July 2025: Bike Party on Independence Day!
We've planned another Handlebar Happy Hour, Bubbles for Bike Lanes is riding to City Hall, our Summer Game badge is worth almost a half million points, and a rescheduled Bike Party rides on July 4!
Welcome to Wheelie Good News, published by the Bicycle Alliance of Washtenaw! Below, you’ll find a list of bike-related events throughout the month of July in Washtenaw County. Stay up to date with us on Instagram, Facebook, and Bluesky.
Volunteer with us! Meet us at HOMES Brewery on the last Wednesday of each month at 7pm, and check out our opportunities and events here.
News you can use:
Our next Handlebar Happy Hour will be at Lowertown on Wednesday, July 16, from 5-7pm!
Congratulations to the first 1,874 (and counting!) AADL Summer Game players who have earned our Summer Game badge. That’s worth 468,500 points! Be on the lookout for our mobile code, which we’ll have at events all summer long.
On the Wheelie Good podcast
Patria Vandermark quit her job to build her life around cycling. After 14 years at Seven Cycles, she cautions that once you ride on bespoke spokes, you might never go back.
John Roos has cooked all over the world. Now he's back home, biking and running RoosRoast, because "drinking coffee and biking go hand in hand, you know?"
Happening This Month
Monochromatic Bike Party — Rain Date | Fri, Jul 4 @ 7pm
Severe thunderstorms rained us out on June 27, so we're riding on Independence Day! (We might even work in some post-ride fireworks: Watch our socials for more details!)
Pleasant Lake Ride | Sat, Jul 5
Meet at Jolly Pumpkin in Dexter for a free, self-supported, mixed-terrain ride of 50K, 100K, or 100 miles. Registration is required for one of these distances, but you can switch when you arrive.
Bubbles for Bike Lanes goes to City Hall | Mon, Jul 7 @ 5:15pm
Ride your bubble machines from Bearclaw Coffee, along the always-exciting Stadium Road "bike lanes," and up to the Ann Arbor City Council meeting to showcase unsafe bike infrastructure and demand better! (And sign the Safety for Stadium petition!)
Destination Cyclery Gravel Ride | Thu, Jul 10 @ 6pm
Launch from the Destination shop for a 16-mile, no-drop cruise around the back dirt roads of Dexter and ending with drinks and live music on the Erratic Ale patio.
MiSCA Adventure Challenge | Sat, Jul 12 @ 9am-1pm
Start in the Brighton Rec Area for a timed event for teams of four, who are “challenged” is to find as many control points as possible within the one- or two-hour time limit. Disciplines include mountain biking, trekking, and navigation!
One Helluva Ride | Sat, Jul 12
Meet at the Chelsea Community Fairgrounds for a day of scenic bicycle touring over paved and gravel roads in Washtenaw, Ingham, Jackson, and Livingston Counties. The routes range from 21 to 101 miles and appeal to a broad range of bicyclists.
Meet Me in Manchester | Jul 18-20
Lugs Not Drugs and Aberdeen Bike present their third annual adventure ride and campout, featuring four route options with punchy climbs, subtly smooth dirt roads, ATB-style cut-throughs, quaint coffee shops, bustling breweries, and more!
Wish-A-Mile Bicycle Tour | Jul 25-27
Based in Marshall, Make-A-Wish Michigan's largest fundraising event helps cyclists make dreams come true for brave children facing critical illnesses. Choose your route: 100-, 200-, and 300-mile options are available.
Ugly Dog Gravel Triathlon | Sat, Jul 26
Sponsored by Chelsea’s Ugly Dog Distillery, one of the country’s ten best sprint triathlons combines swimming, gravel biking, and trail running in Big Portage Lake State Park.
The Watermoo | Sat, Aug 9
Ride the annual 111-mile road race on mostly gravel throughout the farmlands of southeastern Michigan. The route will start and end at The Jolly Pumpkin in Dexter.
One Day Ride Across Michigan (ODRAM) | Sat, Aug 9
Follow the traditional 150-mile ODRAM route from Rothbury to Bay City, with medals, three meals, and two refreshment stations (but no SAG support). Proceeds will benefit the Breakthrough T1D™ Ride Program.
On the Regular
Meetings
Urbanism Happy Hour — 4th Thursday of the month, 5:30-7pm
Advocate for affordable housing, bikeable streets, and improved public transit.
Common Cycle Steering Committee — 3rd Sunday of the month, 4-5:30pm
All are welcome to discuss a variety of organization business.
Walk Bike Washtenaw — 2nd Wednesday of the month, 6:30-8:30pm
All who want to make the county safer for pedestrians and cyclists are welcome!
Repairs and Volunteer Opportunities
Ypsi Bike Coop Repair Booth — Saturdays, 9am-1pm.
Check for locations at Ypsi Farmers Market and Pull Over Prevention
Common Cycle Community Workspace — Sundays, 11am-3pm.
Volunteers at Common Cycle will help repair your bike.
Bike Park Work Days — Sundays, 10am-noon
Volunteer for trail maintenance work at Tuebingen and Bandemer Bike Parks.
Rides and Races
In addition to Ann Arbor Bike Party on the last Friday of each (warm) month, there are regular rides for all surfaces, lengths, and skill levels. Check the calendars below!
Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring Society
Ann Arbor Velo Club
City of Ann Arbor
Common Cycle
Find A Race — Michigan
League of Michigan Bicyclists
Michigan Bicycle Law
Michigan Bicycle Racing Association
Mountain Bike Michigan
Wheels In Motion
Ypsi Real
Thanks for subscribing, and feedback is always welcome. Here’s to a beautiful month on the streets, paths, trails, and jumps all over Washtenaw County!
The Bicycle Alliance of Washtenaw
