New to Midland - trails and rides

[transplant]

Hello,

I recently moved back to Michigan, Midland specifically. I'm wondering about trails and group rides in the area. Is there anyone out there that can comment?

Jake

[brokenbones]

1. Midland City Forest up on Monroe Road is a blast. There are several interconnected loops that can provide a couple hours of fun with very tightly packed single track. So tight, that I bought a special pair of gloves with knuckle protectors built-in because I was always smacking my knuckles on trees out there. There's not much elevation change, but what's there can be fun and challenging (technical). I drive up there from Oakland County every few weeks to spend a Sunday afternoon there - it's worth the trip.

2. Pine Haven, just a few miles west from MCF on US10 in Sanford (on Maynard Road), has a similar feel with tight switchbacks and tightly packed single track (a signature of the local trail builders?), but with more elevation change. There's also a mix of wider two-track used for X-Country Skiing. Pine Haven is fun too, but not worth the trip to me other than once or twice a year compared to MCF.

3. Mid-Michigan Community College, up in Harrison. A newly built trail that I haven't been to yet, but the trail gets accolades from others on this Board. I think they have a race there too if you're interested.

Lastly, group rides? I can't help you there - one of the Locals will have to chime in.

[shoffman]

1. Midland City Forest up on Monroe Road is a blast. There are several interconnected loops that can provide a couple hours of fun with very tightly packed single track. So tight, that I bought a special pair of gloves with knuckle protectors built-in because I was always smacking my knuckles on trees out there. There's not much elevation change, but what's there can be fun and challenging (technical). I drive up there from Oakland County every few weeks to spend a Sunday afternoon there - it's worth the trip.

2. Pine Haven, just a few miles west from MCF on US10 in Sanford (on Maynard Road), has a similar feel with tight switchbacks and tightly packed single track (a signature of the local trail builders?), but with more elevation change. There's also a mix of wider two-track used for X-Country Skiing. Pine Haven is fun too, but not worth the trip to me other than once or twice a year compared to MCF.

3. Mid-Michigan Community College, up in Harrison. A newly built trail that I haven't been to yet, but the trail gets accolades from others on this Board. I think they have a race there too if you're interested.

Lastly, group rides? I can't help you there - one of the Locals will have to chime in.

I can help you regarding group rides in Midland - there are a couple different groups that typically ride on different days. Send me your email at: stevehoffman813@gmail.com .

Steve

[volklgirl]

I can help you regarding group rides in Midland - there are a couple different groups that typically ride on different days. Send me your email at: stevehoffman813@gmail.com .

Steve

Are they by invitation only???

[shoffman]

I can help you regarding group rides in Midland - there are a couple different groups that typically ride on different days. Send me your email at: stevehoffman813@gmail.com .

Steve

Are they by invitation only???

Absolutely not... sorry for the confusion. There are many group rides (both mountain and road) and I wanted to get more information on what his interests were.
Just trying to be helpful....

[volklgirl]

I just thought maybe you'd post up location, days, times so others can get in on the action.

[jalopy jockey]

I just thought maybe you'd post up location, days, times so others can get in on the action.

Could be shop emails lists. I know of one Boyne City ride that has a seemingly random location for their weekday night rides. Sat morning is always out of the shops back door. They need to get back to open up. Just sayin'

[shoffman]

I just thought maybe you'd post up location, days, times so others can get in on the action.

We ride on Wednesday evenings and often on Sunday mornings, but we ride in different locations each week so if you're interested in receiving weekly emails on when and where, drop me your email and I'll add it to our distribution.

[jlrotax583]

Is pickle juice provided or should we bring our own?

[shoffman]

Is pickle juice provided or should we bring our own?

duh.... bring your own!

[jlrotax583]

MCF TONIGHT?

[shoffman]

MCF TONIGHT?

I'll be there at 5pm.... bring your magic shine!

[jlrotax583]

Let there be Light!!!

[Rick_Seebeck]

Try out the 6 mile loop at the Gladwin County Recreation Area. It is closed to hunting and wide open to bikers!

[Zoo1424]

A couple of other trails within an hour's drive are Ogemaw Hills just north of West Branch and Rifle River Recreation Area in Lupton. Ogemaw has a nice mixture of terrain with a few good climbs and good down hills. I think the total is about 12 miles. Rifle River has some nice climbs and downhills early on, then moves to being mostly flat but through a wide variety of terrain - meadows, pine forest, swamp, & aspen groves. Plus the park is beautiful with quite a few lakes. Its' a good place to go for the scenery and just to really put the hammer down for a couple of hours. I believe it's about 14 miles total.