I will be in Traverse City in a couple of weeks, and looking for an easy going bike ride to do with my sister somewhere in the area between say Sleeping Bear Dunes and the tip of the Leelenau Peninsula. By easy going, I mean that she starts to complain after an hour or so.

We could structure something where we go 5 miles, she turns around and goes back to car, then drives to meet me farther up the road 20 miles away. Sending her back alone sort of defeats the purpose plus she would not be able to fix a flat.... We'll have a car, and a rack so that gives us some flexibility.

Is it possible to ride along some part of either Lake Michigan or the Bay for some distance? I could drive by myself to somewhere, park the car, ride back to meet her, and we ride together back to the car? This could get complicated so we can benefit from some local knowledge here. Neither of us has ever been there before.

She has 3-4 bikes (all hand me downs from various sources) at her disposal, insists they are all "fine." The reality is that none of them really fit her thus she has never developed a great liking for longer distances. Worse she has been resistant to consider any suggestion that we even try to fit them better, or worse, buy a new bike that actually fits? Sigh. No wonder she is uncomfortable by 10 miles! Big hills would surely be a deal breaker.

We have an event in the early afternoon, but the rest of the day/evening is free so far. I know it won't be getting dark until close to 10pm. We wanted to plan on the bicycle portion of the trip the following day, but maybe a sunset ride somewhere quiet would work? We will stay overnight (somewhere), bike the next day, then we have to leave the area after that. Extra points for a motel recommendation that coincides with a suggested bike route.

Also, if there is a "must-see/do" in that area that we can do in the late afternoon or evening we would love some more ideas.

Martha