Family-Friendly Bike Events in Northern Michigan
Norte Youth Cycling hosts, volunteers, and supports countless family-friendly events in Traverse City, Elk Rapids, and nearby communities all year long. Check our community calendar for fun things to do this weekend, or sign up for our newsletter to get our latest happenings delivered to your inbox every Wednesday morning.
Looking for our Slow Roll schedule? You can view Traverse City and Elk Rapids dates on the Community Slow Roll page.
Interesting in adding your event to our calendar? Get in touch!
Northern Michigan Events
A Toast to Ten & RYED Beer Release Party at Silver Spruce Brewing Co.
Join us as we kick off our year-long celebration of a decade of engaging and empowering kids and communities. On hand will be Norte staff, Board members, coaches, and volunteers who shaped our organization through hard work, sweat equity, and plenty of miles on two wheels.
Long-time supporters, Silver Spruce Brewing Co., will release Ryed, a signature brew that marks the arrival of spring in northern Michigan. A dollar from every Ryed pint sold in May will be donated to Norte Youth Cycling.
Ride, walk, or roll to help us celebrate the hundreds of people who have made Norte the community-supported, community-focused organization its become today.
Norte Spring Tune-up
Norte is hosting its Spring Community Bike Tune-up at Carson Square on Thursday, May 2nd! Bring your bike for a quick safety inspection or tune-up and hit spring at full speed. Our community tune-ups are meant to enhance active transportation for adults and kids alike. We know that bikes are vital components in mobility independence and we want to keep you moving!
Questions? Get in touch: caroline@norteyouthcycling.org
More Girls on Bikes: Mother-Daughter Ride!
Join Norte for a laidback and welcoming bike ride for mothers and daughters! We’ll do a short 3-4 mile ride, based on group speed, beginning and ending at the Norte Clubhouse at the Grand Traverse County Civic Center.
Don’t worry about building up an appetite - we’ll have pizza from Business Champion The Filling Station for all!
Women and girls of all ages are welcome. Young riders in 4th grade and up are encouraged to ride. 3rd grade and lower should consider hopping in a bike trailer. All riders 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
Traverse City Slow Roll
Nothing brings people together like a bike ride! Slow Rolls are our free community bike rides designed to provide a fun, social experience on two wheels. Show up, slow down, and explore your community at an entirely new pace.
Oryana Groceries for Good
Oryana is the title sponsor for our 2024 Slow Rolls in Traverse City, and as such, Norte will be the Groceries for Good recipient on Thursday, May 9th.
This means that Oryana will donate 2% of the day's sales + round ups at the register to Norte. Plan your weekly shopping trip for Thursday, May 9th, to support Norte Youth Cycling’s programs!
Both locations are participating in Groceries for Good.
A Decade in Motion - Celebrating 10 Years of Community Impact with Norte Youth Cycling!
Celebrate a decade of pedal-powered joy with Norte Youth Cycling! Join us at the City Opera House for a family-friendly evening of cycling inspiration and community. The evening will be filled with gratitude, giveaways, and an original feature film created by local videographer, Mark Goethel.
Mark’s film captures the essence of Norte's impact, from first pedals to triumphs on the trails, all of which are propelled by Norte coaches, volunteers, and you, our community!
Bring your family and friends to share in the joy of Norte's journey. Our 10th-anniversary celebration isn't just about cycling; it's about the community, adventures, friendships, and joy that have defined the last 10 years.
Join us as we pause to look back and then pedal into the next decade with Norte Youth Cycling—where every rider is welcome!
It is FREE to attend but tickets are required. Reserve yours below.
Want to help us spread the word? Sign up to allow us to drop off a 10 Year Anniversary Celebration yard sign to your yard.
Please enjoy a sneak peek of the film below!
Tickets are required to attend. Doors open at 5:30. The event begins at 6:30.
Adults - $10 suggested donation. Children - Free.
Traverse City Slow Roll
Nothing brings people together like a bike ride! Slow Rolls are our free community bike rides designed to provide a fun, social experience on two wheels. Show up, slow down, and explore your community at an entirely new pace.
Norte is joining TADL's Summer Reading Club Kickoff
Norte is joining the Traverse Area District Library for their Summer Reading Club Kickoff event! Get a bike tune-up for your summer riding adventures from our Norte bike mechanic, sign up for the Summer Reading Club, participate in an interactive STEM activity with Challenge Island & more!
More Girls on Bikes: Boardman Lake Loop
🚴♀️ Traverse City ladies, it's time to hit the trails! Join us for another More Girls on Bike meetup on Tuesday, June 18, this time around the Boardman Lake Loop. Meet us by 6:00pm for a casual ride starting and ending at the Norte Clubhouse, followed by some tasty post-ride bites. Check our events calendar for more information!
Traverse City Slow Roll
Nothing brings people together like a bike ride! Slow Rolls are our free community bike rides designed to provide a fun, social experience on two wheels. Show up, slow down, and explore your community at an entirely new pace.
More Girls on Bikes: Ice Cream Ride!
Calling all girls who love bikes and ice cream! 🍦Join us for a sweet More Girls on Bikes meetup ride on Tuesday, July 23rd as we cruise through neighborhoods and make our way to Bardon’s. Meet us at the Norte Clubhouse by 6pm for rollout. All ages are welcome – the more, the merrier!
Traverse City Slow Roll
Nothing brings people together like a bike ride! Slow Rolls are our free community bike rides designed to provide a fun, social experience on two wheels. Show up, slow down, and explore your community at an entirely new pace.
More Girls on Bikes: Pedal Rotations & Sun Salutations
Join Norte and Embody TC for a fun night of biking and yoga! We'll go for a leisurely cruise around town (2-3 miles), then head back to the Civic Center for a partner yoga session led by Embody TC. Women of all ages are welcome to attend.
Grab a friend and join us! Pizza will be provided after yoga.
All attendees under 12 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.
Traverse City Slow Roll
Nothing brings people together like a bike ride! Slow Rolls are our free community bike rides designed to provide a fun, social experience on two wheels. Show up, slow down, and explore your community at an entirely new pace.
Free Lids for Cyclin’ Kids & Spring Yard Sale
Join Norte and Munson Healthcare for a bike riding celebration! With Munson’s generous support, we will be giving away kid’s bike helmets to any kid who needs one. If your rider already has a helmet, come by to have the bike helmet’s fit assessed by an experienced rider. This is also an excellent opportunity to explore Norte’s Bike Library, where kids can borrow a bike, free of charge, for the summer and beyond.
Adults, we want you to come along for the ride. Our spring bike sale is happening at the same time, and it’s the perfect chance to find a used bike for a screaming deal!
Free Lids for Cyclin’ Kids & the Spring Yard Sale are both from 9:00 am-12:00 pm at the Norte Clubhouse, conveniently located at the south end of the Grand Traverse County Civic Center.
Coach Orientation
Coach orientation is an excellent way to learn how to effectively coach kids on bikes and what is expected as a coach for Norte. It’s so darn fun, this shindig is mandatory for new coaches! Returning coaches are encouraged to attend to share their personal experience and expertise.
New coaches will learn:
how to check in their riders at the start of each practice
how to lead and/or properly sweep a group ride
where to find super helpful resources with instructional videos and more
how to get paid (if it’s a paid position)
Coaches are encouraged to come with all their questions so we can enable you to feel confident and ready to roll in May!
Please RSVP so we can prepare enough seats at our new offices and bring enough Lacroix for all.
Norte Coaching Informational Meeting - TC Whiskey Co.
Interested in becoming a coach for Norte for an after-school or summer camp program? Join us for a no-pressure, laid-back chat about the opportunities to get kids fired up about bikes in Northern Michigan. You’ll get an overview of the different coaching opportunities, the time commitments for different coaching options, and the training you’ll receive.
Coach Orientation
Coach orientation is an excellent way to learn how to effectively coach kids on bikes and what is expected as a coach for Norte. It’s so darn fun, this shindig is mandatory for new coaches! Returning coaches are encouraged to attend to share their personal experience and expertise.
New coaches will learn:
how to check in their riders at the start of each practice
how to lead and/or properly sweep a group ride
where to find super helpful resources with instructional videos and more
how to get paid (if it’s a paid position)
Coaches are encouraged to come with all their questions so we can enable you to feel confident and ready to roll in May!
Please RSVP so we can prepare enough seats at our new offices and bring enough Lacroix for all.
Trailside Repairs and Pocket Pizza
Learn how to make roadside and trailside repairs ahead of the spring riding season! We’ll cover things like flat repairs, broken chains, bent derailleurs and more. After this two-hour class, you’ll never have to walk out of the woods again!
Everyone will also get their fill of pizza from The Filling Station!
Post-St. Patrick's Day Walk/Run for Norte
Join us for a Green Filled 5K to help raise money for Norte’s youth cycling programs! Walk, run, or roll an easy 5K with new friends and old to celebrate and promote being active and outdoors as spring approaches.
Trivia Night at Short's Pull Barn
What better way (or excuse) to celebrate Pi Day than with homemade pie? Pair Trivia Night at Short’s Pull Barn with fresh, handmade pie from Norte staff! Our own Caroline and Cody have raised their flour-covered hands to bake pies for the winning teams.
Join us from 6-8 pm on Thursday, March 14, for some donation-based fun. Pack your thinking cap and bring your friends!
Get Your Bearings (and a Slice of Pizza)
Get to the bottom of your, er, bottom bracket and headset once and for all. This class will focus on removing cranks, adjusting and replacing bottom brackets, and covering all things related to the headset. You’ll leave this session with the confidence to identify bearing issues and make basic repairs yourself.
You’ll also leave class full – we’ll have pizza from The Filling Station for you!
Become a Norte Coach Informational Meeting
Interested in becoming a coach for Norte for an after-school or summer camp program? Join us for a no-pressure, laid back chat about the opportunities to get kids fired up about bikes in Northern Michigan. You’ll get an overview of the different coaching opportunities, the time commitments for different coaching options, and the training you’ll receive.
Easy-as-pie Derailleur Adjustments
Look, shifting can be tricky. Learn how to adjust your derailleur, troubleshoot poor shifting performance, and make on-the-fly tweaks to save your ride. We’ll also show you how to use limit screws and adjust cable tension when setting up a new derailleur!
The only thing easier than fixing your shifting will be slamming down a slice of homemade pie.
Norte Bingo Night at Short's Brewing
Bingo. It’s the ultimate game of skill. Put your wits and attention span to the ultimate test with us for Norte Bingo Night at the Short’s Brewing Pull Barn in Elk Rapids. The best and brightest bingo stars will align on Wednesday, January 31 - be there!
Piece-of -cake Bike Maintenance
Theme of the Night: Preventative Maintenance
Preventative maintenance reduces the risk of a trailside mechanical and can save you money on parts and repairs over the long haul! We’ll cover the easy, fast, and accessible ways to maintain your bike on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.
We’ll have homemade cake for everyone!
Join us for one family-friendly maintenance class or all of them! Each class is low-key, inclusive, and fun. Bring your bike, clothes you don’t mind getting a little greasy, and your appetite - we guarantee you’ll leave with a treat and a smile.
New Year's Day Ride with NMMBA
Northern Michigan Mountain Bike Association’s annual New Year’s Day Ride is the perfect way to start the year on the right foot. Grab your fat bike and some friends for a few hours of rolling in the woods! The free event is open to everyone and includes multiple groups and speeds, so you know someone will be there at your pace.
The ride leaves the Vasa Singletrack on Supply Road at noon on New Year’s Day. If there’s snow, ride a fat bike with 3” tires or wider and dress accordingly!
Norte Race Team Info Night
The 2024 season starts now! The Norte Race Team is open to young mountain bikers of all abilities in 4th-12th grade. It’s not about the results; it’s about learning, improving, and having fun. Learn more about the 2024 Race Team format and how to get involved. Join us at Brick Wheels on December 7 from 6-7 pm. Let’s ride!
Trivia Night at Short's Brewing Co. Pull Barn
Join us on November 30, 2023, for Trivia Night at Short’s Brewing Company! Bring your pals to Short’s Pull Barn in Elk Rapids for a few hours of fun. Flex your brain power, win prizes, and test your wits against your friends, new and old!
Norte Youth Cycling is thrilled to host Trivia Night, and you can count on us to offer up some headscratchers.
Orange Saturday with Brick Wheels
Orange Saturday at Brick Wheels allows in-store shoppers to support a local business and a local nonprofit! For the second year in a row, Brick Wheels will donate 10% of all sales to Norte Youth Cycling. Stop in, shop the BEST gifts for the cyclists on your list, (get a little something for yourself), and do good this holiday season!
Brick Wheels is offering great deals on ski gear, ski and bike accessories, and $30 off their top bike service package.
Orange Saturday is only available on Saturday, November 25, from 9-5. In-store only. Can’t make it? Shop BrickWheels.com or donate to Norte today.
Downtown Light Parade & Tree Lighting
Who’s ready for a night of holiday joy? The tree lighting, Santa’s arrival, and the light parade will all take place downtown Traverse City! Join us for a very special bike ride as we ride in downtown Traverse City. Bring lights and good cheer - let’s make it a memory we share for years to come!
Shop Your Community Day
Support Norte on Saturday, November 11th just by shopping in Downtown TC!
Iceman Cometh Challenge
The Iceman Cometh Challenge is North America's largest point-to-point one-day mountain bike race! Join Norte Youth Cycling and over 5,000 racers for a full day of fun in the woods.
Learn more, explore volunteer opportunities and get involved!
Business Champion Happy Hour at Silver Spruce Brewing
Join our Business Champions as we thank the local business community for another year of much-appreciated support. Our Executive Director, Jill Sill, will provide a quick overview of Norte’s work so far in 2023, as well as a look into what’s in store for 2024 and beyond.
Your first beer is on us - hope to see you there!
Carson Square Bike Tune-Up
Norte will be helping get bikes back on the road! Residents of Carson Square and the immediate neighborhood surrounding the complex are encouraged to bring their bikes, no matter their current state, to be fixed up by our mechanics. We’ll provide new tubes, tires, seats, handlebar grips, chains, and more parts to ensure residents of Carson Square have safe, reliable transportation as we head into the fall season.
Want to help out? Sign up to be a volunteer!
Norte Yard Sale
Need a sweet deal on a gently used bike? Or want to snag some Norte gear at a steep discount? Stop by our Fall Yard Sale to get ready for a fall of riding! We’ll have refurbished adult bicycles for sale, an assortment of bike-related accessories and tools, as well and some Norte-branded swag to pick up for you or yours.
We’ll see you at the Norte Clubhouse from 10am-4pm rain or shine!
Pride Ride with Up North Pride
Join us at F&M Park for a ride through downtown TC led by Norte. We’ll end at The Little Fleet for Up North Pride’s Annual sign-making party in anticipation of Saturday’s march. The ride begins at 6 p.m., so be sure to get to the park a bit early to rally up! This is a free event. All ages are welcome.
Want to lend a hand? We’re looking for volunteers to help keep the ride safe, smooth, and fun! Sign up here.
Bikes, Bubbles, and Bands with Jeremy Reisig
Join us for a balance bike meet-up at the Norte Clubhouse! We have balance bikes and helmets to borrow for use on our super-fun skills course. The bubbles will be blowing and our musical guest, Jeremy Reisig will be playing for us all to enjoy! There is no cost - just come by for a morning of fun!
NMMBA Fiesta
Ride, relax and enjoy and evening in the woods with NMMBA.
This is a great chance to connect to the whole mountain biking community, put names to faces, and cap off the busy summer season. The Fiesta has quickly become an important part of our mission to show trail users how we do our work - and we need you there!
Get in a ride before, during or after festivities. Small groups will meet up and roll out all afternoon and into the evening, but don't be out too late! We'll have fajitas and other refreshments available all evening. Donations accepted (and encouraged) for the foodstuffs!
More Girls on Bikes - Mother Daughter Clinic
You asked us to provide an opportunity for a mother-daughter clinic, and we listened! Please register yourself and bring your daughter with you!
Please email questions to abby@norteyouthcycling.org.
Register Today!
Patrick's Heavy Ride
ide for a great cause and support Norte's mission to help more children ride bikes and connect with their community in Northern Michigan. Choose from 20, 50, or 90-mile ride options on the beautiful roads of Leelanau County. Mark your calendars for Saturday, July 29, 2023, and join Patrick's Heavy Riders to make a difference.
Accessible Recreation Day
Join Norte Youth Cycling and Disability Network Northern Michigan for a free family event focused on accessible recreation activities. The event will feature Norte's Bikes for All program and Adaptive Bike Fleet, along with adaptive bike demos. Come and learn about inclusive recreation agencies in the region, and have a fun day exploring hands-on activities together.
National Cherry Festival DTE Energy Foundation Cherry Royale Parade
Join us for the annual Norte Kids Balance Bike Race during the 2023 National Cherry Festival. This fun-filled event is open to all children ages 2-5. We will have balance bikes and helmets for you to borrow.
We encourage you to pre-register below.
Day of registration begins at 9 am, with racing commencing at 10 am. Norte Man will be on hand to marshal the riders through the race course. Come cheer on our littlest riders and enjoy a morning of bike racing!
Date: Saturday, July 1
Registration: 9:00 - 10:00 am
Races: 10:00 - 11:30 am
Cherry Pie Ride
Join us for a leisurely slow roll during the National Cherry Festival 2023 with the Cherry Pie Bike Ride. We'll take a scenic route through Traverse City, enjoying the beautiful scenery and each other's company. Every rider in the pie ride will receive a voucher for a free slice of pie from the Grand Traverse Pie Company. All ages and abilities are welcome, so come ride with us!