Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

UP bike tour returns in 2019

By RICHARD JENKINS

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Those interested in exploring some or all of the Upper Peninsula on two wheels this summer can start planning now, as pre-registration is now open for the second annual Tour Da Yoop, Eh.

“I believe the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is probably the best place in the entire country to have the ultimate, multi-day biking adventure,” James Studinger said in a video recapping last year’s inaugural ride.

The 1,200-mile, 10-day trip circles the perimeter of the U.P., starting and stopping in Manistique.

Studinger, who grew up in Manistique and now lives outside Detroit, organized the ride last year to highlight the interior roads available to cyclists.

“The goal is to be off the highways as much as possible and hit as much if the perimeter of the Upper Peninsula as we can,” Studinger told the Daily Globe during the Ironwood stop of last year’s ride.

He contrasted riding in heavy traffic downstate with the ability to cover 100 miles or more in the U.P. while only seeing a handful of cars. Even with the availability of vehicle-free roads, Studinger said many bikers seem to stick to U.S. 2 and other highways.

“The reality is they don’t know what’s out there, because they just travel from one town to the next town and why would they never get off the main roads,” Studinger said. “This is to highlight (those alternative options). Biking is a phenomenally huge economy and the U.P. is doing a great job identifying for people the mountain bike trails ... but people don’t know about the cycling yet. This is to open up everybody’s eyes as to what the cycling opportunities are.”

For more information on the ride, or to express interest in participating in either the whole ride or a section, visit tourdayoopeh.com.

 
 
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