Ready for the Traverse City Trails Festival? You will be after our pre-ride this weekend!
For the second year, we’re sponsoring the Traverse City Trails Festival presented by Short’s Brewing. We’ve made a big deal about what a big deal this event it; it’s the biggest fundraiser for our local trail association and the driver behind creating new trails not just in Traverse City, but across the region. Northern Michigan Mountain Bike Association has brought a renewed energy to riding and events like the Traverse City Trails Festival are exactly the sort of community-building, woods-exploring experiences that help people fall in love with our sport.
While it’s always good to pre-ride a race course when you can, it’s especially important at the Traverse City Trails Festival. That’s because the bulk of the 40 and 25 mile routes use unmarked trails; for 364 days of the year, you won’t find a sign in the woods or a mark on a map. Only the most dedicated locals can put these loops together, and only the most experienced can even say that they’ve ridden them all...until the TCTF, that is! For many, the race is an opportunity to ride the trails, save a file, and start to be able to mix and match these trails with the singletrack they know. These trails are just a portion of nearly 75 miles of trails in the Pere Marquette Forest!
So, we’re leading a recon ride this Saturday to get ready. With just one week until race day, it’s the perfect day to get out there, throw together some turns, and starting thinking about the third annual Traverse City Trails Festival. We’ll meet at the Muncie Lake Pathway Trailhead on Brown Bridge Road, just up the hill from the official race start at Ranch Rudolf. Wheels down and rolling at 7.30am to beat the heat! We’ll shoot to finish the full 40 mile route in about three to three and half hours. Can’t make the ride, or want to roll at your own pace? No worries. Start with us and load the GPX file so you can follow along!
The ride is totally free and totally fun. Give the route a go and make sure you get signed up for the TCTF before July 20, with 100% of proceeds going to Northern Michigan Mountain Bike Association.