You will be visiting my very favorite area of Michigan! Beautiful there. I have visited many times but not with a bike yet. I am planning a trip this summer further north of Traverse City and will travel the Lakeshore Drive from Charlevoix to Petoskey, Harbor Springs and then onto Mackinaw City. Roughly doing the 'tip of the mitt' Here is a link to that route
I'll put on my thinking cap and check with a friend who did a perimeter ride of the whole state to get his recommendations on that area for routes along the lake shore. Be forewarned that section of Michigan is pretty hilly. Hills of course are a relative thing. I know that traversing M-22 (West Bay Shore Drive) out of Traverse City and north up the eastern side of the Leelanau Peninsula is very scenic and travels along the water for much of the way but I don't recall the conditions for riding, like what the shoulder is like. The first town north of Traverse City is Suttons Bay and it is very quaint with nice shops and pubs and plenty of outdoor eating areas. The distance from TC to Suttons Bay is about 25 miles but you need not start from downtown TC. The western side of the Leelanau peninsula where Sleeping Bear Dunes is, is a hillier side and most of the roads you travel on that side are up on bluffs overlooking Lake Michigan. There is a nice scenic drive in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore info for the park is here and also here. In the town of Glen Arbor there is a dune climb which is a popular tourist thing to do. It can only be done on foot and after you get heated up from the climb Glen Lake across the street to cool off in. There are several wineries on the peninsula, lots to do and see. Fishtown in Leland is one of my favorite stops their FB page is facebook page you can pick up fresh smoked whitefish from Lake Michigan, fresh cheeses and baked goods for a picnic or lunch at a pub overlooking the harbor and at the foot of the dam. Last time I stopped there with my sisters for lunch we dined outdoors and watched the salmon jumping up and over the dam, that was in the fall when they make their run. When I hear from my friend, I'll update here.