MCMBA: Novi

[Loren]

Trail is frozen and solid this morning, nicely rideable with normal mtb tires.

Couple new trees down - we'll address them soon.

[ibisman]

I agree with Loren...the trail is nice...so is Hickory Glen. First 2 rides of 2012 in.

[Loren]

Trail's frozen and nicely rideable this morning.

[ibisman]

ro0de the whole trail this morning....freeway was a parking lot, but Lakeshore was nice except for the first half where someone rutted the trail about 4" deep zig zag'n back and forth. Nice. 2 trees down...5.5 miles in and 5.9 miles is a leaner. Icleared enough to get by the 2nd one but there is a deep hole on the left as you go under the tree. Blowing snow, almost whiteout at times. Fun.

[Loren]

Thanks for the update!

[WallEyed]

I just did a road ride to take advantage of the weather. I peeked into the Farm (Lakeshore Park) to check out the trail, and as I suspected, it was bad. A ton of fresh tracks and a lot of rutted up snot. Please, please, please stay off the trail unless it is frozen solid.

[ColorVoyeur]

I was out there yesterday to check out the pumptrack thinking maybe it would be dry enough to ride. Ended up spending a half hour stamping out 1 terrible rut that was there and a couple nasty deer tracks. It was soft enough to pull some nasty rocks out and pack some mud into the holes. I did see a father and son riding through the pump track (almost made me cry as I had to spend another 20 minutes stomping those tracks out) and another twosome riding the single track. Wanted to warn them of the damage you can do, but realized that them seeing me with my helmet and knee pads would make me look like a pot calling the kettle black. It was cold enough that the knee pads and helmet were much more comfortable than without. Has the farm thought about a thaw season warning sign or two to educate riders on the damage caused by ruts?

Ended up walking my bike from the pump track to the trailhead on the multi-use trails to do a ride around the lake and just from that I was covered in goo.

[Loren]

Been there. I'm just so happy to see families together on the pump track that I can't get mad at them, even as they inadvertently trash it.

Thanks for your help!

[ibisman]

did a couple laps this MORNING as the trail was still FROZEN...good thing no one has ridden the trail while it was SOFT.

[ColorVoyeur]

Well, at least we have mountain bikes that can handle some ruts and choppy sections. I remember as a kid when I was big into bmx trails, those little 20" wheels would throw you to the ground in a heartbeat over little ruts like that.

Maybe we can get these guys to help groom the trails when it warms up again.

[Hudnut]

"we aint found sh|t!"

[Alexg]

A friend had a bike fit today in Canton so we ended up going to Lakeshore. Overall the trail is pretty good until you get to the BMX pump track. After that point you might want to try to find your way back to the trailhead on a green trail. It starts off with a pretty good amount of ice, and then it turns to mud. Otherwise the trails in really good shape as long as you ride it frozen. It is a bit rutted however.

[Loren]

Aside from being far to wet to ride, the weekend wind storms have brought down a number of trees across the trail and spread branches throughout.

Please avoid.

[ColorVoyeur]

PM me if you need any heavy lifting out there Loren. I've got some time on my hands and some fat to burn.

[Loren]

The farm is still way too soft for riding - please avoid.