This is one of KBC’s regular weekly rides. There are up to eight ride groups, from 12-13 mph, to 19-21 mph, on several routes, from 15 to 30 miles.

Prospective members and new riders are welcome! Please visit our website to familiarize yourself with rider expectations. If this is your first time riding with KBC in a group, please let your ride leader know that, and plan to arrive early.

Sponsor: Kalamazoo Bicycle Club

Event Website: https://www.kalamazoobicycleclub.org/rides/club-rides/

Primary Contact: Paul Wells; https://www.kalamazoobicycleclub.org/contact/

Let’s ride mountain bikes and eat gilled goodies! We’ll meet and introduce ourselves at six and ride shortly thereafter. ALL MOUNTAIN BIKERS ARE WELCOME. Bring your whip, a helmet and your stunning personality. We’ll have a great time on the trail and afterward eating a hot dog.

Sponsor: Pedal Bicycle

Cost/Fees: None

Primary Contact: Tim Krone; info@pedalbicycle.com; 269-324-3325

The group rides on the Kalamazoo River Valley Trail out and back to the start, 10 to 15 miles total. Afterwards those interested go for coffee. This is a casual recreational bike ride.

Sponsor: Larry Stehouwer, Kalamazoo County Parks

Event Website: https://www.kalcounty.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=1664

Cost/Fees: None

Contact: Larry Stehouwer

Enjoy WKZO’s Kalamazoo Mornings Radio Show with host Ken Lanphear, at 590 AM or 106.9 FM Kalamazoo, MI. Ken and his guest will highlight what’s happening during Kalamazoo Bike Week with a conversation that should interest everyone. The 4-5 interviews move fast, so be sure to tune in early.

Today’s guest: Isaac Green, Executive Director, Open Roads Bike Program & Kalamazoo Area Bike Week Chair

Sponsor: WKZO Radio, 590 AM - 106.9 FM

Event website: https://wkzo.com/shows/

Remember how you felt when you learned to ride a bike? How free it made you feel? Teaching kids how to ride (safely) is one of the most memorable things an adult can do.

Any time during Bike Week is a great time to do it!

This is a self-directed event. Check out these handy web sites for more information, including a video:

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/latest-news/how-to-teach-your-child-to-ride-a-bike-in-just-45-minutes-video-186586

https://www.bicycling.com/skills-tips/a20032688/never-make-these-7-mistakes-when-teaching-someone-to-ride/

The League of Michigan Bicyclists offers some great educational materials as well. Their booklet What Every Young Bicyclist Should Know, is at https://www.lmb.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/WEMBMK_YouthBook2019_Web.pdf

Bike Friendly Kalamazoo has an Education and Safety web page with handy resources for bicyclists of all ages at https://bikefriendlykalamazoo.org/education-safety/

Bicycling for basic transportation and exercise provide great ways to do many things at once. Have fun with this game of Bike Bingo during Bike Week and all of Bike Month!

Download your Bike Bingo cards here BFK's Bike Bingo Cards or make your own. Three different bingo cards will challenge and help educate riders of all ages and skills (from children to cyclists) and levels of participation in Bike Week and Bike Month activities. Here’s the fun part: you can share your bingo card progress with your photos and stories on Bike Week's Facebook Page

This idea brought to you courtesy of Bike Friendly Kalamazoo

Cost/Fees: Free

Comments: Comments: The game and social sharing run any time through Bike Week and Bike Month (all of May).

We kindly remind motorists and cyclists to follow the rules of the road — by doing so you are following the Golden Rule as well!

Greater Kalamazoo presents fantastic bicycling opportunities, and, at local museums, ways to learn about the history of bicycles. At the Kalamazoo Valley Museum, go on this bicycle scavenger hunt.  At the Gilmore Car Museum, there are two ahead-of-their-times bikes on display, Lee Iacocca's inspired 1999 eBike and Pierce-Arrow's shaft-drive, rear suspension "Cushion Frame".   

The Fall 2018 edition of MuseOn makes a great starting point for a self-guided tour and gives you the chance to read about two of our most dedicated local bike history buffs.

Times/Locations: See the Kalamazoo Valley Museum and Gilmore Car Museum web sites for visiting times on Sunday and throughout the week.

Sponsor:Bike Friendly Kalamazoo.

Bike Friendly Kalamazoo will be accumulating more information about the history of bicycling and displays of visit-worthy bicycles over time. Please share your ideas with us at bikeweek@bikefriendlykalamazoo.org.

Did you know that Mother’s Day always falls within Bike Week? There is no better time to treat your mother - or any fun-loving mother - to a bicycle ride than on Mother’s Day!

Bonus activities - Download our Bike Week Bingo card and share your memories with us on Facebook for even more fun.

Sponsor: You

Comments: Happy Mothers Day!

For more information, please contact: Your Imagination! :-)

Kalamazoo’s longtime Bike Show is evolving into Bikes in the Zoo, a bigger and better celebration of cycling, movement, and community—now in partnership with Downtown Kalamazoo Shops! The Kalamazoo Mall will be buzzing with activity, featuring vintage and unique bikes, e-bikes, live music, fitness activities, and more.

Attendees can explore a variety of bicycles, enjoy live performances curated by Sounds of the Zoo, and learn about sustainable transportation through bike and bus demonstrations. Local organizations will be on hand to promote fitness, dance, and outdoor activities. Plus, those feeling adventurous can even blend their own smoothie using a pedal-powered blender!

Cyclists with vintage, custom, or electric bikes are encouraged to participate and showcase their rides for free. Bikes in the Zoo isn’t just a bike show—it’s a celebration of movement, sustainability, and downtown Kalamazoo’s vibrant community. Don’t miss this exciting event!

Have cool bicycles, tricycles, e-bikes, or other bicycle-related gear to showcase? 

We're looking for people with cool or vintage bikes to display at the event! Sign up to bring your bikes and share them with bike enthusiasts from the Kalamazoo area! It's totally FREE to participate or attend the show!

Visit the event website to register!

Sponsor: City of Kalamazoo, Downtown Kalamazoo Shops, and Sounds of the Zoo

Event website: https://www.kalamazoocity.org/Community/Events-Meetings/Bikes-in-the-Zoo

Cost/Fees: Free

Contact: Nolan Bergstrom, Community Planner in the Community Planning and Economic Development Department at the City of Kalamazoo. bergstromn@kalamazoocity.org, 269-337-8045

Join Mayors David Anderson (Kalamazoo) and Patricia Randall (Portage) on a casual three mile bike ride through the Eliason Nature preserve, 150 acres of beautifully wooded landscape through the heart of south Portage.

Sponsor: City of Portage

Cost/Fees: Free

Contact: Pat McGinnis, Portage City Manager, mcginnip@portagemi.gov

Enjoy WKZO’s Morning Radio Show with host Ken Lanphear, at 590 AM or 106.9 FM Kalamazoo, MI. Ken and his guest will highlight what’s happening during Kalamazoo Bike Week with a conversation that should interest everyone. The 4-5 interviews move fast, so be sure to tune in early.

Today’s guests: Assistant to Portage City Manager Justin Williams and Kalamazoo City Communications Manager Mike Smith

Sponsor: WKZO Radio, 590 AM - 106.9 FM

Event website: https://wkzo.com/shows/

Second Friday in April - Deadline for events to be promoted in Bike Week’s media releases on your behalf; we may be able to get you on to KABW’s on-line events calendar, but can’t promise it.

Please Contact Us if you have questions. In the meantime, if you are considering whether you want to organize an event, check out our Organizer Info page.

Bike Friendly Kalamazoo (BFK) is the Michigan 501c3 non-profit that promotes Bike Week on behalf of the greater community.

Please continue to keep your eyes on Bike Week’s Event Calendar and Facebook page @kalamazoobikeweek for announcements about planning meetings and announcements.

Also be sure to check out Bike Friendly Kalamazoo’s web page at https://bikefriendlykalamazoo.org for related Fall Bike Celebration planning meetings and related announcements.

For bicycling events throughout the year, check out https://bikefriendlykalamazoo.org/events/

Learn how to ride scenic, low-traffic dirt and gravel roads! Short introduction to the equipment and techniques, then a ride on Kalamazoo County roads. Ride length options of 11 to 20 miles. We will pace the ride so everyone stays together. Bring a bike with at least 28 mm tires.

Sponsor: C12 Kalamazoo

Cost/Fees: Free

Organizer: John Knowlton

Contact: https://www.kalamazoobicycleclub.org/contact/

Our community is home to a variety of bike clubs, teams, and special interest groups such as bicycle-oriented educational and charitable organizations.  A number of local bicycle shops also host regular rides and fun events.  We encourage everyone to explore what they have to offer.

Bike Friendly Kalamazoo publishes the names of local bike clubs at https://bikefriendlykalamazoo.org/clubs-organizations-groups/

Cost/Fees: varies by club; family and multi-year memberships are sometimes offered

Comments: Strong clubs make for strong communities. Consider making a donation to these wonderful organizations and clubs even if you aren’t joining as a member, to support the great work they do!

LGBTQIA & Allies weekly ride will run April through September. Participants should arrive 15-20 minutes early for introductions, preparations, and safety reminders.
Rollout is promptly at 10:00am, and it will be a no-drop ride. All abilities are welcome! Helmets are required, head lights and tail lights are encouraged.
This Saturday we will group at Oshtemo Grange Hall, 3234 N 3rd St, Kalamazoo, MI 49009

Sponsor: Kalamazoo Bicycle Club

Event Website: https://www.kalamazoobicycleclub.org/

Cost/Fees: None

For More Information, Contact: Jenna Kovach; communications@kalamazoobicycleclub.org

Local, state and national educational and advocacy non-profits work to make riding a bike safer and more comfortable, building stronger communities at the same time.

Learn more about those in our area by going to https://bikefriendlykalamazoo.org/resources/organizations/

Many rely on donations and volunteers to support their great work.  If you have been meaning to help our greater community become even more bicycle friendly, Bike Week offers a great time to learn more and get involved.

Learning how to fix a flat tire is one of the best and most practical bike maintenance skills you can learn. Sure, you can take a bike with a flat tire to your local bike shop if you discover it in time. But if you are on the road, knowing how to fix a flat tire will get you home. Believe it or not, with the right tools and parts - all easy enough to carry with you on a ride - most people can fix a flat tire within minutes.

Bike Week is a great time to learn or practice how to do it!

This is a self-directed event! Check out these handy web sites for more information, including a video:

https://www.bicycling.com/repair/a20013517/bike-repair-how-to-fix-a-flat-tire/

https://bikeleague.org/content/bike-maintenance

SMART CYCLING Workshop (Unofficial but Important Event During Bike Week)

Ride smarter, learn from the pros, and gear up for a great summer full of safe cycling. Learn the basics of safe, smart cycling from League Certified Instructors, with a curriculum certified by the League of American Bicyclists. This course, taught by riders with extensive experience, will provide instruction on the following topics: basic bike fit, inspection, maintenance, safe and legal riding in traffic, skill building, bike safety, and crash prevention. Program participants must be 18 years or older and bring their own bike and helmet. This program includes bicycling on roads with instructors, and through parking lots, and will utilize bike lanes. An online portion of this course must be completed before the in-person session. This course is also a prerequisite to become a League Certified Instructor.

Sponsor: City of Portage

Event website:

https://portagemi.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=3887&month=5&year=2024&day=6&calType=0

Fees/Registration Requirements: $50 per participant; check website for details and registration link.

Comments: Program participants must be 18 years or older and bring their own bike and helmet. This program includes bicycling on roads with instructors, and through parking lots, and will utilize bike lanes. An online portion of this course must be completed before the in-person session. This course is also a prerequisite to become a League Certified Instructor.

For more information, please contact: City of Portage Parks & Recreation, (269) 329-4522

The Fix is a bike repair workshop for adults to access low-cost replacement bike parts and guidance on making repairs. We can also teach you how to do a tune-up and maintain your bike!

Sponsor: Open Roads Bike Program

Cost/Fees: Cost of parts plus a suggested $5 fee.

Website: https://www.openroadsbike.org/adult-programs--open-shop.html

Contact: https://www.openroadsbike.org/contact.html

There are two friendly no-drop group rides, one at 25-30 miles at 15-16 mph, the other 25-30 miles at 13-14 mph.

Sponsor: Kalamazoo Bicycle Club

Event website: https://www.kalamazoobicycleclub.org/rides/club-rides/

Cost/Fees: No charge. Anyone can join in. KBC membership includes newsletter, Ride with GPS, KBC club insurance and many other benefits.

Comments: Prospective members and new riders are welcome! Please visit to our website to familiarize yourself with rider expectations. Please let your ride leader know if this is your first time riding in a group, and plan to arrive early.

For more information, please contact: Paul Wells; https://www.kalamazoobicycleclub.org/contact/

Enjoy WKZO’s Morning Radio Show with host Ken Lanphear, at 590 AM or 106.9 FM Kalamazoo, MI. Ken and his guest will highlight what’s happening during Kalamazoo Bike Week with a conversation that should interest everyone. The 4-5 interviews move fast, so be sure to tune in early.

Today’s guest: Paul Sotherland, Awards & Grants Chair, Kalamazoo Bicycle Club

Sponsor: WKZO Radio, 590 AM - 106.9 FM

Event website: https://wkzo.com/shows/

National Bike to Work Day takes place on the third Friday in May, right in the middle of National Bike Month. The observance encourages us to bike to work AND raises awareness of cyclists as they commute to and from work each day.

As more and more people take to bicycles for transportation to and from work, it’s important for both cyclists and drivers to share the road safely. Both must be aware of the traffic laws and follow them. More and more communities are adding bike lanes to improve safety. In the United States, from the year 2000 to 2011, the number of bicycle commuters grew by more than 47 percent.

Some of the benefits of commuting to work by bicycle include:

• Physical fitness – Cyclists get an aerobic workout before and after work. It’s also low impact exercise which is easy on the joints, unlike jogging.

• Fuel savings – They save fuel costs which in turn puts more money back in their pockets.

• Smaller carbon footprint – By cycling, they reduce carbon emissions resulting in cleaner air.

• Automobile longevity – Get more life out of their motor vehicle by using it for more necessary trips.

So join others throughout the country, your co-workers and friends - try riding to work.

Ride to your workplace.  Check out commuter and other routes at: https://bikefriendlykalamazoo.org/trails-routes/

A growing number of various bicycle-related events will be held in communities nationwide. Join them in the celebration by biking to work. If you have a bit of distance to cover, consider these bike to work tips to break into the bike to work crowd. Use #BikeToWorkDay to post on social media.

Sign up on Love to Ride to make a record of your Bike to Work Day Ride, at: https://www.lovetoride.net/usa

Additional Information:
Love to Ride USA is a nationwide service sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists that unites thousands of new and existing bicyclists across the country in friendly competition designed to celebrate and encourage biking. This is a great way to get connected to other bike-friendly — and bike-curious — folks in your community and across the country. Join at any time as an individual or form a team. Sign up today and make every mile count!

The Fix is a bike repair workshop for youth 18 & under to access free replacement bike parts and guidance on making repairs. We can also teach you how to do a tune-up and maintain your bike!

Sponsor: Open Roads Bike Program

Cost/Fees: Free for youth

Website: https://www.openroadsbike.org/the-fix.html

Contact: info@openroadsbike.org