ+ Community Center in Ferndale, where people can find services, support and community without having to set aside who they are.

  • VisibilityAcross Michigan communities
  • Health equityThrough affirming care and resources
  • Shared effortAmong riders, roadies and supporters

Scenes from the 2026 ride

What five days across Michigan can look like

Pedal for Pride combines long days on the bike with quiet roads, lake views, rail trails, small towns and a dependable support system. The route changes each day, but the goal remains the same: move across Michigan together and finish with something meaningful to show for the effort.

Swipe or use the arrows to explore scenes from the 2026 ride.

A quiet paved road winding through a green Michigan forest during the 2026 route.
Quiet forest roads were part of the 2026 route.
A Pedal for Pride cyclist riding beside calm blue water during the 2026 ride.
A lakeshore stretch during Pedal for Pride 2026.
A downtown Grand Rapids street with the city skyline ahead during the 2026 ride.
The 2026 route approached downtown Grand Rapids.
Pedal for Pride riders and roadies sharing lunch beneath a park pavilion in 2026.
Riders and roadies refueled together at a 2026 rest stop.
Three Pedal for Pride cyclists riding past a farm silo on a country road in 2026.
Farm roads carried the 2026 group toward Ionia.
Three Pedal for Pride cyclists smiling as they ride toward the camera on a green trail in 2026.
The 2026 riders followed neighborhood trails toward Ferndale.
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Built on two completed rides

Two years of momentum

Pedal for Pride heads into 2027 with two annual rides behind it. In 2026, riders and support volunteers traveled from Traverse City to Ferndale over five riding days, covering approximately 412 miles and raising $20,465 for Affirmations.

The 2027 ride will build on what worked: a small team, strong support and a route designed to turn a lot of pedaling into direct support for Affirmations.

Approximately
412 miles
Raised for Affirmations
$20,465
Across Michigan
5 days
Explore the 2026 ride
Pedal for Pride riders and Day 5 participants holding the $20,465 donation check at Affirmations in 2026.
The 2026 team arrived at Affirmations after raising $20,465.

What participants can expect

A supported ride with a real challenge

Five consecutive riding days require training, patience and a willingness to work as part of a team. Riders are not expected to manage that challenge alone.

For riders, the final contribution amount will be confirmed as planning is completed. The approximately $25,000 shared fundraising goal is anticipated, not guaranteed, and there is no individual fundraising minimum stated.

  1. Prepare for the distance

    Full-event riders should expect multi-day endurance training, a group pace and shared riding expectations. The final daily distances will be published after the 2027 route is confirmed.

  2. Ride with support

    Scheduled rest and refueling stops, motorhome support and roadies help the group manage long days while staying fed, hydrated and organized.

  3. Share camp life

    Overnight campgrounds give the team a place to recover between stages. Camp routines work because riders and volunteers share responsibility for setup, meals, gear and the next morning’s departure.

  4. Finish with purpose

    Fundraising for Affirmations is central to Pedal for Pride. Riders are expected to actively fundraise toward a shared team goal anticipated to be approximately $25,000.

  5. Plan for shared ride costs

    The rider contribution is expected to be approximately $300–$350 for the full five-day ride. It will help cover breakfasts, dinners, campsites and other shared ride expenses.

Ways to participate

There is more than one way to help the ride move

The five-day team needs prepared cyclists and a dependable support crew. Sign up now and we’ll be in touch as the route and event details take shape.

Full-event and flexible interest

Ride

Sign up for the full five-day ride or tell us about the riding format that interests you. Training and route details will follow as planning continues.

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Support crew

Roadie or volunteer

Support volunteers help with driving, rest stops, food, gear, camp routines and the many practical details that make five consecutive riding days possible.

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Support the effort

Community supporters can follow the ride, share its fundraising work and welcome the team along the way.

Get 2027 Updates

Partnerships

Companies and community partners interested in future sponsorship or in-kind support can start a conversation with the team.

Sponsorship inquiries
Four Pedal for Pride riders holding Halfway to Ferndale signs at a wooded rest stop in 2026.

Community partner and beneficiary

Why the ride supports Affirmations

Affirmations provides a welcoming place where LGBTQ+ people can find care, resources and community. Thousands of people connect with the center each month through youth programming, mental health care, support groups, HIV testing and other affirming services.

Pedal for Pride directs its fundraising to Affirmations so the ride’s visibility and physical effort are connected to an organization serving LGBTQ+ people every day.

  • Youth programming
  • Mental health care
  • Support groups
  • HIV testing
  • Community connection
  • Affirming resources
Visit Affirmations

The services listed here provide context for the partnership. They do not claim that ride proceeds are assigned to any one program.

The 2026 riders marked the halfway point before another day on the road.

Planning is underway

Join the 2027 ride

Sign up as a Rider or Roadie, or get 2027 updates. We’ll be in touch as the route and event details take shape.

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