Cycling Mania

Sept. 12, 2007

If bicycling is your passion, you won’t want to miss the events in Leelanau County on the weekend of September 15. There’s something for everyone—whether you’re a parent cycling with a
toddler in tow, a casual long-distance cyclist, or a young stud or studess who aspires to the racing circuit.

Free Ride
9 a.m., Saturday, September 15
Kicking off the weekend is a free ride organized by the Cherry Capital Cycling Club. On Saturday morning, you’ll leave Glen Lake Schools at 9 a.m. for a moderately hilly ride of about 50 miles with a rest stop to buy snacks. The ride will provide riders with maps and a chance to scope out the best places to view the Leelanau de Tour that starts at 1 p.m. later in the day for the men, and around 2:30 p.m. for women.

Tour de Leelanau
Saturday, September 15
This is the third year for the Priority Health Tour de Leelanau, a race that showcases professional cyclists from around the country and world. It’s a big deal, with 450 volunteers and the Leelanau County Sheriff’s office working to keep the roads clear for the cyclists who race in tight packs. Cyclists are coming from as far away as Australia and Mexico.
The race works like a fast-moving parade. There are police escorts in the front and rear of the race. There might be two or three different packs of cyclists, numbering 120 total in the men’s race and 50 in the women’s race. An advance car gives a roadside volunteer a warning that the race is approaching, and the volunteer then makes sure there’s no traffic on the road for the next five minutes, said Steve “Iceman” Brown, race director.
“It’s a big weekend,” said Bob McLain, owner of McLean Cycling and Fitness. “It’s kind of cool. This is big time. Pro teams are coming in, and with this level of competition, there will be 5,000 or 6,000 fans.”
Among the competitors are two local teams—a men’s and women’s—sponsored by Hagerty Insurance in Traverse City.
“The race has now progressed to a world caliber event,” said Derek Prechtl, who’ll race on the Hagerty men’s team. “The promoter was looking for an organized local team of semi- and professional racers, and that allowed Hagerty to step up. We’ll be competing with some of the best riders in the United States.”
The best place to stand for great views is on Tower Road, just east of Maple City. Cyclists will mount a hill with a steep incline of 21 percent. Plan to arrive there by at least 3:10 p.m.
“It’s a chance for spectators to see the riders struggling and working, and it’s a very strategic point of the race. That’s where all the professionals let it all hang out and start working over everybody else,” Brown said.
Other good spots for race watching include the small villages of Leelanau County where the first three riders across the sprint line will win cash prizes: Empire (men only), Glen Arbor, Maple City, Cedar, Lake Leelanau, Suttons Bay and Northport.
The men’s race is 109.5 miles long and kicks off at 1:00 PM in the quaint fishing village of Leland, while the women’s race will start from Glen Arbor as soon as the men sprint into town. They’ll run down by the waterfront of The Homestead resort (approximately anytime between 2:35 and 2:50 p.m. Heading in the opposite direction, the women’s 69.5-mile course showcases an early sprint for the Glen Arbor crowd. Mackenzie Woodring won the women’s division for the first two years: “This year, we’ve got a lot more competition for her. If she does win, she’ll definitely earn it,” Brown said.
The Tour de Leelanau is really a race within a race. There are two cash prizes of $8,000 each for the men and women’s races. Another $4,000 is distributed among the three men and three women who win or place second and third in the sprint and hill competitions.
The fun continues at the end of the race—about 5:30 p.m. at the Eagle Ridge Convention Center in Peshawbestown, just north of Suttons Bay (the Leelanau Sands Casino is a major sponsor).
Cyclists are a friendly bunch and enjoy chatting with the public, McLain said.
“The coolest thing is—unlike trying to watch a pro baseball or football game where you’re never allowed to walk on the field—you can walk right up to the cyclists. They’re very approachable, they like to sign autographs. You can do that on the finish line as well as the starting line,” McLain said.
For the first year, there will be an Expo at the end of the race—several bike manufacturers are planning to be there with
advice and their latest gear, as well as Priority Health, the event’s main sponsor.

Leelanau Harvest Tour
Sunday, September 16
The Harvest Tour is one of the most popular rides of the Grand Traverse region. Organized by the Cherry Capital Cycling Club, last year’s event drew a whopping 950 cyclists. This year, organizer Emily Taphouse expects more than 1,000.
What’s all the fuss about? Well, the ride is well organized and the routes are unbelievably beautiful. No matter what distance you choose (distances are 25, 45, 67, and 100 miles), the rides have it all: stunning views, lakes for a side dip, rest stops with delicious specialties from local restaurants, and the challenge and reward of Inspiration Point, a legendary hill with a view that will blow you away.
Registration is $35 per person and $65 for families on the day of the ride. Registration begins at 7 a.m. And it’s cheaper if you register early. Proceeds from the event will benefit the TART trails. Last year, the ride netted $10,000.

If you’re planning to ride the
Leelanau Harvest Tour, consider camping Saturday night on the grounds of Glen Arbor schools, where the ride begins the next morning. It’s free and a great chance to meet
fellow cyclists. For more information about the ride, Google “Leelanau Harvest Tour.”