Great Lakes Rides and Events - Tour De troit on 9/15/12 - Any feedeback

Anybody have any feedback on this tour from prior years? It sounds like fun.

http://www.tour-de-troit.org

All I know is that the metric is fully registered and is not taking anymore sign-ups.

Sounds like fun! I didn't register, but shouldn't hurt to show up.

I saw this and the ride in Windsor as well...unfortunately I cannot make it but would like to try. I have never been apart of a group ride or any organized ride/race for that matter so I am hesitant because of not knowing the rules, etiquette, etc.

I am the ultimate noob!

This was my first year riding in tour de troit. I did the 30 miles leisure ride and it was great! The route takes you thru different neighborhood around metro detroit and i was fascinated by some of the buildings/houses we passed. Even the abandoned ones. I particularly love the ride thru downtown detroit even tho i drive in the city regularly. The whole route was mostly closed course except for a few intersection where the police will stop the traffic and let groups of riders pass. Due to the number of riders, there was inevitably congestion near those intersections. The route also takes you around belle isle and you have the option to stop at the mid point rest stop for bathrooms/rest/water/pictures. It was also a great opportunity to see all different sort of bikes. They also have people thru out the ride to help anyone with bike problems. I had a flat while going thru belle isle and they fixed me up right away. After the ride they provide food/beer and entertainment. Slows BBQ was there serving up an awesome chilli. All in all, it was a great ride and i will definately do it again next year.

Coming in late here, but I can also strongly recommend the Tour De Troit. I've done it every year for the last four years, and have had a great time every year. This year was a completely closed course, with over 5,000 riders. Only two minor downsides from this year's format - the occasional congestion that ialtqq mentioned, and if anything delayed you (like a flat or something) the course could be re-opened to vehicular traffic while you were still on it. My wife is not the fastest rider, and stopped to offer aid to a lady who had fallen on Belle Isle before a SAG team go to her. This combination put us into the SAG stop on Belle Isle late, and by the time we got back on the route, we were in traffic. I wouldn't have hesitated to catch up to the pack, but my wife is really nervous about riding in traffic, so we hopped on the River Walk after coming off Belle Isle and made our way back to the start at Roosevelt park. No big deal, but could have been for suburbanites not familiar with, or uncomfortable in, the city.

I may attend this year, this sounds like a great ride!