20th Annual Kalamazoo Scenic Bicycle Tour

 

A Ride for Everyone, Sunday, July 8th, 2012

This year the KalTour will start and end at the Bronson Athletic Club. KalTour was designed by members of the Kalamazoo Bicycle Club as a ride to be enjoyed by everyone of all cycling abilities. Come out and enjoy a pleasant ride over the quiet country roads and the beautiful scenery of Kalamazoo and Van Buren Counties.

There are five ride options for you to choose from:
  • 13 mile escorted family ride
  • 15 miles
  • 31 miles (50 K)
  • 62 miles (100 K or metric century)
  • 100 miles (century)

Maps are provided for each route, and all routes are marked with color-coded arrows to indicate turns.

The shorter routes contain a pleasant mix of flat and gently rolling terrain. The family ride is a good choice for those who are riding with younger children since the guides make sure everyone stays together and that no one gets left behind! Both the 62 mile and the 100 mile routes visit the hilly landscape of Northern Kalamazoo and Van Buren Counties before tackling the 6th Street Hill. The century route also journeys to the gentle slopes of the grape and apple growing region near the village of Lawton in Eastern Van Buren County, one of the most beautiful cycling routes in Southwest Michigan. All of the rides meet for lunch at a common rest area.

Register

To register for the KalTour please follow this link

Details

This year the KalTour will start and end at the Bronson Athletic Club. The Bronson Athletic Club is located in "The Groves" look for the sign on the stone wall- at the South-West corner of the I-94/9th Street Interchange (Exit 72).
Exiting westbound I-94 turn left on 9th Street and turn right on Elm Valley Drive immediately after crossing the I-94 overpass.
Exiting eastbound I-94 turn right on 9th Street and immediately turn right on Elm Valley Drive.
From the north or south take US 131 to I-94 west.

Registration is open from 7:00 am to 11:00 am.
Century riders must start no later than 9:00 am.
Fast ride group (62 miles) leaves at 9:00 am.
Moderate pace ride group (31 miles) leaves at 9:30 am.
Family ride (an escorted 12 mile ride) leaves at 10:00 am.

Course closes at 4:00 pm.

Amenities- in years past

  • Beautiful rest stops with toilet facilities.
  • Plenty of sub sandwiches, cookies, and fruit
  • Radio equipped sag support vehicles in case of breakdowns
  • After-ride massage will be provided by students from the Center for the Healing Arts between noon and 4 pm.
  • Prize drawing for bicycling merchandise provided by local bicycle shops (open to preregistered riders only).

All riders must wear helmets.
All KalTour participants over the age of 18 will be required to sign a waiver of liability on the day of the ride.
Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult.