Cycling History

Detroits automotive history was made possible by its deep roots in the world of bicycles! Visit the home of Horatio "Good Roads" Earle, the site of both Detroit Wheelmen clubhouses, the Metzger bicycle shop, the Morgan & Wright tire company, the Bicycle Pavilion on Belle Isle and the home of Fords Quadricycle. Tour will be led by Todd Scott, the Detroit Greenways Coordinator for the Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance. Community Partner: Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance.

Discover Detroit Dining

Join Nicole Rupersberg of Discover Detroit Dining for an insider view of Eastern Market. Riders will sample cheese, meat and spinach pies and olives at Gabriel Import Co. and a variety of cheeses at R. Hirt. Jr. Our final market stop will be at Vivios mussels and a Bloody Mary. This tour is all-inclusive, although additional purchases are on your own!

Ford Birthday Tour

In commemoration of the July 30 birthday of Henry Ford, this tour takes in some of the most significant auto heritage sites in the nation, including the Globe Building, the route of the first car in Detroit, The Piquette Model T Plant, the Highland Park Ford Plant, Oakman Boulevard, the Ford House in Boston-Edison and the historic Ford garage site in Downtown. Remember, Ford started as a bike mechanic! Ride Distance: 18 miles. Community Partner: Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance.

Belle Isle

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Explore the architecture of Detroits island gem, including the Eero Saarinen-designed Flynn Pavilion, the Albert Kahn-designed Conservatory and Aquarium, the Boat and Yacht Clubs, the Casino and Livingstone Lighthouse. A sampling of the parks numerous statues will be discussed, including the Spanish American War Memorial, a sculpture of the poet Dante, General Alpheus Starkey Williams and his famous horse Plug Ugly and Scott Fountain.

New Center

The Fisher Building alone would qualify New Center as one of Detroits most architecturally significant neighborhoods, but this tour will also take in the Argonaut Building, recently revived by the College for Creative Studies; the residential district of New Center Commons; the Milwaukee Junction district, home to the Model T Automotive Heritage Complex; and the business incubator district known as Tech Town.

Public Art (august edition)

Detroit has a plethora of amazing public art, from Hart Plazas Noguchi Fountain to the Heidelberg Project. This tour will take in a wide range, culminating with a stop at College for Creative Studys Josephine Ford Sculpture Garden. Please note: This tour will be repeated monthly through August.

Family Tour (August Edition)

Explore the RiverWalk, Milliken State Park and the Dequindre Cut with your little ones! This will be a short-distance slow ride, a great opportunity to make friends. A snack will be provided. Please note: This tour will repeat monthly through August.

Midtown/Woodbridge

There is lots of buzz building in Midtown, and for good reason! This tour will cruise though Brush Park, the Detroit Medical Center, Wayne State University, the Cultural Center and the nearby Woodbridge neighborhood. We will check out community gardens, indie boutiques and historic homes.

Architecture (August)

Local architect Brian Hurttienne will lead this overview of significant architecture in and around Downtown Detroit. The discussion will center on architecture in relation to urban planning, past and future developments as well as the social implications of architectural design, good and bad, in Detroit. Sites include Elmwood Cemetery, Lafayette Park, Brush Park, Wayne State University and the Medical Center. Ride distance: 15 miles. Please note: This tour will be repeated monthly through October.

Urban Agriculture: Farm to Fork (aug)

Ever wondered what a local food system actually looks like? Between Detroits Eastern Market, Gleaners Community Food Bank, and the 800 plus gardens and farms participating in the citys Garden Resource Program, Detroit offers a unique view of a local food system at work. Spend the afternoon touring Detroits local foodways on bicycles! This tour will give you the opportunity to engage with farms and gardens growing food, ride the streets this food travels, and experience the spaces where food reaches consumers forks. Please note: This tour will be repeated monthly through October.

University Commons

A chance to visit some of Detroits premier residential neighborhoods: University District, Palmer Woods, Sherwood Forest and Green Acres, as well as Palmer Park and the campus of the University of Detroit Mercy. Ride distance: 20 miles. Note: Looking for a shorter ride? We will coordinate a meeting time and place at Palmer Park!

Indie Boutiques

Experience shopping Midtown and New Center Stops will include Bureau of Urban Living, City Bird, Leopolds Books, Vera Jane, Pure Detroit and City Knits. Bring your wallet -- and panniers!

Mahadevan - Bernardo Wedding Ride!

Private Tour: Join Mahima & Shane as they tour around some of their favorite Detroit sites!

Boston Edison

This tour has a lot going for it: A nice ride through Downtown, Midtown, New Center and Woodbridge. Plus tour one of Detroit’s premier residential communities, and see the former homes of Berry Gordy, Henry Ford and Joe Louis, among other historical figures that shaped the city. Ride distance: 15 miles.

Gallery Scene (august edition)

Mix with Detroits arts community at this Friday night tour, which will stop at several galleries. The final route will be determined by scheduled openings, but we can guarantee a colorful evening! Please note: This tour will be repeated monthly through August.

Arts Incubators

Detroits creative community is an engine of adaptation, finding a home in former factories and even a school. This tour will take in the Russell Industrial Center, Pioneer Building and the Burton School, buildings that provide affordable studio space for working artists. We will check out selected studios and galleries as well as a new indie cinema, the Burton Theatre.

Southwest Detroit/Michigan Ave.

Viva Southwest! This tour will first focus on bustling Vernor Highway, lined with taquerias and thriving retail businesses, Clark Park and Holy Redeemer Church. Next up is sprawling Patton Park and the community garden at Romanowski Park. We will cruise Michigan Avenue on the way home, with a stop for lunch at the classic Hygrade Deli. Ride distance: 16 miles. Community Partner: Savor Southwest Detroit/SDBA.

Industrial Heritage

Detroit put the world on wheels, and this tour visits many of the citys significant automotive factories, including Poletown, Packard Plant, Ford Piquette Plant and Highland Park Ford Plant. Learn how the evolution of the industry impacted Detroits population, ethnic heritage, politics and geography over the years.

Architecture (Sept)

Local architect Brian Hurttienne will lead this overview of significant architecture in and around Downtown Detroit. The discussion will center on architecture in relation to urban planning, past and future developments as well as the social implications of architectural design, good and bad, in Detroit. Sites include Elmwood Cemetery, Lafayette Park, Brush Park, Wayne State University and the Medical Center. Ride distance: 15 miles. Please note: This tour will be repeated monthly through October.

Urban Agriculture: Farm to Fork (sept)

Ever wondered what a local food system actually looks like? Between Detroits Eastern Market, Gleaners Community Food Bank, and the 800 plus gardens and farms participating in the citys Garden Resource Program, Detroit offers a unique view of a local food system at work. Spend the afternoon touring Detroits local foodways on bicycles! This tour will give you the opportunity to engage with farms and gardens growing food, ride the streets this food travels, and experience the spaces where food reaches consumers forks. Please note: This tour will be repeated monthly through October.

Conner Creek Greenway

This one is a ride! We will take Gratiot – and wave at the Better Made factory! – out to the eastside’s Conner Creek Greenway, some of which is completed. Points of interest include Norris Town, the Dorais Velodrome and the Milbank Trail. A lunch stop at the historic (haunted) Two Way Inn is included in the tour. Ride distance: 25 miles. Community partner: Detroit Eastside Community Collaborative.

Urban Agriculture: Farm to Fork (oct)

Ever wondered what a local food system actually looks like? Between Detroits Eastern Market, Gleaners Community Food Bank, and the 800 plus gardens and farms participating in the citys Garden Resource Program, Detroit offers a unique view of a local food system at work. Spend the afternoon touring Detroits local foodways on bicycles! This tour will give you the opportunity to engage with farms and gardens growing food, ride the streets this food travels, and experience the spaces where food reaches consumers forks. Please note: This tour will be repeated monthly through October.

Architecture (October)

Local architect Brian Hurttienne will lead this overview of significant architecture in and around Downtown Detroit. The discussion will center on architecture in relation to urban planning, past and future developments as well as the social implications of architectural design, good and bad, in Detroit. Sites include Elmwood Cemetery, Lafayette Park, Brush Park, Wayne State University and the Medical Center. Ride distance: 15 miles. Please note: This tour will be repeated monthly through October.

Eastern Market (october)

Riders will head out from the RiverWalk to architecturally significant Lafayette Park and, from there, onto Eastern Market, one of Southeast Michigan’s most-vibrant places. At the market, cyclists will hear an overview of the 10-year plan for the area from Randall Fogelman, special projects manager for the Eastern Market Corp. After a couple of slices from neighborhood favorite Supino Pizza, we will walk off lunch with a tour of the farmers market before hopping back on our bikes. The ride back to the Wheelhouse will zoom down the Dequindre Cut rail-to-trail! Lunch included in price of tour. Distance: 5 mile ride, 1 mile walk.

Underground Railroad

Detroit was an important station on the Underground Railroad, and the final American stop prior to freedom across the River in Canada for many escaped slaves. We will visit the Underground Railroad memorial sculpture on the Detroit RiverWalk, historic Second Baptist Church, and the Underground Railroad Living Museum at the First Congregational Church.

Haunted Detroit

Dont be a fraidy cat, celebrate Halloween with Wheelhouses final tour of 2010. We will visit a few spots rumored to be haunted, including the Fort-Shelby and Leland Hotels, Majestic Theatre, and Masonic Temple, as well as a ride through Elmwood Cemetery.