Busy October!

Sorry readers, it has been a busy October.  My MMBA NE Chapter postings have really petered out. That’s not to say that there is nothing going on. Everyone (but me) is still hitting the trails hard before the snow starts flying. Last minute preparations and training sessions for Iceman are happening all around us.  Get on Steve Hoffman’s email distribution for regular group ride notices <stevehoffman813@gmail.com>.  Yes, I am registered for Iceman and yes, it is going to kick my a- -!

Safety concerns:  We were notified recently by IMBA/MMBA to dismantle any teeter-totters on MMBA sanctioned trails.  This is due to some discrepancies in their insurance coverage.  We believe that the teeter-totters will be re-installed as soon as the issues are resolved.  Please do not try to “fix” them, just ignore them for now and forge ahead.  Thanks.  Also, be careful riding during the Fall season. The combination of slippery wet leaves and hidden tree roots can really kill your buzz quickly.

Several have been asking about the trailhead location at Mid Michigan Community College (MMCC).  As you enter the main parking lot at MMCC from S Clare Ave (old 27), you will find the trailhead about 100 ft (across the lawn) from the NW corner of the lot.  You will enter into a wooded area between the school and the road.  The 10.1 mile loop will conclude  on the South side of the same lot.  We hope to work with MMCC to develop some trail signage in the near future.  This is a wise ride destination during the rainy season, as it is on high ground and sheds water quickly.

Thanks to those who participated in the Pain Haven race and our 1st annual Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day.  Both were successful events and we look forward to growing them in 2010.  Thanks to the City and County of Midland for their help with both events.

Glad to see so many familiar faces at “Race Across the Sky” the other night in Saginaw.  This inspiring documentary movie is about the Leadville 100, a now legendary mountain bike race in the sleepy mining town of Leadville, CO.  The Leadville 100 is an out and back race that begins at an altitude of 10,200 ft and climbs to 12,500 ft.  It challenges all riders from the elite level like Lance Armstrong, to those only competing against themselves for a chance to say that they completed the “Leadville”.  It was cool to see mountain biking on the big screen and learn of the riders who had to overcome many challenges to finish this race, not to mention seeing Lance’s feeble attempt to fix a flat tire.  Maybe we could consider creating our own “movie night” and show some mountain bike flicks at a venue of choice?

As we get into the hunting seasons, keep in mind that you may be sharing the woods with others, less visible.  I know that Midland City Forest and MMCC are posted “No Hunting”…probably others too.  I will try to get clarification on this and post an update.  May as well remove the whitetail from your riding tights until next year, just to be safe.

As mentioned before, I would welcome others to contribute to this site.  It is easy to get you authorized to become an author.  Or submit a story to me and I will take care of getting it posted. Or if you can capture any ride imagery or a post-ride video of Steve H singing karaoke at Ruckles, I would gladly post that too.  Send to: <thadhallberg@gmail.com>

Until next time, keep the rubber side down and your extremities warm!

Skills Park Work Party (Tomorrow)…

The next Boy Scout work party is tomorrow (thurs, july 16, 6:00 pm at mcf skills park) to build log piles and lay out gravel paths through the sand between obstacles. The drop jumps are done, the skinnies with the rock nodes are done, 2 teeter-totters are now tottering, two benches are installed, and generally a good time is at hand. If you want to help, bring your bike as well as your favorite shovel and garden rake; there will be plenty of time to ride after the work is done, I think. Be sure to thank Matthew Zawisza — this is his Eagle Scout project and he has done a terrific job.  
Also, note the new kiosk under construction at the parking lot. That’s Rusty LaRose’s Eagle project, which will be a big improvement for communications at the trail head. Great job, guys!!! (and your dads!)  BTW, if you haven’t found it yet, the Midland City Forest mountain bike skills park is in the clearing behind the sliding hill and south toboggan tower. 
This will finish Matt’s responsibility for his Eagle. Shaping the pump track will be the responsibility of the MMBA chapter and our recruits. I’ve got it “excavated” with my tractor and we are waiting for the city’s clay pit to dry out enough that they can deliver the dirt, then there will be a lot of hand work sculpting the bumps and turns.

-Jim “subgeeze” Crissman

Who’s In?

Lumber, tools and clay…it’s time to play!  We have been salvaging lumber, sourcing dirt and rocks, tweaking the design, prepping the site and now it’s time to kick off the Midland City Forest Skills Park build!  Who’s in?  I will start a thread soon in the Northeast Chapter forum for discussions to take place, help us gauge the volunteer base and post the dates/times of the work parties.

When you have a chance, check out the short documentary about the construction of the Colonnade Bike Park under the I5 highway in Seattle.  Of course, this project is slightly larger than ours  ;)  however, it will inspire you, as we look to kick-off our project.

Colonnade Bike Park in Seattle, WA

Pump Track Action!

Our skills park will include a Lee McCormack designed pump track.  Pat’s Gradall is delivering 50 yards of dirt (with high clay content), very soon.  Got muscles?…We will need you!  Not sure of what a pump track is?…Check this out…

Stay tuned to the forum for details. Get involved.

A little more help at MCF please…

…and then you can play!

Hey Mudhaters–

Another big rain last night. But the leaves are sprouting and soon the trees will start doing their work to pull the water out of the ground. In the meantime, the high use of the Midland City Forest trail during this wet spring has markedly increased the number of mudholes that need some work. We placed 12 minibridges, plus 3 mini-minis, mostly on the south end of the south loop last weekend, but there is more to do. We’ll concentrate on moving re-cycled sidewalk chunks and gravel to remaining trouble spots in the dismal swamp area of the South loop and the north end of the north-bound Gnu. Work gloves and heavy shoes are a must. Safety glasses too, for those of you who might want to release your inner hammerman to help shape the chunks.

Just a note on technique: It is important to level the joints between chunks to smooth the ride. Too many riders seem to prefer riding in the mud to staying on the armor, making the trail wide and ugly. Since I cannot be there to spank each of the weenies for their transgressions, we must lure the bums back onto the trail by the quality of our craftmanship. Think smooth! If you haven’t attended one of these work parties, take heart, I’ll get the concrete to the nearest 2-track crossing with my tractor; we only use the wheelbarrows from that point.

Meet at the main parking lot on Monroe at 1:00 pm, Sunday, May 17. Bring a wheelbarrow if you have one, and maybe something to cut small roots (an axe or lopping shears), a necessary step for leveling the pieces. Do I have a volunteer for cookie baking? Oh, and remember to bring a water bottle.

Hope to see A BUNCH OF YOU there. Remember to log your hours. Feel free to forward this note to anyone who might be interested.

Yrs in Dirt,  Jim

(989) 297-3009 cell

Mother’s Day Party at MCF

Well not really…

We’ve got to get our new minibridges installed (at Midland City Forest). I’m hoping at least a few of you can help to get the stuff we hammered together last week into the woods tomorrow afternoon. We’ll move concrete chunks and gravel on another day. Please meet at the main entrance to the MCF at 3:00 PM. We’ll make a quick tractor circuit of the park and tote the minibridges into place, mostly in the dismal swamp area of the south loop. Should take less than 2 hours. Bring work gloves.    -Jim

Skills Course & Pump Track Project Nearing

 

Matthew at Parks Meeting

The skills course and pump track additions to Midland City Forest are going through the necessary approval steps.  A portion of this project is being organized by area Boy Scout, Matthew Zawisza.  A successful completion will gain him an Eagle Merit.  Last night Matthew presented the project at the Midland Parks and Recreation Commission meeting. Following the presentation commission members asked several questions and later granted us their support to proceed.

 

Nice job Matthew!  Just a couple more hurdles before we are cutting boards and moving dirt!

Group Ride @ MCF

 

 

Hilary, Gussie, Gary, Jim, Thad (w/camera)

3/27  Last Friday a small group gathered at Midland City Forest and took to the singletrack.  We enjoyed a relatively dry ride for Spring time in mid-Michigan.  If you haven’t already, dig that bike out of the garage and join us for the next ride (TBA).  

Contact thadhallberg[at]gmail[dot]com to get on the contact list for future rides and other chapter events.

Trail Report

Jim  says that Midland City Forest is rideable, with the exception of the North end of Dismal Swamp.  Our previous work on the Gnu Loop has paid off.  It handles the Spring wetness very well now.  The Boy Scout bridge’s deck is above the water level and also rideable.

Please send current trail reports from any MMBA Northeast Chapter riding areas to: thadhallberg@gmail.com  …I will try to post them ASAP!

500 Yard Trail Reroute @ MCF

We had a terrific turnout for the first work party of the year powered by Catrina LaRose’s cookies and mud season fever. The much appreciated volunteers in no particular order were:

Jeff and Matthew Zawisza
Bart Heil
Jill Haver-Crissman
Steve Hoffman
Josh Augustine
Gary Putt
Chris Eicher
John Deere

We finished an approximately 500 yd long reroute in the south part of the dismal swamp and broke up the covered the old trail. We should have a lot less problem with water on the new route, though there are still some soft spots that we’ll eventually have to come back too. Anyone who doubts the value of these efforts should ride the north end of the north bound Gnu loop where we worked last spring. It’s completely rideable even during this mud season.

Remember to record your hours — and cookie baking counts!

Thanks again!

Jim Crissman
Midland City Forest Mtn Bike Trail Coordinator

Skills Course Brainstorm…

There will be a meeting tonight (8/27) at Midland City Forest to discuss the Skills Course/Pump Track concept.  We will meet in the main parking lot at 7:30pm and walk back to the clearing just beyond the second toboggan tower.  All interested are welcome to help us define the “big picture” and how to divide and conquer to get it built.  For tonight…bikes are optional, bug spray recommended and focused brains required.

We will probably be forced to end the meeting after about an hour, as daylight ends it’s session.