Lyle T. Bear Grand Tour
April 1 through November 15, 2026
TeamStrange Grand Tours are all about having an excuse to get out and ride.
Lyle T. Bear has been the loyal and devoted mascot for TeamStrange for most of the group's history. Lyle famously rode along with TeamStrange founder Eddie James for hundreds of thousands of miles and multiple Iron Butt Rallies, and was immortalized by Iron Butt figure Robert Higdon in The Higdon Chronicles. Lyle is showing his age and he doesn't get out as much as he used to but his name still keeps showing up in the list of finishers of TeamStrange Grand Tours. We thought it would be nice to give Lyle the honor of having a tour of his own.
Your entry includes a Grand Tour flag and sticker. Entry fee is $50 for one or two up. GT flags and stickers will be mailed around March 15, and thereafter, upon sign up.
Finishing will earn you bragging rights and an Official Grand Tour finisher pin.
There is a minimum required number of locations to visit to be a finisher. You may also visit additional locations to collect points. The top finisher in points will be declared the TeamStrange 2026 Grand Tour Champion and will receive a commemorative plaque to document this amazing feat. We'll also declare Regional Champions in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and the Rest of the World, who will also receive (lesser but still nice) commemorative plaques.
Grand Tour Finisher:
To be considered a finisher you must visit at least 12 Lyle T. Bear Locations on your motorcycle between April 1, 2026, and November 15, 2026, and properly document each visit.
A Lyle T. Bear Location is any of the following:
- A location whose name as indicated on an official government sign includes “Lyle” or “Bear” OR
- Public art of a bear such as a statue, mural, monument, or historical marker OR
- A real live bear
Grand Tour Scoring:
If you are a finisher, you will score points by visiting Lyle T. Bear Locations.
- You will score 25 points for any location that you visit on your motorcycle and properly document whose name as indicated on an official government sign includes “Lyle” or “Bear”
- You will score 5 points for any signs depicting the Bear Alignment (or Alinement) bear (see https://www.roadarch.com/signs/bear.html) or signs depicting the Hamm's Beer Bear that you visit on your motorcycle and properly document
- You will score 1 point for any other public art that you visit on your motorcycle and properly document that depicts a bear
- You will score between 1 and 100 points for a Wild Card, depending
- You will score 100 points for any real live bear that you encounter on your motorcycle and properly document
Sign up for the Lyle T. Bear Grand Tour at Ride Master.
The complete rules are available here (pdf).
Join the discussion about this Grand Tour over here (Discussion Board).