What is Bike Camp?

During June 2024, the KBC Bike Camp will help cyclists get ready to participate in a KalTour group ride at the end of June.  Though in some ways similar to Run Camp, which prepares participants for running in the Kalamazoo Marathon, Bike Camp also helps cyclists become more familiar with and comfortable on their bicycles while learning group-riding skills that lead to safer, more effective, and enjoyable cycling. Designed for adults and minors (12 and up, who must be accompanied by an adult), Bike Camp provides many opportunities for new and returning cyclists to develop abilities on their bicycles and learn that “life is better on a bike.”

The Details:

• Bike Camp 2024 – enrollment cap at 15 participants – will begin on Saturday, June 1^st,  with an “instructional” and group-ride segment from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm .
• This first meeting will be followed by (optional, yet recommended) group rides on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday every week in June, leading to a Bike Camp group ride at KalTour on Sunday, June 30^th. 
• The Saturday morning segment will include a brief Bike Fit,  ABC Quick Check, Rules of the Road, Group Riding Etiquette, and a Drills’n’Skills session followed by a short (approx 6 mi) group ride, primarily on Parkview Ave, to the WMU BTR Park and back.  We will wrap up with post-ride refreshments and a debriefing.
• Bike Camp mentors are KBC members, several of whom are League of American Bicyclists Certified Instructors.
• Weekly Bike Camp group rides will be on Monday evening (part of the KBC Monday Night Ride, a club ride that starts and finishes at Texas Township Park), Wednesday evening (starting and finishing at the Oshtemo Grange Hall Park), and Friday morning (starting and finishing at Texas Township Park). 
• KBC Monday and Wednesday rides in June start at 6:15 pm; Friday morning rides start at 9:00 am.  These rides will help Bike Campers practice their cycling skills while developing endurance to prepare for the KalTour group ride.

For additional information:  Bike Camp 2024 – Kalamazoo Bicycle Club.

Resources:

•  League of Michigan Bicyclists ‘What Every Michigan Bicyclist Must Know’ book, click here
•  League of American Bicyclists Smart Cycling videos, click here