Trail Showcase - Pontiac Lake Recreation Area

Today's helmet cam takes us to the land of more sump pump activity than anywhere on earth (whole lot of water), Waterford, and a loop at Pontiac Lake Recreation Area. Roughly a 10-11 mile loop, it is a bear, especially the first four miles which includes a climb up heart attack hill. Heart attack hill is about a 100 yard climb with six or seven turns. If you survive the climb, there is a 'fast fast' descent afterwards so stop crying. Once you conquer the first four miles, there are some great flows within a very mature forest.

trailhead

The park/trailhead is off of Williams Lake Road, about a 1/4 mile north of M-59. Park at the main parking lot for the beach area. The loop starts and ends back here; well marked. 

positives

No more sharing with the horses. The trail way back when used to share a portion with the horses but is now separated.

Post ride feeling that you have accomplished something as your lungs will get some activity. 

The lake is right there after the ride for a dip.

The Pontiac Lake Inn is down the street for a VERY large hamburger and a beverage.

It's a beautiful trail.

negatives

As with Highland Recreation Area, not a negative but don't send a boy. It's not for the rider deciding if they want to take up the activity.  

(put 'quality' settings on 1080hd for best video quality)

Trail Head

Trail Showcase - Northwest Lower Peninsula

The helmet cam trail showcase takes us off the beaten path of the northwest portion of the lower peninsula via M-22 (Arcadia Dunes) and M-55 (Big M) this past week. Both great trails. 

trailhead

The Arcadia Dunes trailhead is a few blocks north of the landmark Lake Michigan lookout on M-22 in Arcadia. Look for St. Pierre Rd just north of the lookout and the trailhead is there. Preferred way is clockwise (follow the numbers) for the 9-10 mile loop.

For Big M, about 20 miles east of Manistee on M-55 is Udell Hills Rd (Big M signs are also noted). Head south about four miles on Udell and the signs will take you to the parking lot. Many different options but well marked. 

positives

The Arcadia gets some great love from the local riding community so the trail is always well maintained (and incredibly developed) for a fun riding experience. A great flow.

The Big M is old school in maybe not getting the love of Arcadia in terms of maintenance (VERY rugged) but is blessed with some incredible downhill descents. 

negatives

Hard to be negative in such beauty but with large, mature forests (and some nasty spring storms), trees come down. The trail workers were out at Arcadia when I was out but a tree was down just about each mile through. The same with the Big M. 

(put 'quality' settings to 1080hd if not defaulted for best quality)

Trail Head

Trail Showcase - C Loop of Highland Recreation Area

Today's helmet cam trail showcase takes us to Highland Recreation Area and the C loop of that trail network. Last count I had were four total loops, A, B, C and D (roughly 16 miles total for the four loops), however, it is one large ass recreation area and wouldn't be surprised of some non-sanctioned loops somewhere in this vast forest, excluding the horse riding-specific trails in there as well.

The video at the bottom was from last week but Amy and Ed P. joined me for another loop on it yesterday for the Milford Bike Fest, corona style (ride the trails but no post ride gatherings; wink wink). All in all, a good showing as we saw quite a few riders out on this beautiful weekend.

trailhead

The main trailhead resides off of Livingston Road, about two blocks west of Duck Lake Rd. This is where the A loop starts. Normally getting to the start of the C loop is a bear as you need to get through A and halfway into B; by that point you talk yourself into just doing the A and B loops as it is not a trail network for the leisure rider. A mile at Highland Recreation Area versus one at Island Lake are apples and oranges; a whole different (and beautiful) beast. With that, the C loop doesn't get the exposure that the other loops receive but in my opinion, is the most picturesque of the four. However, over the years I learned of a back way into the C and D loops via Beaumont Road. Park in downtown Milford, go past Muir Junior High on Weaver Rd to Cooley Lake Rd east to Beaumont (all dirt roads) and about a mile on the right is a DNR sign onto a path. The path there leads into the beginning of the C loop.  Access to the D loop is a bit further down on Beaumont.

positives

It is a bear of a trail and you have to keep aware at all times but I think it's the most beautiful trail in the area. Rolling hills within a thick forest. With pain comes pleasure.

negatives

Not really a negative but not a trail for the beginning rider with a chain that is ready to snap (and your chain will get some work) while deep into the B loop and said chain does snap. Riders unaware of the area are in for a long walk back to their vehicles if shi* happens.

Trail Head

Trail Showcase - Maybury State Park

Today's helmet cam trail showcase takes us to Northville and Maybury State Park. The park was named after William H. Maybury, who led the park's development  in 1921(looked it up). Built to assist with the rehabilitation from tuberculosis before modern medicine produced advanced cures, Maybury ironically died from said illness.

trailhead
The main parking lot for riding is off of Baseline Rd (8 Mile), just west of Beck Road. There is another entrance off of Beck, south of Baseline, but the horseback riders primarily use that lot (and mountain bike parking is frowned upon there).

positives
While not long (roughly 6 miles), the trail gives a bit of everything for all types of riders. Hardcore riders can do a loop and a half (there is a cutoff half way through to repeat a portion of the trail) to get their miles in while beginning riders who aren't sure if mountain biking is for them have an easy 'out' access to a paved path if the mojo is not there.

negatives
Being picky and noted above but having more terrain would be ideal; but don't think the creators of the park were thinking about mountain biking in 1921 so we'll let this aspect slide.

Trail Head

Way Back Machine - 1982 ads

The way back machine today takes us to 1982 as I was thumbing through one of the old magazines I saved that warranted saving. The magazine was from January 28, 1982; the cover showing the Montana to Clark touchdown in the NFC Championship. The old articles brought back good memories but I think I got more enjoyment reading the advertisements (that I wouldn't give a second to today). 

Technology has changed just a bit since and I think one endorsement celebrity noted below, who probably had quite a few of them in 1982, might have a bit of trouble trying to land one today.
Trail Head

Sears was usually the location you ventured to in the mall for watching sports
 on the TVs in the electronics department while your mom shopped.
Some cutting edge electronics shown here.

Have you played one of these tapes recently? Not good. My set of
various taped shows/sports/movies recently made a trip to the garbage can.

Your company would not be complete without the Juice
endorsing it; at least in 1982. After 1994? Probably not.
Maybe Bruno Magli needs someone?

Yep, the manual transmission; or the running joke that it's
the most effective anti-theft device to all millennials.

Leonard Nimoy, Star Trek, the future. I get it.
The only thing I see in the future for this television is
someone throwing out their back trying to heave this
600 pound piece of fake wood into a dumpster.

Such effort back in 1982 for the helicopter parent dragging
this behemoth camera around the little league fields.

I don't care what year it was or is, or how real
current video games are, this was the best.

"All right Roger, look at the camera and motion
awkwardly to Mr. Armstrong."

Trail Showcase - Island Lake Recreation Area

Today's helmet cam trail showcase takes us to the metropolis of Green Oak Township (population of a couple hundred) in Livingston County to Island Lake Recreation Area. The two loops (blue and yellow) are roughly 14 miles and one of the area's quicker terrains with limited ball breaking hills and many descents. The trail even makes slow riders like yours truly look fast in the attached.

trailhead

The main trailhead is about a mile past the main gate of the park. I know you'll be giddy to ride heading to the trailhead but keep the speed down as it is 25 mph and Green Oak's one cop loves to hang within the park (and pulled over a friend of mine).

The actual trailhead is one large parking lot (and is quite full on an ideal riding day) where both loops start and end. 

positives

The trail allows for all riding levels as I saw both hardcore spandex and blue jean rider on my most recent ride. 

Mentioned above but going fast is quite fun.

negatives

Sand. It usually doesn't show itself until later in the summer but there are around four or five patches where you are more or less pedaling on a beach with excessive sand that will pull you down quicker than you can say 'marmalade'.

Trail Head

Trail Showcase - Lakeshore Park (aka 'The Tree Farm')

Today's helmet cam trail showcase takes us to the shopping mecca of southern Oakland County, Novi, to pedal Lakeshore Park, also known as The Tree Farm. Why the name 'Tree Farm'? I looked it up in the information superhighway without success but have been told it got its name from a section of the trail that intersects with quite a bit of Christmas-type trees. Was it an actual tree farm at one time? I have no idea.

trailhead

Located on the south shores of Walled Lake, the trailhead, while currently under construction for a new community building and updated landscaping, provides an ideal setting for those 90+ degree July/August rides as the beach is right there afterwards.

positives

The trail has come a long way since friends and I rode it in the late 90's; specifically signage as there are four sections of the trail and we got turned around a few times in the early days with no direction. It starts with the initial winding trail (fun), over the first bridge to the prairie area (less trees), the crater area (more fun) and the final quarter that involves thick tree cover and many stumps (not as fun). The latter is not as fun for me as my old booty does not like the bumps, even with the padded shorts. 

There are no ball breaking hills so beginner and intermediate riders will enjoy the roughly nine mile loop.

Lastly, I have met the trail coordinator and he is pretty OCD so the trail is always in pristine condition.

negatives

The only negative I would throw out there, and it's being picky, is the trail does not drain well as it is more or less surrounded by wetlands (and idiot riders try to ride it too early in the spring). 

Trail Head