events

Michigan Recumbent Rally - East
May 8, 2010 (Saturday)
If you would like to examine or test ride a recumbent, plan on attending the annual Michigan Recumbent Rally - East on Saturday, May 8th from 9am until 2pm. The event will be held at the Willow Metropark pool shelter, located off exit 11 of I-275, just south of Detroit Metro airport. The event is free although there is a $4 park admission fee. And while recumbents are the main theme, all cyclists (and non-cyclists!) are welcome to attend.

Events at the Rally will consist of recumbent displays, bike dealers, test-rides, information table and a "buying your first recumbent workshop" at 11am and 1pm. Recumbent owners are urged to bring their bike(s) for display. In case of rain the event will still be held as the pool shelter has a very large covered area for all events. Recumbent owners with a bike to sell can display them at the event but no sales are allowed inside the park due to regulations.

Overnight lodging is available northwest and northeast of the Rally site, off of I-94. To the northwest there is a Red Roof Inn (734) 697-2244, a Comfort Inn (734) 697-2244 and a Super 8 (734)699-1888 off the Belleville Road Exit. To the northeast there are numerous lodging locations off the I-94 Merriman Road exit including a Hampton Inn (734) 721-1100, Fairfield Inn (734) 728-2322, Budgetel Inn (734) 722-6000, Quality Inn (734) 728-2430 as well as a Holiday Inn, Marriott, Hilton and other chains. Camping facilities in the area of the Rally are rather limited but the two closest sites are Sterling State Park (288 sites) near Monroe (734) 289-2715 and the Detroit-Greenfield KOA (190 sites) south of Belleville (734) 482-7722.

Willow Metropark has a small snack bar with a very limited menu at the Washago Pond Shelter, just north of the Rally site off the Willow bike path. There is a convenience store/Burger King located just outside the park on South Huron Road just west of I-275 exit 11. There are also eating spots located in the town of New Boston adjacent to Willow Metropark.

While the Rally will not be conducting any formal supported rides, maps with suggested ride routes of 8/20/25/45/62 miles will be available. Also, cyclists can try out the traffic-free, interconnected 25 mile (out and back) bike path system of Willow - Lower Huron -Oakwoods Metroparks. A group recumbent ride will start at the Rally site at 12 noon for a ride on the Metropark path system. Water and restrooms are both are available at the Rally site in the pool shelter area.

National 24 Hour Challenge
June 19-20, 2010 (Saturday and Sunday)
Join other recumbent cyclists as part of the National 24 Hour Challenge. Not a race but instead a chance to test yourself and set your own record on far you can ride in a 24-hour period. Held in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area with an 8am start on June 20th. Camping available at the start point. (Link). Be advised that this event has a total ban on any and all types of fairings, no matter how small. Event organizers refuse to change this rule due to "safety" or "unfair advantage" reasons.

June 12-13, 2010 (Saturday and Sunday)

Recumbent and human powered vehicle competition and other events. Open to all cyclists. Fee for racing, no change for spectators. Held at Waterford, Michigan, just north of Detroit. See www.mhpva.org for details.