2026 I-Cycle Derby
January 1, 2026
What:
For the 76th New Year's Day, no matter how brutal the weather, bundled-up motorcyclists will ride in the I-Cycle Derby on about 45 miles of Twin Cities area roads.
The I-Cycle Derby is one of the longest-running motorcycle events in the United States. The derby was launched in 1949 by the Gopher State Motorcycle Club, which turned it over to the Travelers Motorcycle Club in the mid-1960s. TeamStrange Airheads has organized the event since 2012.
When:
Riders will leave the starting line beginning at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, for the morning portion of the ride. They will return to the starting line to warm up and have lunch, and head out for the afternoon portion of the ride at 1:30 p.m. Winners will be announced around 3:30 p.m.
Where:
Once again, the start and finish of the morning and afternoon portions of the rally will be at Diamond's Coffee Shoppe, 1618 Central Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413.
Click "View Larger Map" above for better detail.
As in years past, the 2026 I-Cycle Derby will be "scooter friendly"; the urban and suburban routes will avoid highways and freeways and will be run on parkways and city/residential streets. The morning leg and the afternoon leg are each about 20-25 miles in length.
Sidecar rigs and motorcycle "style *" three wheelers are eligible to ride the I-Cycle.
- * Three wheelers must have handlebars and a seat that is straddled by the rider.
- Steering wheel and/or car seat equipped three wheel vehicles are not allowed.
- Please see the I-Cycle rules for complete details.
Helmet use is required of all riders and passengers
How it works:
Motorcycle riders can expect to be on the road for a little over an hour for each the morning and afternoon legs. The riders will begin the morning and afternoon ride with a route card that has turn-by- turn directions for the first of four legs they will navigate that day. Along the route the riders will receive a card for the next leg, or in the case of the secret checkpoint, simply have their time recorded, and then proceeding with the route card in hand.
The winner is NOT the fastest rider, but the rider who completes each of the four legs closest to the average speed listed on the route card for each leg. In recent years the average speeds for the four legs ranged from 16 miles per hour to 24 miles per hour.
How many riders?
It always seems to depend on the weather. We have seen as many as 50 riders if the weather is nice and the streets are relatively clear, but on average between 20 and 25 hearty souls leave the starting line, hoping their name will be added to the list of previous winners whose names are engraved on the prestigious Roy Egeberg Sportsman trophy. The event is capped at 55 riders due to time constraints.
Cost:
Entry fee is $25. Coffee, lunch and snacks are provided by our host Diamonds Coffee Shoppe. Donations to offset Lucy's catering costs are much appreciated.
How to sign up?:
Easy! Just show up. Sign-up starts at 8:30 a.m. at Diamond's on the day of the event, no pre-entries are accepted. A rider meeting will be held from 10 a.m. to 10:10 a.m. First rider out is at exactly 10:31 a.m., riders are then sent out at 1 minute intervals (30 seconds if over 30 riders enter). The event is "hard" capped at 55 riders due to time constraints - we've have had 50 riders in the past, so if the weather is "super" nice you may want to be at Diamonds when registration opens at 8:30 to assure a spot in the event.
Contact:
Jim Weatherhead 651-303-1314 renzo750@comcast.net