I don’t know about you, but as the weather warms up, I want to spend less and less time indoors. As the sun streams and everyone flocks to the outdoors, wouldn’t you know it that May is National Bike Month?
This week is also coined Bike to Work Week, which is celebrated Monday, May 11 through Friday, May 15. That means, if you’re lucky enough to live within cycling distance to your place of employment, you best give your car a rest for a few days and get out into the fresh air!
According to the League of American Bicyclists, Michigan is ranked the 18th most “Bicycle Friendly State” of 2015. For comparison’s sake, Washington received the number one accolade, and Alabama came in last at number 50. With that fun tidbit of information in mind, let’s take a look at how we can celebrate all things cycling in southeast Michigan!
Bikes and Yoga is a group that meets weekly for a bike ride and yoga exercise during the warm months. While it involves a little more than just biking, who is going to complain about a nice outdoor yoga sesh, too?
The season two opener takes place tomorrow night at 5:30 p.m. beginning at Wheelhouse Detroit, 1340 Atwater St., where participants will ride to Belle Isle’s North Fishing Pier. Once you arrive, you’ll enjoy a free yoga session (appropriate for all skill levels), courtesy of Detroit Community Yoga’s Cindy Spires.
Don’t forget your helmet or yoga mat!
Detroit Bike to Work Day is an annual event, and this year it takes place on Friday, May 15. There are various group rides leaving from Downtown Plymouth, Farmington, Berkley and more that will all meet in downtown Detroit’s Capitol Park for breakfast.
Your incentive for riding nearly 20 miles on a bike? Free coffee, baked goods and giveaways (if and when) you make it there! Click “join” on the Facebook event to stay updated on the latest information.
Bike Ypsi is offering a series of weeklong activities for Bike to Work Week, including free small coffee for cyclists (wearing a helmet!) at Beezy’s Café, 20 N. Washington St., and Wolverine Grill, 228 W. Michigan Ave.
Don’t miss out on Slow Roll Ypsi tonight at 7 p.m., which meets at Recreation Park. The hour-long, casual ride will wind through Ypsilanti neighborhoods and trails. Tomorrow, a Basic Biking Talk will be held at Library Plaza Park, 229 W. Michigan Ave., where attendees will learn how to navigate popular urban areas safely. The event is free and begins at 7 p.m.
If you plan on celebrating Bike to Work Day in Ypsilanti, meet up with fellow cyclists at Beezy’s Café before the group leaves for Ann Arbor at 7:30 a.m. Friday morning. Along the ride, you’ll stop at commuter stations for snacks and refreshments.
Metropolis Cycles, 2117 Michigan Ave., Detroit, is a brand spankin’ new bike shop in Corktown that just opened last week. If you’re already a serious biker, you can take your wheels in here for a tune up, or find a new ride entirely.
If you’re all set equipment wise and are looking for a way to utilize your wheels with a group of likeminded folks, consider participating in a Slow Roll event. In case you haven’t yet heard of it, Slow Roll is a weekly event involving a group of cyclists who bike various routes throughout the city every Monday night. You can even become an official card carrying member!
Upcoming rides include Monday, May 18 at The Fowling Warehouse, 3901 Christopher St., and Monday, May 25 at HopCat, 4265 Woodward Ave. Registration starts at 5 p.m. for all rides, and people generally start to meet up around 6 p.m., while the rolling starts at 7 p.m.
Wheelhouse Detroit, 1340 Atwater St., Detroit, offers guided tours, which are a great way to not only get out and stay active, but also to explore the city. Tours start and begin at the Wheelhouse, and most are between 12 and 16 miles long.
Upcoming tours include an Architecture tour on Saturday, May 16, which will include stops at Lafayette Park, Wayne State University and Brush Park. The tour runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and costs $30, or $40 with bike rental. The Belle Isle tour on Sunday, May 17 features highlights like the conservatory, aquarium and Dossin Great Lakes Museum. A list of tours for the year can be found here.
Motor City Brew Tours offers bus, walking and bike tours, but for now, it’s all about the cycling! Bike tours take place May through September and include beer and food along the way.
Sign up for Auto History Bike & Brew Tour #2 this Saturday, May 16, a 10 mile tour that will lead you through Detroit’s Jefferson-Chalmers area. The tour is new for 2015, and starts at Atwater in the Park, 1175 Lakepointe St., Grosse Pointe Park.
Another fun tour is taking place on Sunday, May 17: the Prohibition History Bike & Brew Tour, a 15-mile scenic ride to Belle Isle and back. The tour begins at Traffic Jam and Snug, 511 W. Canfield St., Detroit, and, like many others, takes place on multiple dates throughout the year.
Tours cost $33, and bike rental is an additional $10. To sign up for any bike tour, click here.
After taking part in a few Bike to Work Week or National Bike Month activities, you’ll find yourself ready to cycle anywhere and everywhere. Get peddling, Metro Detroiters!