Michigander

Its been 8 years that I've done this ride. I started when I was 12. As many of you know, it used to be a 24 hour ride as much or as little as you feel like ride around Bell Isle. Its supposed to be a camp on the island for the weekend event, but last year, and again this year, they are making it a 12 hour event with friday night camping only instead of a full weekend affair.

Its petty bull****, and I won't go for it. My family and friends have decided that this year rather than go to the 200 (or should I call it the 100?), we will be going to the string of 3 metro parks in southern Michigan linked together by a nice and long cement path, and we'll camp there and ride all weekend. As sad as it makes me to quit going, I feel I have no choice. This 12 hour business just doesn't cut it.

Ih8lucky13

I could have sworn last year you started a thread on how you would never ride in Detroit and do the Wolverine 200 because Detroit is too dangerous.

I am 99.999999999 percent sure of this.

Michigander

I ride in Detroit with the wolverines, and used to go on the 200 yearly. You probably remember me being hesitant to ride with Caadman, but I do now. Its a fun ride.

Ih8lucky13

Well congrats, riding in Detroit, is one of my favorites.

Michigander

Mine too. Thats why its sad they are killing the event.

Beverly

I'm always looking for places within a few hours driving distance from SW Ohio. This sounds like a good place to plan a bike trip with the grandkids. We've done many in Ohio and a few in PA but have never ventured into Michigan. Is there a website I can get more information?

Michigander

Fabulous idea!

Here is a good site: https://www.traillink.com/TL_Active_P...ch/default.asp

Michigan has more rail trails than any other state in the country. Great place for a ride.

Bekologist

Belle Isle is cool. albino deer. the oldest aquarium in the country too, eh?

Michigander

Rant time: They relocated the deer. Detroit's mayor Kwame Kilpatric (one of the worst mayors on the planet, if he was caught doing some of the stuff he's done he would go to prison for life) decided to remove the deer, shut down the zoo, and shut down the aquarium. Too white people oriented for his tastes. He really is a horrible person. Some of the things he has done are common knoledge around here, but he has connections and more or less owns the police. I'd love to spread internet rumors about him, but I won't.

Master Cylinder

Ih8lucky13,

You have a very good memory. He was very adamant about avoiding Detroit.

Bekologist

That is about the LAMEST thing i've heard about Detroit in a while. I was just there a couple of years ago, but in winter, so didn't do Belle Isle. Wow. pathetic. And Detroit doesn't have much going for it downtown anymore, unless you count the casino.....wow.

Michigander

You have a good memory too. You guys showed me the error of my ways. Thank you. Although, I must say, I didn't see you on too many of the Bell Isle rides with Caadman.

Siu Blue Wind

Hi Mich!! *waves* Rilya!!

That's all. *shrugs*

lowracer1

I don't see why converting it to a 12 hour event from a 24 hour event is killing the ride. I did the ride last year and was 1 of only 4 riders who completed the ride in the 12 hour limit. What I did see was a bunch of pansies who rode only 100 miles and went home. The other interesting fact is that the 4 riders who completed the 200 miles were all on recumbents. I believe the nearest roadbiker to completing the 200 miles only did 168 miles. To me it is a greater challenge to have less time to complete the mileage. 24 hours to go 200 miles is ridiculous. I predict that this year again, only recumbents will complete the total distance.

Motorad

That sounds like a very interesting path ... a long cement path that links 3 metro parks? What are these three metro parks that are linked by a cement path? And how long is this path that would justify camping during the ride through the 3 metroparks?

How can I get more info about the path that links these 3 metro parks?

Road Fan

Motor, I sent you info about those a while back. It's Lower Huron Metro Park, Willow Metro Park, and Oakwoods Metro Park, in order from north to south. A bit farther down you'll find Lake Erie Metro Park, which is on Lake Erie.

From time to time I do all three parks after work - flat and smooth!

Road Fan

Motorad

Thanks Road Fan. Is there a name for the cement path that links Lower Huron, Willow, and Oakwoods? Is there a recommended method for doing a round trip? I live in Melvindale, so where best to park and round trip the three metroparks and end the round trip where I parked at?

And how to get a map of the cement path that links the three metroparks?

Road Fan

The Metroparks commission publishes a map that contains all of the parks, and it's an excellent comprehensive map of SE Michigan as well. It does not do a great job of showing all the MUPs, however.
I get the map at work, we have a kiosk of recreational leaflets and travel guides and that map is usually on that.

I start at the north entrance to Lower Huron, go south until I reach the non-biking nature trail in Oakwoods, then retrace. It's about 30 mi. To get to this entrance, take 94 west to Haggerty, then go south. Haggerty ends at the park entrance, follow the signs. You'll need to pay the entrance fee at the park. I park in the first parking lot.

I can meet you and show you the path if you wanted to ride after work. Regrettably the map is not good enough (as good as it is!) to show all the potential routing options.

Also, the Downriver club has several weeknight rides here, they might have better route instructions on their site. They tend to meet farther south.

Road Fan

Motorad

Great information Road Fan. If it's okay, you could show me the path in a couple of months, so I don't slow you down while recuperating from an ankle injury. You could show me the Metroparks Commission map and any recreational leaflets that pertain to biking.

Because the MUP morphs into a non-biking trail (how long is trail?), what kind of tires do you usually ride on for this 3-park ride? I have one bike that has 700C-25mm tires and another bike that has 650B-33m tires, so which would be better for a 30-mile ride on this MUP?

Road Fan

The non-biking trail is marked as a nature walk, no cycling permitted. I don't ride past the startign point. For the rest fo the path I use 21 mm tubulars - works a treat!

Send me private mail when you want to get together, Motorrad!

Road Fan
Ann Arbor

Motorad

Okie Doke. See you in a couple of podiatry visits from now.

daddon55

Another nice ride is Kensington Huron Metro Park. It is connect on the South by a tunnel that goes under I-96 to Island Lake state park. This section is an out and back. Kensington is also connected on the NE side to a trail that goes all the way into Mitford.
Great ride, that all included has approx.. 28 miles. There is also camping at Kensington Park.

BlazingPedals

Thanks for dredging up this zombie thread. I think I did it back around 2008. EDIT: It must have been 2007, because I was one of the 4 who Lowracer1 mentioned that finished. It was the last year the Wolverine 200 was held. It's too bad that the club lost access to the park for the event. Don't blame the club, blame the city. I remember building a bike from the frame up, 2 days before the event, then spent the night before at a friend's house in the greater Detroit area. I think I was going on about 5 hours' sleep and an untested bike. It was an adventure!

* The wolverines fielded a team that went somewhere near 4 hours for the century, then quit.
* I tried to pass the 'HQ' area at 25+ mph for each lap - until some dad led his kid across the road right in front of me and I laid an impressive skid to avoid them.
* I finally had to pull over mid-afternoon, and take an hour nap
* As the sun got low, cars started bypassing the barricades and coming onto the course, so I quit a few minutes early.
* Even so, I was one of only 4 people who finished the 200 miles.

It was fun once, but don't know if I'd do it again. The logistics were a pain.

Troul 

I'd like to find something that is 150+ Miles & isn't a conundrum to follow/navigate (mostly due to current motorized traffic issues) & not a stickler for PPE. Sometimes the solo long rides could use a nearby rider for inspiration!

daddon55

I did it in I believe 86' or 87' with a friend. We made 90 miles in about 7:00 and he was done. Once he sat down, the wives were looking at me like "Are you through yet?" I did 10 more miles and called a day.
There was some excitement. A giant pileup on the side facing Canada. Couple helicopters flying people out. All and all about 20-25 bikers went down.