What:
More than 1,000 cyclists will ride Wayne State University's inaugural urban bike ride, The Baroudeur (bah-roo-DUHR), through Detroit and its surrounding communities. Covering 100 miles of city streets, The Baroudeur is among the largest urban century rides in the country. The route will take riders through iconic metro Detroit landmarks and sights, including Belle Isle, Lakeshore Drive, Palmer Park, downtown Detroit and Grosse Ile before winding back to WSU's Midtown campus for a celebration.
Media is invited to cover the entire day's activities, including the starting line, route coverage on city roadways, finish line activities and the post-ride celebration on Wayne State's campus.
When:
Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015
-Starting line activities will run from 7- 9 a.m.
-Riders will be out on their routes from 7 a.m.-1 p.m.
-Riders will be crossing the finish line between 11 a.m.1:30 p.m. (president will come in around 1:30)
-Post-ride events on campus will take place between 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
Who:
Reporters are welcome to interview Baroudeur participants and volunteers throughout the day. Please contact Mike Brinich at 586-703-6966 to interview a ride official or President Wilson. Wilson will be riding the 100-mile course, so he will be available at the conclusion of his ride between 1:30-3 p.m.
Where:
The start/finish line is located along Gullen Mall near the newly renovated Student Center Building and the Mort Harris Recreation and Fitness Center on the campus of WSU. Routes for each ride can be found at baroudeur.wayne.edu/ride.php.
The Baroudeur is an open road course, so reporters and photographers covering the event along the route must obey normal traffic laws.
Parking:
Television production trucks can park along Anthony Wayne Drive. Parking for vehicles is free in WSU Parking Structure 2.
More about The Baroudeur:
Inspired by WSU President M. Roy Wilson's passion for cycling and his commitment to providing all qualified students access to higher education, all net proceeds from the event will go toward WSU student scholarships. The Baroudeur is a fun, non-competitive event for riders of all experience levels. In addition to a 100-mile route, riders will be taking on distances of 62 (100 kilometers), 50 and 20 miles.
Baroudeur means fighter or warrior in French. It is a term used in cycling for riders not afraid to break away from the peloton and do things on their own, even if they might be an underdog.
In Paul Fournel's collection of cycling essays, Vélo, he describes baroudeurs as "adventurers, opportunists and chancers. They do not seek the love of their colleagues in the peloton, but strain at the leash, pushing against convention, experimenting and taking risks. They are generalists and polymaths, adept at multiple disciplines."