SE Michigan vs. NE Ohio SSS #9: The First Lap is Always the Hardest

These last two rounds are going to be really tough. Not sure if I can pick a winner in each matchup, but I’ll try.

Pontiac Lake and Vulture’s Knob near Wooster have historically been maintained by like-minded people. Call them “Core Riders” or the “Gnar Crowd” or whatever; they’re people who appreciate some rawness in their singletrack. There’s a saying in Arizona: Don’t Phoenix Flag. There’s also one in Brevard: Don’t Bentonville Brevard. The second one isn’t as catchy (or apparently effective) but they both mean that old school trails should be left alone instead of being replaced with something more “sustainable” (Proud Lakespeak for “less difficult”). Pontiac and VK are the closest we have in SE Michigan and NE Ohio to black diamond trails.

I love both of these trails. Pontiac is really the only place in SE Michigan where there are natural rocks that will come up and bite you if you’re not careful. The Knob doesn’t have rock features, but it’s chunky, technical and steep in places, and everybody I know crashes there every once in awhile. Both Phat Jay and I have been attacked by the Ghost of the Knob and we’re happy we came away with bike and body relatively unscathed.
Both trails have a feature that will always be challenging: the 50/50 climb up from McAfee (I think that’s what it’s called)at VK, and the drop and high berm about four or five miles in at Pontiac. I look at that high berm every time I ride there and tell myself I’m gonna hit it someday, but I probably won’t. The Knob also has the Expert Line which is loose and gnarly and ballbusting, and you always feel good when you get to back to the top with everything intact.
I think people have tried to smooth some things out at both trails systems, but each one seems to resist it: there’s alternate lines through some root and rock gardens at Pontiac that no one seems to mess with, and there’s just no modifying some of the best stuff at the Knob. Hats off to Weeze and crew and all the people who have helped maintain the Knob over the years. Same to the Pontiac Trail crew who let things be what they are.
It would be interesting to delve into the history of both trail systems. I’ve got a few stories of my own about the Knob, and I’m sure there’s people who could tell some good ones about Pontiac.
Special note about the Knob: it’s an old trash dump and don’t be surprised if you see some stuff sticking out of the ground. But that’s the character of the Knob. It’s also where I have to give the edge to the Knob: because it’s private property, you can relax and drink a beer with your buddies after a hard ride, and man have there been some times! I can’t imagine quite the same vibe in the Pontiac parking lot.
So if you’re coming from Ohio, definitely hit up Pontiac. Ride it fast and hard. And if you’re coming from Michigan to ride Mohican, you owe it to yourself to ride the legendary Vulture’s Knob (and maybe backwards if you get a chance!). Two laps at each is just pure mountain biking heaven.

PL 17.9
VK 18

Shootout #10: Mohican vs. Poto
Special bonus points will be awarded at the end. As you can guess, I’ve left out a classic Michigan trail.

SE Michigan vs NE Ohio SSS #8: Modern Trails

East Rim in the Cuyahoga Valley and the DTE trails in the Waterloo Area were both designed by the same trail building company, Spectral Designs, and both the product of a lot of work by a lot of people over a long period of time – the standard story for any contemporary new trail construction these days. People bitch about how long these things take, but if you think about it, these trails are supposed to last forever, and so it makes sense to ensure they’re done right. I’ve spent a few trail building days on each, and if I ever settle down, I’d like to do more.

Let’s start with DTE. Most people from Ohio have heard of the DTE trails and many have made the pilgrimage, so there’s no reason to try to describe them. I’m gonna go right out on a limb, though, and say that DTE is pretty much a “green” trail, with the exception of some jumps and grade reversals. I’m also gonna say that after being told that the advanced sections of DTE would rival Copper Harbor, I’m sadly underwhelmed. I know a lot of passion went into to developing the system, but for me, a few rides there was plenty. Especially when Poto is so close by. The recently opened Waterloo Connector gives you the possibility of a truly epic ride, and we’ve had some fun on the Triple Trail Challenge days, but I think the engineered design of the system sanitized the mountain biking experience that most of us seek. And I think with the exception of a couple of segments, Spectrum Designs has done better work elsewhere, most recently The Dragon (dumb name) near Newaygo.

East Rim is elsewhere. Granted, there’s no comparison in terms of the mileage that the two short loops ER offers. Unfortunately, most riders end up doing two or three laps of Phase 2 just to get an after work fix. It’s no destination in itself, but ER is central to Bedford, Hampton Hills, and some cool “backcountry trails” plus the whole Cuyahoga Valley, and it also opened the door to mountain biking in National Parks. I still maintain that the “turnpike descent” at the beginning of Phase 2 CW is one of the best short descents I’ve ever done. And what DTE has in mileage, ER has in elevation and fun rock moves you just won’t find in the LP. And once again, I’ll probably never clean the CW Expert Line.

This one will surely piss off the Michigan people, but if I have time to ride on weekday evening, I’ll head to ER just about every time. I can’t say that about DTE:

DTE 13
ER 16

Two more rounds to go!

SE Michigan vs. NE Ohio Suburban Singletrack Shootout #7: West Branch vs. Highland

I couldn’t think of a category that would include both of these old timers. Ok, maybe Old Timers. However old West Branch makes me feel, I’ll still ride it from time to time. (I believe it may have been the second mountain bike trail I ever rode.) But I’m pretty much done with Highland, even though I once rode there a lot.

West Branch is composed of two loops comprising 10-15 miles of what I’ll call “near Appalachian” singletrack: even though the elevation gain is probably only around 50 feet per mile, there’s enough rocks and roots to make you feel like you’re verging on a different geological zone. In fact, I’ve hit Moraine State Park just over the PA line, then WB on the way back and felt like they’re kissing cousins. (Get it?) The system is cool in that it combines three types of terrain: a section that follows the contours of the lake, the section that goes in and around rocky ravines, and the Rock Quarry loop, which defines the term “rock garden.” There’s also the short “Expert” segment that I’ll probably never clean. Most importantly, WB ranks at the top of my upcoming Bikes and Boats World Tour.

Highland desperately needs a refresh. Yes, I said it out loud. Call me. I’ll help. I know there’s plenty of people who love Highland, but I’m done giving it any more chances. I’ve ridden it rigid, SS, full squish, and on an ebike, and sorry, but there’s just so many momentum killers: completely unnecessary 90 degree turns (especially the C loop) and irritating windiness just to fit in a few more feet of trail. It was described somewhere as an intended “handling problem” but in my opinion, there’s a lot of places that could easily be straightened out without adversely affecting the overall mileage the four loops offer. No doubt there’s a lot of good to be said for the system. It offers around 100 feet per mile of climbing, and you can start and finish your ride in Milford (or my house!!), but as J. Messina said recently, there’s just no payoff for the effort. I agree. I’ll be the first in line to help with trail work. Just don’t do me like the CAMBA boys did years ago when I and a few other people spent a whole day hacking out a 50 yard section at WB only to later be told that it was not going to be used. I haven’t participated in a whole lot of trail building since. A bitter old timer.

WB wins 14 points
Highland 12 (because that place could be really cool someday)

Current Shootout Totals:
Ohio 55, Michigan 51

Coming up: DTE vs. East Rim

SE Michigan vs. NE Ohio Suburban Singletrack Shootout # 6: NOT IN MY WHEELHOUSE

The Stony Creek Metropark trails near Pontiac, and the Tuscazoar Trails near New Philadelphia are both at least an hour drive from my home bases in Wixom and Medina, and I haven’t ridden either one enough to come to any conclusion as to which is “better.” But they’re both about 10-15 miles of intermediate riding that qualify for a higher number of ranking points.
I’ve only ridden Stony Creek a couple of times a few years ago, and my memory tells me that the trails were punchy and a bit two-tracky, but I know there have been constant improvements over the last few years. I suppose you could link up the nearby River Bend trails and Addison Oaks/Bald Mountain trails in a day, but my memory of Addison and Bald Mountain is that they weren’t worth the drivetime for me to return (they may have improved as well). People seem to like Stony Creek, but I can’t recommend anyone from Ohio to spend the time weaving through the non-interstate driving route to get there from the Wixom/Milford area.
Tuscazoar has been the scene of a lot of activity over the last few years. The Knobby Side Down crew has developed its own riding culture based on the trail development and race program at Tuscazoar. I’ve ridden there twice recently, and its a fun place, with a cool jump line and enough interconnecting loops to keep the place interesting. I know some people who prefer it over Vulture’s Knob or even Mohican, but for me, it’s just too far to drive.
Gotta go with a tie:
Stony Creek 12, Tuscazoar 12

Next up: Highland vs. West Branch (promise)

BTW: if anybody is actually reading this and you’re having a tough time reading the small print on your phone, I’ve been publishing these reviews on my blog, travelswithpops.blog.

SE Michigan vs NE Ohio Suburban Singletrack Shootout #5: A LITTLE SOMETHIN’ SOMETHIN’

Legend (and probably some police reports) have it that there used to be other ways to blow off a little steam besides riding mountain bikes at Island Lake near Brighton and Royalview in Strongsville. Nowadays, most of the happy endings have to do with drinking a few brews with your buddies in the parking lot after the ride.
Around 2008 when I met my wife, she had a trail in her backyard that led directly to the Island Lake loops (not the only reason I ended up marrying her!). I had sold my Red Line Monocog 26 inch SS and bought a new-fangled Raleigh XXIX 29er SS, and boy was it a hoot ripping around Island Lake’s 15 miles or so of high speed, dedicated singletrack. There’s a bit of backcountry exploring to do in the park as well as the Badlands, an old sandpit area, frequented by snowmobiles and fat bikers. I especially like the sections along the Huron River. I don’t ride there much anymore, but it makes a good wrap up ride after a weekend at Poto/DTE and Brighton, or you could extend your ride on the paved trail around Kent Lake in Kensington Metropark.
Royalview will always be haunted for me by Ray Petro’s tragic accident a few years back. Like Island Lake, it tempts you to ride its 12 or so miles of twisty, rooty singletrack at speeds that border on dangerous. It’s located centrally for my friends, so we end up doing group rides there from time to time. It alternates direction daily, and I’m sure there was a reason for the overall layout of the trail, but it just doesn’t seem like the directions match up with the terrain very well. And be ready for a Royal Scrotum Smashing because the roots have “reared up” (ha ha!) over the years and it gets bouncy.
I gotta go with Island Lake in this match up.
Island Lake 11 and Royalview 9

Halfway there. Next up is Highland vs Tuscazoar

SE Michigan vs. NE Ohio Suburban Singletrack Shootout #4: WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN

Proud Lake Trails near Milford and Austin Badger Trails in Medina could have been so much more. Proud Lake is a state park within pedaling distance of my house in Wixom, and Austin Badger is a defunct golf course that could’ve been ever cooler than it turned out to be. Both could have been so much more, the first limited by the Spoke Junky-type vision of a local trailbuilder, the second restrained by subdivision bitchers and whiners.
Let’s start with the Ohio trail first this time. Austin Badger is where I ate shit a couple of years ago and afterward got to enjoy the pleasures of ketamine and morphine. It’s a short, purpose-built trail that contains plenty of hoppy, jumpy features as well as small a BMX park that hosts races. Building credit goes once again to Phat Jay who had a vision for a much larger system, but who was cut short by uptight people who didn’t understand that mountain biking is the new golf. It’s a fun rip that begs for multiple laps. You can also ride the former cart paths which are about as much paved fun as you can get on a mountain bike. Ride Huffman Reagan and AB, then relax and drink a brew at the town square in Medina. There’s a lot of bike related stuff going on there since the days when the crew would ramble and gamble in the Medina “backcountry.” Lots of good memories there.
Proud Lake is my go-to trail when I’m in Wixom. It’s the scene of considerable trail development over the last few years. The lake side features a few miles of twisty, old school singletrack that then links up with the Proud Lake Trail proper. Up until last year, it was an oasis, a place where you could ride mountain bikes or horses and feel like you were up north. Unfortunately, the fringe dickheads on both the mtb and equestrian sides couldn’t keep their mouths shut, and what resulted is the splitting up of a precious small tract of land into horse-only and mountain bike-only trails. I will say that “Herman’s Dream,” a short machine-built rollercoaster in Loop 4 (3?) is one of the better designed segments of trail I’ve ever ridden. But the sacrifice of a maze of rocky (yes, rocks in Michigan) chunky legacy trails for a few miles of babystroller “flow” makes me sad and angry every time I ride it. The builder (Bill) could’ve created a unique blend of old and new trail design and retained some of Proud Lake’s character while still appeasing the horse ladies, but instead, hid behind the “sustainability” argument and destroyed one of the more interesting trails in SE Michigan.

I’m pissed: Austin Badger 9, Proud Lake 5

Next up: Island Lake vs. Royalview

SE Michigan vs. NE Ohio Suburban Singletrack Shootout #3: YOU SO CRAZY!

The Maybury trails in Novi and the Bedford Trails in the Bedford Reservation Metropark are both near former or current mental health facilities. Makes you wonder: Hampton is on a former landfill. Mountain bikers must be a strange breed of outdoor enthusiasts, or maybe they’re trying to tell us something.
I purposely matched Maybury with Bedford because I knew Maybury would win, even though Maybury might be better compared to Hampton Hills. Maybury isn’t a long trail, probably less than 10 miles. But what is there is (once again) fast but still mildly technical. They haven’t done a whole lot to make the trail “more sustainable” and every once in a while you have to stay on your toes, or you’ll botch a climb or get your front wheel in a bad spot. There’s also a couple of small jumps that I’ll still hit, even though my jumping days ended effectively two years ago. I like this trail a lot; it’s perfect for a quick buzz, and maybe two laps if I have the time. Even though its not close to other trails, the way Milford easily links up with Highland, Proud Lake, and Island Lake, you can hit Maybury in the morning and something else within a 15 to 20 minute drive, and have a nice day in a good part of the outer Detroit suburbs.
Bedford is a relatively recent addition to the Metroparks mountain bike trail system. Designed by CAMBA, its set adjacent to the Tinker’s Creek Gorge (very cool place) and generally follows the contours of the land in a rather boring way. There’s just nothing really remarkable about the trail design, and we tend to ride the “Bedford Backcountry” more than the actual single track. I suppose if you live in the near-metro area, its a good place for a spin, and they hold races there, but most of us from the Medina/Summit county area ride East Rim or Connector. ‘Nuf said about that kind of riding, tho.
Maybury 7, Bedford 6.

We have a tie so far: Ohio 11, Michigan 11 Go Lions!!

Next up: Austin Badger vs. Proud Lake

The SE Michigan and NE Ohio Suburban Singletrack Shootout #2: WHAT ONCE WAS

The Tree Farm trails in Novi and the Hampton Hills trails near Cuyahoga Falls were both once something different. My assumption is that the Tree Farm was once…. a tree farm. Hampton Hills was once something less tree huggy: a landfill and toxic waste dump.
The Tree Farm is a relic of the past when skinnies and logovers were cool. Not much of that left now, but what remains is fast and flowy, but not “flow” in the worst sense of that word. Probably around 10 miles of true singletrack, with plenty of small features and a pump track/dirt jump area. I rode there years ago, but there’s just too much good stuff nearby to do anything other than a nostalgia ride. The Tree Farm hosts some fun “dress up in a costume” style events, and people have a lot of fun there.
Hampton is completely different. A Summit County Metropark located basically within the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, its only been around a few years and was machine built, expertly in my opinion. The site is a former dump for the city of Akron (I think) and there are signs along the ponds to prove it. Nevertheless, it is around 10 miles of fast, flowy, fun singetrack that has both a beginner green loop and a slightly more technical, jumpy climby section (the climb at the end will bust yerballz every time) that is an absolute hoot to ride, if only once a month or so.
I call this one a tie, even though the trails are radically different. I ride Hampton A LOT more than I ride the Tree Farm, but you can’t discount the legacy factor of a trail system that’s been around a long, long time, and every time I splash through that small pond outlet at Hampton, I have to wonder when I’ll start growing a third eye.
Tree Farm 3, Hampton Hills 3

Next up: Mayberry vs. Bedford

THE TOWNIE TRAILS

Both the Huffman Trails in Medina and the Milford Trails run through city parks, and were built years ago respectively by Phat Jay and Builder Bob, among others. Both systems offer about 10-15 miles of riding. Milford is fast, but relatively flat and gets a bit “noodly” from cramming too much trail in a small area. A small jump line and post-ride food and drink in Milford’s cool little downtown, plus proximity to Highland and Proud Lake make it worth a ride or two per year.
Huffman Reagan, where I learned to ride, pleases me more and more each time I return. The surprisingly technical old school singletrack, with steep drop offs to the Rocky River and brief moments of isolation, make it feel like the old Proud Lake trails: an oasis in the middle of suburbia. Spin Bike shop is located right across the street (oddly, Milford doesn’t have a bike shop).
I’ll give Huffman Reagan 2 points, Milford 1 point.