Tour de Troit

Looks like I missed it this year. Actually did see it though – stuck in traffic about 20 minutes on Jefferson as the bikes rode past off Belle Isle.

Congrats on a great turnout for the ride!

By Fuzzytek on Sep 20, 2009

Thank you so much for organizing the Tour. It was wonderful, I’ll be back!

My husband has some video, would you be interested in some footage?

By Barbara Ingalls on Sep 20, 2009

WOW! Congrats on a huge turnout! It’s amazing how big the ride is growing each year. I hope this means that next year there will be more port-a-potties, especially at the rest stop! : )
Thank you for doing such a great job with organizing this tour. I’m looking forward to next year!

By Mo on Sep 20, 2009

Never heard of the event until the article in the Freep which means it was over.
Sounds like a great turnout in spite the lack of promotional coverage prior to the event. I read the paper everyday and never saw a word. But then again, given the number of participants, it sounds like people are finding out about it without major coverage.
As for the event, all the comments are so positive and it seems like a worthwhile event, good exercise and the purpose makes good sense… and a well organized events makes its own good PR.

By Jeff Goldbloom on Sep 20, 2009

Hey,
Congratulations on success of bike tour. Wish I could have been there. I will see you next year. Please keep me on email list.

By Dee Watkins on Sep 20, 2009

my friend and i participated for the first time this year and WE LOVED IT! although i already bike a lot in the city, it was a wonderfully unique experience – to ride with so many people, have residents cheer from their homes, and to hear memories evoked by sights along the ride. thanks to all who organized and helped make it happen – i will definitely be back next year with more friends!

By sparklepants on Sep 20, 2009

Congrats and thank you – yesterday was amazingly good fun and much better organized than I remember from two years ago. The route was fantastic, the tone of the event was communal – lots of good vibes. Unfortunately, what I remember from 2007 – which was much smaller – were a bunch of surly volunteers and a less vibrant route. In fact, that’s why I didn’t ride in 2008 (my loss : ). But you are truly to be commended for this year, and I wouldn’t be surprised if next year you actually have to limit the number of participants. I’m just curious – I know the route had to be shrouded in secrecy, but now that it’s over, I’m wondering if anybody has tossed it up on mapmyride or has a turn-by-turn list of directions. I ask only because I’m a recent transplant and even though I’ve got the map that came w/ the registration, it’s difficult to see what some of the streets are. This is not a question for the organizers per se – just wondering if any of the ride participants has done so.

By lolo341 on Sep 20, 2009

I’m glad you had a metric century option this year. I had a great time and will definitely be back next year.

By Ann Marie on Sep 20, 2009

The ride was great. It was my first year and i had a blast. The only problem i found was the bathroom situation at Gabriel Richard park. Four bathrooms for two thousand people just doest cut it.By the time i used the bathroom the escort, along with most riders left. Im not complaining though, I stuck to the map and finished with about twenty others without escort, but its inspired me to do the metric next year. Thanks for the great ride. I look forward to many more.

By chris henry on Sep 20, 2009

This was my first time on the TdT, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m already looking forward to next year’s. And seeing everyone’s photos of this year’s ride.

By Keith G. on Sep 20, 2009

What a blast! Thanks to all who made the ride and the bike-party happen. This city is Perfect for rides like this (now to convince the rest of the world that this is true…). Onward!

By Nancy on Sep 20, 2009

This was a great ride and a great way to see the city of Detroit. A support vehicle at the back would be good as a few of our riders broke down and had to navigate their way back alone. Also,as riders from Windsor, it would be great if we could ride bikes over the bridge to the start line. See you next year, Donna

By Donna on Sep 21, 2009

can the route be posted with signs.
also, was i the only one that didn’t care for the large # of people that consistently rode outside the right lane

By robert on Sep 21, 2009

Loved the tour de troit this year! I felt we were spreading the love throughout the wounded areas of Detroit that really need some TLC. It was solemn to get off our bikes and walk through the Heidleberg project. Another sight was when we crossed Jefferson to our ‘brake’ spot before the Belle Isle bridge. To see the sparkling water dancing off all those bike helmets was quite a picture!
Thank you to everyone who volunteered and worked this event. Loved it!!

By Hickchick on Sep 21, 2009

Great event, this was my second year. Here’s a link to 185 pictures.

By Mike on Sep 21, 2009

Came in from PA just for the ride. Great ride. Loved the commentary from sidelines. Positive energy all around.

By Donna on Sep 21, 2009

I’ve been biking for exercise for a little over two years now and this was my first time doing a TdT ride. I was wondering the same thing–there isn’t much coverage about this as I asked one of the organizers (Bil) how it got to be as big as it is when picking up my packet, as he said many who registered this year were in it last year. The fact that this is the motor city (though less so) probably has a little bit to do with it among a few other reasons I’m thinking. I’m definitely going to consider doing it again and if so-doing the longer ride. FYI, I beieve I read about it on bikeforus.net. Secondly, wish there were more representing the under 25 crowd. I’d suggest hitting up local campuses in the D (Wayne State, UDM, CCS, etc.).

By Dave on Sep 21, 2009

What a great way to see the city. Although I have lived here a while I am not from Detroit so I opted for the shorter ride instead of the metric as an opportunity to sightsee and really loved it. Now when you hear about someplace in the news – it means a lot more.

By Gari C on Sep 21, 2009

it was my 1st time in tour de troit and had such a great time! i heard there were 7 incidents of people being struck by cars to varying degrees…is everyone OK?! i saw a few collisions between bikers myself. thanks for the great time!

By christina on Sep 21, 2009

My girlfriend and I had a great time! She was not happy about the port-a-john situation at the rest stop. I was discreet a possible taking a natural break under a tree.

By Todd on Sep 21, 2009

Thanks for a great event. I am telling everyone I can about what fun it was. Coordinating such a thing is no small thing- thanks for your hard work! About the only thing I’d like to see is perhaps more money being given to deserving city charities from the ride proceeds. This stems from my wife, who does a lot of charity fundraisers asking about it, and I guess she had a point. They sure could use it nowadays. I know if costs a lot to put on this event, but I think if you bumped it $10 to $40.00 it wouldn’t keep anyone from doing it.

By CSK on Sep 21, 2009

My wife and I returned to cycling this summer after a long absence, inspired by a beautiful friend, a serious biker ( & grandmother ). We thoroughly enjoyed Saturday in our hometown. Lost the escort after the rest stop, but a Tour guardian angel led us home. The camaraderie amongst cyclists is great to experience. Thanks for all your work in planning this event.

By Jerry Meagher on Sep 21, 2009

The route was wonderful. The riders were friendly and fun. This was my second year and I will NOT be doing it again. The police escorts were terrible. Either get more escorts or cap the entry at a number that they can handle. Stopping the ride twice was pathetic. I came to ride , not to stand around and wait for the police to figure out how to “control” us.

By Rocco on Sep 22, 2009

any idea when pictures might be posted?

By Donna on Sep 22, 2009

It was my first time with TdT and I had a great time! I didn’t want to go ahead without the police escort after the second stop, but didn’t understand why we stopped again and wanted to keep riding. So, went ahead with some stray bikers and the map. It was a lot more fun to ride with the entire group though. I had heard that there wasn’t going to be any more escorts after the break, so I went on ahead on my own. I later learned that that wasn’t actually the case. But, washable markers of some sort on the road of the confusing turns in the route would have been helpful. Also, more bathrooms as everyone has already mentioned. I ended up using the facilities at the Tim Hortons across the street from the break area. I’ll be back next year:)

By Cindy on Sep 22, 2009

I had a great time! This was my second year and I plan on doing it again. The route this year was much more enjoyable than 2008. In regards to the stopping, people have to remember this is a tour, not a race. Take the time to take a closer look at the surroundings, Detroit is beautiful(in its own way). This year there were 10 of us. Hope to get more to go next year.

By Molly on Sep 22, 2009

I will agree it felt like the police were either fewer or crankier or both this year from last. The group I was with took off after the break since there wasn’t much escort protection on the roads towards the second half of 1st part of the ride. Bathrooms as always more = better.

A comment towards speed – I think part of the reason it was so accordion like was that we started out rather quickly – the group I was with was near the front and going 16+ for a majority of the ride before the 1st police stop, which for a ride advertized as a 10-12 mph ride seemed a bit off, but we enjoyed it until the stopping part.

Re signage, you might consider what they do for stuff like Ironmen or LiveSTRONG Challneges where they post signs at major intersections to let bikers know where to go and to let cars know what the heck is going on. For road marking chalk or flour and water might work and are easily removed.

Finally, after the lunch stop when I took off ahead of the escort, I noticed a LOT of riders disobeying traffic laws (not that I am perfect, but some people were being downright dangerous)- it might be important to remind people next year that if they leave ahead of the escort, the roads will not be closed to them and they will be expected to obey traffic laws. Otherwise I am worried that we might get too many complaints to keep up this awesome tradition.

Thanks for a great ride, I am for sure gonna be there next year!

By Lana on Sep 22, 2009

This was my first year of riding the TdT. I happen to come across an article about the ride a week before the actual event. Is there a mailing list that I can sign up to be informed about next years ride or am I on a mailing list for riding this year?

By John on Sep 23, 2009

Here’s a link to my husbands Youtube video shot in HD; mostly of the beginning and early portions of the Tour. Enjoy and thanks again for a n incredible event.

By Barbara Ingalls on Sep 23, 2009

OK the link didn’t work let me try again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxuOji9avow

By Barbara Ingalls on Sep 23, 2009

Here are some photos taken by our photographer during the ride through Heidelberg Street:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=157957&id=61458428661&saved

Please credit Geronimo Patton, and email me if you want larger files of any of them. Thanks!

By Michelle on Oct 8, 2009