Rees' Pieces: State's scenery made DALMAC worth the trip

(Originally published Sept. 2007)

I am not going to lie to you. The DALMAC was a real pain in the butt - literally.

But here’s what it also was: An opportunity to take in all the scenery our beautiful state has to offer, a time to build companionship with friends and to make new friends alike, all while accomplishing something you may not have thought you could do.

From Aug. 30 to Sept. 2, I participated in my fourth bicycling tour. I was joined by five friends - Tom Bryde, James Bryde, Jon Williams, Michelle Stahl, and Mark Stahl - during a four-day quest from East Lansing to Mackinaw City.

Besides a four or five-day bike ride, what exactly does a typical DALMAC experience entail? To help provide an answer, here is a list of Frequently Asked Questions.

What exactly is the DALMAC?

It is a bicycle tour founded in 1971 by former Sen. Dick Allen. Dick Allen Lansing (to) Mackinaw. Get it?

The event, organized by the Tri-County Bicycle Association (TCBA), has since grown to over 2,300 bicyclists. Riders are given a choice of five routes, ending in either Mackinaw City or DeTour Village. This year, my friends and I opted to do the east. Our daily destinations consisted of Shepherd, Houghton Lake, Gaylord, and, ultimately, Mackinaw City.

Doesn’t food and lodging get expensive? How do you get your luggage from one point to another?

Riders don’t have to carry their own luggage. The DALMAC isn’t THAT hard core. Luggage, sleeping bags, and tents are transported via semi truck and dropped off at a new destination every day – always a local high school or junior high school. My favorite part? DALMAC feeds you. The food isn’t half bad either. Chicken one night, pasta the next, and lots of choices. All this is included in your registration fee.
They can even bring you back.

I can tell you precious little about DALMAC mornings. The 6 a.m. wake up calls always left me wandering in a dream-like haze. Listening to “Do Wah Diddy Diddy,” by Manfred Mann blast from the Shepherd High School cafeteria speakers made for a surreal experience. Did that really happen? I… don’t… know.

Memorize this "cycle" and you will have all you need to know for a successful DALMAC:
Eat, bike 60 or 70 miles or so, set up tents, shower, eat, sleep, repeat.

Not everybody camps though. Mark and Michelle conveniently had family along the route and stayed with them. I’d chastise them, but I “cheated” on the third day, utilizing a hotel reservation with Jon once I reached Gaylord.

Bicycling for hours on end sounds deathly boring. How do you pass the time?

• Sing random songs and recreate lyrics. For example: “And I would bike 500 miles, and I would bike 500 more...”

• Get creative. I named our rag tag group of bikers, “Team Salsa,” and even came up with a catchy slogan - “Team Salsa! Show me your lightning bolt!”

• Play games. Try the pirate game. Whenever you see a sign with an “AR” in it, scream it out loud like a pirate.
“CARR wash!”
“ARRnie’s ARRts and Crafts!”
“Wal-MARRt!”

What is the Century Option?

On Day 4 of the east route, riders have the option of detouring into the west route, totaling up 100 miles in one day. Months ago, James and I made a commitment to accomplish the feat.

Thirteen miles into Day 4, we found ourselves at the cross roads. Go straight and do the normal route at 77 miles. Turn left and travel 100 miles. Here we faced a moment of truth.

A group of five gung-ho bicyclists — real Lance Armstrong types, I thought — were making their way towards us. We agreed they were turning left. Sure enough, they did. About 50 yards down the road, they turned back.

“We just realized this was the Century route,” one of them said. “We’re not THAT CRAZY.”

James turned to me and said, “Well, we’re stupid. Let’s go.”

I’ll confess I was having some serious second thoughts about two-thirds of the way through, but the scenery alone made the Century Option worth it. We made our way up along the Lake Michigan shore line, and flew along M-119 through its famed “Tunnel of Trees” at 30 mph. Moments like these make the DALMAC priceless, despite the hills and headwinds.

How fast can that two-wheeled baby go?

This question is best answered five miles into Day 4 of the east route in the form of what DALMAC affectionately calls, “Lose Your Breakfast Hill.” In one of the few occasions where I was able to consciously break my gaze of sheer terror and glance down at my odometer, it read 40 mph.

Would you recommend the experience?

Absolutely. As evidenced by the two AARP card holders that blew by James and I on that last day, almost anyone can do it. You will be surprised at what you are capable of. Train early and often. And be sure to sign up early, the routes fill up fast.