04-20-2008 | Bike Ride for Reflection, Peace, and our Earth
All Detroit Bikes! enthusiasts are welcome to attend St. Suzanne/Our Lady Gate of Heaven Church services prior to the event (9AM-10:30AM Sunday), and mass will be followed by a slower paced, non-traditional Detroit Bikes! bike tour of Rouge Park, Hines Drive, and Fairlane Estate. The goal of the event is to peacefully bring hope, promise, and respect to our Earth and all those who dwell on it. Tour will start @ 11:45am APPROXIMATELY. Bike, Bike Helmet, and lights or reflectors required! *Parking available in back lot behind church. **NOTE: RAIN DATE: TBD**
St. Suzanne's/Our Lady Gate of Heaven is a Catholic Church with many members of diverse backgrounds. Founded in 1946, the church has a extremely welcoming and close knit membership. The Church is located at the intersection of West Chicago and Westwood in Detroit. For a map, please use this weblink http://tiny.cc/ssUOa
The tentative tour description: Our group of cyclists will depart from the unique community center of St. Suzanne's/Our Lady Gate of Heaven Church, head west on West Chicago, and connect to the winding, bike friendly roads of Rouge Park. Our only tour destination for the event will be Fairlane Estate, a beautiful asset to the westside of Metro Detroit. About 20-30 minutes will be allocated to enjoy the exterior public gardens, the river dam, and natural setting of Henry Ford's Estate. Tour will end back at St. Suzanne's/Our Lady Gate of Heaven Church. **TOUR LENGTH MAY VARY UPON WEATHER CONDITIONS.**
NOTE: Rain Date: TBD
Duration of the Riverfront Ride: Maximum: Approximately 14 leisurely miles over 2.5 hours. (**MAY VARY UPON WEATHER CONDITIONS)
For a weblink to the proposed route
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1786598
Tour Guidelines
- Bike, bike helmet and signed liability waiver (at event location) are required!
- for complete list of our tour and event requirements and rules of the road please visit our homepage: http://www.detroitsynergy.org/projects/detroitbikes/
- beginners' level cycling speeds, we obey all traffic laws
- personal money optional for stops (i.e. bakery stop or eats afterward)
- Parking fees and availability vary. However free street parking is available in the area and there are several parking lots nearby. Parking is at owner's expense. Ride a bike!
- one bathroom break scheduled
- bike light and bike lock suggested, but not mandatory
- sunscreen and water bottles suggested
- eat a modest snack or breakfast before participating suggested
- children under age 16 not suggested to ride alone, parental guidance required.
- we want to keep everyone safe, and healthy. Please feel free to email, with any questions or concerns detroitbikes@detroitsynergy.org
Help make cycling a tradition by volunteering at these events!
We are looking for the following people for every tour that we organize. If you know you are going to participate, then why not volunteer?:
- Bike Mechanic Guru (amaze your friends, and impress your neighbors with your super-human skills of fixing a troubled bike) - always preferred. If there is a flat tire, or a dislocated chain, its your time to save the day.
- Tour Guide/Sweeper Squad (a seasoned pro of the urban street scape, or a intermediate level rider with the special skill of keeping the group together, on the route, safe, following all traffic laws, and informed of interesting facts on the tour.) - requires little more than participating in the event itself, and being a good example of proper city cycling.
- Liability and Legal Waiver Sage (ONLY FOR DETROIT BIKES! TOURS) (assist with waiver sign-in, and ease the minds of fellow organizers and volunteers) - if you already arrive early to events, all you have to do is sign a printed liability waiver form available from detroitbikes@detroitsynergy.org
If you'd like to help out with any of the activities, please send an email to detroitbikes@detroitsynergy.org, and let us know what special skill you would like to showcase the day of the tour.
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