May 30 bicycle tour set to roll in Oakland County

Bicycle enthusiasts, get ready to channel your inner Lance Armstrong this upcoming Memorial Day.

The Commerce Township Board of Trustees voted earlier this month to authorize the Friends of the Huron Valley Trail, a bike advocacy group, to use Commerce trails as part of the group’s Tour de Lakes event, a bicycle tour that will take place on May 30.

The Tour de Lakes was first held about a decade ago before entering a period of dormancy, and now the Friends of the Huron Valley Trail have decided to revive it.

“We are just delighted to have a bicycle tour that provides a beautiful background that borders the many lakes in Oakland County in the spring,” said Fred Dore of the Friends of the Huron Valley Trail group.

The tour offers routes of varying distances — eight, 18, 31, and 62 miles — throughout the scenic lakes area of western Oakland County. Most of the 62-mile route is on roads in the rural, far western and northern portions of Oakland County to avoid some of the more traffic congested areas that may be present on Memorial Day.

To accommodate children, families, and less-experienced riders, the Tour de Lakes will also offer an 8-mile route on the Lakes Community Pathway, and all routes are equipped with periodic rest stops.

The tour will begin at Walled Lake Central High School at 7 a.m. and last until 4 p.m. on May 30. Before May 1, the cost is $18 per individual and $42 per family. After May 1, the price increases to $25 and $58, respectively. The proceeds will be split between the Friends of the Huron Valley Trail and two student groups from Walled Lake Northern and Walled Lake Central high schools.

To request more information, email TourDeLakes@aol.com.