My First Ride at Stony (A Review)

[jalopy jockey]

I think being on an SS makes trails like bloomer a better cardio workout then it would be on a geared bike. (Tight stuff makes you really have to grunt to get back going.) Where as flat fast stuff I just spin out, and don't get that great of a workout, which could be part of it. (I run 32/16 on a 29er.)

Nope my geared bike still has a trainer slick as a rear tire. I haven't ridden it since the fall.

Short grunts don't get the heart going as much as sustained flying around the trail for hours on end for me anyways. But my legs are stronger than my skills.

[AllMountin']

I think you'll find that the average rider rates trails on flow and fun more so than technical/aerobic challenge. In fact, many will downgrade or dislike trails that they find exceedingly difficult. We are all in it for our own reasons.

The Pines can be fast and fun, though only as aerobically challenging as you want to make it. The Snake is a nice climb that is fairly sustained by Michigan standards. The Roller Coaster flows well enough that you may not feel the elevation that is there. When I'm riding well, this is among my favorite sections around.

If you're only into the aerobic challenge and don't enjoy flow or other types of trail, then maybe stick to the more painful trails, or try road riding. I personally love a good workout or challenge, but feel that if you *need* that on every trail to enjoy yourself, you are missing out on a lot of what the sport is all about. JMHO.

[kyleRIG29er]

Definitely didn't say that I didn't enjoy the roller coaster guys. I did. I just felt like from a workout stand point it wasn't that tough. Any elevation I hit on it I was going fast enough I could have come close to coasting up a lot of the climbs. I was just felt like I had a hard time trying to get my legs spent, or my lungs spent at Stony. I have been comparing to Bloomer quite a bit, have you guys all ridden bloomer since the additions? You can basically do a full single track loop, and I would argue that the combination of more sustained climbs at bloomer (I can think of 3 right off the bat) and the lung busters sections, can really give a good workout. And no road riding, that has always bored the crap out of me.

[kyleRIG29er]

You could try this. And you guessed correctly. The best climbs are on double track. The single track doesn't have hard climbs. That's why I like Stony at times!


If it's climbs you like the best head to highland, lohs, grubers, poto, torn shirt.

Just saw this, I may have to check this route out, although it looks like it could get a bit boring just chugging away on straight two track.

[barroo]

You could try this. And you guessed correctly. The best climbs are on double track. The single track doesn't have hard climbs. That's why I like Stony at times!


If it's climbs you like the best head to highland, lohs, grubers, poto, torn shirt.

Just saw this, I may have to check this route out, although it looks like it could get a bit boring just chugging away on straight two track.

There are some good climbs on the 2 track. Plus if you are looking for an aerobic workout put the hammer down on the 2 track and push your heart rate. It goes by fairly quick because it is chopped up and mixed with the single track. Good loop for sure.

[jalopy jockey]

Definitely didn't say that I didn't enjoy the roller coaster guys. I did. I just felt like from a workout stand point it wasn't that tough. Any elevation I hit on it I was going fast enough I could have come close to coasting up a lot of the climbs. I was just felt like I had a hard time trying to get my legs spent, or my lungs spent at Stony. I have been comparing to Bloomer quite a bit, have you guys all ridden bloomer since the additions? You can basically do a full single track loop, and I would argue that the combination of more sustained climbs at bloomer (I can think of 3 right off the bat) and the lung busters sections, can really give a good workout. And no road riding, that has always bored the crap out of me.

Yes and I would counter your arguement that the technical features of Bloomer negate the ability to push the legs and lungs.

When I ride Bloomer it's my arms and back that feel it. Not the legs unless I do hill repeats even then the golf course climb at 26 is harder.

[kyleRIG29er]

Yes and I would counter your arguement that the technical features of Bloomer negate the ability to push the legs and lungs.

When I ride Bloomer it's my arms and back that feel it. Not the legs unless I do hill repeats even then the golf course climb at 26 is harder.

Haha, wanna race? I kid, but I'm still confused how you don't get a good workout at bloomer, do I just push the technical stuff a lot harder than most? A full lap as I do it at Bloomer takes me 29 minutes. I posted a video up on here a bit back of the route at 2x speed.

[bh357]

The best climb at Stony is 13-14-25 (2 track all the way up). Head north, and you'll take a left just past the sand pit. Good repeat hill .

Yes, it's very possible to get your heart rate up at Bloomer... even on a singlespeed. Same for Stony.

[mikewoods]

I think the solution to your problem is to stop riding so much. Once your fitness goes away, the trail will be challenging again.

[jalopy jockey]

Yes and I would counter your arguement that the technical features of Bloomer negate the ability to push the legs and lungs.

When I ride Bloomer it's my arms and back that feel it. Not the legs unless I do hill repeats even then the golf course climb at 26 is harder.

Haha, wanna race? I kid, but I'm still confused how you don't get a good workout at bloomer, do I just push the technical stuff a lot harder than most? A full lap as I do it at Bloomer takes me 29 minutes. I posted a video up on here a bit back of the route at 2x speed.

Simple my cardio is much better than my skills. My wife is a better bike handler than me even though my Iceman time is 60% of hers.

[mr_opjones]

I just threw this together and I think you will get the most climbing out of Stony going this route.

Start at West Branch parking, left @ 1, right @ 26 (single track), right @ 25 (start of Roller coaster), continue on single track until the end @ 21, right @ 22, right @ 23, right @ 12, right @ 20, right @ 15, left @ 12, left @ 13, left @ 14, right @ 15 go up snakes, right @ 25 (go down double track, fun!), Left at the bottom back up towards 26. No you can go left at 26 for the loop or go back down to one and turn around for the nice long climb back up.

[kyleRIG29er]

Thanks for the write up! I may have to print this and take it with me the next time I ride out there.

[c0nsumer]

I just threw this together and I think you will get the most climbing out of Stony going this route.

Start at West Branch parking, left @ 1, right @ 26 (single track), right @ 25 (start of Roller coaster), continue on single track until the end @ 21, right @ 22, right @ 23, right @ 12, right @ 20, right @ 15, left @ 12, left @ 13, left @ 14, right @ 15 go up snakes, right @ 25 (go down double track, fun!), Left at the bottom back up towards 26. No you can go left at 26 for the loop or go back down to one and turn around for the nice long climb back up.

Is that a picture of a computer screen taken with a cell phone then edited and reuploaded? Wow.

[mr_opjones]

[c0nsumer]

Here is a new version of the aforementioned 6 & 12 Hour Route Map. It might be a bit easier to follow, and it should definitely print up better.