MCMBA: Novi

[txdinghysailor]

Just moved to the area last week, and went to Lakeshore this morning. FUN TRAIL!!!!!! I love the singletrack, and the log piles and skinnies are tons of fun.

The trail was nice and dry, a couple little places were moist, but no mud. There were some bugs out there but it wasn't too bad as long as I kept moving.

I was really impressed at how well the trail was marked and I can't wait to explore more trails around here!

cheers,
Joe

[Loren]

Welcome! We're glad you enjoyed it.

Come join us on a Tuesday evening ride sometime!

[Loren]

Trail's in great shape, but could use more trimming. Feel free to have at it!

http://mcmba.org/index.php/105-trail-trimming-101

[Jay22]

Hats off to the folks working out there. This is my new regular trail. The biting flies are everywhere, just don't stop.

[pongomoto]

The Farm weathered yesterday's storms very well. No downed trees, just low hanging branches from all the moisture on them. As always you guys do a great job maintaining that trail. I noticed the crater entrance has been smoothed out as well as the small left hand downhill turn right after the hairpin. What are the pin flags for though? Are you guys going to reroute that bridge approach and possibly move the bridge a bit to the left? I like the lazy S curve thru there right now and this seems like it would straighten the line.

Not complaining, just curious.

[Loren]

Thanks for the trail report.

The current bridge has problems:



A large area, perhaps 100 acres, drains through this area. In Spring and after heavy rains, the water level rises to within a couple inches of the bridge decking and expands to cover much of the ground in this picture. For month at a time the bridge stringers are immersed in the water. This whole area is pretty low and soft. The entrance is soft and the earth eagerly sucks up any concrete or stone we've added their to armor it. At the Tuesday ride this week, it looked like this:



We would like to address these issues by building a new bridge, taller and longer, to avoid the boggy areas. I'm not a fan of hard cornering on flat bridges, and so we've straightened the line a bit to make that unnecessary. Our current plan, pending city approval, is to build this new bridge in parallel to the old bridge, and then when finished removing the old bridge and abandoning the existing lines.

[b_b]

Curvy bridges are cool until you have to ride in rain or snow. I once bit-it hard on the ilra bridge in the snow.

[ihateplaindave]

"Curvy bridges are cool until you have to ride in rain or snow. I once bit-it hard on the ilra bridge in the snow.'

I think I saw the marks you left.

[pongomoto]

"Curvy bridges are cool until you have to ride in rain or snow. I once bit-it hard on the ilra bridge in the snow.'

I think I saw the marks you left.

In 2007 I went thru the bottom right rail of the bridge on the yellow. The one that turns left before the climb next to the road. I was going at speed and had a little mud on my tires. Went to make the turn and the it was like turning on ice. I went down and my bike and I slid thru the railing and into the water. Broke my right thumb in the process.

[pongomoto]

Loren

Good to hear this is changing because that puddle and those two leaves are starting to encroach on my 'line'

[ElikemMM]

Road the trail last evening. Fast, but could definitely use some rain. It's really dusty in spots. And MAJOR thank you to whoever goes through and cleans up the vegetation, bushes, etc. on the trail, looks great.

[jwhitey]

Pongo, I might have been right behind you when you did that "through the railing" move. The bridge was wet and very slick. I remember it well but it could have been anyone.

[Jay22]

I went out there last night after a ride at Hickory Glen. I came across about 7 deer and startled them, and they took off and were pacing me next to the trail. Talk about a cool experience. The trail was in great shape.

[buster]

How much rain did Novi get today? Is trail ride-able tomorrow?

[TenSpeed]

Trail was pretty fun 7/4. A bit muddy in some spots, and some of the roots were damp making every turn a surprise. There is a 160mm rotor sitting on the first rock when you come to the rock garden after hitting the Crater. My friend bent it pretty badly on a fall, so we left it as an offering to the Tree Farm gods to take it easy on us for the rest of our ride.