June 21, 2024

Friday Update!

UPDATES from Z Tour- Please review so you are ready to have a great ride!

Join us Friday (5:00-8:00pm) next to the Prouty building on Main Street for early check in, merchandise pick up, or to still register! Music, merchandise, local establishments to visit for dinner, drinks, summer solstice shopping event! We are having a special showing of Bike Vessel with a special question and answer session with the creators of this film at Apollo theater! Movie starts at 7:00pm. Tickets can still be purchased at the door.

Check in starts at 5:45 on Saturday, June 22nd. All riders MUST be out by 9:00 a.m. We strongly encourage all 100 mile riders to be out by 8:00 a.m. Light breakfast will be served.

Bike Fest will be going on at the same time as Z Tour this year! With this there will be food trucks, family/kid friendly activities, massages, awesome bikes, etc. Food trucks will be ready to serve at 11:00 a.m.

ROUTES
If you printed or saved your maps already, go back and do it again! They have been updated just today! Just a few minor changes to them. We use the Dan Henry marking system. Be sure you are looking for those markings on the road vs any other markings that may be remaining from previous events or road work.

It looks like it will be HOT! Be sure to stop at our SAG stops to rehydrate! SAG volunteers will have general knowledge for you about your route and we will do our best to support you to find your way, but the roads are marked VERY well, pay attention to it all road markings.

NEW THIS YEAR
We are requiring you to check back in! If you need picked up early and do not come back to the park, please let someone at your SAG know so we can get you checked out.

BE SAFE, Helmets required, and no more than 2 abreast and be cautious of the drivers on the road. MOST IMPORTANT, HAVE FUN! We cannot wait to see you all!

By bjamison
In News

June 20, 2024

Routes and SAG Stops

All riders have the opportunity to stop at the Beautiful Hornbaker Gardens on their adventures! It is a very early stop for anything longer than the 10 miles, but still a worthwhile stop just so you can see how wonderful it is! The pictures above don’t even do it justice! This stop is equipped with Water and Trail mix. Check out more about it here!

Everyone except the 10 miles will visit the Tiskilwa stop! So many great things to pass on your way. This stop is equipped with Water, Gatorade, Trail mix, fruit, salty, sweet, and a protein option.

Everyone except the 10 miles, 30 miles and Adventure Route will visit the Lake Thunderbird stop! This stop is equipped with Water, Gatorade, Trail mix, fruit, salty, sweet, and a protein option.

The 65 miles, 100 miles, and the Adventure Route will visit where our Wyanet stop is located. This stop is equipped with Water, Gatorade, Trail mix, fruit, salty, sweet, and a protein option.

Only 100 mile riders go through The Mautino State Park stop. This stop is equipped with Water, Gatorade, Trail mix, fruit, salty, sweet, and a protein option.

Captain Swift water only stop is for all riders besides our 10 mile riders!

It is important to double check your route the night before, just in case we had to make any changes to specific roads being used due to any unforeseen circumstances.

By bjamison
In News

June 7, 2024

Food Trucks!

Z Tour is excited to welcome a variety of food trucks for our event this year. Flo’s on Pulaski, Nelson Fair Foods, Golden Rice Authentic Thai, and JJ’s Snow Cones and Cotton Candy will be there to serve you food. Food trucks will be serving from 11:00-3:00/4:00pm or until sold out!

We will still be offering free food and drinks at all our SAG stops to fuel you! We will be serving breakfast from 5:45-10:00AM.

We will see you in Princeton, Illinois on June 22nd!

By bjamison
In News

May 23, 2024

Me + 3 Challenge

Attention all Businesses!!! JOIN US IN PRINCETON, IL!

The 12th annual Z Tour Bike Ride is happening Saturday, June 22nd and did you know that you could take advantage of the Me + 3 group special?!

Do you conduct wellness challenges for your company? This could be a great opportunity to engage your staff!

Get 4 or more riders in a group and receive a $25.00 Chamber gift card! Chamber gift cards can be used to MANY local businesses in town.

The team at Washington Mills from Hennepin, IL. is riding AGAIN to support the non-for-profit child care center, Zearing Child Enrichment Center!

Will your team ride to support this great cause?

By bjamison
In News

March 15, 2024

Z Tour Pre-Party

DID YOU SEE THE FUN!?

Come early and stay the night. You won’t want to miss all the events!

See you all on June 21st for our Registration Event and on June 22nd for Z Tour 2024!

Visit our Friday Pre-Party page for more information here.

By bjamison
In News

February 5, 2024

2024 Z Tour is Now Live!

The 2024 Z Tour Registration link is now live. Register here!

The 12th Annual Z Tour Bike Ride is a charity road ride, supporting the Zearing Child Enrichment Center in Princeton, which provides riders a chance to enjoy some of the finest bike riding roads that North-Central Illinois has to offer. The well marked and supported routes will incorporate hills, rolling terrain, and beautiful views of Bureau Creek and the Hennepin Canal all with minimal traffic. We have several options for routes this year.

2024 ROUTES:

White Route- 9.4 mile route. This family route is great for our younger riders and their families and friends to get out and enjoy the day. This route will be marked by our ‘rookie of the year’ white bikes. Rest stop located at Hornbaker Gardens.

Green Route- 30 mile route. No need to rush on the shortest of our main routes, you will have plenty of time to take in the beauty of the countryside. Marked by our sprinter green bikes.

Yellow Route- 66 mile route. The ‘Long Tour’ will challenge riders with a few more hills, but also included an additional rest stop for you to catch your breath along the way. Marked by our champion yellow bikes.

Blue Route- 50 mile route. 30 miles not enough? 66 miles feels like too much? The Blue Route is just right! Enjoy all of what the 30 mile route has to offer with additional mileage to your ride!

Rainbow Route- 102 mile route. You will want to get an early start for those riders looking for some of the best roads Z Tour offers will enjoy the ‘Rainbow Route.’ Marked by our world champion rainbow bikes.

Polk-a-dot Route- 64 mile route. Previously known as the Adventure route, this will still include a mix of pavement, gravel, and maybe a little mud. For the safest and most enjoyable ride, we recommend experienced riders with a minimum of 28c tires on this route. Marked by our king of the mountain red bikes. Are you up for the mixed surface ride, but not wanting to go 70+ miles? We have a map on Ride with GPS that will guide riders on a shortened version of this Polka Dot Route.

Get more information for this great ride held in Princeton, Illinois online at ztour.org. Early check-in is offered on Friday, June 21st. This is located on Downtown Mainstreet in the lawn next to the Prouty building. More details on this fun evening for check in to come!

Princeton Town Happenings: Summer Solstice- Enjoy live music, later shopping hours, local bars and restaurants.

Group Registration Option- Me + 3 =

1 Leader should create a catchy group name and email ztourinfo@gmail.com with their catchy group name along with all individuals that plan to ride in that group.
Each individual should register with the Me + 3 ticket option and email ztourinfo@gmail.com with their catchy group name
At least 4 riders in a group
Receive (1) $25.00 in Chamber Bucks to spend at Princeton businesses OR $25.00 on select Z Tour Merchandise! The Leader will be awarded the Chamber Bucks to be used as you wish. Maybe take everyone out for a round of drinks or an appetizer during our town’s Summer Solstice event!

Register your group today and join the Z Tour and city of Princeton for all the fun starting Friday evening at 5:00 pm.

**We strongly encourage you to get your tickets before the event for planning purposes!!**

Easy and really fast check-in opening at 5:45 am.
Detailed maps and cue sheets
Themed rest stops supplied with nutritional food, beverages, and music.
Tent Camping available right at Zearing Park this year. Fees applied. Camping options(tent or camper) at the Bureau County Fairgrounds also available(nominal fee).
Several Air B and B options- book early!!
Radio-dispatched SAG and support by the Bureau County EMA until 3:00 pm
First aid support at Zearing Park from the Bureau County Health Department from10:00-4:00pm.
Light breakfast offered from 6:00-9:00 am at Zearing Park
Food Trucks will be available from 10:00am-4:00pm. Food truck names will be announced at a later date. Fees apply. Watch your emails and facebook to receive updates about food trucks.
All other riders should start NO LATER than 9:00am. Helmets required!
All routes begin and end at Princeton’s beautiful Zearing Park, where volunteers will be around to greet you and welcome you back from your long adventures!
Check back in after your ride at the park!
We are encouraging you to do online registration before the event!
We will have walk up registration on Friday night from 5:00-8:00 pm in the lawn located next to the prouty building on Main Street downtown and Saturday morning from 5:45-8:30am with limited support. It may take longer to get through registration, please as you are able to, register by midnight on Thursday, June 20th. This will help speed the process up! Plus it is cheaper for you. 😉
We heard you!! We are excited to announce Bike Fest is returning and it is now on Saturday following your Z Tour experience and is happening at Zearing Park from 10:00-4:00pm. Details about this event to come!

Download the Ride with GPS app(fees do apply for this service). Some routes are subject to change closer to the ride date. We will have some route maps, however please take time to download your maps to your mobile device so you have it with you. We will update you if changes need to be made last minute due to route issues and changes. Consider finding us on facebook in order to see updates there! 🙂

MERCHANDISE!

Coming soon: Visit ztour.org/shop to order previous years merchandise. Purchases for merchandise will be on the website for previous years merchandise. 2024 Jerseys WILL be available online for pre-order.

Friday Night and Saturday Morning we will have Jerseys and T-shirts available for purchase. All jerseys must be ordered by April 17th. There will be a limited amount of Jersey’s available for Friday night and Day of ride purchase. Otherwise it will be first come first serve for other sizes of Jerseys we have available at Friday Night Registration and the Day of the Ride. No extra orders for Jerseys will be placed this year.

All Ticket sales are final and are nonrefundable! This is a rain or shine event!!

By bjamison
In News

June 14, 2023

(GASP) You haven’t signed up for the Z Tour Bike Ride yet?!

Not trying to be dramatic or anything, but you are not going to want to miss this event!

This year’s Z Tour is going on while Princeton’s first annual Bike Fest is happening! Bike Fest is something you do not want to miss out on while you come for our amazing ride! We have several route options with many SAG stops to get nourishment and of course the beloved end of ride meal! We will even have options for massages at the end of your ride!

REGISTER TODAY

Saturday, June 24th
Zearing Park
Princeton, IL 61356

By ZTourBike Ride
In News

May 24, 2023

$35 price ending soon!

Get your tickets in now. You have 1 week until the prices for Z Tour 2023 go to $45.00 per rider!

As always, our riders under 12 are free!

Z Tour is on June 24th, 2023! We cannot wait to see you.

Don’t forget, if you are riding with a group of 4 or more people, email ztourinfo@gmail.com in order to inform us your group information so we can have chamber bucks ready for you to utilize on Bike Fest weekend!

Come and play early! Our town is hosting a Bike Fest on Friday, June 23rd that will include live bands!