- Jan 1, 2002
- 794
- 0
Rode the Missaukee Trail(s) on Sunday with a riding buddy, Steve (and fellow GLDS club member). Parked at the sled/bike parking yard a couple miles northeast of Moorsetown. Plan to was ride the MCCCT and any ATV trail (Missaukee North #1/#2 I think they are called) over to US-131. If things went very well then we'd keep on the MCCCT up to South Boardman River and after that I had a bit of Grand Traverse Trail to record, but with the shorter days I didn't think that would happen.
There was a light rain when we took off, which would sporadically mist our goggles for the next half of the day. Otherwise the weather was cool to cold, but good for riding single track. Being fall and raining, all of the trail debris was slick and ready to pitch the bike in directions you didn't want. Just took more care when riding.
The east half of the trail is 50" and pretty easy ATV stuff, a bit more whooped, but nothing terrible. The small ORV loops (2) that connect off of the north side of the trail, eastern and middle areas, were 40" or so the arrows leading to them said. These things are beat to hell with trees and branches covering the trail everywhere. The second loop was not as whooped (western/middle), probably doesn't get as much use. The first one just sucked for 70% with Gladwin sized whoops (just narrower). That loop also had a section of new(er) trail that I reckon was used on a recent enduro. Extremely tight with crap everywhere. Not much fun with each grease covered log begging to change your direction. It's not cut out to 40" (at the bars) and many places not even the spec'd 24" at the ground. Nice to see new trail, might be entertaining in drier conditions.
The rest of the ATV trail across to US-131 was generally a blast. Sure, it's whooped, but nothing drastic. The kind of rolling smaller whoops that you don't need to stand for. The trail generally had good rhythm to it, allowing the two large fellows on KTM 520s to merrily clip along in the 20s.
Once we hit 131 it was still early, so we headed up towards Boardman River. First order was the Grand Traverse #4 trail that the MCCCT shares. Yuck. That's a 40" trail and generally in good shape as for maintenance, but it's deeply whooped in many places. If we could get those whoops filled in, it'd be pretty fun. The sections that weren't so tore up were pretty fun. The side and plain up hills make an interesting trail.
A quick stop for gas in Fife Lake (2.6 gallons for 72 miles) as it was time. My bike hit reserve in the last bit of trail, his was going to real soon now.
Moving on we hit Grand Traverse #2 (or is it #3?) that the MCCCT shares. I know this trail was graded at some point in it's life, but it wasn't recent. Man is that sucker deeply whooped. No fun there either. The only section that wasn't whooped was so tight I had to keep stopping to make the corners. One extreme to the next, I guess. This trail is listed at a 40" (map says) but it's been quaded out for the most part making ATV travel pretty easy.
From there it's a two track and road ride up to Boardman River on the MCCCT. Nothing but biting cold autumn winds for us except for the small whoops on a powerline that got some of the blood flowing again.
Once at our destination, we banged the roads and snowmobile trail back to the Manistee River. If you've not ran across the covered bridge on that section, it's a must do. Our plan was to ride the snowmobile trail all the way back to our camp. The sled trail groomers are out in full force prepping their trails this time of year which is good and bad. Sometimes they leave a nice groomed trail and other times it's a bumpy, sloppy mess with corners that just explode as you slide through them. Still fun and keeps you busy enough to stay warm.
At about 20 miles from camp I pitched around a tree laying across the road which set me up (wrong) for a large puddle. Instead of seeing how much of the water I could absorb I did the natural thing and locked the brakes and slid into the edge of it. Weird thing was when I tried to take off again, it just free revved. Hmm, must have missed the downshift, so I shifted and still no go. Shucks, this isn't good. Off to the side I rolled and started checking the bike. Oh, I see, when the chain is missing you don't move so well. I ran back to the puddle and found my chain waiting patiently for me. In the mud. Seems the master link broke. Not just lost a clip or something, the freaking side plate (not the clip side either) broke in half. Still had the pins, other plate and clip. Wow, that sucks. By the way, it was one of those less expensive Primary Drive X-Ring chains. Now I know why they are less expensive and why my DID X-Ring is on it's way.
Of course of the 5 spare master links that I have, I had zero with me. In a spark of genius - they say that it's a fine line between genius and idiot - I connected the chain with a big old wad of safety wire. In case you've always wanted to try this or just wondered how well it works I can say, now, that indeed I made it. Yes, I made it a good 50 feet before she spit the chain out.
Thank goodness Steve was riding with me as it would have been a looooong cold walk out. Steve offered up his bike so I could go get the truck. And so I did, which included a bunch of baja-ing to get to back to him. Which took out the parking lights on the truck (couldn't figure out what happened, ain't fixed it yet). Needless to say, it was dark by the time we got back, hooked my trailer up and bid each other ado. Luckily the nice State Police lady on the way home stopped and told my about my lack of tail lights. And gave me a ticket. Plus one for no proof of insurance, which I have but put the wrong slip in the truck. And told me to run my hazard flashers to home. Which I did. For ten minutes before the lite duty flasher unit popped. Which also took out my brake lights. Thank god I only have back roads to get home.
There was a light rain when we took off, which would sporadically mist our goggles for the next half of the day. Otherwise the weather was cool to cold, but good for riding single track. Being fall and raining, all of the trail debris was slick and ready to pitch the bike in directions you didn't want. Just took more care when riding.
The east half of the trail is 50" and pretty easy ATV stuff, a bit more whooped, but nothing terrible. The small ORV loops (2) that connect off of the north side of the trail, eastern and middle areas, were 40" or so the arrows leading to them said. These things are beat to hell with trees and branches covering the trail everywhere. The second loop was not as whooped (western/middle), probably doesn't get as much use. The first one just sucked for 70% with Gladwin sized whoops (just narrower). That loop also had a section of new(er) trail that I reckon was used on a recent enduro. Extremely tight with crap everywhere. Not much fun with each grease covered log begging to change your direction. It's not cut out to 40" (at the bars) and many places not even the spec'd 24" at the ground. Nice to see new trail, might be entertaining in drier conditions.
The rest of the ATV trail across to US-131 was generally a blast. Sure, it's whooped, but nothing drastic. The kind of rolling smaller whoops that you don't need to stand for. The trail generally had good rhythm to it, allowing the two large fellows on KTM 520s to merrily clip along in the 20s.
Once we hit 131 it was still early, so we headed up towards Boardman River. First order was the Grand Traverse #4 trail that the MCCCT shares. Yuck. That's a 40" trail and generally in good shape as for maintenance, but it's deeply whooped in many places. If we could get those whoops filled in, it'd be pretty fun. The sections that weren't so tore up were pretty fun. The side and plain up hills make an interesting trail.
A quick stop for gas in Fife Lake (2.6 gallons for 72 miles) as it was time. My bike hit reserve in the last bit of trail, his was going to real soon now.
Moving on we hit Grand Traverse #2 (or is it #3?) that the MCCCT shares. I know this trail was graded at some point in it's life, but it wasn't recent. Man is that sucker deeply whooped. No fun there either. The only section that wasn't whooped was so tight I had to keep stopping to make the corners. One extreme to the next, I guess. This trail is listed at a 40" (map says) but it's been quaded out for the most part making ATV travel pretty easy.
From there it's a two track and road ride up to Boardman River on the MCCCT. Nothing but biting cold autumn winds for us except for the small whoops on a powerline that got some of the blood flowing again.
Once at our destination, we banged the roads and snowmobile trail back to the Manistee River. If you've not ran across the covered bridge on that section, it's a must do. Our plan was to ride the snowmobile trail all the way back to our camp. The sled trail groomers are out in full force prepping their trails this time of year which is good and bad. Sometimes they leave a nice groomed trail and other times it's a bumpy, sloppy mess with corners that just explode as you slide through them. Still fun and keeps you busy enough to stay warm.
At about 20 miles from camp I pitched around a tree laying across the road which set me up (wrong) for a large puddle. Instead of seeing how much of the water I could absorb I did the natural thing and locked the brakes and slid into the edge of it. Weird thing was when I tried to take off again, it just free revved. Hmm, must have missed the downshift, so I shifted and still no go. Shucks, this isn't good. Off to the side I rolled and started checking the bike. Oh, I see, when the chain is missing you don't move so well. I ran back to the puddle and found my chain waiting patiently for me. In the mud. Seems the master link broke. Not just lost a clip or something, the freaking side plate (not the clip side either) broke in half. Still had the pins, other plate and clip. Wow, that sucks. By the way, it was one of those less expensive Primary Drive X-Ring chains. Now I know why they are less expensive and why my DID X-Ring is on it's way.
Of course of the 5 spare master links that I have, I had zero with me. In a spark of genius - they say that it's a fine line between genius and idiot - I connected the chain with a big old wad of safety wire. In case you've always wanted to try this or just wondered how well it works I can say, now, that indeed I made it. Yes, I made it a good 50 feet before she spit the chain out.
Thank goodness Steve was riding with me as it would have been a looooong cold walk out. Steve offered up his bike so I could go get the truck. And so I did, which included a bunch of baja-ing to get to back to him. Which took out the parking lights on the truck (couldn't figure out what happened, ain't fixed it yet). Needless to say, it was dark by the time we got back, hooked my trailer up and bid each other ado. Luckily the nice State Police lady on the way home stopped and told my about my lack of tail lights. And gave me a ticket. Plus one for no proof of insurance, which I have but put the wrong slip in the truck. And told me to run my hazard flashers to home. Which I did. For ten minutes before the lite duty flasher unit popped. Which also took out my brake lights. Thank god I only have back roads to get home.