Community Involvement

Wheels in Motion is committed to promoting cycling and awareness all around Ann Arbor. We have been busy helping keep the cycling community vibrant. Here's a sample of what we've been up to this year:

THE WORST DAY OF THE YEAR RIDE

The Worst Day of the Year Ride has become an Ann Arbor winter tradition. We sponsor this free event on the third weekend of January every year and it brings local area cyclists out of hibernation for one day to reconnect and ride together. check here for more information.

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FAT BIKE SERIES

Wheels in Motion is the co-sponsor of the Fun Promotions Fat Bike race at Rolling Hills Park in Ypsilanti. 2014 was the first year for this event, and we look forward to a great turnout and continuing our involvement with future Fat Bike races.

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TOUR de KIDS

The Tour de Kids is an activity filled June day for girls and boys ages 3 to 12 and their families.There will be bike races, a Festival with arts and crafts, music, and food, and general all around fun. We just need you to bring your bikes, your helmets, and your desire to enjoy an active day with other kids and their families.

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ANN ARBOR BIKE FEST

The purpose of Bike Fest is to celebrate and showcase Ann Arbor's biking community & to promote biking as a fun, healthy, and sustainable transportation option. Come on down to Main Street for an evening for an evening of bike mania! Grab a bite to eat, test your skills, learn something new & celebrate the diverse bike culture we have here in Ann Arbor. Bike Fest appears as part of the City of Ann Arbor's Green Fair. The Green Fair is an opportunity to learn about local environmental groups and activities.

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THE ECO RIDE

The biggest bike ride for the environment in Michigan! The Ecology Center’s EcoRide bike-a-thon fundraiser has been around for over 30 years and raises money to support the Ecology Center’s various programs and mission, where we work for a safe and healthy environment where people live, work, and play. Starting at Ann Arbor's Riverside Park, the ride offers several supported routes ranging from shorter family and beginner friendly routes within and around the park to longer, more challenging routes visiting such destination towns as Dexter, Pinckney, and Hell.

Working with the theme of the event, Wheels in Motion offers SAG support for the event on bicycles. We are able to rally all of our staff and racing team to ride the event with tubes and tools to help with any mechanical problems.

Visit https://ecoride.ecocenter.org/ for more information about this great event.

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ONE HELLUVA RIDE

The Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring Society (AABTS) presents this 30+ year old event every July and we are out in force for a day of scenic bicycle touring over tree-lined, paved roads in Washtenaw, Ingham, Jackson and Livingston counties.

Once again, our crew gathers to offer rider SAG support on bicycle in addition to the great motorized support crew the AABTS always has on staff for this event. Most of the routes travel through rural and recreation areas on beautiful rolling terrain, and vary enough to appeal to a broad range of bicyclists. We also man a service booth along the route, so be sure to stop be and say "Hi!"

Go to the AABTS website for all the details.

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BIKE YPSI

Bike Ypsi as a 100% volunteer community group in Ypsilanti Michigan. They operate under the mission that ANYONE can get on a bicycle- no fancy bikes, clothes, or gears needed. Bike Ypsi helps people learn how to ride safely, on the road, and in groups while having fun. So many people have helped by volunteering (leading rides, organizing rides, coming to organizing meeting, filling in the gaps on the day-of events, etc).

Visit Bike Ypsi for more information about their rides and events.

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Cranksgiving

Part scavenger hunt, part food drive, part bike ride. Cranksgiving allows the cycling community to give back to the places we ride in.

Navigate the streets of Ann Arbor and the aisles of grocery stores searching for specific food and personal items. Once you've found them and made your way through the checkout lines to the finish line, all of your food and personal items will be donated to Food Gatherers and Ozone House!

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PEAC

Programs to Educate All Cyclists' purpose is to enhance the lives of individuals with disabilities by using cycling for transportation, integrated recreation, fitness, and therapy.

PEAC helps individuals with cognitive, physical, and emotional disabilities reach their cycling goals by providing:

Basic skills programs
Family rides
Participation in cycling club rides
Bicycle commuter training
Mechanical skills
Spinning classes

In addition, PEAC strives to integrate cyclists with disabilities into the mainstream cycling community by giving them the skills necessary to participate in tours, races, and bicycle club rides.

Wheels in Motion staff has been involved in educating and training participants with riding skills and has committed extensive technical support towards the bicycles they ride.

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GET DOWNTOWN

We are proud to be working with Ann Arbor's GetDowntown program to promote commuting in and around Ann Arbor.

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AMERICAN RED CROSS

We have been working with the American Red Cross of Washtenaw County and the Youth Community Action Team (YCAT) to support their Bike Restoration Project. This project involves children & young adults that volunteer to refurbish used bicycles and then find new homes for them. These bicycles go to low-income children & families and adults who need a bicycle for transportation.
By working with our customers and local contacts we were able to organize bicycle donations for this project and we plan on expanding this contribution in the coming year. Read what they had to say.

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THE BIGGEST LOSER

In November, 2005, Pete Thomas walked away from the finale of NBC's The Biggest Loser 2 a winner - and a loser. The prize he won was $100,000 for losing the highest percentage of weight among those contestants who had been voted off the show. What he had lost was 185 pounds in nine months ... and with it an unhealthy lifestyle that Pete, armed with knowledge about nutrition and exercise, has truly put behind him.

When we met Pete he had just finished with NBC and was beginning his new life. When he left the shop that day we had him set up with new bike and on his way to his new life. Since then we've continued to work with Pete as he changes the life of others through his "Lose It Fast, Lose It Forever" program.

Find out more abut what Pete is up to here and check out this great letter he sent us recently.

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