Jeduncan Member Username: Jeduncan
Post Number: 85 Registered: 11-2006
| Posted on Tuesday, April 24, 2007 - 10:04 pm: | |
Just scanning the board to see if there's any mountain bikers on here. If so, where is your favorite spot to hit the trails? |
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz
Post Number: 2000 Registered: 12-2005
| Posted on Tuesday, April 24, 2007 - 10:58 pm: | |
The west side of Stony Creek Metropark has some impressive hills. http://www.metroparks.com/park s/pk_stony_creek.phpquote:Mountain bikers and hikers enjoy our 14 miles of hilly, heavily wooded dirt trails that traverse the southwest side of the park. The Michigan Mountain Bike Association helps keep this area groomed. Helmets required on mountain bike trails. |
Cambrian Member Username: Cambrian
Post Number: 1023 Registered: 08-2006
| Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 9:03 am: | |
When I was....I liked Island lake a lot. I wanna get back into it. Maybe this year! |
Jfried Member Username: Jfried
Post Number: 961 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 9:07 am: | |
Rouge park on the city's westside is great if you don't mind doing a few laps to get a good work out. http://www.mmba.org/trails.php ?trail=83 Stoney Creek is where I first started mountain biking, I still ride there once a month. http://www.mmba.org/trails.php ?trail=2 Maybury park in Northville is fairly close to the city http://www.mmba.org/trails.php ?trail=5 So is Lakeshore in Novi http://www.mmba.org/trails.php ?trail=8 My favorite, and in my opinion the most challenging in the area is Highland http://www.mmba.org/trails.php ?trail=6 |
Rrl Member Username: Rrl
Post Number: 787 Registered: 12-2003
| Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 9:54 am: | |
If you're looking for a nice day-trip, head to Fort Custer State Park just west of Battle Creek. Depending on loop you choose, parts of their trails are tough! After a good ride, head to the Bells brewery in K-zoo to make it a perfect day! http://www.mmba.org/trails.php ?trail=10 |
Jfried Member Username: Jfried
Post Number: 962 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 10:35 am: | |
I second that. Fort Custer is sweet. Part of the trail winds through the old military training trenches. |
Gravitymachine Member Username: Gravitymachine
Post Number: 1619 Registered: 05-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 12:53 pm: | |
for local trails i like lakeshore the best, pontiac lake is second. I am one of the few who doesn't care for the flight of the bumblebee layout of stoney creek. potowatami is pretty badass too (Message edited by gravitymachine on April 25, 2007) |
Jeduncan Member Username: Jeduncan
Post Number: 86 Registered: 11-2006
| Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 8:44 pm: | |
Yeah, the only trails I've hit are the blue and yellow at Island Lake and the singletrac at Maybury. I'm looking for some technical stuff. I did BMX for a long time, so I still have that thirst for jumping, which can be quenched to an extent on the trails I've ridden so far. I just want to find some trails I can make a weekend out of visiting. I'd like to hit some places in northern/western/UP at some point this summer. |
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz
Post Number: 2010 Registered: 12-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 9:03 pm: | |
Gravitymachine, what do you mean by "flight of the bumblebee layout of stony creek"? Do you mean that it's too fast? Not that I disagree either way. My only interest in the area is that I like to map these parks. There are some very complex trails back there! |
Beavis1981 Member Username: Beavis1981
Post Number: 555 Registered: 08-2006
| Posted on Thursday, April 26, 2007 - 2:58 am: | |
I regularly ride 50-150 miles a week through wooded trails, old rail lines and country backroads. Does this count as "mountain biking"? As for favorite, there is 6 golf courses within 10 miles. Cart paths make awesome bike trails! |
Gravitymachine Member Username: Gravitymachine
Post Number: 1620 Registered: 05-2005
| Posted on Thursday, April 26, 2007 - 8:42 am: | |
Jimaz, i mean that the trail is all over the goddamn place. I'm more of a point a-b rider than a choose your own adventure rider. in other words, i'd rather just ride than have look at a map at every stage |
Jfried Member Username: Jfried
Post Number: 963 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Thursday, April 26, 2007 - 9:27 am: | |
Gravity - If you think the layout at Stoney is confusing you should try Bloomer. If you're going up to the UP you have to check out copper harbor http://www.mmba.org/trails.php ?trail=63 probably the best trails in the midwest. Yankee springs is also worth the drive to the westside. http://www.mmba.org/trails.php ?trail=4 It's pretty similar to potawatominonomini, which gravity already mentioned is another one of the best in the area. |
Jeduncan Member Username: Jeduncan
Post Number: 87 Registered: 11-2006
| Posted on Thursday, April 26, 2007 - 5:32 pm: | |
Do you think I'd get in trouble for building jumps in a state park? I noticed that both trails at Island Lake and the trail at Maybury have short tangents on the trails that lead to pretty much nowhere... They'd be good places to build some doubles, maybe some spines. |
Frank_c Member Username: Frank_c
Post Number: 1000 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Thursday, April 26, 2007 - 6:12 pm: | |
Yes, that we be a problem as in you would be breaking the law. |
Jfried Member Username: Jfried
Post Number: 964 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Friday, April 27, 2007 - 9:10 am: | |
Frank_c is right. You can't just start moving dirt, especially considering those tangents contain delicate flora that the parks make a huge effort to protect. Go to the MMBA site I linked to several times above. MMBA has agreements with most of the state parks that give them authority to build and maintain trails. Each trail has a coordinator and if you contact that person you may be able to work together to build more of the jumps you are looking for. In addition, there are some good dirt jumps on the far east side along the clinton river spill way. Often called "honda hills" this area is located in clinton & harrison townships, off harper, north of 16 mile road. |
Jeduncan Member Username: Jeduncan
Post Number: 88 Registered: 11-2006
| Posted on Friday, April 27, 2007 - 12:40 pm: | |
I thought so. Thanks for the confirmation. |
Rrl Member Username: Rrl
Post Number: 791 Registered: 12-2003
| Posted on Friday, April 27, 2007 - 5:21 pm: | |
Dude, you could always build yourself some sweet jumps on the sidewalk
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Jeduncan Member Username: Jeduncan
Post Number: 89 Registered: 11-2006
| Posted on Wednesday, May 02, 2007 - 12:02 am: | |
lmao |