First, a quick update from the Tour-de-Troit web site:

REGISTRATION WILL CLOSE ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 at 8:00 pm! If you would like to register in-person instead of on-line, we will have a booth at Blocktoberfest from 12-8:00 on the 22nd.

THERE WILL BE NO ON-SITE REGISTRATION FOR THE 2010 TOUR! Response to this year’s ride has been huge, and in order to be able to guarantee a safe and fun event for our riders, we will not be able to register anyone on site. To guarantee your spot in the 2010 tour, please register now!

If you want to volunteer, please try attending tonight’s volunteer meeting at the Boll Family YMCA. With the huge turnout, the Tour is going to need more volunteers than ever before.

Here is more information on tonight’s meeting or you can visit the Tour-de-Troit volunteer web page:

This year’s Volunteer meeting to discuss the 2010 ride and volunteer roles and responsibilities will be on Monday, September 20th at 7:00pm at the Boll Family YMCA.  The meeting should last less than one hour.

This event is considered mandatory for our volunteers; however, if you can’t join us at that time but still would like to volunteer, please contact us.  Also, please feel free to invite friends and family that may be interested to volunteer, as we could always use a couple extra helping hands!

Additionally, we will be having a registration packet assembly party at 7:00 pm on Tuesday the 21st — we will provide food & drink for this one (think beer and pizza) and we will be putting together 3000+ registration packets.  It should be a good time, and it is a great way to help out and still be able to ride on Saturday.  If you are interested in helping on the 21st, please email us at info@tour-de-troit.org or let us know at the meeting on Monday.

Here’s a link to the Boll Family Y, and metered street parking is free after 6:00pm.

Thanks again, and we look forward to seeing you on the 20th!

Cheers,

Your 2010 Tour de Troit Planning Team

The Mower Gang, a self-professed “greatest gang of idiots to ever run a lawn tractor” is spending this Friday at 10AM to clean up the Dorais Velodrome. The velodrome is northeast of E. Outer Drive and Mound Road in Detroit. You need to walk into the park in order to see the track itself.

Or just listen for the sound of mowers on Friday.

According to Tom Nardone, the gang’s founder:

This Friday, August 6th, a couple of friends and I (the first official members of the Mower Gang) are going to attempt to revive Detroit’s abandoned Velodrome (banked bicycle racing track). The track is really overgrown, and needs some work, but since no one has used it in years, It should be a great project for us.

In fact, at around 5PM, the Detroit Free Press will be there to shoot some video of people playing on the track. If anyone wants to show up it would look good for all of us. People would find out about the Mower Gang (http://www.mowergang.com) and it would be fun. When else are you going to get to run hot laps around a huge banked oval?

Their web site notes that anyone is welcomed to join in.

All you have to do is show up to any of our events and bring some type of grass annihilation machine with you.

New Trail: Midtown Loop

The official ground breaking ceremony for the Midtown Loop is scheduled for next Thursday, April 15th.

From WLNS:

Construction starts next week on the Midtown Greenway, which will begin as a route for pedestrians and bicyclists circling through Detroit’s Cultural Center area and Wayne State University’s campus.

It’s the first part of a four-phase project that by fall 2012 is expected to link the area with Eastern Market and the Detroit riverfront. Construction crews begin work Monday and an event to mark the start is Thursday.

University Cultural Center Association President Susan Mosey said the project will widen walkways to create more room for pedestrians and bicyclists, as well as add landscaping, bike racks, benches and small park areas.

The greenway is designed make the area, which includes the Detroit Institute of Arts, more friendly to pedestrians and bicyclists.

One thing to keep in mind is that this trail is not geared towards commuters or fast cyclists. It’s a trail for a relaxed, family and touristy rides.

New Bike Shop: Downtown Ferndale Bike Shop

There’s a new bike shop opening in town and there’s a official opening celebration tomorrow, April 9th at 2pm. The shop is located at 163 W. Nine Mile in Ferndale.

Volunteers needed: I-275 Metro Trail Cleanup

From the Detroit Free Press:

Volunteers are needed Saturday for spring cleaning on the I-275 bike path just east of Meadowbrook Road.

Friends of the I-275 Pathway plan to work from 9 a.m.-noon removing litter, trimming overgrown brush and shoveling mud from the path, said communications chair John Bailey, who is a WWJ-AM (950) radio traffic reporter.

Volunteers can park in the commercial parking lot at the northeast corner of Bridge Street and Meadowbrook, on the east side of Meadowbook just south of I-96. Bring flat shovels, rakes and other tools to scrape mud off pavement, he said.

For information, call 248-994-3074 anytime.

Donations sought: Beaumont Bike Day

From My Fox Detroit:

Kids riding on bikes is a sure sign of the season. But for special needs children, riding a bike seems like just a dream. But thanks to Children’s Miracle Network , that dream can come true.

They provide funding for Bike Day at Beaumont Children’s Hospital and you can help as well since these just aren’t any bikes. They’re custom made to suit each child.

FOX 2 and Gardner-White Furniture are asking you to support bike day. Every dollar you donate goes directly to the program allowing each bike to be provded for free. Drop by any Gardner-White Furniture location to make a donation. Or log on to www.beaumonthospitals.com/donate and select ‘Bike Day’ in the drop down to donate online.

The 44-mile long I-275 Bike Path is getting some love.

For the next two Saturdays, the Friends of the I-275 Bike Path are hosting trail cleanup days. The details are below.

If you ever ride on the I-275 Pathway, now is the time to pitch in and get it in shape for the spring & summer riding season! The Friends of the I-275 Pathway are organizing cleanup dates the next two weekends.

The first is Saturday, April 18th, from 9 a.m. to noon. We’ll be gathering on the west side of the Duo-gard parking lot in Canton Twp. at 40442 Koppernick (just east of Haggerty).

The second is the following Saturday, April 25th, same time. We’ll meet up at the rest area on northbound I-275 north of Michigan Ave.

Power tools are not permitted, so bring brooms, rakes, shovels, pruners, tree-loppers, or any kind of hand tool to trim trees, cut back brush and pick up litter. Wear long sleeves and pants. Water and a light snack will be provided. In case of rain, the workdays will be pushed back to the following Sunday.

If you have any questions contact Dave Duffield (248-994-3074, dduffield@lmb.org)

And as we mentioned earlier, this trail is receiving economic stimulus funding for some significant and much needed reconstruction. There’s $4 million to start with a possibility of getting another $5 million later.

Today Metromode ran an article with some additional details how what reconstruction will occur and where.

The Michigan Department of Transportation plans to spend about $4 million rebuilding portions of the hiking/biking path along I-275 in Plymouth and Canton townships. The improvements will include new signage for the trail and bringing it up to Americans with Disability Act standards.

The I-275 Bike Path has suffered a lot of wear and tear since it was built in the 1970s. Its 44 miles stretching between Northville and Frenchtown Township have watched erosion, decay and mother nature wreak havoc on the trail, making some parts impassable.

Someday this trail is going to be the fundamental piece of a 200-mile trail beltway encircling Metro Detroit. With funding and volunteer help, we can make this a reality.

From the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, Health, and Sports:

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm celebrates volunteers committed to promoting bicycling in the communities of Detroit, Grand Rapids and Lansing

The Hub/Back Alley Bikes in Detroit, The Motion Initiative in Grand Rapids, and MSU Bikes and Share a Bike in Lansing will host a Day of Action event on Saturday, September 27 from noon to 4 PM to encourage the donation of bikes and bike parts. The events, depending on location, will also offer free maintenance checks, bike safety training and other services and activities.

These organizations work tirelessly to collect, repair and distribute bikes in their communities. Participating residents can support their efforts, donate bikes, and learn more about biking and bike maintenance.

Here are some of the details for The Hub’s Saturday event:

• Clean out your garage and donate a bike or bike parts
• Donated bikes will go through safety checks and repairs, then be distributed to Detroit youth
• Bring in your own bike for safety repairs including fixing flat tires, chains or brakes
• Participate in on-bike safety activities to learn proper use of:
  • Hand signals
  • Helmets
  • Lights
  • Locks
• Put your training to the test with a group ride at 3 PM

Contact Jake VanDyke at 313.879.5073 for further details