Saturday's Ride Sept 29th

I thought since we are doing a Century on Sunday, that for tommorow a relatively easy City Ride would be good. Plan to leave my house if your joining me about 8:30 am. Figure somewhere in the 40-50 mile range with a coffee and snack stop along the way.

Roark

Century Ride For Michigan Trip

Ok.... I know every bike vacation needs a century ride. That said here is the one for Michigan; 110 miles of fun.


Antrim-Kalkaska Century
Preview: This is it, the long ride for the trip 110 miles! A counter clockwise ride starts from the city of Kalkaska. Terrain consists of rolling, steep hills near Schuss Mountain/Shanty Creek Resort, lovely wooded country side, and lakes. Return ride along the east side of Torch Lake is flat. Valley Road back to Kalkaska is lovely. This century ride will challenge the experienced biker.

You can view the cue sheet and map of the route with the link below :
http://www.geocities.com/rdweil@sbcglobal.net/MichiganOverfiew.html

Ride Sunday Oct 1

Is anyone doing the Trailnet Ride the Rivers Century on Sunday? A couple of thoughts/questions....

I'd like to do as much as I can, but may need to bail early due to religious obligations that evening and Monday (synagogue and fasting). The route goes right by my house. Might be better to start from house in case need to bail early. Roark/Mark....would you be interested in that?

David (with Trailnet)....I'd like to support Trailnet but if I wanted to start from my house, can I have someone pay and pick up ferry/lunch/etc tickets for me?

Mike....If you're doing this ride, would you be willing to pick up the registration stuff and then hand them off when you catch up?

Cheri

Historic Tunnel of Trees Loop in Michigan

One more route done. Its starts and finishes at Petosky State Park (famous for Petosky stones).

Preview: It's the sweetheart of cyclists, and for good reason: a narrow, winding road shunned by most motorists, lined with tall hardwood whose branches rise and arch to form an expansive canopy shading smooth asphalt. The deep greens of ferns and trees are interrupted only by the clear blues of Lake Michigan. It's M-119, running from Cross Village to Harbor Springs. This ride features the especially scenic section from Cross Village to Good Hart. Things to see: Tunnels formed by tall trees, vistas of Lake Michigan through hardwoods, Cross Village, Good Hart, historic Legs Inn.

Directly below you will find a link to an article on the sites of the Tunnel of Trees:
http://www.traversemagazine.com/destination.htm?go=2000etree

If your interested in taking a look at the route use the following link:
http://www.geocities.com/rdweil@sbcglobal.net/MichiganTrip/TunnelOfTrees.htm

Count me in for Michigan. Mark

Another Loop Planned In Michigan

I have finished putting together a second 24 mile loop "Forest Lake" just 7 miles south of the Old Mission Penninsula Tour. This would allow us to add more miles to the day of the Mission Penninsual Tour, 64 miles if we drove between loops, or 78 miles if we rode from one loop to the next.

This route is a mix of touring inland lakes and some hill climbs.


You can see the route details if you click the link below.

http://www.geocities.com/rdweil@sbcglobal.net/MichiganTrip/ForestLakeLoop.htm

Caffeinated Cycling aka Jittery Jaunts

Riding this weekend?
Mike/Ron, anybody riding this weekend?
Greg

Summer Touring The Northwest Corner of Michigan's Lower peninsula

Some of you might have heard me talking about doing our group bike ride next year to the Northwest Corner Of Michigan's Lower peninsula. The Grand Travis Bay area, would be the center of our explorations. This trip would compare in many ways to our Maine trip. It's certainly not flat, this is Boyne Mountain territory where the Michigan Ski areas reside.

Logistically, it's a one day drive (12 hours). We could rent a beach house, or hotel rooms and cram together like we did in Colorado. I believe we could find a room based on my experience this summer for $125 per night for four or five. Since we would be driving from here, with a Van or SUV with a trailer hitch, it will be easy to bring along the bikes in a trailer.

Some of our rides would include

Old Mission Peninsula Tour
Sleeping Bear Dunes
Forest Lake
Antrim-Kalkaska Century
Tunnel of Trees Loop
Torch Lake Tour

If there is interest I will be posting the routes as I work them out during the following months. The routes are based on the map I bought while up in Michigan published by the "Cherry Capital Cycling Club". The link below will take you to the web sight I am putting together describing the rides.

http://www.geocities.com/rdweil@sbcglobal.net/MichiganOverfiew.html


The first route I have worked out is right out of Travis City, "Old Mission Peninsual Tour"

http://www.geocities.com/rdweil@sbcglobal.net/MichiganTrip/OldMissionPeninsualLoop.htm

Preview: The 18-mile-long, 2-mile-wide finger of land that divides Lake Michigan's Grand Traverse Bay is a cyclist's serendipity. Most of the 40-mile route is along flat shoreline, but there are scattered steep hills too, clustered at the tip. Atop them cyclists are rewarded with views of both bays, cherry orchards, and vineyards and then a blow-back-the-helmet descent. Several restaurants offer respite along the route, from a haunted inn to a belly-up-to-the bar pub to an old-time general store serving homemade ice cream. The Old Mission Lighthouse and Park at the tip of the peninsula (also the forty-fifth parallel, halfway between the equator and the North Pole) makes a perfect rest stop. Traverse City bills itself as the world's cherry capital, and indeed, the region grows more than three-quarters of the world's tart variety, the kind used in pies. You?ll see many of these orchards on the Old Mission Peninsula Cruise. It's favored by local cyclists, including members of the aptly named Cherry Capital Cyclists, for its beautiful scenery, good roads, and lack of traffic. This counterclockwise outer loop is the easiest of the many routes around the peninsula. Terrain: Mostly flat, with scattered short but steep hills mid-ride, at the tip of the peninsula.

NEVER PAY FOR COFFEE AGAIN AT KALDIS!

Yes....Its true, jittery jaunts does live up to its name..... the following link will take you to a coupon.... Unlimited free coffee (till Kaldis wises up!)..... print this coupon... keep it in your saddle bag.... and every time we stop at Kaldis.... you got free coffee...what could be better...


http://www.kaldiscoffee.com/Coupon.pdf

Sunday Sept 17 Ride

Is anyone doing the Trailnet ride on Sunday 9/17?

Tour de Wildwood
date: September 17 Sunday
time: Registration 7:30 – 9 am
location: Lafayette High School, 17050 Clayton Road, Wildwood, MO 63011
description: Routes: 19, 25, or 42 miles
Terrain: Moderately hilly to very hilly with big hills on all routes
Features: Join the community of Wildwood as they celebrate their 11th anniversary as an incorporated community. The tour includes a scenic pedal through west St. Louis County with a stop at Rockwoods Reservation. Helmets are required on this ride. Recommended for experienced cyclists.
fees: $6 Member, $9 Non-member, $3 Child under 13

Out of Town For Wednesday Ride Sept 13

Folks,

It sucks, but I am stuck out of town on business. So I wont be riding this Wednesdaynight. Feel free to meet at my house though.


Roark

Monday Sept 4th Spin

Here is my plan for tomorrow. Maybe 30-35 miles and a hill or two at an easy pace, all to start the MS 150 Taper. We will hook up a Starbuck's at the corner of Clayton and Lindberg at 8:15 am. Yes I will probably be there a few moments earlier to have a cup of coffee. I plan to swing through Kirkwood, and hit Marshal Hill just to keep the legs loose.

Roark