SWMI: South West Michigan 4 Night Ride | 2023

Pace: Casual10-12 mph. Beginner level.

Trail/Route: Paved road with minimal gravel incorporated.

Lodging:

07JUL - Dunewood Campground - Indiana Dunes, IN

08-09JUL - Weko Beach Campground - Bridgeman, MI

10JUL - Van Buren State Park - Van Buren, MI

Support: Sag van that will carry one school sized backpack per rider

Meals: All meals are included except breakfast and lunch on Day one and lunch on Day 3

Transportation: Our starting point will be accessible by South Shore Train Line. Return via South Shore Line in South Bend, IN. A UHaul will transport bikes back to Chicago as the South Bend stop cannot take bikes this year due to track construction.

What's Included: 4 nights/5 days of bike camping (It is possible to join us a day late and leave a day early if needed)

This ride is an ecstatic celebration of Lake Michigan and all that it coast has to offer. This is going down in the heart of the summer and there will be plenty of chances to go swimming in our gem of a lake. Hence the name, the SWMI, "swimmy", ride. Roll with some of the best guides OOFD has to offer as we finally break into our 4th state, Michigan! Learn about the ecology of the lake and the lake shore while also exploring some of its hidden gems and excellent local spots.

We understand pulling off a 5 day ride might be tough, so you can join us Thursday night or Friday morning at the Dunes. The south shore train is super convenient for this. Also, if you need to dip out on Sunday, the Amtrak and South Shore can get ya back to the city no problem. But the price for the trip is all the same, so you should take advantage of this extended summertime adventure if you can.

Day 1 we ride that beaut of a route to the Indiana Dunes. This is the biggest day. About 75 miles and camp at the national park.

Day 2 we roll out around noon and slow roll our way about 45 miles up to Weko Beach Campground in Bridgman, MI.

Day 3 is a chill day. Relax on the beach all day or ride into town for some beers or hop on the 25ish mile loop that an OOFD will be leading. Or even go adventure off on your own through the gorgeous country roads of Michigan beer and wine country. So much good beer, food, wine, and beach to explore. The campground is a 4 minute walk to a stellar beach and the epic dunes of Warren are just a few minute walk down the beach.

Day 4 we ride about 40 miles up to Van Buren State Park which is just south of Grand Haven, MI.

Day 5 we ride about 60 miles to South Bend, IN and hop the South Shore Train back to the city. A UHaul will transport bikes back to Chicago as the South Bend stop cannot take bikes this year due to track construction.

For a more in depth breakdown of what each day looks like, check this out.

Day 1: 75mi

Day 2: 45mi

Day 3: rest day, riding optional

Day 4: 40miles

Day 5: 60 miles

Your bike!

Helmet - encouraged but not required

Tent/Camping Gear

Head Lamp

Cash/Debit/Credit Card for your food and your drinks

Photo I.D. and Emergency contact Info

Two spare inner tubes and tools to replace a flat if not around a guide

At least 2 water bottles

Bike lights, front and rear

Lock for your bike

High Energy Snacks

Change of clothes and be sure to include a swimsuit and/or rain gear!

Phone battery pack

Camp mug, plate/bowl, eating utensils

Welcoming, adventurous, can-do attitude

Campground fees (sites, firewood, etc.)

Van support to carry your gear if you would like

Education about our local history and nature

Very welcoming, supportive, and educational guides

All meals

Our guides are part of a community of volunteers that believe in adventure and helping others find adventure right out our front door. They exude a welcoming, supportive, and inclusive spirit which are foundational values at OOFD. They have love and appreciation for their home and like sharing knowledge about that home with others, thus helping the riders to develop a stronger sense of gratitude for our local history and nature.

The guides will be set with the route and an extensive script about the area you’ll be riding through (a script they may have researched, written, and developed themselves)! They have set up multiple breakpoints along the way to ensure you can go the distance. So if this is your first time out on a long ride, you’ll be surprised by how far you can actually go. They will stick with you and if for any reason you must end the ride early, they will help direct you to the nearest train and way to return to the city.

They will have the tools necessary for most maintenance issues that might arise on a weekend bike camping trip. Our guides will help you with any needed repairs. *If you have your own tools or supplies, especially any that are very unique to your bike, please bring them along. Though guides will have extra tubes and patches, you most definitely should bring at least 2 extra tubes for your bike.

Secure your belongings and keep highly used items like snacks, rain gear and extra layers accessible when packing. Keeping it light usually makes for a more enjoyable ride; So leave the kitchen sink at home. Avoid dangling straps, they can get entangled in the wheels and cause an accident; Be smart and think about your safety.

You might want to bring ibuprofen, comfortable cycling gloves, sunglasses, sunscreen, lip balm and cool information you would like to share.

Dress for the season and in layers. In the spring and fall, outside temperatures at times may be great to wear a T-shirt but when biking, the wind can make your chest, hands, and fingers cold and the weather may change without notice. Bring a pair of gloves and a sweater/windbreaker if need be. If a little rain is in the forecast, bring a rain jacket. Don’t be afraid of the rain!!! Some of the best views are when a storm is on the horizon. If it gets intense, there are shelters along the way to wait it out.

All bikes are welcome! On most rides, the routes are mixed terrain ranging from paved road to limestone and gravel; super skinny tires aren’t ideal but we’ve seen them work. A bike rack or other systems to keep your gear off of your back/shoulder is a great idea, though if that is how you roll, no worries, though we strongly advocate riding without a backpack, at least on our longer rides.

We do not

We champion perseverance. Our guides will support and encourage you to push on because the reward of completion is great. In the event of injury, major bike failure or just not being able to push on, the guides will help direct you to the easiest way to return home (usually via Metra or other forms of public trans). Very few of our rides provide van support and if the ride does provide it, it will be explicitly mentioned in the ride description. However, this vehicle should not be relied upon for mere fatigue. There are limited seats.

No, we ride rain or shine. Some of the best views are after a rainstorm. Your safety is our top priority, so if there is severe weather we will break and seek appropriate shelter along the route, then continue on to our destination.

General rule of thumb is a steady 12 miles per hour, though some of our advanced longer distance rides the pace will vary from 12 to 18 mph. On shorter beginner rides, as well as Family and Youth rides, the pace can be as low as 8-10 mph.

On most rides, we do our best to ride together as a group. Separation in the group can occur, but we do not leave anybody behind. A guide will always be riding at the back and at the front (and usually at least one floating in the middle). This is not a race, so everyone will do their best to keep the pace of the lead guide and should not plan to ride faster than the lead guide. In the case that a rider is consistently falling significantly behind the rest of the group, a guide may consult with that participant and advise on an alternate method to reach camp or home. This is always a last resort, and rarely happens, but if that participant and their accompanying guide are likely to arrive at camp hours after the rest of the group, those suggestions may arise.

First, always bring two spare inner tubes. Our Guides carry extra tools and supplies, are always ready to help and are trained for emergency repairs. We are usually too far from a bike shop in case anything major happens. Although, if a roadside repair is not possible, then a trek to the nearest Metra Station or best mode of public transportation may be the best option (we’ve even had folks call a friend or an Uber).

Individual/Participant Cancellations: No Refunds. No Transfers. | We are a small organization and due to the small group size of our rides, a ticket cancellation/no show has a real impact on the planning of the tour and as such, we cannot provide any refunds for a participants cancellation. By registering, you acknowledge and agree there will not be a refund if you cancel or do not show up for the event. Tickets are non-transferable and can not be resold. Please contact the ride organizer if you are no longer able to attend.

Organizer Cancellation: Full Refund | Nobody wants an event to be canceled. But in the very rare case the organizer does cancel the event at their discretion due to unforeseen circumstances, then registered participants will receive a full refund. To date this organizer has never canceled an event.

Weather and Rain: We do not cancel an event for rain or a storm. We ride rain or shine. Understand that Chicago weather is typically passing, if it gets intense we will wait it out in a provided shelter then continue biking. FYI-Some of the best views and greenery are after a rainstorm.

We at Out Our Front Door believe in the radical inclusion of all people on our bike camping trips. Regardless of your race, gender identity, sexual orientation, economic status, or even the types of bikes you ride, we want you rollin’ with us. We want everyone to feel welcome. As a participant of an Out Our Front Door event, you are inherently agreeing to Ride and Let Ride.

If you exhibit any micro-aggressions observed by leaders, such as being judgmental of another’s bike, touring experience/skill, mansplaining, or generally being unfriendly you will be politely yet firmly corrected by OOFD leaders. If you commit any serious offense such as repeated unwanted flirtation, sexual harassment, overt racism, etc., you will be asked to leave the tour without a refund and will no longer be welcomed on future rides.

If you feel you are a victim of any of the above or have observed it, please raise the issue with one of our ride leaders, and they will handle the issue accordingly and with appropriate discretion.

We have this policy in place because we want everyone to feel safe and welcome. Out Our Front Door is an open community of bike campers, and we will forever work to bring all sorts of folks into the fold. Thank you for being a positive contributor to that community.

We're the Out Our Front Door Organization. A bike camping community for Chicagoland.

See Our Full Schedule Of Events Here

As a community organization, Out Our Front Door’s mission is to immerse, educate, and preserve the history, culture, trails, and native habitats of the Lower Lake Michigan Basin Area through exploratory adventures. Established in 2015 with the North Loop Ride, we now have many different resources, events, and programs ​we offer the public.

Drop us a friendly visit at: ​ Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | https://www.oofd.org/

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

12th Street Beach, 12th Street Beach, Chicago, United States