70th Annual New Year’s Day I-Cycle Derby

January 1, 2018

What: For the 70th consecutive New Year’s Day, no matter how brutal the weather, bundled-up motorcyclists again will ride in the I-Cycle Derby on about 50 miles of Twin Cities area roads.



The I-Cycle Derby is one of the longest-running, consecutively held motorcycle events in the United States. The derby was launched in 1949 by the Gopher State Motorcycle Club, which turned it over to the Travelers Motorcycle Club in the mid-1960s. TeamStrange Airheads has organized the event since 2012.



When: Riders will leave the starting line beginning at 10:30 AM Monday, Jan. 1, 2018, for the morning portion of the ride. They will return to the starting line to warm up and have lunch, and head out for the afternoon portion of the ride at about 1:30 PM. Winners will be announced around 3:30 PM.



Where: Once again, the start and finish of the morning and afternoon portions of the rally will be at the palatial world headquarters of Roy’s Repair, a classic neighborhood “we fix anything” motorcycle repair shop at 3232 Snelling Ave. South, Minneapolis, MN 55406. Also like last year, the 2018 I-Cycle Derby will be "scooter friendly"; the urban and suburban routes will avoid highways and freeways.



How it works: Motorcycle riders know they’ll be on the road for about three hours that day, but they won’t know where they are going to go until they reach the starting line. That’s when they receive turn-by-turn directions for the first of six legs they will navigate that day. At the end of each leg, they receive a card for the next leg. The winner is NOT the fastest rider, but the rider who completes each of the six legs closest to the average speed listed on the route card for each leg. Last year, the average speeds for the six legs range from 16 miles per hour to 26 miles per hour.

How many riders: 2017 was a record year for the I-Cycle Derby with 50 riders! The weather will play a role, but we hope to get the same number in 2018. So come on out, bring your friends, and maybe your name will wind up on the prestigious traveling trophy.



How much does it cost: Entry fee is $20. Coffee, cider, lunch and snacks are donated by local businesses. Where the profits go: Proceeds from the rally will be donated to The Bridge For Youth, a Minneapolis-based non-profit program that provides safe shelter for runaway and homeless youth. How to sign up: Easy! Sign-up starts at 9AM at Roy's, on the day of the event.

Contacts: Lewis Lakey, host and owner of Roy’s Repair

612-721-8868 and general@roysrepair.com

Lisa Erbes, president of TeamStrange

678-772-8945 and lerbes@gmail.com

Jim Winterer, route planner

651-308-8686 and jcwinterer@gmail.com