Not About What It Was, But What It Could Be

I had a fun but draining 53 miles/3 hours on the cross bike yesterday, so that was out for today. I dig the gravel roads, but I needed to get back on the mountain bike. I have been wanting to check out the riding on the North Country Trail for a while now, but for some reason kept putting it off. Then last Sunday I had a chance to hike some of it up near Wellston, MI, and that got me even more interested in riding it.

The thing with the NCT is that not only does it connect over several states, unlike many other extended trails systems on the east coast and midwest, much of the NCT is open to mountain bikes. There are a few section here in Michigan, that require slight reroutes on gravel and paved roads, but the amount of ride-able singletrack is pretty damn impressive. I mean there are HUNDREDS of potential miles to ride.

A couple friends of mine have done extended assaults on the NCT and are planning another one soon. I will probably miss their adventure this year due to being out of town, but that's not stopping me from doing some exploring on my own.

"Minor" logging on one stretch.

Since this was my first trip riding the trail, I was going solo, and just had some basic maps I had to do the ride as an out and back. Not my favorite type of ride. Today I started from the M20 trail head about an hours drive from my crib and rode to Nichols Lake about 17 miles north. That of course meant that I would have a nice 34-35ish mile ride which except for about 30 feet was all on singletrack. It was sweet!

The trail was super fun. Almost all narrow single track, a few climbs, some fun descents, and lots of roots. I used the Ti El Mariachi today, and I FINALLY felt good on it again. Amazing what a some minor brake and saddle adjustments will do for your ride comfort!

I ran into a few other riders, 2 of which looked as if they were doing some serious miles. One woman was even using a BOB trailer! I couldn't believe it. While the trail isn't SUPER technical, I would NOT want to be hauling that thing through the singletrack! Yikes!

Rest stop along the trail.

The elevation overall today was surely pretty tame, but so much of the riding reminding me of some of my rides out west. Long ribbons of single track, much of which was packed down with pine needles, the dry air, and the smell of the trees. The only thing missing (and not a small detail) were the mountains, but still fun.

Nichols Lake.

Today's ride was no big deal. 35ish miles of singletrack and a casual pace. But I loved it, not because it was some grand epic, but because it has the POTENTIAL to be a grand epic, and that is pretty neat to think about. I mean there are HUNDREDS of potential miles of single track to ride. For now I am just happy to have rode what I did today, and plan on doing more soon.

I have so much to do this week on the magazine I am gripped with fear. I really don't know how I am gonna get it done.

I guess I should go work on something, or worry about working on something.

Later.