Bike Noob

Because I'm Always Learning Something New

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Partners

Biking the Old Mission Peninsula

08.11.2008 by Ray Niekamp // 9 Comments

Well, we’re back. A beautiful, breezy 62°F (16°C) when we left Traverse City, Michigan this morning. A face-slapping 100 (38°C) when we touched down in Austin this afternoon. And it appears the air conditioning is on the fritz at home — indoor temp was 85 (29°C), and we’ll be in for an uncomfortable night.

But what a great week we had. We met our friends Brad and Linda, whom we biked with in Chicago several weeks back, and stayed at Linda’s sister’s farm on the Old Mission peninsula of northwestern Michigan.

The red A marks the spot on both maps.
The red A marks the spot on both maps.

The setting is spectacular. The peninsula juts into Grand Traverse Bay on Lake Michigan for about 18 miles. It’s narrow, and from many spots you can see both the West Arm and East Arm of the bay at the same time. A great biking destination.

Just a few miles from the farm is the Old Mission Lighthouse. The ride allowed us to get used to the bikes we had rented and were riding for the first time (more on renting bikes in a later post). Although now out of commission, there is still something romantic about a lighthouse.

Mrs. and Mr. Noob.
Mrs. and Mr. Noob.

We took several rides on the peninsula during our stay, each one covering a slightly different route. The center of the peninsula is high ground, which means riders have plenty of hills to negotiate. The area around Grand Traverse Bay is known for cherry orchards. Grapes grow well, too, and a number of wineries have sprung up in the area.

A cherry orchard.  Look close to see the cherries.
A cherry orchard. Look close to see the cherries.

Despite the name Old Mission, the missionary activity in the area is fairly recent. It was not until 1839 that a Presbyterian minister came to the area to convert Ottawa Indians. A replica of the mission stands across the road from the farm where we stayed.

The old mission was a rude log structure.
The old mission was a rude log structure.

Three roads run up the peninsula. Center Road, the major highway, has the high ground in the middle. Peninsula Road hugs the shoreline on the west side, and Bluff Road runs along much of the east side. A number of connecting roads cross the peninsula, allowing bikers to create routes of varying distances.

Brad and I took off one morning to ride to Traverse City and back. We opted to head south on Peninsula Road, spend a little time in town, and head back on Bluff road. The toughest part of the trip is at the beginning, when we had to cross the hills to get down to Peninsula Road. From there, the going was easy, with a marked bike lane along much of the road, and fresh, smooth asphalt for several miles.

Once down the hills, we rode through picturesque Bowers Harbor.
Once down the hills, we rode through picturesque Bowers Harbor.

Several long paved bike trails cross Traverse City and lead to various locations in the country. We rode the TART Trail along the city’s lakefront park.

Brad's recumbent on the TART Trail in downtown Traverse City.
Brad's recumbent on the TART Trail in downtown Traverse City.

Northwestern Michigan College farther along the trail is home of the Great Lakes Maritime Academy.

Bike Noob at the ship owned by the Maritime Academy.
Bike Noob at the ship owned by the Maritime Academy.

Leaving Traverse City on the return leg, bikers must ride Center Road, or Route M-37. It’s fairly busy, but has a wide shoulder for much of its length. Still, it’s good to get off Center and get onto Bluff Road with its views of the East Arm of Grand Traverse Bay.

Brad follows Mrs. Noob around a curve on Bluff Road.
Brad follows Mrs. Noob around a curve on Bluff Road.

Our ride to Traverse City and back was 37 miles and change. It’s an easy ride, and the break in town allows for some additional sightseeing.

The Cherry Capital Cycling Club seems to be quite active — we saw them riding in good-sized groups several times during our stay. Their web site features maps of a number of different bike routes in the area.

Perfect summer weather, terrific scenery, cherries and wine — we had a great time. For getaway biking, northwestern Michigan is hard to beat.

Like this:

Like Loading…

Categories // Rides, Travel Tags // Rides, Travel

The Alps of Circle C

07.31.2008 by Ray Niekamp // 5 Comments

I’ve griped a time or two before about my slowness on hills, or even an inability to climb them without walking. I’ve kept telling myself this had to change. Recently, I’ve been riding routes that contain some decent hills, in an effort to build my thighs and not flinch from them as much as I have in the past. It’s helped — but I’m not going to win King of the Mountains anytime soon.

Today, that might have started to change. I went out on a friendly ride with a guy I haven’t ridden with for awhile. We cruised at a moderate pace, catching up on what we’ve been doing. But then, it was time to pick a route.

“Have you ever ridden the Alps of Circle C?” he asked. (We live in the Circle C Ranch subdivision.)

“Never even heard of it,” I said.

“That’s because it’s a route I cooked up myself.” he said. “I wanted a place nearby to get some hill work. So I looked around for hills in the neighborhood.”

We headed out on Mopac, turned west on Hwy 45, and rode the first hill up toward Escarpment Blvd. Not too tough, although he finished substantially ahead of me. Turning on Escarpment took us into the residential area, and the first small hill. Then we turned on some streets I hadn’t seen before (this is at the southern end of the subdivision, and it’s an area I seldom visit). We went up a street called Savin Hill, which curved, always climbing, for about half a mile. Then we did it again. I was huffing and puffing at the end of the second climb.

“Got another,” he said, as we turned down a different street. It was a long, looping road with a steady climb to Escarpment. Not tough, but another tester. Time to loop through a different area. Back out onto Hwy 45, with a series of mild climbs to the highest point on the route. But the return eastbound features a nice downhill that gave us a chance to recover — just in time for another series of climbs to the end of the route.

Real climbers won’t be impressed by the elevation change…

But as I said, my thighs burned.

“Whenever I want a quick workout, this is what I do,” said my friend. “I can finish it off in about 45 minutes and head to work.”

I thought I actually climbed better halfway through the ride than I had near the beginning, when I was fresh. I’m sure we’ll do this route again, many times. But I’m also going to be doing it on my own.

Like this:

Like Loading…

Categories // Rides, training Tags // hills, Rides, training

Riding with the B’s

07.27.2008 by Ray Niekamp // 9 Comments

After last weekend’s reality check, I figured I’d be better off riding with the B riders in our club. Just a reminder — we consider A’s to be able to ride decent distances at a fast pace. B’s are slower, and don’t go as far. I know many other clubs break down riders into more classifications than we do.

Anyhow, since our B’s haven’t been very active lately, I guessed that if we were going to have a B ride, I would have to organize it. But whadya know, another guy beat me to it.

The A’s had an ambitious and difficult route planned for today. The B organizer picked a route that would follow them for a ways, then head back to our starting spot. We’d be in for some hills, but the ride itself would be relatively short.

The route on Map My Ride. The tough hill is at the top of the twisty part at the upper left.

Ride elevation. The hill most of us had to walk is at the 10-mile point.

The morning was perfect. Sunny, warm but not hot, not much wind. We set off with the A riders, so about 17 of us cut a fine figure pedaling through the neighborhood. We turned onto Barton Creek Blvd., which winds through a swanky neighborhood by a nationally-famous golf resort. I hadn’t ridden this road before, and I knew it was hilly. But the hills weren’t too much of a problem, until the last one before reaching Ranch Road 2244. That forced most of us to get off and walk.

At 2244, the A riders turned west, and we turned east for the ride home. The rest of the route was on shoulders of sometimes busy highways. Plenty of hills through here as well, as seen by this cell phone camera shot along Loop 360, but these were not difficult.

We got back to our Starbucks starting point for some FrappaMochaCappucinoLattes, or whatever, and some chit chat. Ride time: about 23 miles in 1 hour 43 minutes, avg speed: 14.7 mph. None of us could have kept up with the A group, and none of us cared. It was the kind of ride I’ve been looking for since joining the club. I’m looking forward to many more of the same, now that the B’s seem to be up and running again.


Like this:

Like Loading…

Categories // clubs, Rides Tags // clubs, hills, Rides

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 28
  • 29
  • 30
  • 31
  • 32
  • Next Page »

Get Email Updates

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 257 other subscribers

Categories

  • Accessories
  • Bike fit
  • Bikes
  • Blogging
  • Books
  • clubs
  • Cold weather
  • Community
  • Commuting
  • Components
  • crash
  • cycling
  • Equipment
  • Favorite rides
  • fitness
  • food
  • guest post
  • Heat
  • Injury
  • logs
  • Maintenance
  • Mental
  • Nutrition
  • Odds 'n ends
  • People
  • Poll
  • Racing
  • Records & stats
  • Review
  • Rides
  • running
  • Safety
  • soreness
  • Specialized
  • Technique
  • Technology
  • Tips
  • tires
  • training
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Partners

Recent Posts

  • Getting Back on the Bike: Road Cycling Tips for Older Cyclists
  • Are BCAAs and EAAs Good for Cycling?
  • How to Fix Numb Toes When Cycling
  • How to Find and Vet a Bike Club
  • Celebrate Pearl Izumi with Big Savings in the Memorial Day Sale

Categories

  • Accessories
  • Bike fit
  • Bikes
  • Blogging
  • Books
  • clubs
  • Cold weather
  • Community
  • Commuting
  • Components
  • crash
  • cycling
  • Equipment
  • Favorite rides
  • fitness
  • food
  • guest post
  • Heat
  • Injury
  • logs
  • Maintenance
  • Mental
  • Nutrition
  • Odds 'n ends
  • People
  • Poll
  • Racing
  • Records & stats
  • Review
  • Rides
  • running
  • Safety
  • soreness
  • Specialized
  • Technique
  • Technology
  • Tips
  • tires
  • training
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized

Archives

  • May 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • March 2022
  • October 2020
  • November 2018
  • May 2018
  • September 2017
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • January 2016
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008
  • March 2008
  • February 2008

Copyright © 2026 · Modern Studio Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Go to mobile version
%d