TransMichigan

[JimL]

Preliminary data is now up for the 2014 TransMichigan route.  The numbers clock in at ~323 miles and 26,400' of ascent.  Foregoing accuracy, I'd say this route is ~ 65% singletrack and fairly flat, but there's definitely some hike-a-bike.

You can check out all the particulars here: http://transmichigan.blogspot.com/

There's also interest in an organized event, which you can view here: https://www.facebook.com/events/168298510025619/ and here: https://www.facebook.com/SplittheMitt

Jim

[jhl99]

Pretty respectable to get  that elevation change out of MI.  The Route doesn't go through Bad Axe, MI... always loved that town name.

[JimL]

New 'loop' route up on the TM site: http://transmichigan.blogspot.com/2014/04/additional-2014-tracks.html

[big_papa_nuts]

Help a noob out, how do I go about viewing these maps?

[JimL]

Hey big_papa_nuts,

You'll want to download the gpx tracks to your computer (right click on track link -> save as) and open them in TopoFusion (download the free version at www.topofusion.com).  The p2p route from White Cloud to Mackinaw City has been verified (post: http://transmichigan.blogspot.com/2014/03/2014-course-info.html).  If you're looking to do the loop, the portion (~80 roadie ride) from Gaylord to Cadillac is not verified.  I was hoping to do the verification over the 4th of July weekend, but got distracted and rode to Higgins Lake via Grayling instead.

Does this help?  If you need more help/info, post up and I'll help the best I can.

Jim

[jhl99]

Here is link to a viewable map using Google Maps:

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=http:%2F%2Fhome.comcast.net%2F~JHLange99%2F2014_MI_Routes_JimL.kmz&hl=en&ll=44.820812,-84.830933&spn=2.384584,4.597778&sll=41.278844,-77.233427&sspn=1.23221,1.895142&t=m&z=8

My very first job out of college in the early 1990s was at Ford Motor in Dearborn, MI.  I spent pretty much every weekend heading 'up north' for hiking, skiing, windsurfing and biking.  If my job was closer to the north, I would probably lasted longer than 18 months, but being so far from forests and public lands didn't work for me.  That NW corner of the mitten was a pretty neat place... the dunes, lake MI.... this route is making me think is time to revisit the old stomping grounds.

[big_papa_nuts]

This is very helpful!

I actually grew up in Michigan, live in Texas now, and am heading up in August to my dad's place in Custer. I plan to ride from there north, the goal being to ride the NTC towards Gaylord, then do a lap of the High Country Pathway and head back south. I tried the same trip two years ago and made it to Mesick before a knee injury turned me back. I had been hitting dead ends regarding trails north of Mesick anyways. Hopefully I can use these tracks to link things together.

I'm budgeting about ten days for the ride but am going to play it by ear, or more appropriately legs, as I also plan to do a paved shoreline ride from Chicago to Custer about a week prior.

[big_papa_nuts]

Sorry for the questions but I attempted to download the tracks to load them on to my Garmin Etrex but when I "save as" I con only save it as a XML file. Any ideas on how I can get them as GPX format?

[JimL]

When you right click and save as, you can always change the file extension to gpx.  Or after you download to your local computer.  From the link below, I just did the download to my computer and uploaded to my Etrex 30 w/o issues.  I'm on the Mac, so the path to the unit mount is this: /Volumes/GARMIN/Garmin/GPX , however if you're on Windows it will be something along the lines of <drive_letter>:\GARMIN\Garmin\GPX  Once downloaded you might want to change the names of the track(s) to something simple when you upload, or it will just have the name 'Track' in the selection window.  For instance, I changed the big loop to TMLOOP.gpx and that's the name it shows in the selection window on my Etrex.

I just put up a new post consolidating the tracks (so you don't have to scroll through the old posts).  These tracks also include all the relevant p2p waypoints into each file.  Here's the link: http://transmichigan.blogspot.com/2014/07/2014-tracks.html

I'm going to try and post some overview maps of the routes at some point in the next few days.

Post up if you have any more issues.

Jim

[jhl99]

How sandy is the Short Reed City loop?

A few of us from Western PA are planning to head up and try out the short loop and one of the participants is looking for a reason to buy a Fat bike.  The rest of us are concerned about how much we will be bogged down with normal width tires.

[JimL]

There's very little sand, I run a Rampage 29r 2.35 on the front and Saguaro 2.2 on the rear.  I've run Python 2.0 tires on the NCT before as well, without issues.

I'd say the fat bike would be fun, but kinda overkill if they're worried about sand.  Although there certainly are some small stretches where it would definitely be an advantage.

[big_papa_nuts]

Got it figured. For some reason my computer and the ones I tried at work would only let me save as XML. I had a friend download it at home and email it to me.

[Stickboy]

Thanks for the all the hard work Jim.  I plan to use your GPX data and start in Rockford MI, and ride to  Conway MI.  Hopefully I will have enough time and make it to the bridge.   
I'll key up a post ride report.    -Stickboy

[big_papa_nuts]

There's very little sand, I run a Rampage 29r 2.35 on the front and Saguaro 2.2 on the rear.  I've run Python 2.0 tires on the NCT before as well, without issues.

I'd say the fat bike would be fun, but kinda overkill if they're worried about sand.  Although there certainly are some small stretches where it would definitely be an advantage.

Agreed. The floatation of a fat tire will not be needed, although IMO this may be a perfect route for a rigid + bike. I just rode from Custer to freesoil and while the surface was more then firm enough for my 2.1" tires it was bumpy enough that wrists are already very sore. The trail is made up of roots under sandy soil covered with an amount of sticks and twigs so numerous as to be unfathomable by any human. I was running my tires as low as they felt safe, maybe 20, and it was still very rough. I think with the 3" tires you could go low enough that, as a friend of mine says, you would just bolb over stuff.

[jhl99]

Here is a short slideshow of riding the short loop over Labor Day weekend, 2014:

2014 MI BIkePackVimeo

from jhl99 on Vimeo.</p>

We had a good time.  The single track portions are fast and fun. 

[PandaPrawn]

I'm leaving on Monday to ride this route from the ohio border to Mackinaw City (and then continuing through the UP to catch a flight home in Duluth), and that slideshow has me even more excited than I already was, which I didn't think was possible.

[fotooutdoors]

Does JimL or anyone else know the legality of riding the NCT south of where the TransMI starts?  My family is renting a house basically in the national forest east of Ludington.  As I am in Wisconsin, I figured I should check out some of this route on the way there. 

So, I am thinking of taking the ferry over from Milwaukee to Muskegon, then heading inland to pick up the NCT around White Cloud or so.  Alternately, I may take the ferry to Luddington and do the small loop that JimL posted up.  A third option (though more logistically tiring) is to take Amtrak to Grand Rapids.  Thoughts?  I think all of these routes put me in the 2-3 day range, which is about right.

[big_papa_nuts]

Check out MMBA's trail guide (http://mmba.org/trail-guide/) they have the best map I have found for that section. Covers where you allowed to ride and not too.

[fotooutdoors]

Thanks! I will check out their maps. Now to decide on the route...

[Stickboy]

Anyone have an updated GPS file to share ?