The Real Questions
Everything new riders usually ask, answered straight. If something's missing, hit us in the join form and we'll get to you.
Nope — Charlie can do it, you'll be fine. You may want to spend some time on a bike and get comfortable there, but you'll be fine. Plus it's up to 300 miles and there are SAG wagons all over the route to pick you up if you need it. That said, if you want to go fast, you can ride with Jason, Ben, and Brad. If you want to have fun, there's a group for that too. A few months of training will go a long way.
Joining the team is free. WAM itself has a registration fee through Make-A-Wish Michigan, and then there's the fundraising minimum (see next question). Your real costs are gear (we've got a page for that) and gas to training rides.
Yes — Make-A-Wish Michigan requires every rider to raise at least $1,200 to participate in WAM (or $1,000 if you're a virtual rider, due July 1). We help. The team has templates, donor lists from past years, and a few tricks that make hitting the minimum way less scary than it sounds.
Yes. Most of us came in the same way. If you've got a bike and a few months of runway, training rides will get you ready. We've got people who'll ride with you at whatever pace you need — no one gets dropped.
A working bike, a helmet, and shoes you can ride in. That's it for showing up to a Saturday training ride. For WAM itself, you'll want the full kit (bibs, gloves, lights, hydration setup) — we built a whole gear page for that. Don't go buy everything on day one.
We run group rides through the spring and summer — pace groups for everyone, route shared in advance, no-drop policy on the slower rides. Most veteran riders also do solo miles during the week. By June you'll be ready for centuries.
Honestly? A few hours a week of riding (more as the season ramps up), plus the WAM weekend itself (July 24–26, 2026). Fundraising takes some evenings spread across the spring. You don't have to disappear from your life — you just have to be intentional about a few months of it.
Friends and partners — yes, please. Bring them to training rides, bring them to the post-ride hangs, bring them to the WAM finish line in Marshall. Dogs we love but generally leave at home for the actual rides. If your friend wants to ride, send them the join form.
Make-A-Wish Michigan. They use the funds to grant wishes for Michigan kids fighting critical illnesses — trips, experiences, the whole thing. WAM is their largest annual fundraiser, and 100% of what you raise flows through them, not us.
Fill out the join form on our home page. We'll reach out, get you into the group chats, point you toward the Make-A-Wish Michigan registration page, and get you on the next training ride. Don't overthink it — just say hey.