Tag Archive - michigander 2010

Michigander 2010 – Friday July 23 Final Day

July 23, 2010 in Bicycle News with Comments Off

I was up early, shortly after 5 am, and I biked over to the main camp for a final breakfast before setting out at first light, around 6:25 am, for the last 40 miles back east, then south to Indian River, the starting point of our circle tour a week ago.

I rode alone because I needed to finish very early to be back home for a family obligation this afternoon. I’m writing this in the car as my wife drives south on I-75, already missing the special once-a-year reunion that is the Michigander Bicycle Tour.

Sam Kennedy and I were among the first out of Mackinaw City this morning and Sam, always the Michigander Pit Bull, was first in, not stopping for SAG’s but hammering in to be ready greet each finisher in his unique and welcoming style..

US 23 early Friday morning

I rode along the shoulder of US-23 to Cheboygan, usually a fast and flat route but in the grey of early morning, a pretty slick stretch of roadway made treacherous in spot by sand that drifted over from heavy rains last night. By the time we headed south along the western shore of Mullett Lake the temps started to climb. I was glad to roll in shortly after 9:30 am.

Another year. Another Michigander. This year’s route was one of the easiest in terms of being physically demanding. The course was mostly flat, there was no head wind, the weather was great and the distances pretty short.

But it was also one of the most beautiful routes. As always, superbly organized and staffed by great volunteers.

I can’t wait for next year.

Here’s today’s route download from my Garmin:

Michigander 2010 – Thursday July 22

July 22, 2010 in Bicycle News with Comments Off

Today is a layover day in Mackinaw City and while most riders slept in with plans to visit Mackinac Island in the afternoon, a group of us – Patty, John, Lynne, Pat, Ann, Gary and Mike – set off bright and early for a brisk 23 mile loop before heading back to camp, showering and heading over to the island on the noon ferry.

The weather this morning was slowly overcasting but temps were mild and the wind a non factor as we reverse rode some of yesterday’s route into Mack City. We poked along for the first half at just under a 14 mile speed but on the second half had a decent 22 mile clip going for quite a while.

We sounded like a pack of kids, hooping and hollering as we flashed down the flats into town.

We were done before 9:30 am. There’s a bicycle scavenger hunt this afternoon on the island. We plan to have some fun with that and to ride around the island a bit to pick up a few more miles

Here’s the Garmin download of the morning ride:

Here’s the second download from the Mackinac Island ride, followed by pics:

Michigander 2010 – Wednesday July 21

July 21, 2010 in Bicycle News with Comments Off

And we thought yesterday was beautiful. Today’s 45-miler up the Lake Michigan Shore from Harbor Springs to Mackinaw City set the standard for a perfect bicycle ride, weather-wise and scenery-wise.

For starters there was the fabled 25-mile long Tunnel of Trees, that rolling, winding quiet little two-lane that runs on a ridge overlooking the lake known as Michigan Route 119. It gets its name from the towering maples and oaks whose branches touch midway above the road. Dappled sunlight filtered down through the greenery today, providing just enough shade to keep the riders cool under the full sun and 82 degree temps.

One thing, though, about that road. When it rains, we were told in the rider meeting the night before, there’s often a lot of flat tires. That’s because the surface is what’s known as “Glasshhalt.” Actual pieces of glass are mixed in with the asphalt. They supposedly to rise to the surface in rain. We thought it might be an urban myth till we looked it up and found, according to Wikipedia: “Glassphalt (also spelled “glasphalt”)is a variety of asphalt that uses crushed glass. It has been used as an alternative to conventional bituminous asphalt pavement since the early 1970s.

We indeed saw several flats today on the stretch, even though there was no rain. Dan, one of the riders with a flat, said he found three little piees of glass in his tire.c

Along a sandune area we parked the bikes and climbed down to the beach, tossing off bike shoes to wade in the water and marvel at the beauty of a wild beach and lapping Carribbean-aquablue water.

The ride into Mackinaw City was fast and with a slight tailwind. Back at camp, Blazing Saddles Bike Club regular Pat Benson celebrated his birthday today, complete with a cake and his riding buddies.

Here’s some more pictures and the computer download from my Garmin:


Michigander 2010 – Sunday July 18

July 18, 2010 in Bicycle News with Comments Off

The North Centrail Trail somewhere around Vanderbilt

We set off for the shortest ride of the tour – just 28.8 miles – from Indian River south to Gaylord, dodging raindrops that, despite the predictions, never materialized worse than a few pitterpats.

We rode the North Central State Trail and I was amazed at how much it has been improved since previous years when the ‘gander made its way up here.

Chris and Patty on the North Central Trail near Wolverine

It’s a crushed limestone surface, every bit as nice as Paint Creek Trail and the Clinton River Trail back home. I’m on a road bike and it handled the trail just fine.

I rode with Chris O, on her first Michigander, and Patty H, her second, and, as always it was like a huge family reunion as old friends passed and met at SAG stops.

The predicted rain seemed to move to our south and didn’t really start in earnest until most had arrived in the night’s camp, at the Otsego County Fairgrounds.

If there were any complaints it was that the ride today was too short. That and the fact that Patty got a flat tire. But it was close to the finish. Besides, Tina came by and it gave us an excuse to make a how-to-change-a-flat video.

Self Portrait: Bicycle riding is the closest a human comes to flying

I’m moteling it this year instead of camping. A hot shower, as long as I want, awaits. More later

Mileage increases from now on with hills tomorrow on the way to Bellaire and, particularly Tuesday, as we head west and then take a northern bead on Harbor Springs.

Here’s today’s download from my Garmin: