Ride Logistics

Early Rollout and Sunrise

Plan for early starts each day. Most mornings will be around 6:30 AM, and shorter days may roll closer to 7:00-7:30 AM.

• Sun, Aug 16 (Traverse City): sunrise around 6:46 AM
• Mon, Aug 17 (Ludington): sunrise around 6:52 AM
• Tue, Aug 18 (Grand Haven): sunrise around 6:54 AM
• Wed, Aug 19 (Ionia): sunrise around 6:50 AM
• Thu, Aug 20 (Howell): sunrise around 6:47 AM

Front and rear lights are expected every morning.

What Riders Should Expect

• Temps: typically upper 70s to low 80s Fahrenheit in the day, with cooler early mornings.
• Humidity: moderate to muggy stretches are common in mid-August.
• Rain risk: passing showers and pop-up thunderstorms are part of the season.
• Wind: open stretches near Lake Michigan can feel exposed, especially early in the week.

Rain or shine: we ride in normal rain and variable weather. Severe weather or unsafe road conditions are the only reasons to pause or reroute.

Ride Style and Support Expectations

• Primary model: self-supported daily riding with shared accountability.
• Limited support: a support vehicle is around if needed, but this is not a full-service SAG ride.
• Keep it simple: plan to be self-sufficient on the bike each day.
• Rider responsibility: each rider manages hydration, fueling, and on-bike readiness.

RV and Vehicle Roles

• RV home base: camp anchor for nightly regroup, recovery, and team check-ins.
• Gear transport: RV carries tents, bags, and shared camp infrastructure between sites.
• Support vehicle: reserved for medical/mechanical escalation that cannot be solved roadside.
• Team flow: riders should not plan day strategy around vehicle availability.

Tenting Plan

• Riders tent in pairs at each overnight campground.
• Pair up naturally with your preferred tent buddy.
• Each pair is responsible for setup, takedown, and campsite reset.
• Check in with your buddy each evening and before morning rollout.

Shared Camp Operations

• Quiet-hours respect and lights-out window for recovery.
• Shared kitchen and food bins organized by daily stage.
• Water refill and cleanup done before evening debrief ends.
• Leave-no-trace expectation at every site.

Heat and Weather Guidance

Mid-August weather can shift quickly, so we stay flexible and make smart day-of calls.

• Leave earlier on hotter days.
• Take extra regroup and refill breaks when needed.
• Keep eating and drinking on schedule.
• If someone is not feeling right, we pause and support first.

Mechanical Standard

Each rider carries

• 2 tubes, CO2 + inflator, mini pump
• Multi-tool and chain quick link
• Basic flat and drivetrain troubleshooting familiarity

Escalation

• Rider attempts roadside fix first.
• Vehicle support can step in if a bike is not safely rideable.
• No stigma if anyone needs support or extra time.