THANK YOU to the almost 350 riders who joined us on Saturday, September 24th for our 3rd annual Tour de Ville ride. THANK YOU to all our many sponsors who make this possible and enable us to donate so much to local charities. We will take a few months rest now, but then start planning for the 2017 event.
Thank you to everyone who joined us last year for our 2nd Annual Northville Rotary Club Tour de Ville. Registration is now open for our 3rd annual event on Saturday, September 24th, 2016.
***** NEW THIS YEAR - A 13.1 mile mountain bike from Northville to Maybury State Park *****
The Northville Rotary Club has been serving the community and promoting harmony and goodwill throughout the world for ninety years. The 3rd annual “2016Tour de Ville BikeRide”, starting and ending in Northville is our major fund raising event for the year and in our first two years we attracted over 900 riders and raised over $30K for charities and causes such as the Rotary International Foundation, Kids Against Hunger, local scholarships, student exchange programs, Little Free Libraries, Shelter Box, Life Remodeled and local food banks.
About the 2016 Tour de Ville:
The Tour de Ville bike ride is a family oriented event and not a race, with all routes beginning and ending in Historic Northville, Michigan at The Village Workshop. Our routes include a 10, 30 or 40 mile ride that travels exclusively along the historic Edward Hines Drive. We also have a 75 mile loop for the seasoned riders that also starts in Northville and travels to Grosse Ile Island and returns. Finally, this year we will add a 13.1 mile mountain bike from Northville to Maybury State Park.
This fully supported ride includes:
Registration as early as 7:00am
A light breakfast
A tote bag with various coupons/swag
An event T-shirt highlighting our sponsors
Beverage and snack tents and bathrooms in-route
One entry for each registered rider into a drawing for one of seven prizes - four $250 D&D Bike Vouchers and three Thule Criterium Roof Racks (You do not need to be present to win)
A hearty lunch when you return to Northville
Please join us on this fun and healthy ride through our historical areas and support our local communities – click on the Register page to sign up now.
The Northville Rotary club was founded 90 years ago and we are part of a worldwide organization of 1.2 million people who come together to create positive, lasting change in our communities and around the world.
How do we work?
Our impact starts with our members—people who work tirelessly with their clubs to solve some of our communities' toughest challenges. Their efforts are supported by Rotary International, our member association, and The Rotary Foundation, which turns generous donations into grants that fund the work of our members and partners around the world. Rotary is led by our members—responsible leaders who help to carry forward our organization's mission and values in their elected roles
Our Structure
Rotary is made up of three parts: at the heart of Rotary are our clubs, that are supported by Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation.
Rotary clubs bring together dedicated individuals to exchange ideas, build relationships, and take action.
Rotary International supports Rotary clubs worldwide by coordinating global programs, campaigns, and initiatives.
The Rotary Foundation uses generous donations to fund projects by Rotarians and our partners in communities around the world. As a nonprofit, all of the Foundation's funding comes from voluntary contributions made by Rotarians and friends who share our vision of a better world.
Rotary International Partners
When Rotary partners with other organizations, we multiply the impact made by either group on their own. We call this “the Rotary effect.” From local food banks to global humanitarian organizations, we work with a wide variety of partners, including:
Tour de Ville is a bicycle tour and not a race. No timing equipment will be available. No rider times will be recorded or provided.
NEW THIS YEAR - All routes start and end at The Village Workshop at 455 E. Cady Street, Northville, MI 48167and proceed south on Hines Drive. Rider registration, clothing purchases, sponsor displays and pre-registered rider packet pickup will be located inside The Village Workshop building.
Riders may start their chosen route any time after the course opens up (7:30am) but we're setting maximum start and finish times for each route to ensure your enjoyment and safety. The Tour de Ville lunch will be served between 11:00am and 2:00pm in the TdV registration area and your wrist band will be your lunch ticket.
Registration the day of the ride opens at 7:00am, Saturday, September 24, 2016. The Tour de Ville course opens at 7:30am and closes at 2:00pm. All riders are highly encouraged to start riding their route before the recommended start time and finish before the recommended stop time.
13.1 Mile Maybury Mountain Bike Route Maximum Start and Stop Times: 8:30am - 1:30pm
10 Mile Route Maximum Start and Stop Times: 10:30am - 1:30pm 30 Mile Route Maximum Start and Stop Times: 9:30am - 1:30pm 40 Mile Route Maximum Start and Stop Times: 8:30am - 1:30pm 75 Mile Route Maximum Start and Stop Times: 7:30am - 1:30pm
Safety, Decorum and Rules Every year, the communities along Hines Drive and throughout the down-river communities share their roads and parks with bicycle riders. Although Hines Drive is well-known for it’s wide bike lanes on either side of the roadway, riders need to be aware of the cars and traffic on the roads in both directions to ensure safety and to be respectful of guests in these local communities. The mark of a safe and effective cyclist is to show respect for and awareness of the surroundings, including weather, road conditions, and others using the road. We request all TdV riders follow these basic guidelines: Carry your own personal identification and emergency contact information while riding. You must wear an approved and properly-fitted helmet and buckle the chinstrap whenever you're on the bike. Obey all traffic laws and stop at all stop signs. Like motorists, you can and will be ticketed if you fail to obey traffic laws. Always ride with the traffic and never ride more than two abreast. Ride as far to the right of the road as safe to do so. Move right and ride single-file when cars or other cyclists are behind you and need room to pass. Use appropriate hand and verbal signals when passing, turning or stopping to let motorists and other cyclists know what you're going to do. When coming up on slower riders, always alert them when you are pass. Pass on the left and never pass on the right. If you don't alert them, a startled rider may crash and take you with them. Make sure intersections are clear before crossing. No cell phone calls, headphones or text messages are allowed while riding. Pull over and stop if you have to take a call or to read/send a text. If you have to stop for anything, be sure move yourself and your bike completely off the pavement. If you don't, other riders behind you will be forced out into traffic to get around you. Rearview mirrors are recommended. Always carry your wrappers and garbage with you. "Take only pictures. leave only footprints". There will be plenty of places to off-load your refuse along the bike route.
"RIDE OR SHINE" The Tour de Ville ride will go on, rain or shine. Hines Drive in fact, is part of the riverbed for the Middle Rouge River. When there's a heavy rain, the Rouge will swell its banks and wash over sections of Hines Drive. If Wayne County Roads closes Hines Drive because of flooding, the 30 mile, 40 mile and 75 mile courses will be re-routed along Ann Arbor Trail and Outer Drive, both of which run along higher ground that parallels Hines Drive. Decisions about any other inclement weather affecting the ride will be made the evening before and on the day of the ride.
For returning sponsors, we really appreciate your past level of support of the Tour de Ville. This event and the charities we support would not be possible without your generous contributions. For new sponsors, welcome to our site. Please read below for some good reasons to sponsor our event, as well as a description of our Tour de Ville marketing campaign and sponsor benefits.
Why sponsor the 2016 Tour de Ville?
1. Support/engage in the community where you do business and learn about Rotary
2. Advertise your brand/business within the local community/region via our event marketing campaign (Please see the chart on the “Sponsors Application” for the levels of advertising associated with each level of sponsorship)
3. Recognize a work team, associate, customer or supplier with one of your free rider registrations or event T-shirts
Event marketing details:
1. The event is promoted in the Michigan 2016 Ride Calendar – an annual publication
2. The event is also marketed via Facebook and on the Tour de Ville website where registration is now available for all riders
3. The event will be featured in local newspaper and newsletter articles
4. Presenting, Gold and Silver sponsors will be featured on event Cycle Jerseys, Posters and tri-fold brochures that will circulate months in advance of the event. You can also display your brand via banners on the day of the event. All qualifying sponsors will have their logo featured on the event T-shirt
Sponsorship Levels and Benefits
The sponsor levels, benefits, and brand (logo) exposure associated with the various levels of sponsor support may be found on the “Sponsors Application” attached below. Briefly, as a sponsor, and depending on your level of support, the benefits include:
1. Your logo may appear on the Cycling Jersey, Event T-shirt, event website and promo materials (see Sponsors’ Application for details)
2. Free cycling jersey(s) ($70 value each)
3. Free rider registration(s) ($40 value each)
4. Free extra event T-shirts ($12 value each)
5. Opportunity to set up an info table/booth on the day of the ride if beneficial for your business
Marketing/Advertising Expense
We recommend that you treat your support as a Marketing/Advertising expense for accounting purposes.
Sponsor’s Application
Finally, please complete the “Sponsors Application” found below and return it to the Northville Rotary Club as explained on the application.
Note: In-kind and rest stop sponsors
Please refer to the “Sponsors Application” for a list of in-kind support you can provide. If you are an in-kind sponsor, please fill out the application and estimate the value of the contribution on the “in-kind” template. For those wanting to sponsor a “rest stop”, you will need to provide the following:
Workers (Manning) for the rest stop for 4-5 hours (2-3 people will probably be adequate)
1-2 folding canopy tents
Folding tables
Folding chairs for the workers
Bulk water or sports drink (we can supply drink totes for dispensing)
Energy snack foods (energy bars, peanut butter crackers, etc)
The cost of the ride will be $40, if you sign up in advance (Prior to Midnight on Thursday, September 22nd), or $55 on the day of the event. Children 12 and under will pay $10, but will not receive a t-shirt or tote bag.
NEW THIS YEAR - We really want to encourage more families to join us, so if you have at least two adults and one, or more children, EACH PERSON will get a $5 discount (Use the code FAMILY when pre-registering each rider on-line). If you register on site Saturday, Adults will pay the full rate of $55 and children under 12 will cycle free.
What should I do to prepare for the ride?
Cyclists can minimize potential problems by having themselves, their bikes and their tires in good condition for this ride. You must wear a helmet. Highly recommended accessories to take with you would be a pump, a patch kit, an extra tube, on-the-road tools, a light jacket, sunscreen, and extra water bottles. You should know how to fix a flat tire and how to do your own minor repairs. It's very important your tires are correctly inflated before you start the ride. Recommended tire inflation pressures should be stamped somewhere on the side of the tire. A tire that hasn't been fully inflated in the last 24-48 hours could easily loose enough pressure to puncture on the next bump or hole. Although the 30 mile, 40 mile and 75 mile routes can be used as a "stretch goal" for riders wishing to up their level of riding, it's important that those "stretch" riders have confidently ridden at least 75% of that new distance in the weeks shortly before this ride.
Parking?
Cady Street will be closed in front of The Village Workshop during the ride due to pedestrian and bike traffic. With construction on I- 275 and 6 Mile Roads, we recommend the following routes.
From the NORTH - From 8 Mile Road, take Griswold Street South to E. Cady Street and turn right. Follow marshallers to parking area.
From the SOUTH - From M14, take Sheldon Road North to E. Cady Street and turn right. Follow marshallers to parking area.
What time can I check in?
Registration opens at 7:00a.m. The TdV course will open at 7:30a.m. Each route will have a maximum start time and stop time to ensure riders have an enjoyable, un-rushed ride and return with enough time to enjoy a leisurely lunch. A rider may start their route any time after the course opens up, but please keep in mind that with a late start, you may miss lunch!
Help needed with bike maintenance on site and/or free safety checking of bike racks?
Two of our sponsors D&D Bicycles and Thule will be providing free maintenance checks on site. D&D will be providing on-site bicycle maintenance and Thule will provide free car rack safety checks on ANY brand of bike racks and offers repairs, adjustments or advice. These safety inspections after the ride have been greatly appreciated by riders who obviously want to protect their valuable bike and vehicles.
Will there be support along the way?
Yes, there will be rest stops on the routes. SAG (Support And Gear) vehicles will circulate along each route. Also we will have three Segway vehicles circulating the road routes.
What do I do in case of an emergency?
In case of an emergency, call 911. Any other problem, wait for the SAG wagon or Segway Vehicle.
How about fuel for myself?
No worries! We'll feed you breakfast before you start and a big lunch when you finish. On site, you'll receive a wrist band in your registration packet that is your admission ticket to the lunch line. You can pre-order extra lunches and t-shirts for yourself or those family members on the website registration form. We'll also have snacks, energy foods, water coolers for you to refill your drink bottles at the rest stops along the way.
Who benefits from the tour?
Tour de Ville is a 100%, non-profit benefit bicycle ride. Proceeds will go towards The Rotary Foundation (e.g. world eradication of polio, clean water projects in third world countries...) and the Rotary Club of Northville (e.g. local charities, scholarships, local exchange student programs, city beautification, Little Free Libraries, Life Remodeled...). Part of the proceeds will also benefit Kids Against Hunger events, which allow Northville and Detroit students to work side-by-side packaging meals for hungry people locally and around the world.
What if it's rainy or cooler on the day of the ride?
One staffer coined an appropriate spoonerism response: the Tour de Ville will go on, "RIDE OR SHINE" (aka rain or shine)! Read your favorite weather forecast the night before and plan accordingly. In the case of cooler weather, be sure to dress in layers so you can remove and stow a layer as you warm up. As the saying goes "It's better to have the clothes and take them off, than to not have the clothes and be cold all day". While riding, watch yourself and remove a layer when you get warm. You can easily overheat with too many layers and the results can be at the least, uncomfortable. Be sure to pull over and stop when removing a layer, otherwise it may be awkward explaining things to the EMT who is cutting your shirt off your head so he can put you in his ambulance.
Swag?
Pre-registered riders (Other than children 12 and under) will find a selection of "sponsor swag" to put in their tote bags, which you pick up on-site on the day of the cycle. You may even be lucky enough to receive additional "Sponsor swag" like a gift card, that we will be randomly handing out at the event. Walk-in registrations on the day of the ride may also receive tote bags, if there are extras. If available, we'll have extra Tour de Ville t-shirts ($12.00) for sale the day of the ride. Additional swag may be scored in the Sponsor booths within the TdV Expo Area inside The Village Workshop building.
Children on the Ride?
We truly hope you will make this a family outing and bring along your children. All children on the ride must wear helmets and be accompanied by an adult!Children12 and underare allowed on the 10 Mile course. The cost for children 12 and under will be $10 which will include the ride and food (but no t-shirt or tote bag). Children 13 and older are also allowed on the 30 Mile or 40 mile course and the Maybury State Park Mountain Bike course.
PLEASE NOTE ON-LINE REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED. PLEASE REGISTER ON-SITE SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24th.
The cost of the ride will be $40, if you sign up in advance (Prior to Midnight on Thursday, September 22nd), or $55 on the day of the event. Children 12 and under will pay $10, but will not receive a t-shirt or tote bag.
NEW THIS YEAR - We really want to encourage more families to join us, so if you have at least two adults and one, or more children, EACH PERSON will get a $5 discount (Use the code FAMILY when pre-registering each rider on-line). If you register on site Saturday, Adults will pay the full rate of $55 and children under 12 will cycle free.
Perfect for a family outing or a novice/weekend rider, this roundtrip ride departs from Downtown Northville and proceeds to a turnaround 5 miles east along the Historic Edward Hines Drive. A rest stop/ beverage and snack tent will mark your turnaround location. This ride should take approximately 90 minutes at an easy pace including stops
Cruise through the western suburbs of Detroit along beautiful Hines Drive, a 17-mile long road that follows the path of the Rouge River from Northville to Dearborn. Prior to European settlement of the area, the Rouge served as the “road” through this country for local Indian tribes and for French and English trappers. Later, the river was a pathway for escaped slaves on their way to Canada along the Underground Railroad. Hines Drive was built in 1949 with land donated by Henry Ford and was named after Edward Hines, head of the Wayne County Road Commission. Along the way there are a number of historic mills, some of which Henry Ford used to make automobile parts. In addition to mills, Hines Drive is lined with baseball and soccer fields, hiking and biking paths, fishing docks, and picnic areas. Exploring the cities of Dearborn, Plymouth, and Northville is an added bonus when traveling this multi-faceted parkway.
Perfect for a more seasoned rider, this roundtrip ride from Downtown Northville to a turnaround 15 miles out along the Historic Edward Hines Drive will take you past Plymouth and through Livonia, Westland and parts of Dearborn Heights. A rest stop/beverage and snack tent will be located at Parr Recreational. This ride should take approximately 2-3 hours at a moderate pace including stops
Cruise through the western suburbs of Detroit along beautiful Hines Drive, a 17-mile long road that follows the path of the Rouge River from Northville to Dearborn. Prior to European settlement of the area, the Rouge served as the “road” through this country for local Indian tribes and for French and English trappers. Later, the river was a pathway for escaped slaves on their way to Canada along the Underground Railroad. Hines Drive was built in 1949 with land donated by Henry Ford and was named after Edward Hines, head of the Wayne County Road Commission. Along the way there are a number of historic mills, some of which Henry Ford used to make automobile parts. In addition to mills, Hines Drive is lined with baseball and soccer fields, hiking and biking paths, fishing docks, and picnic areas. Exploring the cities of Dearborn, Plymouth, and Northville is an added bonus when traveling this multi-faceted parkway.
Perfect for a more seasoned rider, this roundtrip ride from Downtown Northville is similar to the “Escape” but takes you to the end of Edward Hines Drive and onward to the Campus of the University of Michigan-Dearborn. Most of this ride will follow the Historic Edward Hines Park Drive and the Rouge River Gateway Trail. Feel free to explore the campus on your own before returning back to Northville. The Ford Estate is currently closed for renovations, but check back next year for the current status. You can use the Parr Recreation and Plymouth Riverside rest stops on your outward and inward journeys. This ride should take approximately 3-4 hours at a moderate pace including stops.
From 1915 to 1950, Clara and Henry Ford called Dearborn, Michigan home, staying in their beloved residence known as Fair Lane. Upon Clara’s death, Fair Lane was given to Ford Motor Company, and in 1957 Ford donated the estate and the farmlands to the University of Michigan for construction of the Dearborn campus. In 1966, it was among the first in the nation to receive the prestigious designation as a National Historic Landmark from the National Register of Historic Places. In June 2013, ownership of the Estate transferred from the University to the Henry Ford Estate, Inc., a new 501c3 corporation that will now restore, reimagine and reopen the Estate.
Perfect for the serious/competitive rider, this roundtrip ride from Downtown Northville to Grosse Ile will follow the Historic Edward Hines Park Drive to Outer Drive. There you will take Outer Drive through Dearborn and proceed to Fort Street where you will make the turn heading south to Grosse Ile. You can use the Parr Recreational rest stop on your outward and inward journeys as well as another rest stop located at Grosse Ile Airport (On Groh Road) hosted by the Grosse Ile Rotary Club. This ride should take approximately 5-6 hours at a moderate pace including stops
Grosse Ile is the largest island in the Detroit River and is the second most populated island in the state of Michigan, after Copper Island. The island has a population of 10,894. The name comes from the French translation for Large Island. The island was first given to the early French explorers by the Potawatomi in 1776. The Potawatomi referred to the island as Kitcheminishen. Brothers William and Alexander Macomb were the first European owners of the island. The island is bordered on the west by the Trenton Channel and is connected to mainland Michigan by the Wayne County Bridge in the middle of the island and the Grosse Ile Toll Bridge on the northern end. The island itself is divided by two canals. The Thorofare Canal cuts diagonally across the middle of the island. Another unnamed and un-navigable canal cuts through the northern portion of the island. The area north of this canal to the northern point of the island, known as Hennepin Point (after Louis Hennepin), is undeveloped and houses a historic lighthouse. The Grosse Ile Municipal Airport occupies the southernmost area of Grosse Ile. Grosse Ile is also the center of the Detroit River International Wildlife
This ride is intended for those mountain bikers who like to live on the “edge” and enjoy the adventure of riding on tree lined trails through hilly topography. The Trail ride is approximately 5 miles long and the round trip to Northville on paved roads is approximately 3 miles. Repeat the trail twice and you have your approximate “13.1 mile” ride. This ride should take approximately 2 hours at a moderate pace including stops. A SAG tent will be available at the trail head.
A Map will be provided when you arrive at The Village Workshop to sign in.
About Maybury State Park
Many Michigan state parks exist on land that was formerly a homestead or other site of historic interest, but none have a history like Maybury State Park located in Wayne County Michigan.
In 1919, the land now known as Maybury State Park held a tuberculosis sanitarium. Originally called the Detroit Municipal Tuberculosis Sanitarium, the facility was later named for William H. Maybury who spearheaded its development and actually oversaw its construction. The sanitarium was a city within itself consisting of around 40 buildings and could generate power and grow most of its own food. It served as a quarantine and recovery center for people with tuberculosis. At that time, there was no cure for tuberculosis until many years later when the development of antibiotics brought real help to people with the disease. The sanitarium was closed in 1969 when there was no longer a need for it. Most of the buildings had been torn down by 1975 when the State of Michigan Department of natural resources (MDNR) stepped in and the land became known as Maybury State Park.
