®
What Is DALMAC®?
The Dick Allen Lansing to Mackinaw Bicycle Tour was
originated in 1971 by former State Representative
Dick Allen of Ithaca. Since then, it has developed
into a nationally known bicycle camping tour
attracting over 2000 riders annually.
The objectives of DALMAC are to develop an awareness of bicycling and its needs among the citizens of Michigan, to promote bicycling as a healthy means of transportation and recreation, and to encourage wider participation in bicycle use. DALMAC staff is exclusively volunteers of the Tri-County Bicycle Association (TCBA.) All routes will begin at the MSU Pavilion in East Lansing and follow country roads whenever possible to attempt to provide the safest, most scenic routes between campgrounds.
Routes
Four of the five routes beginning in East Lansing end in Mackinaw
City. The exception is the 5-Day UP (5 UP) route which ends
in Sault Ste. Marie. The five day routes (
5-UP,
5-Day, and Quint Century), all begin on Wednesday
morning, September 1. The four day routes (4-Day West
and 4-Day East), begin on Thursday morning, September
2. All routes end on Sunday afternoon, September 5.
Look in the application for detailed descriptions of
the locations for overnights, etc.
The 5 UP route is now the only route that crosses the Mackinac Bridge, but riders on other routes are welcome to do the bridge crossing also. Riders may begin crossing the bridge between 8 and 10 am and must be across by 11 am Sunday morning. Riders on the other four routes are welcome to do the bridge crossing too, but there are no provisions for them otherwise. Return transportation buses from Sault Ste. Marie are only available to riders on the 5 UP route.
Camping
Yes, DALMAC is a camping tour. There should be no surprise, with up to 500 riders on each of 5 routes, that's a lot of people needing overnight accomodations. Fortunately, DALMAC has found many schoolyards and parks where riders can be accomodated.
Baggage
Tents, bedding, other belongings are carried along the route in 1 or 2 bags (50 lb. max. each) on baggage trucks. Riders load their bags in the morning and retrieve their bags in the evening.
Meals
Two meals are provided at each campsite: an evening meal following the ride, and a morning meal prior to the next days ride. Meals are not provided along the route. Exception: when food is unavailable for extended distances (more than 15-20 miles), a foodstop is arranged along the route.
Returning to East Lansing
Riders needing
transportation back to East Lansing may purchase bus
tickets when they apply for DALMAC. Bus tickets are
not available after August 1, 2010. Rider's bicycles
are brought back to East Lansing on the baggage
trucks.
Services
The following are companies that will provide additional services to 2010 DALMAC riders.- Shuttleguy (2010 services for 5-UP & 5-Day routes: chair; towel; and tent, mattress, etc.)
-
Padre's Cycle Inn (camping, towel,
& chair services for both 4-Day routes &
the Quint Century)