Bike Ride, Not Race, Inspired By Tour-de-France
By Leslie Rott

When Greg Drawbaugh and his brother Doug began organizing the Zoo-de-Mackinac 15 years ago, they never imagined that what started as a “51-mile bike bash” with eight of their closest friends would turn into a “51-mile bike bash” with 2,000 of their closest friends.

“We had no intention of ever turning it into a business,” said Mr. Drawbaugh of the success of the event. The event got started by accident, he said, when he and some friends went skiing at Boyne over the Thanksgiving holiday and there was not enough snow on the ground. So thoughts turned to bicycles and a ride on highway 119, along the picturesque shore of Lake Michigan.

The first year of the event, they tried out new mountain bikes on a trip from Harbor Springs to Mackinaw City, but today, the ride begins at Boyne Highlands and ends on Mackinac Island for an evening of good food, good music, and good company.

After the first year with a few friends, Mr. Drawbaugh sent flyers to a few other people and by the next year, the eight participants grew to 80. The event has grown each year since then.

“If it weren’t such a good, fun thing to do, it never would have gotten beyond eight,” Mr. Drawbaugh said.

He attributes the success of the race to a number of things. The trip is a beautiful one and highway 119 was voted one of the most scenic roads in the country by National Geographic Magazine. He also said there is something about combining physical exercise and partying that really makes people enjoy themselves. One other factor of success, he said, is that the event is highly organized and that he has been able to “make it real easy” for people to do.

The name of the event was inspired by the Tour-de-France, even though it is not a race. At Boyne Highlands, the Zoo Bar is where the participants party Friday night and since the event ends on Mackinac Island, that is how it got its name.

The event costs $39 for advance registration and $45 for late registration. The entry fee includes a party on Friday night, Saturday lunch, round trip ferry to and from the Island, and luggage transport for participants. Mr. Drawbaugh said that the fee also includes the cost of security along the event route.

“We’re a pretty low budget operation,” he said. “We have a good working relationship with everyone,” which also helps keep the cost down.

Zoo-de-Mackinac attracts young professionals, from 30 to 45, mainly from the Metro Detroit area, but also from the surrounding Midwest states. Children and senior citizens also take part.

“Our event is more than just a bike ride,” Mr. Drawbaugh said. “It is a great social event.” And according to Bob Lazzari, who has participated in Zoo-de-Mackinac for 14 of the 16 years it has been run, he knows 10 people who met at the event and are now married.

It’s “really a social thing,” he said.