I should know the answer to this as I spent the first 18 years of my life in the WB, Michigan area:
however, I have to attend a funeral this weekend in metro Detroit and was going to bring my bike to get some riding in, kind of a good way to blow off steam I think. Can anyone from the area recommend rides originating from roughly Long Lk. rd. and Middlebelt rd.??? Any group rides on Saturday or Sunday that start in the area?
Thanks in advance.
I’m not sure about group rides, but if you let me know when and how far you want to ride, I can point you in a more or less safe direction to go as my office is at Long Lake and Telegraph and we live right off Middlebelt (down in Farmington Hills, though, as I can only afford to work, not live, in Bloomfield Hills ;-)).
I also grew up in that area (east of Middlebelt between Lone Pine Road and Walnut Lake Road… I went to Andover H.S. – Go Barons!)
I would like to say that there are NO rides that are safe enough to suggest in that area. Too much traffic congestion.
Since you already have your bike on the car, try heading to Stoney Creek Metro Park in Rochester/Shelby Twp. (M-59 to Dequindre, North on Dequindre to 26 Mile Road or so). Good bike path and road there.
Unless you have a mountain bike, then you can check out the Rails to Trails bike paths. I know you can get on the trail near Long Lake and Orchard Lake roads.
Sorry about the funeral… I hope you and yours are doing okay.
Andover '84 myself, too funny.
I don’t get back to visit often but it’s nice when I do. My second sister lives on Pine Lake (lucky her!) which is a great place to hang out. Friends can’t believe that area is metro Detroit when I take them there from Chicago.
I just don’t think I’ll have the time to drive to a place like Stoney Creek, so I will probably ride from Pine Lake early in the morning. I was thinking of heading West as that used to be less developed but I realize I’m talking 15-20 years ago!
Kensington/Island Lake is probably only a 20-25 minute drive from there. Saturdays and Sundays there will be a lot of people out riding at those parks. It is not uncommon to ride out on the roads there as well around the proving grounds. In another direction there is Hines Drive, also a 20 minute drive. Again, there will be plenty of cyclists there. I would be very hesitant about trying to ride any of the roads in that area though, especially if you are alone.
Bernie
There are a lot of great rides/routes from West Bloomfield. Probably Saturday, and certainly Sunday there is a ride from the Crosswinds shopping center at Lone Pine and Orchard Lake. They take different routes out to the west and mileage varies.
Two of the popular rides/routes from there are out to Fenton and/or Milford. From Middlebelt and Long Lake:
TO FENTON:
Take Long Lake to Orchard Lake, go north to Commerce Rd.
Turn right on Hiller
Quick left onto Willow
OPTIONAL: Right on Keith, Left on Barnsbury, follow Barnsbury by lake to Union Lake
OR just follow Willow to Union Lake
Right on Union Lake
Left on Wise
NOTE: Wise turns into Commerce and goes straight to Milford
OPTIONAL: Right on Canal, Left on Oakside, Oakside curves right, becomes Howick, Quick left on Gittins, Left on Chaumont, Right on Venice, Right on Cooley Lake
OR: Follow Wise to Carroll Lake, Right on Carroll Lake, Right on Cooley Lake
Left on Round Lake
Left on Cedar Island
Right on Oxbow Lake
Left on Elizabeth Lake
Right on Teggerdine (cross M-59, the roads get really nice from here on)
Teggerdine to White Lake
Left on White Lake
Right on Ormond
Left on Davisburg
Right on Milford
Milford curves left and becomes S. Fenton at RR tracks
S. Fenton becomes S. Holly
Take S. Holly into Fenton
Right on S. Leroy
Quick left on Rockwell
Stop for snack at the French Laundry coffee shop.
For Milford, just stay on Wise and head west until it turns into Commerce Rd. That will take you right into Milford. The Milford Baking Co. is great if you go on Saturday (they are closed on Sunday). From Milford you can head a little south and take GM Rd. out toward the proving grounds, there are some nice rollers on the road there. I usually take a slightly southern route back home from Milford. Taking River Dr., which becomes Atlantic St. Which becomes Wixom Rd., then take the left as Wixom curves to the right and take Sleeth back east. I usually take Carroll Lake Rd. back north to Wise. Some of the roads change names and make 90 degree turns, but it makes sense if you look at the make.
I’ll probably be riding 70-80 on Saturday if you are interested.
do you know what time the ride leaves from the Crosswinds shopping center?? I remember when there was a Cunningham’s drug store there!
I would love to ride with you but my two concerns are, 1) I’d be too slow and 2) I probably only have the time (other commits) to go 40 - 50 miles.
It usually leaves at 7:30, but they were ‘considering’ leaving later as the days are getting shorter faster.
I’m only going IM pace or slower, and you are welcome to suck wheel.
Wow, glad someone replied with a route. I was begining to think I lived in a different SE Michigan. I ride these roads daily and have never (This is my first year) felt my life was at risk. I have only been honked at twice and flipped off once. (on a 5 lane road and they were in the left lane, so maybe it wasn’t aimed at me).
Of course if I want more fun I should ride with record10 I guess.
If you don’t do the group ride, hop on Wyse Rd, go west into Milford, past town and around the GM proving grounds and back. Probably get in 40 miles and generally nice roads west of Union Lake Rd. From Orchard Lake to Union Lake is a little dicey. Stay on Commerce Rd. and go early!!!
I was very surprised at that also. I can’t imagine trying to do all my training by going around in circles at Stoney Creek or Kensington. Hines Dr. is pretty good. Nice wide shoulder…
There is a lot of great riding in the area. Frankie A. did a lot of his training around here. I heard he did hill work in Wabeek. The Tues. night ride from downtown Birmingham to Oakland U. and Chrysler is very popular (and fast). The Wolverines have many rides around town. A couple start in Southfield and head west.
I think a lot of people ride to the northeast, Rochester, Lake Orion, etc., but that’s the other side of the world for me. The roads and traffic are pretty good right around me, and get very good once you get to the other side of M-59.
Considering some of the horror stories coming out of CA, I think we are lucky here.