The 2018 Baroudeur, Wayne State University’s fourth annual cycling event, will be held on Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018. Registration is now open.
Proceeds directly benefit Wayne State University scholarships and the university’s Helping Individuals Go Higher (HIGH) program, which supports students whose unstable housing situations threaten their dreams of earning a degree.
This year, participants can choose between four courses – 20, 37, 62 or 100 miles – based on their individual experience and fitness levels. All Baroudeur courses are on the open road, and cyclists will be riding with vehicular traffic and must obey traffic laws.
“Based on feedback from participants, this year we are adding a 37-mile option for those that want to ride more than 20 miles, but not as many as 62,” said Matt Lockwood, ride director.
Riders are encouraged to register early and take advantage of early bird pricing:
- Through June 18: $60
- June 19 – July 18: $70
- July 19 – August 14: $80
Event registration will end at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 14.
The Baroudeur is a fun, noncompetitive event, but the distances require increasing levels of physical fitness. To help participants prepare, training rides will be held once again this year on Tuesday evenings at 6 p.m., beginning May 1. Additional details about these free, no-drop training rides — and other ways to prepare for the Baroudeur — can be found online.
On Aug. 18, participants and volunteers are invited to enjoy a post-ride party on campus with lunch, beer and music.
To further support WSU students in need, a Crowdrise page has been launched. Riders, as well as faculty, staff, alumni and other members of the campus community, can donate or raise money in support of student scholarships and the HIGH program.
Schools, colleges and units across campus are encouraged to fundraise as teams; funds can be directly allocated to specific scholarships.
Last year, faculty and staff in the Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences created a team — the EACPHS Diversity Scholarship Riders — and together raised nearly $2,500 for the EACPHS Diversity Scholarship fund. Similarly, cyclists and members of Wayne State University Police Department formed Team 128 and raised more than $3,000 for the Collin Rose Memorial Scholarship.
“Crowdfunding makes it possible to make a bigger impact, and we’ve got some great incentives planned for those who raise the most,” said Lockwood. “For some students, just a few hundred dollars can make the difference between staying in school and dropping out. Any amount can help fill the gap.”
To learn more, or register, visit baroudeur.wayne.edu.