More Photos Below!Gallery
[Bump from 10/10/06] I love a fall bike ride. Especially if it includes dirt roads. The dirt gets smooth in the fall. Dirt roads are narrower, quieter, more scenic. Oh yeah!
Chris B and I rode bikes 60 miles from Williamston to Ann Arbor last weekend. The scenery was gorgeous and the weather perfect. Most of the ride was in late afternoon light, deep and rich.
For smooth, mellow autumn dirt roads you ideally want plump, soft tires on a relaxed-frame bike that is still LIGHT. Even a race bike works good for dirt roads this time of year, but slightly plump, slightly soft tires make everything perfect. There’s no reason why dirt road action should be slouchy. But lollygagging is fine. Hybrids and mtbikes are fine but not needed.
It was an MSU/UM game day and the TV-Americans of our region were all indoors raving at their TVs leaving the roads empty for us and a few motorcyclists to enjoy. Wonderful! (Go as crazy as you like, TV-America, but keep it indoors! Reality thanks you! Sport is fine if it’s neighborly but stadiumism is over the top.)
Anyway, as we rolled into Ann Arbor, Huron River Drive was empty and just beautiful. It’s usually jammed with motorists and cyclists.
I took a few pics…
We’d been riding on narrow woodsy roads, but then they opened out onto farm roads. Still nice!
Cool shadow and green dynamics.
Getting close to AA now. Along the Huron river.
Passing the railroad bridge.
JP riding the Big Drops. 46cm Noodle bars, set saddle-high.
