Detroit Bikes Spring Training Ride III: A riding tour of past and present Detroit sports venues
Saturday, March 20, 2010 – 10am

On Saturday, March 20, Detroit Bikes! will host the Third Annual Spring Training ride. Given that the Detroit Tigers will soon begin their season, the Red Wings hopefully will begin hockey’s second season (playoffs), a sports theme ride is a no-brainer (no jokes, please). The Detroit Bikes! Spring Training Ride will cruise past current and past Detroit sports venues, including Tiger Stadium, Olympia Stadium, Recreation Park, and others. Wear something that represents your favorite Detroit team (professional, college, high school, etc.), such as a T-shirt, bandanna, whatever, and help us challenge Mother Nature to bring the warm weather on!

Cost: FREE!

Ride Starts: 10 AM sharp at the Millennium Bell, Grand Circus Park, downtown Detroit. Please arrive 10 minutes ahead.
Distance of ride: approximately 16 miles
Length: approximately three hours
Pace: Relaxed but steady pace
Needs: We need a rider to take photographs of our event! I’ll bring the digital camera. Also, we always need ride helpers to make sure no one gets left behind, assist with minor repairs, etc.
Additional: Helmets are required!

Dress: Show your Detroit sports pride by wearing your favorite Detroit team’s T-shirt, hat, bandanna, flag, socks, wristbands, whatever!

Route: Depending upon weather and road conditions, the exact route may be modified. From Grand Circus Park, the Spring Training Ride (STR) will skirt Comerica Park and Ford Field. The STR will head east on E. Lafayette to Helen Street, the former site of the Detroit Tigers’ ancestral home, Boulevard Park. The STR will then head west on the Riverwalk, stopping at Rivard Plaza and the Wheelhouse bicycle shop, continuing to Cobo Arena and the Joe Louis Arena! From the Joe, the riders will make a pilgrimage to the site of the Olympia Stadium on McGraw at Grand River. The STR will then wheel past the old Tiger Stadium site before stopping for food and beverages at an original sports bar and grill, Hoots on the Avenue at Michigan and Trumbull. The gracious owner, Kimberly DeRidder, has offered to open early just for us!! (www.HootsontheAve.com). The STR will then bike past the impressive athletic complex at Wayne State University, continuing to the Detroit Medical Center. We’ll pay a brief visit to the former Recreation Park, the long-forgotten home of the world champion Detroit Wolverines baseball team! The STR will then head back to Grand Circus Park.