Welcome! We invite you to join us for three days of scenic riding in north central Indiana and Michigan. Our headquarters for the weekend is Das Dutchman Essenhaus, located on the west side of Middlebury, Indiana. The facility includes an inn, restaurant, bakery, and village shops for you to explore. Das Dutchman Essenhaus is alcohol-free, but there are restaurants within easy walking distance with full bar service.

Weekend Schedule: (Eastern Daylight Savings Time)

Friday, May 31

• 3:45p.m. – Shipshewana Dinner Ride of 24 miles. We’ll ride north from the hotel and then east to Shipshewana where we’ll dine at the Blue Gate Restaurant (additional cost) for a traditional Amish meal. There are additional restaurants, including El Zorrito 2 Mexican and East of Chicago Pizza, if you prefer more traditional food. We’ll then ride the 10 miles back to the hotel on the Pumpkinvine Trail, arriving well before the 9:11pm sunset. Along the way, feel free to stop at the Dairy Queen, Dips on the Vine (ice cream) or Krider Worlds Fair Garden.

Saturday, June 1

• 8:45 a.m. – The Chicago Road Tour of 30, 39 and 59 miles traveling north into Michigan. All routes will have rest stops in White Pigeon and Bonneyville Mills, and the longer rides will include a loop to Mootville. Food is available in Bristol, IN and Mottville, MI (Jaywalker Restaurant).
• 5:00 p.m. – Social Hour at Meeting Room C just south of the hotel check-in counter
• 6:00 p.m. – Dinner consisting of tossed salad, turkey, vegetarian lasagna, mashed potatoes and gravy, buttered corn, green beens, and a variety of pies for desset. Coffee, tea, and lemonade will be provided..

Sunday, June 2

• 8:30 a.m (tentative). – Maple City Tour of 26, 35, and 45 miles. All routes will skirt the northeast side of Goshen with a break at Abshire Park in Goshen (the Maple City).

Please register on-line at Red Podium

Overnight Accommodations:

Das Dutchman Essenhaus – phone (574) 825-9447, located at 240 U.S. 20 on the west side of Middlebury. A block of 25 rooms will be held until April 31. The room rate is $149 plus 12% tax per night, and this rate includes breakfast. Call 574-825-9447 (option 5) to reserve your room and mention “Tandem / HOOTs.” You may keep your bike in your room, but you’re responsible for any damage. The Essenhaus Inn & Conference Center is a smoke-free, alcohol-free, and pet-free facility.

Camping – There are several campgrounds in Elkhart County, but none within 10 miles of the host hotel.

Ride Information (Ride with GPS Files)

All participants must sign a CIBA waiver. We strongly recommend using a GPS or the Ride with GPS app on your phone for route navigation. We will provide online copies of a cue sheet and map generated in Ride with GPS. If you prefer, you may create you own cue sheet on Ride with GPS. We will provide a composite map. showing all routes for a given day. Please print you own maps and cue sheets. Routes will NOT be marked with Dan Henrys. There will be no formal SAG support. Although our cell phone number will be provided on the cue sheet, we will be riding the event, and will not be able to respond immediately.

Routes are designed to allow rest stops at convenience stores and restaurants along the route. The routes have been planned with local support and ridden to determine that they are safe and appropriate. We will not be able to check the routes immediately prior to the event but will be in touch with local riders and the local highway departments to identify construction and other problems along the routes.

Pumpkinvine Cyclery is a full-service shop located on the northeast side of Middlebury. We suggest that you bring a few tubes and other parts that you might need.

Included with your Registration

• Three days of riding covered by the CIBA insurance policy
• Route maps and cue sheets along with GPS files
• Saturday night banquet catered by The Essenhaus Inn

Cancellation Policy:

If you need to cancel, please contact us as soon as possible. All refunds will be less $10 per adult. To guarantee your partial refund, you must contact Madelyn Zalon at mzalon@indy.rr.com or 317-459-2150 by May 13, 2024. After this date we will make every effort to recover your entry fee, but we can’t promise any refund. The sooner you contact us, the better your chances of getting a partial refund.

Please register on-line at Red Podium

Online registration closes on Monday, May 20. After this, contact Madelyn at mzalon@indy.rr.com or 317-459-2150. She will try to get you into the banquet, but there are no guarantees.

QUESTIONS? Please contact John Calhoun at ja_calhoun@indy.rr.com or 317-354-9844