One Week to PALM!!!

June 14, 2026 / / 2 Comments

Good morning fellow PALM friends,

I can’t believe we are but a week away from PALM 2026! I would like to take a moment to welcome all of you to this year’s adventure. Attached are videos explaining what to expect when you arrive at 7:30 am in Oscoda to start your journey or after 12 noon in Pentwater and a typical day on PALM. Parking in Pentwater is not all located at the school. Please be sure to follow the signage and map to ensure that everyone is parked in the correct location for the overnight and week long term parking.

Pentwater School Campus

Find your perfect overnight camping spot and pitch your tent. CPAP users can find the designated CPAP camping area for access to power squids (please use the power for only CPAPs). If using the Comfy Campers tenting service, check in at their awning/tents for the night. RV/camper parking is available on the road in front of the school. Note that campers cannot be plugged into the school, though generators are allowed but must be turned off during quiet hours from 10 PM to 7 AM.

Registration check-in will be from 3-5 pm arranged by rider bib numbers. All participants must have a signed waiver to check-in; blank waivers will be available on site. If traveling with a minor without a parent or guardian, their waiver must be signed by a parent beforehand. After check-in, dinner is on your own. The first nightly meeting is at 7:30 pm for riders and volunteers to find dinner in Pentwater, with subsequent meetings at 7 pm for the rest of the week. Check-in will reopen for an hour after the Saturday meeting and again from 7:30-8:30 am on Sunday. Note that it is not a water bottle gift year, so please bring your own from home.

Jess Striking a Pose!

As we prepare for the week, remember that Michigan’s weather is unpredictable, so pack accordingly. A suggested packing list is available on our website (All About PALM section). To keep your clothing dry in case of rain, use plastic baggies for packing (wet tents in the trucks can get everything wet). Ensure bags weigh 40 pounds or less and are manageable by one person. Don’t forget to bring cash in small bills for tips, bike shops, and some stores along the route. As an early childhood educator, I enjoy spirit week (during the ride and/or at camp), and here are the daily themes: Nature Made Sunday (nature-inspired shirt/jersey), Make a Joke Monday (shirt/jersey with funny sayings), Talk About It Tuesday (wear something representing an organization), Wear It Wednesday (previous PALM gear), Theatrical Thursday (be creative!), and Friday is for PALM 2026 shirts and parade gear.

Don’t forget your helmet! Helmets MUST be worn by all riders at all times while on your bike, including in school parking lots. Riders may be asked to leave the ride for helmet violations, as this can void our ride insurance coverage.

✨✨ This year, we will have a share table. Bring clean, good-condition bicycling clothing to offer to other riders. ✨✨

For those riding the bus from Oscoda, please arrive by 7:30am to start loading bicycles before the busses arrive. Riders must remove pedals (wrenches available), computers, bags, water bottles, and other removable items. Ebike batteries should remain on the bike and not be loaded under the bus due to fire hazards. Once the busses arrive, load your luggage beneath the bus and board. Get comfy and enjoy your ride to Pentwater.

I look forward to riding the northern route with all of you! These routes are my favorite, and with them come more hills. As Gene says, hills build character, and I can’t wait to build character together this year.

See you Saturday,

Jess Rasmussen (@JessRasmussen-bikemom on YouTube)

2026 PALM Chair

The Countdown Is On: Just 12 Days Until PALM 2026!

June 8, 2026 / / 7 Comments

The countdown is officially on!

In just 12 days, cyclists from across Michigan and beyond will gather in Pentwater to dip their back tire in Lake Michigan and begin the journey across the Lower Peninsula to Oscoda on the shores of Lake Huron.

Whether you’re a first-time rider or a PALM veteran, now is the time to put the finishing touches on your preparations:

🚴 Complete those final training rides – your backside will thank you later!

🎒 Review your packing list

🚌 Confirm your transportation plans

🚲 Give your bicycle a final safety check

👕 Get ready to show off your PALM 2026 shirt

💵 Pack some small bills to support local schools, student groups, and volunteers along the route

PALM is more than a bike tour—it’s six days of scenic roads, welcoming communities, new friendships, unforgettable memories, watermelon stops, and the unique experience of crossing Michigan under your own power.

From the Lake Michigan tire dip in Pentwater to the Lake Huron tire dip in Oscoda, every mile brings adventure, accomplishment, and fun.

The PALM planning committee had our final pre-tour meeting yesterday. We can’t wait to welcome riders, volunteers, SAG drivers, truck drivers, and support teams for another incredible week on the road.

Visit https://palmbiketour.org for information on buses and to download your Ride with GPS routes.

6 days. One state. Two Great Lakes. Countless memories.

See you in Pentwater!

Just Over 4 Weeks Until PALM 2026 — It’s Almost Time to Roll! 🚲

May 20, 2026 / / 0 Comments

The countdown is officially on — in just over four weeks, riders will gather at the shore of Lake Michigan in Pentwater to begin an unforgettable journey across the mitten.

Soon enough, tires will dip into Lake Michigan, friendships will form (or pick right back up where they left off), and six days later riders will celebrate together at Lake Huron in Oscoda.

PALM has always been about more than miles. It’s about community, adventure, traditions, and making memories one pedal stroke at a time.

Whether this is your first tour or your twentieth:

  • Pull your bike out and give it a quick once-over.
  • Start thinking about packing lists.
  • Get a few rides in to wake up those cycling legs.
  • Check your registration details.
  • Tell your friends — there’s still time to join the adventure.

And don’t forget…the famous PALM moments are waiting:
🍉 Watermelon stops
🍬 Licorice breaks
🚚 Friendly SAG support
🛠️ Route mechanics
🏕️ Camp conversations
📸 Scenic views across Michigan
🚲 The satisfaction of crossing the state under your own power

Before you know it, we’ll be watching riders line up, hearing freewheels click, and beginning another incredible week together.

June 20–26, 2026 is coming fast.

Your bike is ready. Michigan is waiting.

See you at the lake!

🚨You Asked, We Listened: The 2026 PALM T-Shirt Is Here 🚨

May 2, 2026 / / 4 Comments

Fresh drop, PALM style.

👕 Front

Clean, bold, and Michigan proud—capturing the spirit of the ride.

🔁 Back

All the stops. All the stories. All the bragging rights.

🎯 Why You Want It

  • Looks good on and off the bike
  • Your official “I did that” badge
  • Guaranteed to spark conversations (and maybe a little envy)

⚠️ Quick Heads-Up

After May 10th, pricing goes up—and the rad t-shirt is no longer available..

👉 Get Yours

Register, lock it in, and ride in style: palmbiketour.org

Warning: May cause excessive smiling and repeat registrations.

PALM Tour Update: Lock It In (and Score the Shirt) By May 10th to Save 💸

April 30, 2026 / / 8 Comments

If PALM is on your summer roadmap, here’s the headline: rates increase on May 11th—and so does the opportunity cost. Wait, and you’ll pay more and miss out on one of the best perks.

Registration for the Pedal Across Lower Michigan (PALM) is about to move to the next pricing tier. And once that switch flips, the RAD PALM t-shirt is no longer included. Yes—this is your limited-time, wearable bragging rights.

What’s at stake:

  • Price goes up after May 10th. Same ride, higher buy-in.
  • No shirt after May 10th. The iconic PALM tee is an early-bird perk—miss the date, miss the gear.
  • Spots are capped. PALM keeps it intentionally limited for safety, support, and that signature community vibe.

Why act now (besides saving money and scoring the shirt):

  • You help a 100% volunteer crew plan routes, SAG coverage, host sites, and rider support with precision.
  • You lock in six days of scenic riding, water stops, watermelon (and yes, licorice), on-route mechanics, and a community that shows up.

Your move:

  1. Register before May 10 to secure current pricing and the RAD t-shirt.
  2. Block your calendar and start your training ramp.
  3. Recruit your crew—this ride is better together.

Bottom line: After May 10, you’ll pay more and ride without the shirt. By May 10, you’re saving money and rolling in style.

Make the smart play. Register now. 🚴‍♀️

Less Than Four Months Until PALM XLIII — The Countdown Is On!! 🚴

March 8, 2026 / / 0 Comments

Are you registered?

We’re officially inside the four-month window until the next Pedal Across Lower Michigan — and that means the adventure is getting real.

In just a few short months, hundreds of riders will roll across Michigan’s lower peninsula together for a week of cycling, laughter, watermelon stops, and the kind of memories that only happen on the road. If you’ve been thinking about joining PALM this year, consider this your friendly nudge — now is the time to register and start preparing.

The good news is you don’t need to be a professional cyclist to enjoy PALM. This tour is designed to be family-friendly, welcoming, and supportive for riders of all experience levels. Along the route you’ll find:

  • Regular water stops to keep you hydrated
  • Fresh watermelon and licorice stops (a PALM tradition)
  • Bike mechanics ready to help with unexpected issues
  • Educational opportunities for both new and experienced riders
  • Activities to keep young riders entertained
  • An incredible volunteer team keeping everything running smoothly

Between now and tour week, riders can start building endurance, tuning up bikes, and maybe convince a friend or two to join the fun. A few training rides now will make those summer miles feel a whole lot sweeter.

And if riding the full route isn’t in the cards, PALM still runs on volunteers. SAG drivers, truck drivers, and support volunteers play a huge role in making the tour safe and enjoyable for everyone. If you are interested in volunteering please email palmbiketour@yahoo.com.

So mark the calendar, dust off the bike, and start the countdown!

PALM will be here before you know it.

See you on the road. 🚴‍♀️🍉
Michelle Tuckerman
PALM Registration Representative


PALM is a family-friendly, scenic and affordable bicycle tour across Michigan’s lower peninsula. Included are support and gear (SAG) service, overnight facility use for tent camping with showers and bathrooms, transport of luggage between sites, road markings and GPS cues for routes, daily fruit stop, bicycle education, and children’s activities! Optional add-ons include meal plans, transportation from the end to the start, and third-party campsite setup service. E-bikes are welcome!

Registration begins in 2 days!

December 30, 2025 / / 0 Comments

PALM XLIII REGISTRATION 
OPENS JAN. 1, 2026

www.bikesignup.com/palm

2026 DATES: Saturday, June 20 – Friday, June 26, 2026

2026 SITES: Pentwater, Montague, White Cloud, Evart, Houghton Lake, Hale, Oscoda

Our low cost includes: SAG (support and gear) service, overnight facility use for tent camping with showers and bathrooms, transport of luggage between sites, road markings and GPS cues for routes, daily watermelon stop, bicycle education, and children’s activities!

Optional add-ons available! See website for details about the cafeteria meal plan and bus transportation options.

MISSION STATEMENT:
Pedal Across Lower Michigan (PALM) is a non-profit group dedicated to encouraging family bicycling and the promotion of bicycling safety.

Female tourist photographing using mobile phone on road amidst field

PALM XLII Epilogue

July 11, 2025 / / 0 Comments

More new friends — more connections to our communities!

— friends that become family, found on PALM —

This year we had 438 participants, from under 1 to 87 years young! A 9 year old was the youngest rider to complete the ride on their own bike. 

Mother Nature gave us some challenges this year, but great memories were made along the route. We would love to hear from riders as they reflect on their trip across this great state and encourage them to reach out with stories, comments and ideas.

We invite any alumni who wishes to submit a route proposal to do so by email or at the annual volunteer staff picnic in September. Details will be on our Facebook Page, or contact us using the PALM email. Please include estimated daily mileage and any pertinent details (stayed there previously, swimming access, special events) to proposed routes. 

Thank you all for a great year, and I look forward to seeing new and familiar faces in September.

Jess
PALM Chair

One month to PALM XLII

May 21, 2025 / / 1 Comment

If you haven’t reviewed Packing for PALM this is a good time to do so!

Uh-oh … did registration slip your mind?
You can still join us on PALM, but optional add-ons may not be available.

Everyone who registered for bus transportation on Saturday or Friday should have received arrival and parking instructions.

Routes are available for review on Ride with GPS.
Always attend the evening meetings for any changes due to unexpected closures.

Two months to PALM XLII

April 21, 2025 / / 1 Comment

SOCIAL MEDIA TAKEOVER!

Please join us in a 24-hour promotion by changing your profile pic on your preferred social network to one of our PALM XLII graphics — grab one here! Canva users can customize the graphic here: template

► APRIL 26

This will be the last newsletter before add-ons may become unavailable (May 10) so if you want to add the cafeteria meal plan or bus transportation from the end to the start (Saturday or Friday) to your registration, visit the ADD-ONs page for details.

Check out the Downloads page for new color flyers you can save and print. Topics include:

  • Before Registration
  • After Registration
  • Preparing for PALM
  • Packing for PALM
  • Pedal Safely
  • Host Sites
  • A Day on PALM

So, what will you be riding? Tell us about your bike, trike, tandem, recumbent, e-bike or custom built ride in the comments!