Meet a Community Partner: Cherry Capital Cycling Club
With more than 500 members, the Cherry Capital Cycling Club (CCCC) has been the champion of cycling in the region for the past 40 years, contributing more than $400,000 to regional bike trails, infrastructure and programs. That’s been a labor of love for the club because our focus is on fun, fitness, and friendship!
Each year, our highly experienced ride leaders conduct hundreds of free rides for members. Road rides, mountain biking and gravel biking are among the options for club members and this year the CCCC will begin offering a bike touring component with a trip to Beaver Island. There’s also an “easy does it” Bike For Fun program for neophyte members, limited to rides of 10 miles or so at a 10-14 mph pace.
The club’s crowning achievements are its two major tours held each year, which attract riders from throughout the Midwest and beyond: the Ride Around Torch (RAT) on July 21st and the Leelanau Harvest Tour (LHT) on September 21st. Both of these events offer rides for every level of cyclist, including 24, 40, 65 and 100 mile routes. Registration for both events is currently open on our website.
Socializing is the heartbeat of the club, with frequent mixers, picnics, a yearly campout and more. Club volunteers receive special recognition with awards and an annual party.
The CCCC is an all-volunteer organization whose mission is to promote cycling as part of a healthy lifestyle. We accomplish this by:
• conducting rides and other bicycling events;
• providing social opportunities for members;
• promoting bicycle safety;
• supporting local, state, and national bicycling and trail organizations;
• advocating increased cycling support among the public, government agencies and elected officials.
The club is a proud supporter of every cycling organization in the five-county region, including TART, She Bikes, the Northern Michigan Mountain Biking Association, Friends of the Sleeping Bear & Betsie Valley Trails, and of course, Norte. In past years, we have donated grant funds to Norte to support youth cycling programs such as Estrellas, Bike Mas and the Kalkaska and Suttons Bay Strong programs, as well as first aid kits for Norte ride leaders and remodeling the Norte Wheelhouse.
Being an all-volunteer organization, the Club is funded with annual dues of $25 per person. We also raise funds through our RAT and LHT events, but these funds are largely used to fund our grant program, which is used for cycling projects and education in our five-County area.
If you’re interested in riding with us, consider joining and supporting CCCC. When you join CCCC, you receive our newsletter eight times per year that keeps you up to speed with our local cycling community, safety and education tips, and our social events that make biking fun!
Follow us on our private Facebook Group Page, Instagram and YouTube channel.
Check us out at https://www.cherrycapitalcyclingclub.org
