EVENT DESCRIPTION:
A brand new fall adventure that has all the fun of our spring Zoo-De-Mack ride without all the planning. It’s a simple weekend package that can be booked with one telephone call. This weekend package includes two huge parties with a great band, a lot of sunshine, one of the most scenic bicycle rides in the country, and a chairlift ride to the top of the Boyne Highlands ski area (with your bike) for spectacular views and a thrilling downhill ride through the woods. 

THIS IS NOT A RACE!!! Instead it’s a collection of outdoor enthusiasts who want to enjoy a little physical exercise together in one of the most beautiful areas in the state of Michigan. The ride is approximately 44 miles in length and starting and ending at Boyne Highlands Resort. We will ride up and down the rolling countryside, through forests and farmland, and will be overwhelmed by breathtaking views of Lake Michigan from atop 400’ high bluffs. We stop approximately half way at a unique place called the LEGS INN where we have a leisurely lunch and swap stories. The ride continues through farmland, hardwood forests, and gently rolling hills with a stop at the Moose Jaw Junction Bar before ending up back at Boyne Highlands Resort. As an added bonus, Boyne Highlands will have a chairlift open all weekend. Put your bike on the chairlift and catch a ride to the top of Boyne Highlands ski area for spectacular views of Lake Michigan and Little Traverse Bay. There are scenic downhill trails for the inexperienced and extremely hard core trails for the adventurous.


This event is a smaller, relaxed version of our spring ride, with 300 participants vs. 3000 and minimal planning. If you think the spring Zoo-de-Mack ride is too crazy this ride is for you!!

 

ENTRY FEE:
OPTION #1: 
The weekend package will cost anywhere from $130 up to $215 per person, based on the type of lodging you choose and the number of people you share a room with. BOYNE has many different rooming configurations from hotel rooms to condos. If you have made reservations with BOYNE, you do not have to mail us anything, but you will be required to sign our waiver at check-in. The package includes:

  • Two nights lodging at Boyne Highlands Resort. 
  • Two delicious all-you-can-eat buffet breakfasts. 
  • Two rockin' Friday and Saturday night parties with a great band.
  • An incredible 44 mile bicycle ride starting at Boyne Highlands, following the first half of the spring Zoo-de-Mack ride, and continuing inland through rolling hills, forests, and farmland back to Boyne Highlands.
  • Awesome Polish buffet lunch at the famous Legs Inn on Saturday.
  • Use of Boyne Highland's Resort outdoor heated pools and hot tubs all weekend.
  • Scenic chairlift rides and downhill biking Friday evening, all day Saturday, and Sunday morning.

OPTION #2: 
This weekend package is for those that have their own lodging or didn't sign up in time to get a room at Boyne Highlands. If you need assistance with lodging near Boyne Highlands, call the Petoskey Area Visitor's Bureau at 800.845.2828. The options #2 package includes:

  • Two rockin' Friday and Saturday night parties with a great band.
  • An incredible 44 mile bicycle ride starting at Boyne Highlands, following the first half of the spring Zoo-de-Mack ride, and continuing inland through rolling hills, forests, and farmland back to Boyne Highlands.
  • Awesome Polish buffet lunch at the famous Legs Inn on Saturday.
  • Use of Boyne Highland's Resort outdoor heated pools and hot tubs all weekend.
  • Scenic chairlift rides and downhill biking Friday evening, all day Saturday, and Sunday morning.

    TO REGISTER NOW CLICK HERE

WEEKEND SCHEDULE:

FRIDAY
CHAIRLIFT   4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
REGISTRATION     9:00 pm to midnight in the hotel lobby
KICK-OFF PARTY    9:30 pm to 1:30 am in the Slopeside Lounge

SATURDAY
REGISTRATION       8:00 am to10:30 am in the tent in the ski area parking lot at Boyne Highlands
RIDE STARTS      8:00 am to 10:30 am in the ski area parking lot at Boyne Highlands
LUNCH     10:30 am to 2:00 pm at Legs Inn  
CHAIRLIFT   Noon to 6:00 pm

SATURDAY NIGHT
POST RIDE PARTY   9:30 pm to 1:30 am in the Slopeside Lounge

SUNDAY
CHAIRLIFT   10:00 am to 1:00 pm


FRIDAY DETAILED INFORMATION

FRIDAY EVENING CARB LOADING: The key to making this a great weekend is to get started on the right foot Friday night. All you have to do is stop on your way up for a world famous Potato Burger at a little bar called the Railside Bar and Grill (formerly the Elmira Inn) in Elmira, Michigan (on C-32 between Gaylord and US-131). A truly delightful lady named Ma, who comes from a family of 23 kids, had run the place for over 25 years and sold it a few years ago. She specially designed the Potato Burger so it will give you lots of energy for Saturday’s ride! Stop in, order a burger, say hi to Bob the new owner, and raise a beer in honor of Ma, who passed away last fall.

 
FRIDAY NIGHT REGISTRATION: Friday night registration is open from 9:00 pm to midnight and will be located at Boyne Highlands Resort. Registration will also be open Saturday morning from 8:00 am to 10:30 am and will be located under the tent in the skier’s parking lot. We do not mail registration packets out…you must pick them up at the event. The Friday and Saturday registration periods are the only opportunities you will have to pick up your registration packets and have any ride questions answered.

FRIDAY NIGHT PARTY: For the small percentage of you who take your biking seriously, I recommend that you eat a good meal Friday night with lots of carbohydrates, and get a good night sleep. For everyone else, rest up the week before, because you’ll need to get ready for a great bar night. We’ve rented out the Slopeside Bar and hired a great band to ensure an evening of non-stop fun.

 

SATURDAY DETAILED INFORMATION

SATURDAY PRE-RIDE BREAKFAST: After a delicious breakfast buffet (included in option #1) you will be ready for an incredible bike ride!

 

SATURDAY MORNING REGISTRATION: The Saturday morning registration area will be located under the tent in the Boyne Highlands skier’s parking lot. We will open our registration area at 8:00 am and close it around 10:30 am, and will be available to answer questions and process late registrations. 
 

THE RIDE: There is no official starting time, so you are free to start anytime you want between 8:00 am and 10:30 am. The bicycling portion of this weekend adventure will be approximately 44 miles in length which will take six to seven hours of riding time. The first half of the ride is very scenic and follows the same course as our spring Zoo-De-Mack bicycle ride. Lakeshore Drive borders Lake Michigan and is one of the most scenic and breathtaking roads in the Lower Peninsula. (National Geographic Traveler Magazine listed it as one of the top 50 scenic drives in the country!!!) The views of Lake Michigan are truly spectacular. The terrain is rolling with a few good challenging hills, and only one big “killer” hill (which is easy to push your bike up, as many riders do). Anyone in semi-decent shape shouldn’t have any problems going the distance. There is a famous Polish restaurant in Cross Village called the Legs Inn, which is where we will stop for lunch. George and Cathy Smolak will serve us a hearty lunch (which is included in your entry fee). After leaving Cross Village, we will head east and then make a Southern turn, riding through farmland, hardwood forests, and up and down gently rolling hills. Roughly two thirds of the way through the second half of the ride (seven miles from Boyne Highlands), you will encounter the Moose Jaw Junction Bar, where the riders will gather for a “refreshment” pit stop and some afternoon entertainment! I’m guessing that for some riders, this may be the end of their biking journey…with a friend riding to get their car and coming back to pick them up. Shorter Option: The "Zoo-De-Legs" is the first half of the ride. Riders who only wish to do 25 miles can bike the beautiful “Tunnel of Trees” portion of the ride and get a lift back to their car with help from Big Bear Adventures. They will be offering a 2:30 pm bus departure for riders and their bikes from Legs Inn in Cross Village back to Boyne Highlands.

 See our SHUTTLE OPTIONS page for details, pricing, & schedule

SATURDAY NIGHT POST RIDE PARTY: Saturday night will feature another famous Zoo-De-Mack party with an awesome band in the Slopeside Bar at Boyne Highlands. Get ready for a fun filled evening of entertainment and dancing.

 

 

SUNDAY DETAILED INFORMATION

After another great buffet breakfast, it’s time to:
A). Golf
B). Nurse a hangover 
C). Soak in the hot tub
D). Go biking again
E). Any or all of the above
The correct answer is: E!


CHAIRLIFT BIKING: Boyne Highlands will have their chairlift running and bike park open for our use. Put your bike on the chairlift and catch a ride to the top of Boyne Highlands for spectacular views of Lake Michigan and Little Traverse Bay. There are scenic trails through the woods for inexperienced riders, and hard core trails with banked turns, heart-stopping jumps and narrow passages for the adventurous rider. If Saturday’s ride was enough for you, you may just want to take the chairlift up for the view, and enjoy a leisurely hike down a scenic path. Chairlift biking is available Friday evening, Saturday, and Sunday morning.


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