Pedal for Pride 2026

Ride Logistics

Tenting-first, rider-led, low-key year-one journey

Pedal for Pride is a fun, self-supported ride with a small crew. Riders are expected to handle pacing, nutrition, and most roadside fixes independently while looking out for each other.

Support Model

  • Ride style: rider-led and mostly self-supported.
  • Daily responsibility: riders manage pacing, hydration, fueling, and on-bike readiness.
  • Limited vehicle support: available for true medical/mechanical escalations, not routine SAG.
  • Daily briefing: quick evening route + weather check before each rollout.

Camp 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.
  • Riders tent in pairs at each overnight campground.
  • Each pair is responsible for setup, takedown, cleanup, and leave-no-trace at every site.
  • Quiet-hours respect and lights-out window for recovery.
  • Shared kitchen, food bins, and water refill are reset before evening debrief ends.

Daylight and Weather Expectations

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.

  • Sunrise window (ride week): roughly 6:45-6:55 AM across the route.
  • Light expectation: front and rear lights are required at morning rollout.
  • Traverse City: upper 70s to low 80s in the day, upper 50s to low 60s in early morning.
  • Ludington + Grand Haven: similar temps, with variable lakeshore wind and occasional cooler lake air.
  • Ionia + Howell: often warmer and more humid inland, with higher late-day storm potential.
  • Rain pattern: brief showers and isolated thunderstorms are normal in mid-August.

Based on recent mid-August patterns from the last 2-3 seasons (planning guidance, not a guarantee).

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.

On-Road Response and Escalation

Mid-August conditions can shift quickly, so the approach is simple: adjust early, communicate early, and keep moving safely.

  • Leave earlier on hotter days.
  • Take extra regroup and refill breaks when needed.
  • Keep food and hydration consistent all day.
  • Rider attempts roadside mechanical fix first.
  • Vehicle support can step in if a bike is not safely rideable.
  • No stigma if anyone needs support, time, or a reset.

Rider Gear Checklist

  • Helmet, lights, visible kit layers, and weather shell
  • Two bottles minimum plus fuel for at least two hours
  • 2 tubes, CO2 + inflator, mini pump
  • Multi-tool and chain quick link
  • Phone, charging cable, ID, insurance card, emergency contacts
  • Camp bag packed for RV/support-vehicle transfer (tent gear, sleep system, and camp clothes)
Community Safety: we ride with clear communication, consent-forward group norms, and respect for each person's pace, identity, and access needs.