What to know about Riverwest 24, Milwaukee's 24-hour bike race this weekend

Get ready to see thousands of bikers weaving through Milwaukee streets this weekend.

No, it isn't the Harley-Davidson Homecoming Festival , though that's also happening over the next few days. It's Riverwest 24 , Milwaukee's annual 24-hour bike race.

Here's everything you need to know about the day-long bike race hosted by Milwaukee's Riverwest neighborhood.

When is Riverwest 24?

The main bike race will run from 7 p.m. Friday, July 26 to 7 p.m. Saturday, July 27. Rider check-in is from 12 to 6 p.m. Friday, and final tallying of points will take place Saturday night after the race ends.

There will also be a Kids Ride on Saturday morning at La Escuela Fratney School, 3255 N. Fratney Street. Kids 7 and under can ride at 11 a.m., while kids 7 and over are invited to ride at noon.

Where is Riverwest 24?

The main race route is a 4.6-mile loop along the Milwaukee River, with four checkpoints along the way.

However, this is only a suggested route, and riders don't have to follow any particular route to participate in the race. They only have to hit the four checkpoints on each lap to accumulate points, which are all tallied at the end to determine winners. There are also bonus checkpoints, which are revealed on race day and not required but provide "fun, silly, meaningful, learning experiences," according to the race website .

And, contrary to its name, riders don't have to stay on their bikes for 24 hours straight and are invited to rest, sleep, eat and stop for water as needed.

Riverwest 24 also provides an alternate route, mapped out below, that avoids the busy North Humboldt Avenue. You'll likely see riders scattered all throughout the Riverwest neighborhood.

How can you participate in Riverwest 24?

Official registration for the ride closed in May, but that doesn't mean it's too late to join the festivities.

The race has a special "Bonus Edition," where people who are not officially registered for the race can ride still along for however long they want. Riders are encouraged to stop at special bonus checkpoints along the way for breaks and activities. To document your ride, unregistered participants can pick up a Bonus Passport at the race's volunteer station, near 2600 N. Pierce St.

And if you're not much of a bike rider, you can still join the fun and cheer on the riders. Several streets will be closed off near the Start/Finish line for the Riverwest 24 Block Party for the duration of the race.

For future years, make sure to keep an eye on the race website for information on the registration lottery, which is held annually on the first Sunday in May.

Road closures to expect during Riverwest 24

Aside from the block party, no other streets on the route will be closed off during the race. The race is meant to be an urban bike ride, so riders are expecting to ride on bike lanes alongside other traffic.

Road closures for the block party will run from 4 p.m. Friday to 7 p.m. Saturday. East Hadley Street (from North Pierce Street east to the alley) and North Pierce Street (from East Hadley Street to East Locust Street) will be barricaded.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What to know about Riverwest 24, Milwaukee's 24-hour bike race this weekend