Welcome to the Fundo Ride Guide!

All the details you need to join us for our Fundo. Please reach out if you don’t see what you are looking for.

Still need to register? Click here:

Sunday October 13th, 2024

10am Roll Out.

After the ride we will meet at the Lowertown Bar & Cafe, just across the parking lot from the bike shop. They have outdoor seating and plenty of drinks. Surely an upgrade from our alley on rides from the past!

Parking is limited in Lowertown. If you have to drive please use THIS lot, just across Broadway. Please do not park behind our shop, we want to leave plenty of spots for The Northside Grille.

The Fundo is a self supported, un-timed and non-competitive ride through the dirt roads and bike paths of Washtenaw County. Go fast or go slow, it really does not matter as long as you are having fun. This is a mass start event, but expect the group to split up along the way.

Groups of riders will form based on speed and fitness but if you want to ensure you have company recruit some friends to join!

Make sure you have everything you need to complete the ride and navigate yourself back to the start, or home.

The planned route is 48 or 25 miles of mixed surface riding with some pavement and multi-use paths thrown in.

To the left are links to our intended routes. All riders are encouraged to review the route, download it to their phone/GPS device or print out a cue sheet for reference throughout the ride. There will be no route markers so having the route with you if you separate from the group is a good idea.

The are plenty of opportunities to grab a snack along the way although not every group or rider will stop, so make your own choices. Here is a short list of stops along the way:

In Whitmore Lake, there are several stores, but our favorite is:

  • The Lakeside Party Shoppe, located here off Barker Road.

Dexter also has too many options to list for a quick bite or a sit down meal. Our favorites are:

  • Pace & Speed of the ride

    It’s up to you! Go fast or slow. Stop for pictures and coffee, or set a personal best time! Although we will start as a group, riders will quickly split into smaller groups and complete the ride at different rates. Some may ride alone, some will make new friends to ride with.

  • What to bring

    While we are traveling in a group, each rider is expected to be self-sufficient and bring all supplies, tools, food and other items they will need for the ride. If you are not sure what you need please ask questions!

  • After the ride

    This year we plan to end the ride at the Lowertown Bar & Cafe, just across the parking lot from or shop. They will have plenty of drinks
    to purchase and have generously agreed to offer a 25% discount to all Fundo riders. They do not, however, have food currently so bring any snacks you may need.

  • Rules of the Road

    While most of this ride is on dirt roads, we will be on some busy paved roads as well and sharing the roads with cars. HERE is a wonderful article from our friends at Michigan Bike Law that outlines some rules and guidelines for having a safe ride and being good representatives of the cycling community.

Last thing, some thoughts on bike paths:

We have intentionally planned some of this route to follow some of the multi-use paths we have here in Washtenaw County. They are gorgeous, traffic free and here for us cyclists to use. Here are some guidelines for blissfully sharing bike paths with fellow cyclists, joggers, dog walkers, and everyone else, from our friends at Bicycling Magazine:

1. Be nice. It’s the most important thing. You’re representing cyclists as a group. Don’t be a stone-faced automaton hell-bent on maintaining your 19.5 mph pace. Treat people the way you want to be treated. Be friendly. Wave. Say hello. It will make all of our time on these super paths a little more fun. 

2. Get out of time-trial mode, duh. It’s fun to go fast, but a bike path isn’t the place to seek a KOM. Yes, you can crank things up a bit if you have clear sight lines and few other users but, as a general rule, keep it under control.

3.  Ride right, pass left. Act like a car in these situations. Right for travel, left for passing. And, of course, obey all traffic signals.

4. Slow down—and be prepared to stop—when there are others around. People are unpredictable. Kids and pets especially, but the truth is, anyone can be so involved in a conversation or wrapped up in their own thoughts that they’ll make a bad choice even if they hear you coming. Slow to a walking pace and keep your hands on your brakes.

5. Make some noise well before passing. A bell is more charming (and less startling) than an “on your left!” but either is preferable to a stealth pass. Make noise—be sure you’re heard—well before you reach the person you’re passing.

6. Look around (and signal!) before passing or stopping. Just because you’re doing it right doesn’t mean everyone else is. Before you swing left to pass or hit the brakes to stop, throw out a hand signal, and take a look behind you for oncoming traffic. 

7. Don’t stand in the path. Sometimes it’s nice to stop and look around and take a drink. Pull off the path when you do so, otherwise you’ll block the way for everyone else.