Midwest tandem rally
The Midwest Tandem Rally (MTR) is a weekend-long tandem bicycle set of rides, based somewhere in the larger Midwest United States on Labor Day weekend.
The Primary rides for the MTR on Saturday and Sunday of the weekend, usually including several distance options and all having lunch as the primary rest stop. There are also CASUAL rides planned for Friday night and Monday. Friday is typically an Ice Cream Ride - a short ride to a local ice cream parlor, although some have included a destination and entertainment as part of the ice cream ride. The Monday ride is sometimes a rework of the primary rides or an opportunity for people to ride to a restaurant for breakfast together.
History of the Midwest Tandem Rally
Year |
Location |
Hosts |
|---|---|---|
2008 |
Springfield, IL |
CATS |
2007 |
Appleton, WI |
COWS |
2006 |
Cedar Rapids, IA |
PIGS |
2005 |
Grand Rapids, MI |
MUTTS |
2004 |
Columbus, IN |
HOOTS |
2003 |
Dayton, OH |
GOATS |
2002 |
Kansas City, MO |
|
2001 |
Duluth, MN |
LOONS |
2000 |
St. Charles, IL |
CATS |
1999 |
Midland, MI |
MUTTS |
1998 |
Omaha, NE |
|
1997 |
Dublin, OH |
GOATS |
1996 |
Appleton, WI |
COWS |
1995 |
Indianapolis, IN |
CIBA / TOIS |
1994 |
Rochester, MN |
|
1993 |
Lansing, MI |
|
1992 |
Des Moines, IA |
|
1991 |
Waukesha, WI |
|
1990 |
Minneapolis, MN |
|
1989 |
Cleveland, OH |
|
1988 |
Springfield, IL |
|
1987 |
Grand Rapids, MI |
|
1986 |
Oshkosh, WI |
|
1985 |
Anderson, IN |
|
1984 |
Dundee, IL |
|
1983 |
Minneapolis, MN |
|
1982 |
Coralville, IA |
|
1981 |
Des Moines, IA |
|
1980 |
St. Charles, MO |
|
1979 |
Springfield, IL |
|
1978 |
Louisville, KY |
|
1977 |
Kenosha, WI |
|
1976 |
Kokomo, IN |
|
MTR started in the 1970's, possibly by Chicago area tandem enthusiasts.
Tandem Clubs, those acronyms
Many tandem clubs have come up with acronyms that sound like animals, representing the idea that tandem riders come two-by-two (like Noah's Arc).
- CATS - Chicago Area Tandem Society
- COWS - Couples On wheels (Wisconsin)
- MULES - Missouri Union of Long Bike Enthusiasts
- MUTTS - Michigan United Tandems
- HOOTS - Hoosiers Out On Tandems (Indiana)
- TOIS - Tandems Of Indiana & Illinois (defunct in 1995)
- PIGS - Paired Iowans Going Somewhere
- LOONS - Leena and Oli On Non-Standard bikes
- RAPTORS - Rockford Area Pedaling Tandems On Road Society
Other Tandem Rallies
- Southern Tier Tandem Rally (NY State)
- Eastern Tandem Rally (Eastern US)
- International Tandem Rally
- Southern Tandem Rally
- Southwest Tandem Rally
- Prairie State Tandem Rally