5th Annual Bulldog Bike Tour
Homecoming Weekend! Sat. October 3, 2020
Register HERE!
Bike Tour to raise money for student scholarships
Entirely volunteer event
Routes are on paved roads
Route options are 25 or 54 miles, or White Pine Trail
Tour Details
• Well-marked roads on all routes
• Detailed route maps provided
• Roving SAG support for emergencies
• Food stops with toilet facilities
• Post ride lunch
• Bike techs available morning of tour
Entirely volunteer event
Routes are on paved roads
Route options are 25 or 54 miles, or White Pine Trail
Tour Details
• Well-marked roads on all routes
• Detailed route maps provided
• Roving SAG support for emergencies
• Food stops with toilet facilities
• Post ride lunch
• Bike techs available morning of tour
Tour Overview
The Bulldog Bike Tour is a great biking adventure for both families, single riders, and group riders to enjoy the wonderful scenery of rural Mecosta County while helping to support student scholarships. Leaving the Ferris State University (FSU) campus, all routes wind throughout beautiful Mecosta County on excellent paved roads passing by farms, scenic lakes, and through quaint villages. The first few miles all routes feature the paved White Pine Trail, northern Michigan’s premier rails-to-trail. The scenic terrain varies from flat to rolling with a few challenging hills on the longer routes. So come, ride, relax, and enjoy all that this area has to offer.
The tour happens due to dedicated volunteers, we do not personally take anything from your registration fee. Half your fee goes immediately into the scholarship fund. The other half goes to directly related tour expenses such as SAG, route maps, t shirt and food.
Scholarship Challenge Grant: If we raise $12,500 by June 30, 2023 the Ferris Foundation will DOUBLE our funds and we will create a $25,000 Endowment! We are presently at $8,082.85. We can do it!
See the Ferris Futures Scholarship Challenge information below:
www.ferris.edu/giving/ferrisfutures/
Three Routes
The road routes offered are 25 or 54 miles, and suggested for those experienced in road riding. Routes are reviewed with the Mecosta County Road Commission and are published on ridewithgps.com. The web page will have links to the specific route maps showing roads (all paved), maps, elevation profiles, and selected areas of interest. Riders will also be given an overview map along with turn by turn directions for their route. In addition all turns are marked on the road so ideally you won’t even need the map!
The White Pine Trail option is a paved rail trail for bicycles that is flat with no vehicles. Riders can go to Paris and return (12 miles) or the Reed City Depot and return (25 miles).
Bulldog 25 - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/18825127
Bulldog 54 - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/18827877
Bulldog White Pine Trail - 12 or 25 Miles - http://www.whitepinetrail.com/map
Fees
Your registration fee includes lunch following the ride, event T-shirt, SAG Support, food stops with high energy snacks and drinks. Half the fee is a charitable contribution and goes directly into the scholarship account. The other half covers direct tour expenses such as event T-shirt, post ride meal, food for SAG stops, road paint, copies and printing of maps. We are an all volunteer team (time, money, and gas), and do so out of our commitment to the event.
Registration Fee: (per individual)
- January 2020: $30 (ending midnight Jan. 31)
- Feb. & March 2020: $40 (ending midnight March 31)
- April & May 2020: $50 (ending midnight May 31)
- June, July, and August 2019: $60 (ending midnight Aug 31)
- Sept 1st to day of the ride: $75 (cannot guarantee meal or T-shirt after Sept 22)
Save $$$ by registering early! This also helps us greatly with planning operations.
• Online registration closes at midnight Sept 22, 2020.
• Day of ride registration is available.
Ferris State Bulldogs Cycling Jersey is now available for $75.00. These jerseys are custom made by Louis Garneau and top quality. To order a jersey follow the link on Bike Reg www.bikereg.com/bulldog-bike-tour The jersey runs small so we’d suggest sizing up one from your usual fit.
Tour Details:
• Well-marked roads on all routes.
• Detailed route maps provided.
• Roving SAG support for emergencies.
• HAM Radio support for participant safety.
• Food stops with toilet facilities.
• Post ride lunch.
• Bike techs available morning of tour for last minute help at reasonable rates.
Tour Food Stops:
Great food on all routes. Rest stops on longer routes are spaced 20-30 miles apart, most with a scenic view. Each rest stop has toilet facilities.
Post Ride Lunch:
Lunch will be served from 11:00 to 2:00 pm. The lunch is included in the ride fee for riders registering by Sept 22nd. Lunch is not guaranteed for riders registering Sept 22nd or later.
Packet Pick Up:
Packet pick-up available the morning of the ride at 8:00 am. Day of ride registration also available at this time. Both will be held at the FSU Granger Center. Granger Center which is located at 605 S. Warren Ave, Big Rapids MI 49307. See "Start/Finish Location" below for a map link.
Safety:
• All riders must wear helmets.
• Riders are to obey all traffic rules and laws and to ride in a courteous and safe manner. Michigan law requires cyclists to ride as near to the right as practicable and no more than two abreast.
• Children 15 and under must be accompanied by a cycling adult.
• Have your bike in good working order and bring appropriate tubes and tools for minor repairs.
Please Note:
• All routes start at 8:15 am, wheels rolling 8:30 am.
• Lunch service ends at 2:00 pm. and SAG support ends on all routes at 2:00 pm, so plan your ride time appropriately.
• Parents or guardians must sign release for riders aged 17 or under.
• Your wristband is your admission to food stops, the lunch, and for SAG service.
• This is a rain or shine tour, so no refunds.
Start/Finish Location:
All routes start and finish at the FSU Granger Center (GRN). Click here for a map to the Granger Building. The street address is 605 S. Warren Avenue, Big Rapids MI 49307
Additional Information:
By email: Contact Kelly Seitter at “seitterk@ferris.edu”.
By phone: Call Kelly at (231) 591-2659 for any additional information.
For information on hotels, motels, camping, and area attractions, please search these links:
Mecosta County, Michigan
Mecosta County Parks
Big Rapids Michigan
PureMichigan
Helpful Links:
Ferris State University web page
Ferris State Alumni Association
League of Michigan Bicyclists
All proceeds support student scholarships.