Southwest: Fort Custer

For posting trail-specific conditions and problems

Re: Southwest: Fort Custer

Postby Irish57 » September 14th, 2011, 7:04 pm

Trail is in great condition!!! A blast! Rode the yellow trail and it was a somewhat sandy in some spots but OK to get through. First time on the yellow trail. This after I started out with a flat tire. :oops: Definitely will be back.
Irish57
 
Posts: 25
Joined: June 19th, 2008, 5:57 am

Re: Southwest: Fort Custer

Postby Static_Crash » September 14th, 2011, 10:03 pm

Hopefully you hit the recent work on the Gravel Pit section of the Red Loop because it sure bumped up the fun level. If you want some nice air after you enter the first section be sure to hit the big flagstone on the right side of the mound, but if air isn't your thing just stay left. The new flagstone berm that follows really adds some speed to your decent if you stay high. Fun stuff!
Southwest Chapter Vice-President
SWMMBA Website
Bike Fort Custer on Facebook
User avatar
Static_Crash
 
Posts: 129
Joined: October 9th, 2010, 12:35 am
Location: Portage

Re: Southwest: Fort Custer

Postby Lefty 55 » September 15th, 2011, 9:11 pm

Found on the Red Loop, a late model key fob with carabiner for a Mercury. Left hung up at the trailhead kiosk
The finish line is not given, It is earned.
User avatar
Lefty 55
 
Posts: 73
Joined: May 24th, 2004, 1:26 pm
Location: Napoleon, Ohio

Re: Southwest: Fort Custer

Postby Sortaslow » September 16th, 2011, 1:37 pm

Hi guys,

Is the blue worth riding? I love red and green.
User avatar
Sortaslow
 
Posts: 1200
Joined: April 22nd, 2009, 6:38 pm
Location: Clinton Township

Re: Southwest: Fort Custer

Postby Static_Crash » September 16th, 2011, 3:44 pm

We will occasionally incorporate Blue into our ride as a good tune-up for Red and Green. Typically we'll jump on Blue right after the Gravel Pit on Red where the trail shoots off to the right. There's nothing technical on Blue, but there are a couple of decent climbs and downhills and plenty of places for some real good speed that will get the blood pumping. You'll eventually wind up back at the bridge and continuing on Red. It's not clearly marked in some places, but if you make a wrong turn it's no pain at all to get back to where you want to be. So yes, it is worth riding occasionally, so hit it.
Southwest Chapter Vice-President
SWMMBA Website
Bike Fort Custer on Facebook
User avatar
Static_Crash
 
Posts: 129
Joined: October 9th, 2010, 12:35 am
Location: Portage

Re: Southwest: Fort Custer

Postby Sortaslow » September 16th, 2011, 3:45 pm

Thanks!
User avatar
Sortaslow
 
Posts: 1200
Joined: April 22nd, 2009, 6:38 pm
Location: Clinton Township

Re: Southwest: Fort Custer

Postby Go_Green » September 16th, 2011, 6:58 pm

Road today. Great condition: Red Blue Green.

Horse *beep* everywhere. I saw about 7 horses out there.
Go_Green
 
Posts: 56
Joined: June 25th, 2011, 8:41 pm
Location: East Lansing, MI

Re: Southwest: Fort Custer

Postby mtbyker » September 16th, 2011, 7:37 pm

Go_Green wrote:Road today. Great condition: Red Blue Green.

Horse *beep* everywhere. I saw about 7 horses out there.


There is a "Horse Camp" this weekend, and there are going to be tons of horses on the trails, I would probably stay away.
User avatar
mtbyker
 
Posts: 926
Joined: June 26th, 2002, 11:53 pm
Location: Hudsonville, MI

Re: Southwest: Fort Custer

Postby thud » September 16th, 2011, 10:49 pm

mtbyker wrote:
Go_Green wrote:Road today. Great condition: Red Blue Green.

Horse *beep* everywhere. I saw about 7 horses out there.


There is a "Horse Camp" this weekend, and there are going to be tons of horses on the trails, I would probably stay away.


The crap is of the unavoidable variety as well -I refused to drink anything from my water bottle due to splatter effect. I swear they give those things laxatives before they hit the trails.
thud
 
Posts: 52
Joined: November 21st, 2010, 1:04 pm
Location: Battle Creek, MI

Re: Southwest: Fort Custer

Postby Irish57 » September 17th, 2011, 11:01 am

I took my wife out to the fort for the first time. Everything was great till we got marker 17 on the yellow trail when there was horse"bleep" all the way in to the parking lot. Then we road the blue and that was totally overrun with horse poo. Quite disgusting! First time running or should I say riding into this situation! :twisted: Does this crap get cleaned up? Half joking!!
Irish57
 
Posts: 25
Joined: June 19th, 2008, 5:57 am

Re: Southwest: Fort Custer

Postby gtrowbridge » September 17th, 2011, 11:53 am

Irish57 wrote:I took my wife out to the fort for the first time. Everything was great till we got marker 17 on the yellow trail when there was horse"bleep" all the way in to the parking lot. Then we road the blue and that was totally overrun with horse poo. Quite disgusting! First time running or should I say riding into this situation! :twisted: Does this crap get cleaned up? Half joking!!


Is it my imagination or is the horse doody getting worse before it gets better?
Or is there just a new round of folks getting to experience the smelly stuff?

If you ride during hunting season Im sure there will be less issues. :P
At least I do. Hunters crap in the woods not on the trail.
:wink:
Ionia State Recreation Area Trail Coordinator
"They say that the journey can be more important than the destination. In Mountain biking there is no destination. Just the bike. The rider. And a place to ride." - Roam
User avatar
gtrowbridge
 
Posts: 241
Joined: October 28th, 2008, 10:31 am
Location: Belding, MI

Re: Southwest: Fort Custer

Postby Static_Crash » September 17th, 2011, 12:07 pm

It's fair week, so it just bad timing for a ride at the Fort.
Southwest Chapter Vice-President
SWMMBA Website
Bike Fort Custer on Facebook
User avatar
Static_Crash
 
Posts: 129
Joined: October 9th, 2010, 12:35 am
Location: Portage

Re: Southwest: Fort Custer

Postby sawdustysneeze » September 17th, 2011, 12:16 pm

I rode red and green yesterday before 1 and I must say that I don't remember any crap on the red and the green had several piles, but it wasn't all over the place like some of you make it out to be. I guess maybe the trails got heavier traffic later, but let's not exaggerate... I too look forward to the trail separation, but enough of the whining and crying. sheeeeeez...
sawdustysneeze
 
Posts: 44
Joined: April 30th, 2007, 8:18 pm

Re: Southwest: Fort Custer

Postby Go_Green » September 18th, 2011, 10:00 pm

I think the descriptions were accurate. Friday, before the Horse Camp, the crap was ALL over the trail. I can't imagine what it looked like after the camp.

When is the official split?
Go_Green
 
Posts: 56
Joined: June 25th, 2011, 8:41 pm
Location: East Lansing, MI

Re: Southwest: Fort Custer

Postby whitekir » September 24th, 2011, 9:02 pm

Had a nice ride out here today. First time on this system. We really enjoyed it, even with the damp conditions. Loved those trenches! We will definitely be coming back for more!
whitekir
 
Posts: 9
Joined: May 14th, 2011, 9:13 pm

PreviousNext

Return to Trail Conditions & Comments

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google Adsense [Bot], Google Feedfetcher, jwhitey and 3 guests