The 26th Annual Michigander Bicycle Tour Rolls Into The Most Beautiful Place in America

LANSING, Mich. - Nov. 4, 2016 - PRLog -- Presented by Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance and the Michigan Fitness Foundation, Michigan's Classic Cycling Vacation, The 26^th Annual Michigander Bicycle Tour will take place in Traverse City, Leland and Frankfort on the shores of Lake Michigan in Michigan's Northwest coast from July 15-22, 2017. The Michigander combines beautiful trails, Great Lakes beaches, lighthouses, rivers, virgin white pines, vineyards and more in this vibrant region of the Upper Midwest. Home to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, dubbed the "Most Beautiful Place in America" by tens of thousands of viewers from ABC's Good Morning America, cyclists will surely be amazed at the inspiring vistas and challenging terrain in what is known as one of the nation's best kept secrets.

The tour offers three options: 2-Day Tour, 6-Day Tour or 8-day Tour (which combines both the 2-Day and 6-Day tours). Routes are mostly paved or crushed limestone, and on occasion short jaunts on dirt roads. The 2-Day Michigander is designed to be a casual, easy ride up to 25-30 miles each day. The 6-Day Tour moves upwards of 50-60 miles a day and moves from town to town every two days.

The 2-Day Michigander will take place in Traverse City and is designed as a casual loop ride, which means everyone will ride out and back on the same route, so those that prefer a shorter ride can simply turn back at any time.

New this year, are extended overnight stays in premier Michigan vacation destinations for the 6-Day and 8-Day riders. In years past, cyclists would set up and tear down camp every day. This year, by offering two days in each location, cyclists will have more opportunities to ride the trails and backroads and experience the towns in more depth.

The 6-Day Michigander will visit the beach towns of Frankfort, Leland and Traverse City while riding through Empire, Glen Arbor, Glen Haven, Northport, Suttons Bay, Elk Rapids, as well as the Leelanau and Old Mission Peninsulas, home to the verdant, rolling landscapes of Michigan's award winning wine industry, the fourth largest grape-growing region in the nation.

Breakfast and dinner daily, gourmet coffee each morning, new and improved SAGs (support and gear rest stops) every 10-15 miles as well as camping is included with registration, which will open in late January 2017. The Michigander Bicycle Tour is also a part of The Pure Michigan FITness Series. This series endorses local, regional and state events consistent with the Governor's Council mission to promote healthy choices, while offering a physical activity event open to all participants, regardless of skill level or age. For more information, visit http://michigantrails.org/events/michigander-bike-tour/.