Monday, March 18, 2013

Grinding Michaux





District Rd., Michaux State Forest. 
This road is usually in good shape, someone just torn this 100 yd section up with they're truck or car.


It has been a while since I have done a ride report. I am getting the feeling to start again so......

A week or so ago I took off work on Friday and headed up to Michaux State Forest to ride a route I have been working on for my Grinding Gravel Blog. I don't know the roads in Michaux as well as I would like to. So routes have been hard to add to the blog. Mainly because what appears to be a roads turns out to be a double track forest road/trail. Which is fine if you are prepared for that style of riding. I tend to use a cross bike for grinding so most of the time it is fine to hit these forest trails/roads. But for my blog I know everyone might not be on a cross bike. So I try to stick to public roads.

This route here is a little ass kicker if you are not in real good shape. Every time I have done this route it hurts at the end of it. Mentenzer Gap Rd is a kick in the nuts at the end. This route has a nice remote feel to it. Well remote for the east coast. Mainly Gravel on this one with a real nice double track climb/ridge trail (Corls Ridge Rd.) with views from the ridge.  You don't see many cars until you back on the main roads. I think I saw one person in a truck during this ride.

The roads were wet so they were peanut buttery. Climbing was tough at times. Nothing exciting happened during the ride unless you consider climbing exciting. Which I tend to love to do, when I am in shape to do so. This route has a lot of climbing for the 38 mile distance it is. I highly recommend you check Michaux for grinding or better yet Mountain biking. There are some great trails up there.