Trail Head
Tuesday, October 27, 2020
Trick or Treat Workaround
Sunday, October 18, 2020
30 and....still working
The clock turned 30 this past week for my employment. While it didn't have the pomp and circumstance (silly saying) that my 25th anniversary brought (picked out a bicycle from a catalog, ended up giving it to charity), beggars can't be choosers so I'm cool with the voice mail from one of the VP's, thanking me for the efforts (and obviously still having a job). I also made the employee e-mail newsletter, noted below, so the 20-something newbies that I work with have a different perspective on old man Reeves now. I have worked longer than you have lived you silly know-it-alls so respect your elders. Ha.
Trail Head
Sunday, October 11, 2020
Trail Showcase and a tribute to a fallen musician
The trail showcase today takes a visit to two newly created trails, Linear Park/Seven Mile Park in Northville and Settlers Park in Hartland. The former is on the property of the old Northville Psychiatric Hospital and the latter hangs behind a big box store.
The trail at Linear Park/Seven Mile Park (still don't know the exact trail/park name) is only a couple miles at this time but what I've heard is expanding to the west portion of the property soon. I saw a wheelbarrow and some stakes near the trailhead so am guessing extra miles will be available soon. The trail as it stands won't break your back and cuts through some mature forest. With the hospital history, if these trees could talk, I'm sure they would have some stories to tell of patients walking through.
Settlers Park in Hartland has been around a few years and is up to a little over six miles of trail. As with the other trail, Settlers isn't going to break your back. A nice, simple trail.
For the helmet cam, the trails are secondary today to a tribute to a fallen musician so turn up the volume for Eddie V!!!! I was fortunate enough to see him for the 1984 tour and the guy could make that guitar talk. Best $13.50 I ever spent!!!
trailhead
The trailhead for Linear/Seven Mile Park resides off of Wayne Ave, which enters west from Haggerty between Six and Seven Mile Rd, across the street from Schoolcraft College (or 'Haggerty High' as one Northville local called it). There is no formal 'Wayne Ave' sign that I could see off of Haggerty but my idiot phone picked it up. Road parking is the parking lot so park on the north side of the road nearest to the trailhead as you can.
Settlers Park in Hartland can be accessed from a few different locations but easiest is to park in the northwest portion of the Meijer parking lot (they made a little parking area for the park) and catch the trail from there. The trail entrance is well marked.
positives
Both are simple trails that work for those just starting to ride and even experienced riders looking for a release.
negatives
No negatives for the newbies. Glad to have additional options for pedal locations.
Cell phone users may need to click the link to view the attached.
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Trail Head
Sunday, October 4, 2020
Trail Showcase - Milford Trail
The helmet cam takes us today to the place I called home in my school days, the Milford Trail. It has come a long way since the 1980's when we were driving cars in these back woods before the trail was created (lot of fun back wood driving in Milford back in the day).
Also a place, unfortunately, for the morons to dump their junk. The dead refrigerators were eventually removed and a beautiful trail was created.
Fast forward to today, however, and the trail is in a bit of a transition phase with the recent gas line update ripping out a portion of the trail.
trailhead
The formal trailhead is off of Peter's Rd (Peter's Field) but most park at the YMCA off of Commerce and join the trail from there.
positives
Gas line update aside, the trail still has some great flows and works for all riding levels. The paved path is a short walk away if the bike/body breaks down.
negatives
Not really a negative, but reality. As mentioned, the gas line update has created a very large gap in the very northwest portion of the trail. There is a re-route but will need a few years to develop. Right now, it is raw.
Cell phone users may need to click the link to see the attached.
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Trail Head
Sunday, September 27, 2020
Trail Showcase - Cannonsburg Ski Area
The helmet cam takes us to the northeast suburbs of Grand Rapids to the tiny township of Cannonsburg, named after eastern capitalist LeGrand Cannon (no idea what an eastern capitalist is but looked it up). The trail has come a long way (for the better) since I last rode it about a decade ago. More miles have been added (about 10 total, lot of flow) and alternate loop direction based on the day of the week have reduced trail wear.
trailhead
For metro Detroiters, it's about 19 miles north of Lowell so get off at the Lowell exit and your idiot phone will send you the rest of the way. For west siders, West River Drive off of US-131, north of Grand Rapids, eventually becomes Cannonsburg Rd after about 10 or so miles to the east and the idiot phone will take you from there.
Park at the ski lodge and the trailhead entrance heads south from there. Head towards the yellow tube on the side of one of the ski hills. I'm going off of memory but believe the yellow flow was Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays; red flow the others.
positives
The re-do of the trail has made for a great flow. I didn't ride on Tuesday but hear their evening "taco Tuesday" ride/gatherings are a treat and bring the crowds.
negatives
No negatives. Northeast Grand Rapids is a beautiful area.
Cell phone users may need to click the link to view the attached video. The squirrel parade is at about the 1:20 mark.
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Trail Head
Sunday, September 20, 2020
Trail Showcase - Waterloo Recreation Area
The helmet cam today takes to the town of Jiffy Mix, the Purple Rose Theatre (and it's Hollywood famous founder) and one of the faster mountain bike trails in the area. Just a bit west of Ann Arbor, Chelsea is a cool little town with Waterloo Recreation Area a bit north of downtown; a large-ass piece of state land (3rd largest park in Michigan - looked it up). Within the park, a large company made a very nice donation in helping create what is now close to 20 miles of mountain bike trails. Three loops, Green Lake, Big Kame and the latest addition, Winn. The caretakers of the trails have created a trail like no others in the area as it is fast-fast-fast.
trailhead
There are two trailheads to choose from. The main one is off of M-52, a few miles north of downtown Chelsea on the west side of the road, just north of Green Lake. Quick access to the Green Lake and Big Kame loops from there.
The second trailhead was recently put in with the Winn loop's creation. Take Waterloo Rd west off of M-52 about three miles until you see the signs for Cassidy Lake Correctional Facility. Take a right turn on Cassidy, past the facility about two miles and the trailhead is on the right. Quick access to the Winn and Big Kame loops from there.
positives
Like Ricky Bobby's wish in Talladega Nights, if you also want to go fast, Waterloo is your place. You cannot not (double word there) go fast on this trail the way it is designed.
It is well maintained. The alternate trail flows on specific days makes for less wear. Some other trails in the area will frown upon rain riders but this trail will literally put the TRAIL CLOSED sign on damp days.
negatives
I enjoy it but the too-tight spandex riders will say it isn't real mountain biking because of the limited obstacles. The hills and rocks are still there but the tree roots aren't to throw my back out so no complaints in my world.
The vendor overseeing this site has changed the process so you may need to click the attached link to see the video.
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Trail Head
Sunday, September 13, 2020
Trail Showcase - Stony Creek
The helmet cam takes us to the east side today to Stony Creek Metropark in Shelby Township. The east side has limited territory to work with but has a rabid riding base who embrace the area trails.
The east siders have flogged me for pointing it out on the trail condition sites but not a fan of the layout at this location. It is a very large bowl with a two track comprising the outside of the bowl with the guts of the trail on the inside. The trick is getting to the inside of the bowl. The experienced riders of the trail advise that it just takes time figuring out a loop but that doesn't help those that ride it roughly once a year.
trailhead
The trailhead/parking lot resides in the very west end of the park (park is at Dequindre/Mt Vernon/26 Mile Rd), past the lake and the golf course. Look for the Shelden Trails sign and a bunch of cars/trucks with bike racks attached to them.
positives
Once you get into the guts of the trail, it flows well and is well maintained by the local riding chapter. Those not feeling it or with less experience can do the two track to get a feel for the terrain.
Stony Creek Lake makes for a nice post ride refresher after the ride.
negatives
Mentioned already but not a fan of having to stop at multiple intersections to find the guts of the trail. I foresee collisions happening with so many intersections and certain areas one way. Having the riding markers mean something would be ideal (go to marker 1, to 2, to 3....) but there is no pattern to the number layout. You go from marker 15 to 25 at one point. Keep it simple.
Deer appearance at about the 40 second mark of the attached.
Deer appearance at about the 40 second mark of the attached.
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