When: July 26, 2026
Where: Iron Shoe Distillery | Niles, MI
Some Sundays just feel right from the jump, and this one had that energy. From the moment everyone rolled into Iron Shoe Distillery, it felt less like a bike ride and more like a class field trip where all your favorite people showed up and nobody had to ask permission to go to the bathroom.
Familiar faces mixed with new ones as riders picked between two routes: a smooth and steady 22‑mile road ride or a grit‑friendly 37‑mile gravel adventure. Both groups rolled out with that relaxed, ready‑for‑anything attitude that makes these community rides feel more like shared adventures than workouts.
When the miles wrapped up, we rolled back into Iron Shoe for the reveal of our limited‑edition PVC whiskey bottles. Howard and the Iron Shoe crew welcomed us like family – cold drinks, warm hospitality, and the kind of easy conversation that makes you forget you’re still sitting around in your bike kit. Their support of the Pumpkinvine Race Team for another season means more than we can say, and we’re grateful for every bit of it.
Looking back, the Whiskey Ride wasn’t just a ride. It was a reminder of what makes this community special: the shared effort, the shared joy, the shared stories, and the way a simple Sunday can turn into something you carry with you for a while.
To everyone who came out: you made the day. To everyone who couldn’t: we missed you, and we hope you’re ready for the next field trip. Because trust us – we’re already planning it.
More rides, more chaos, more joy. See you out there.
