Special Events Calendar, Gatherings, Festivals & Programs

Ride for Recovery. A family fun & fitness event & fundraiser for Dawn Farm, 6633 Stony Creek Road, Ypsilanti, Michigan, 48197, on the last Sunday of April. There will be 10k, 10 mi, 25 mi, 40 mi and 100 k bike rides; 5K and 10K run/walk, activities for children of participants, tours of the working farm, breakfast snacks and a “Recovery Celebration” lunch with hot food. The Ride for Recovery also provides an opportunity to support a critical community service. All funds raised will help Dawn Farm keep vital addiction treatment and recovery support services available for those who need them most. For more information contact Megan Rodgers, Project Manager, Dawn Farm at 734-485-8725 or email: RideForRecovery @dawnfarm.org.

Ride of Silence Annual slow and silent memorial bike ride, in hundreds of cities worldwide, in May, to honor bicyclists who have been killed and injured and a reminder of cyclists' legal right to the road.  May 15, 2013. Check the website to see if there is ride near you.

Rodman Ride for Kids, Saturday, in September. This charity event is a 25, 50, and 100-mile non-competitive cycling tour throughout the state of Massachusetts. (Maps of each route can be viewed at on the website.) In addition to the scenic ride, bikers are invited to enjoy a finish-line barbecue, vendor sampling, and other activities.  The Rodman Ride for Kids is a gift-matching charity working to support at-risk youth in Massachusetts. By joining Team BMC, cyclists will be helping to raise money for at-risk children and pediatric programs at the hospital. Every dollar raised directly supports the cause, and is matched by 10% by Rodman Ride.

Strawberry Fields Forever Strawberry Fields Forever takes place in May. It features three routes 25 miles, 100 kilometers and 100 miles, which traverse some of the most beautiful regions of Santa Cruz County, California. Each route includes rest stops with international themes, food, fruits, and beverages every 20-30 miles. A hot meal will greet you at the end of the ride. Fresh whipped cream and strawberries dipped in chocolate ganache conclude the menu. Strawberry Fields Forever benefits Cyclists for Cultural Exchange (CCE), an organization, promoting people - to - people diplomacy among international bicyclists.

Tour de Leaves Third weekend of October in Western North Carolina,  nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The views are fantastic and we will have plenty of rest stops available. Rest stops are well stocked and some have bathrooms. Routes feature Tour de Leaves (66.3 miles) and Tour de Leaves Lite (31.9 miles) with plenty of climbing, plus an easy, relaxing Tour de Leaves Family Ride (4 miles). Lunch and showers available after the ride.

Tour de Vour: Biking for Kids  Benefits Big Brothers Big Sisters of Racine & Kenosha Counties. Begins and ends at UW-Parkside. Rides are Family Fun, 15m, 36m and 100k. Features food, food and more food.

Tyranena Oktoberfest Bike Ride, Saturday October, Lake Mills, Wisconsin.  Charity fun ride with 18, 26, 46 & 66-mile routes passing through beautiful Jefferson County, beginning and ending at Tyranena Brewing Company. SAG support and rest areas with snacks, restrooms and refreshments also provided during the ride. For more information email: stacey @tyranena.com or call 920-648-8699.

Wisconsin Dairyland Dare, August, Dodgeville, Wisconsin. Set in the bucolic hills of Southwest Wisconsin, the Dairyland Dare offers a memorable day of challenging climbs, fantastic foods, superior support, and scenic splendor for cyclists ranging from the avid enthusiast to the world class athlete. The hills in the area are not huge, but by the end of the day some riders will have climbed over 20,000 ft - the equivalent of Mt. McKinley. Distances: 50K, 100K, 150K, 200K, 250K, 300K.  For more information email Michelle Godez-Schilling, michelle @dairylanddare.com or call 608 553 0144.