Here are some of the photos I took at Island Lake, last weekend. I think this team proves one thing: men are exhibitionists when they are in front of the camera. 
Racing Greyhound Duathlon Part I – A Photo Essay
Categories: Photo Essays
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Tags: Cycling, Racing Greyhounds
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2 comments
Bike Demo and Greyhound Photos
I uploaded all of the past weekend’s photos to SmugMug. That means that there are some out-of-focus photos and some bad shots.
Click on the links to view the following:
Categories: Bike Culture
| Tags: ILRA Spring Bike Demo, Racing Greyhounds
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People of the ILRA Spring Bike Demo – A Photo Essay
It’s been a while since I posted any photo essays, so this is the first of three. 
The Island Lake Recreation Area Spring Bike Demo happened yesterday. A bunch of hardcore cyclists braved the gusty wind and the spotty rain to hang out at the bike demo. Some even rode.
Jon and Nick were overjoyed to find that I was taking their picture. 
Bill checked out the food while Marne played with the heater.
Ali and Marty were awed by the heater.
It looks like Bob is about to play a joke on unsuspecting Cathy.
The big boy bikes were too much for G.
A cone sprouted legs and escaped from a construction area!
Proof that Bob grills, and that Ali was checking in on him.
Scott Quiring hoisting one of his magnificent creations. I believe that magnificent creation belongs to Ali.
Ali and I were both trying to trackstand on a block. We both failed. We were both riding Quirings.
Ali and I had to get a picture of this guy because his backside was plastered with sand and mud.
Hardcore Brad is hardly ever seen off of the bike.
This guy had no problem trackstanding on the block.
Categories: Photo Essays
| Tags: ILRA Spring Bike Demo, Quiring
| 5 comments
Something is Amiss
For the first time since 2007, I rode the Fort Custer trails on Sunday. I signed up for the Fort Custer Stampede in the Sport Class, meaning two 9-mile loops.
I wasn’t too keen on the forecast for rain, but I chose to tough it out and pre-register for the race. Once I got there, the clouds had already begun to clear away and the sun came out. It was suddenly a beautiful day and I was ready to ride my bike.
When I reached the starting line, I was pretty happy because there were only three of us. After a bit, I turned and saw that there were quite a few more women in my class who were standing behind us. Uh oh. Yeah, I had a bad feeling because I know how racing works in the Lower Peninsula, and I knew the race was going to suck for one big reason: my confidence was quickly running away…far, far away from the race course.
We started racing and I immediately took my position in about third or fourth from the back. After a short while, everyone passed me, and then I passed another girl so I wouldn’t be last. What I did not realize is that the girl I passed must have passed me back, because I found out that I was last towards the end of my first lap. 
I don’t mind being last, but I do mind getting smoked. At the rate I was going, it was going to take me about two hours and ten minutes to finish the course, and that was probably about 20 minutes behind the girl in front me. Not kosher.
In addition to my frustration, I started having some abdominal cramping early in the race. This is something I’ve started experiencing this year, and it happens on climbs, or hard efforts, that occur very shortly after the beginning of my ride. Between that and the fact that I was smoked by the others, I decided to quit the race before crossing the lap mark. It probably wasn’t a bad idea because I felt worse as the night went on and I felt like I was going to explode.
I made a very important decision: I am dropping down to the Beginner class. I know I’m not a beginner, but I also know that I am significantly slower than I used to be. I also know that the Beginner class is full of non-beginners who are actually average riders that belong in Sport. Hell, why shouldn’t I be there?
Another very important reason why I’ve decided to drop back down to beginner class is because I just can’t do the laps or the distance. There was no way I could’ve done more than then beginner distance at the Barry Roubaix. Sport at Yankee was only one lap, like with Beginner, so that wasn’t an issue. Fort Custer was two laps, and I just didn’t want to do that. If I do the Boyne Marathon, there is no way I’ll be able to complete the Sport distance. With that said, I am a beginner. Hear me roar.
Unfortunately, this is evidence that I am in massively bad shape. Unfortunately, with all of the exercise I’ve been getting, I don’t feel I’ve been getting into better shape, and I sure as hell haven’t been losing weight. Something is amiss.
Categories: Racing
| Tags: Fort Custer, Mountain Biking, Racing, Weight Loss
| 3 comments
Michigan’s Top Five Mountain Bike Trail Systems
There are some trails systems that I just have to ride, every year. The following are my top five. Mind you, this is my opinion, so don’t get your panties in a bunch if your favorite trail isn’t on the list, or you don’t like the order.
Check my previous post, Top 5 Michigan Trails for the trails I judged and the criteria I used.
No. 5. Highland Recreation Area
Highland is a gem nestled in a large, forested area on some hills that rival those located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The hills may not be as long, but they are pretty amazing when viewed from some of the hill peaks over which the trail runs. Oakland County provides plenty of elevation for this fun and challenging trail.
Highland has four long loops stretching over 15 miles in length. The trails are intermediate and advanced with lots of technical features like rock gardens and log jumps. The trail is remarkably flowy, especially considering the technical features.
Water drainage is excellent, and these trails can usually be ridden in the rain without having to deal with puddles or damaging the trail surface. The terrain facilitates this sustainable characteristic and also contributes to the massively difficult aerobic workout one will get while riding these trails.
Click here for more information about this trail in the Moronacity Trail Guide. (Link will open in new window.)
No. 4. Pontiac Lake Recreation Area
Wicked fun Pontiac Lake delivers the whee factor.
Pontiac Lake Recreation Area consists of one trail that is about 11 miles in length. “Big Puke” and “Little Puke” are located not far from the beginning of the trail, and are challenging climbs that will cause the legs to burn, the lungs to scream, and the mind to get busy navigating rocks, roots, and sharp, uphill turns.
What is really fascinating about Pontiac Lake is that it can be divided up into three sections. It changes quite a bit as one rides over its hills, down its fast, rooty sections, and up its challenging climbs.
Some of the technical features are the result of erosion from heavy use, but the trail is rip-roaring fast and certainly exhibits “the whee factor.” This intermediate trail is wicked cool and is a must-ride when visiting the Pontiac Area or anywhere within and hour or two drive.
Click here for more photos and information about this trail in the Moronacity Trail Guide. (Link will open in new window.)
No. 3. Churning Rapids
Churning Rapids’ Pow Pow trail is great fun.
It is no surprise that the U.P.’s Keweenaw Peninsula takes the top three spots beginning with Churning Rapids, an intermediate trail system with incredible variety and lots of options.
Built by top notch mountain bikers and skiers with loads of trail building experience, Churning Rapids has it all. There is plenty of downhill fun and loads of technical features. Pow Pow has banked turns on good-sized hills that feel like an amusement park ride.
This trail system offers so many different features that I can’t even begin to properly explain it within the confines of this post.
Click here for more photos and information about this trail in the Moronacity Trail Guide. (Link will open in new window.)
No. 2. Copper Harbor Trails
Copper Harbor’s Red Trail.
It probably blows your mind that this IMBA Epic Ride is not my number one, but feel better knowing that it was a tough choice.
Copper Harbor rivals the great western trails of Colorado and other states. Built on bedrock and offering climbs exceeding 500 feet in distance, these challenging trails are simply incredible and must be experienced to truly have any clue what is going on in this [not-so-quiet] northern town.
Mountain bikers can swoop down the incredibly flowy Brockway Trail that has banked turns and amazing views, or down the classic Red Trail that offers intermediate and advanced technical features, beautiful views, and lots of wheeeeeeee factor. There are many other trails that can keep riders busy for the whole day, or even many days.
The biggest reason why this trail is number two on my list is because of the variety factor. One super-challenging freeride trail that does need some impressive work has been closed, taking away a masterful piece of singletrack that challenges the craziest riders, yet allows intermediate riders to fairly safely venture into a new style of riding.
Copper Harbor has been working on an intermediate trail phase over the last couple of years, so the intermediate trails have boomed. There really are no fun, beginner options, but experts can let their freak flag fly on trails such as Paul’s Plunge.
This trail is simply a must-ride, and a full-suspension bike is highly recommended. While some phenomenal, rigid singlespeed riders own these trails in ecstasy, many devoted rigid or hardtail owners and singlespeeders have developed a strong desire for a plush, geared bike after getting beat up by the terrain.
Click here for more photos and information about this trail in the Moronacity Trail Guide. (Link will open in new window.)
No. 1. Michigan Technical University’s Recreational Forest – the Tech Trails
Only one of MTU’s rocky beauties on Hairy Toad.
Michigan Tech has an incredible trail system that offers something for everyone. The Pilgrim Trails give beginners a few loops to enjoy, while intermediate and advanced riders can enjoy rocky, technical trails, stunts, or baby-smooth singletrack on incredible hillsides.
This trail system has exploded over the last couple of years as lots of new singletrack has been added. Climbing is long and difficult, but descending is incredibly fun, fast and flowy. There is even a new pump track that was built last year.
Some of the new trails present exposure as riders traverse along ridges abutted by beautiful streams and foliage. This trail system is truly fun for the whole family as everyone can find something that brings them immense joy atop the mountain bike.
Click here for more photos and information about this trail in the Moronacity Trail Guide. (Link will open in new window.)
Categories: Trail Reviews
| Tags: Churning Rapids, Copper Harbor Trails, Highland Recreation Area, Michigan Tech Trails, Mountain Biking, Pontiac Lake, Trails
| No comments
Top 5 Michigan Trails…
I’ve ridden a lot of trails in Michigan, and I do know one thing is for sure: Michigan has GREAT mountain biking. The fact that there are so many choices makes Michigan a great destination; but the fact that most of it is maintained by specially-trained people makes Michigan mountain biking exceptional.
Playing around at the Michigan Tech trailhead.
As May rapidly approaches, and many are already bombing through singletrack, I thought it would be a good time to come up with some top five lists. The following are the trails that I am judging and the criteria I am using for my decisions.
The Contenders
It is only fair to let you know which trails are in the running, as I can only judge those which I’ve ridden. Here is the competition:
- Al Quaal
- Anderson Park
- Aspen Park
- Boyne Highlands
- Brighton Recreation Area
- Burchfield Park
- Cannonsburg Ski Area
- Cannonsburg State Game Area
- Copper Harbor Trails
- Churning Rapids
- Fort Custer Recreation Area
- Hanson Hills Recreation Area
- Harlow Lake
- Highland Recreation Area
- Holdridge Lakes
- Lakeshore Park – The Tree Farm
- Luton Park
- Maasto Hiihto
- Marquette South Trails
- Michigan Tech Trails
- Mid Michigan Community College
- Pontiac Lake Recreation Area
- Ruby Campground
- Sleepy Hollow State Park
- Stony Creek Metropark
- Swedetown
- Yankee Springs
Judging Criteria
Variety. Variety is the spice of life, especially if you ride the same trail system day in and day out. Some trails systems consist of only one trail, like Pontiac Lake or Mid Michigan Community College, but that trail may change quite a bit throughout the course.
Michigan Tech’s Time Trial loop is one of several that challenges riders’ skills and abilities.
Technical features. A challenging trail is a fun trail. I like a trail that will occasionally force me off of my bike due to a combination of difficult climbs and technical features. Michigan Tech, for example, has some features that I can clear one of three times. Some features require more practice to master. Some are repeatedly conquered.
Elevation. Climbing and descending are a big part of mountain biking. Climbs are often painful and oftentimes require patience, discipline, and skill, but the short, steep climbs also add some variety and challenge. Descents are great when they’re long and rip-roaring fast.
Flow. Possibly one of the most difficult characteristics to build into a trail, flow is how the different aspects of a trail tie in. Does a trail allow you to gain speed on every climb only to immediately brake hard to make a sharp turn or safely ride through a sand pit at the bottom of the hill; or can you gain speed on a descent and use the momentum to clear another hill or technical trail element?
Pontiac Lake is a great intermediate trail with a little bit of everything.
Sustainability. Trails are best when they can be ridden all season and are built to last. Yankee Springs Recreation Area has a great mountain bike trail, but there are a lot of erosion issues and the trail turns into a sandpit as the summer progresses. Most of the Copper Harbor Trails are fairly new and have been built using the International Mountain Bicycling Association’s sustainability guidelines.
Navigation. Trails are only good when you can find them. Maps and signs are very important for riders who aren’t familiar with the trails.
What do you look for in a trail?
Categories: Trail Reviews
| Tags: Michigan Trails, Mountain Biking Trails
| 2 comments
Return to Tech
Having arrived in Houghton on Tuesday, I had to take the mountain bike out for a spin. After two hours of packing my belongings and loading them into the U-Haul, I decided to leave my downtown-Houghton hotel to ride up the hill to Michigan Tech’s Student Development Complex (SDC) where I could pop into Outer Loop at the Michigan Tech Trails.
Michigan Tech’s Outer Limits is one of my favorite singletrack trails in the entire state.
I love Outer Loop, but I only did a short stretch of it as I made my way to the trailhead where I took a quick look around to see if I recognized anyone. Nope. Move along.
I opted for the Time Trial loop. It’s a fun, intermediate and technical trail that has a few stunts for the brave. I sometimes do a couple of stunts, but that’s it. Another trail, Hairy Toad, branches off of Time Trial. Hairy Toad, together with the trail to which it leads – Barking Frog, are more advanced technical trails full of rock gardens and skinny bridges. I love these trails.
Hairy Toad and Barking Frog are full of rocks and will test your technical skills.
I managed to do them in a good time. I had a good ride and cleaned different parts of the trails as expected. It felt good simply to be there riding the trails that I called home for four years.
I made my way back to the trailhead and started downhill along the old Outer Loop. Several trails have been added to the Tech Trails, and a new stretch of Outer Loop has been created while an old stretch has been renamed as something else. I started down the “old” Outer Loop and found myself bombing around the corners and over the various trail features. It was FUN.
I made my way up the other side of Outer Loop, near the cemetery, and popped back out onto the road by the SDC. I rode to the hotel, changed my clothes, and headed out for a beer – just like old times. 
Categories: Mountain Biking
| Tags: Michigan Tech Trails, Mountain Biking
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The Great Pedal Debacle
A couple of days ago, Neil commented on “Attempting to Miss the Yankee Springs Time Trial” and asked, “How does one forget their pedals…I mean…aren’t they, like, attached to the bike?”
Ideally.
Last fall, I broke the rear dropout on my Jamis (see A Surefire Cause of Inappropriate Verbiage). I went for a ride at the Tree Farm with Marty and Nick, and borrowed Marty’s Vassago Bandersnatch (see Bike P0rn: Vassago Bandersnatch Custom Build). We put the clipless pedals from my Jamis on the Bandersnatch and I rode that with glee. After the ride, we took the pedals off of the Bandersnatch and I placed them in my bike box.
About two days before the Barry Roubaix, another friend, Chris, put the replacement frame part on the Jamis. I told him I would put the pedals on the bike “tomorrow.” Of course, I forgot. I didn’t realize my mistake until I arrived at the Barry Roubaix, about two hours from my home.
The problem was that my pedals were no longer in my bike box. I had put them on my Trek EX7 for a test ride on the trails I built at Mom and Dad’s. Fortunately for me, one of my “Jon” friends had some Shimano SPDs, so he put those on the Jamis for the day, and I raced a very painful Barry Roubaix.
Two days after the Barry Roubaix, I met Glen and Ali at Highland and realized that I still had not put my pedals on my bike. Fortunately, I had my platform pedals and used those. The next day, Glen put the clipless pedals on my Jamis and put an end to the hellish pedal debacle.
Categories: Equipment
| Tags: Clipless Pedals, Mountain Biking
| 4 comments
Because I Can
“For the first time, I was able to do a race and actually enjoy it.” That was the end of yesterday’s blog post, and it probably left some of you scratching your heads.
“What do you mean, ‘actually enjoy it?’ Its mountain biking. You should always enjoy it!”
Sure, if you enjoy racing, then that’s great. I have mixed feelings about it, though.
I enjoy seeing mountain biking friends and fellow advocacy freaks at the races.
I am quite competitive. I love to gauge my progress, and racing is not only a motivator to continue improving, but a great method of gauging progress with some accountability. Not only that, but it is also fun to get together with a couple hundred people and do what we all like to do: mountain bike.
What I don’t like about racing is the compelling need to go as fast as I possibly can. The reason is that it hurts. Now, I do like pain. This is obvious because I mountain bike, but I push myself to a different level when I race. I’ve finished several races after bonking. I’ve had coughing fits and a raw throat because I pushed so hard that my lungs felt like they wanted to die. I don’t necessarily enjoy the routes that are chosen for some races.
I love the “chilling out” period that follows the race.
What is the reason I race, then? Why do I race? Because I can. I truly believe that. When it comes to competition, I seem to like to push myself about as hard as I can. I push to my limit. Maybe it makes me feel like I am truly alive. Maybe it is because I appreciate being able to do this crazy stuff while my body is young and healthy. I know for a fact that part of it is because I enjoy hanging out with mountain bikers.
Categories: Racing
| Tags: Racing, Yankee Springs Time Trial
| 1 comment
Racing the Yankee Springs Time Trial
“Go!”
The guy next to me took off and I got rolling. I started down the course for the Yankee Springs time trial having no clue what was in store for me. I heard that there were some bad climbs, and that the trail was notorious for sand, but I really had no clue what was up ahead.
The first things I noticed were some sandy spots and a couple of small drops that looked like the result of erosion over roots. The singletrack was clean, winding, and flowy. The uphills were gentle and the downhills created opportunities to open up and fly through the woods.
To say that the uphills were gentle is not to say that they were easy. Maybe they seemed gentle because I had ridden Highland a couple of weeks earlier. Some of the uphills were technical with elements such as loose rocks, roots, and sand.
Cake. If there is one thing I learned how to do while riding up in Copper Harbor, it was how to clean a loose, rocky hill. Of course, the downhills were also a little crazy. I found myself plunging from dropoffs quite a bit.
Word to the wise, when you are racing and you are caught behind Di on a downhill, don’t follow this fearless woman (ha ha) with faith that she will find the safest line. Oh, no. In fact, I choose the craziest line about half of the time. Sometimes it’s just faster to take the plunge.
With the exception of two ascents, I made it up every hill, including the one that went straight up the steep fall line and was covered with some rubbery mat. The two hills that got me were the ones that were really wide with lots of roots.
I thought about those rooty uphills as I did them and quickly realized why I couldn’t make it up: I never saw this trail before, and I picked the wrong lines. Approaching those hills, there are entrances into the technical portions that looked like they would be good lines, but they came to an abrupt stop before I could tell that I chose the wrong line.
I finished the race strong and smiling. I loved the trail and had a great time. For the first time, I was able to do a race and actually enjoy it. It was a fun process.
Categories: Racing
| Tags: Mountain Biking, Racing, Yankee Springs Time Trial
| 1 comment
