11th Annual Bike the Blizzard 2023
THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS THE BIGGEST BIKE THE BLIZZARD EVER!
We Had Over 100 Riders and Reached Over $27,000 Raised!
Thank you to everyone who participated in our 11th Annual Bike the Blizzard fundraising event. This year, riders joined on 8 different organized rides and activities throughout the weekend It was a weekend full of adventure, accomplishment, and celebration with our incredible Detroit riders! 2023 was our biggest year yet with 106 riders and over $27,000 raised.
Back Alley Bikes relies strongly on this annual fundraiser to keep our doors open, programs running, and to be the community spot the Detroit bike riders rely on! The rest of the year we are busy with our DIY open shop, educational classes, and getting bikes to youth in the city. We aim to further our youth Earn-A-Bike program and get more educational classes going in Spring 2023! Click here to learn more of Back Alley Bikes’ story.
What This Event Includes
Each registration includes a t-shirt, access to rides, ticket to our evening event, and 1 raffle ticket.
Organized themed group rides Saturday & Sunday: Details to come closer to the event
Scavenger Hunt around Detroit visiting local businesses and with activities. You can do it solo or with a crew!
Raffle & Silent Auction: With prizes from local businesses and our shop.
Prizes: For participants with the most miles rode, Scavenger Hunt winner, highest fundraiser, and most donors.
Community Building!: An incredible opportunity to connect with other bike lovers in the city!
Additional Event Details
There is a minimum fundraising totals for each individual of $50. We will support you in making this happen.
Registration is $25 which includes t-shirt, access to rides, ticket to the evening event, and 1 raffle ticket.
The event, as always, will be based out of the Cass Corridor Neighborhood Development Corp (CCNDC) Community Center, adjacent to Back Alley Bikes and the Hub of Detroit. Most organized rides will leave from this centralized location. The Community Center will be open during the day, while organized rides are out, for basic bike repairs, snacks, hot drinks and water. All registered riders, whether joining in on organized rides or venturing out solo, will have access to all organized ride maps via BikeReg.
Thanks to our Event Sponsors
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my business or organization sponsor this event?
Check back next year!
Could I help support with planning, leading a group ride, or outreach?
Check back next year!
Can I participate if I’ve never ridden a bike in the winter?
Absolutely. We would love to help get you prepared to ride comfortably. Feel free to drop by the shop, call, or email to talk tips, tricks, and safety of riding in winter months.
What if winter riding is absolutely not my thing?
If winter riding isn’t for you, you can still support Back Alley Bikes! You can buy a t-shirt, donate money to a registered rider, enter our raffle/silent auction, fundraise, or register a friend.
Can I ride solo? Or with a team? Do I have to go on group rides? How does it work??
Any of the above! You can ride solo the entire weekend and set you’re own routes. You can create a team and you all can ride on your own or in group rides. Or join us solo and find lots of other riders during our group rides. We encourage all riders to set goals for yourselves – whether that’s riding 15 or 150 miles, visiting different parts of the city, or getting on your bike 3 times during the weekend!
What about COVID-19?
Luckily, bike riding is a fairly safe activity when it comes to mitigating the spread of COVID-19. That being said, we will ask anybody who has been exposed recently or has symptoms to not attend for our community’s overall health. As the event gets closer, we will make decisions about the event space protocols, evening event, etc. based on CDC guidelines. We will keep you all updated on this and always encourage you to do what is best for your health.
Can I participate if I don’t live near Detroit?
Check back next year!
Help! I’m having trouble registering!
Check back next year!
Other questions? Check back next year!
Check out some Bike the Blizzard history!
| Year | Riders | Miles Ridden | Mileage Champion | Fundraised |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 106 | Benjamin Churchill (127) | $27,448.39 | |
| 2022 | 80 | Jackson Robar (115) | $20,917 | |
| 2021 | 67 | Jackson Robar (202) | $20,868 | |
| 2020 | 20 Teams | Mike Benigni (80.5) | $10,059.55 | |
| 2019 | 28 | Jackson Robar (77) | $5,592.00 | |
| 2018 | 57 | 1,074 | Brian McPherson (111) | $14,351 |
| 2017 | 40 | 2,034 | Alex Van Eenenaam (129) | $13,000 |
| 2016 | 40 | Over 3,000 | Jordan Caverly (320) | $11,000 |
| 2015 | 50 | 3,338.2 | Jordan Caverly (202) | $14,000 |