There is a ghost at Vulture’s Knob. It will always be there, even after the sounds of mountain bike tires slipping up the slatey climbs and roaring down the rutted clay descents exist only in the memories of countless riders who became the life of the place over the four decades of its existence.

They’re part of the ghost. The racers, and the drinkers with riding problems, and the people who found mountain biking helped ease the pain of whatever they were fighting through, and the people who just rode because they loved to ride mountain bikes. They rode the original gnar, scratched and scraped into a few steep ravines in the Killbuck Valley in north central Ohio (a few of which functioned as trash dumps for ancient owners of the place).

And there have been many owners and race promoters and groups of people who tried to make the place go. They are the true ghosts. The people who actually owned and paid taxes on the land and allowed anyone to ride to their desire on some of the oldest and nastiest trails you’ll find anywhere. Yes, anywhere. In Ohio.

No, VK wasn’t Squamish or Doctor Park or Soquel Demo Forest or Bennett Gap or the Golfie or someplace in the Alps. But the first lap always hit you hard no matter who you were. And you rode the second lap and it felt better. You stopped there because in a small way, you survived. Now it was time for a beer with your buddies.

Legend has it that the ghost stole all the signs on that last weekend VK was open. They disappeared. Then reappeared when the recent caretakers of the place protested that the signs were theirs, to be placed on a new property where the Knob would be resurrected.

But everybody knows you have to die to be resurrected. And ghosts never really die.

The ghost got Phat Jay a few years ago. He was taken out on a stretcher. Nearly broke his neck. On another night, his Groovy Cycles custom-built , sweeter than any bike you have ever known, got stolen there during a late night event. Never to be recovered. It’s fitting, I guess, that he ate shit again on our final ride, got back up and kept riding. But the ghost had already exacted its toll. Really, on Jay’s heart. He was one of the pioneers of Vulture’s Knob, one of those people in the early days of mountain biking who were hucking shit on flat bars and 26 inch wheels, and volunteering their time to create a place where people could ride and not have to worry about all of the rules.

And Weeze, too. An untraceable, ghostly figure who’s ridden everywhere. He’s already created the Son of the Knob, though, on the other side of the valley, and the descent is as fast and loamy and loose as anything at the Knob.

Of course, Vulture’s Knob was always too good to be true. It was private property. Somebody owned it and paid the bills. They allowed us to ride it in the benevolent spirit of brotherhood, I guess.

Somebody bought it a few weeks ago, and I guess they don’t understand. It’s ok. But part of the ghost is wondering what I could’ve done to help keep the place open. And that’s not ok.

Vulture’s Knob was a place that we visited less and less frequently over the years when the metro parks and Cuyahoga Valley National Park realized that people wanted to ride bicycles in the woods, on trails heavily financed and machine-built to last the ages. No doubt, we have good times at the East Rim Trails, the first purpose built mountain bike trails in a National Park.

But evenings at VK were something different. There will never be anything quite like seeing the sunset in your rear view mirror as you drive back out the dusty road, knowing you just shared something you really love, with people who do too.

You stopped that one night. Got out of your car. Maybe a little boozy, but good enough to check out the sunset. Take it all in. Pause.

It was cool.

SE Michigan vs. NE Ohio SSS #9: The First Lap is Always the Hardest

These last two rounds are going to be really tough. Not sure if I can pick a winner in each matchup, but I’ll try.

Pontiac Lake and Vulture’s Knob near Wooster have historically been maintained by like-minded people. Call them “Core Riders” or the “Gnar Crowd” or whatever; they’re people who appreciate some rawness in their singletrack. There’s a saying in Arizona: Don’t Phoenix Flag. There’s also one in Brevard: Don’t Bentonville Brevard. The second one isn’t as catchy (or apparently effective) but they both mean that old school trails should be left alone instead of being replaced with something more “sustainable” (Proud Lakespeak for “less difficult”). Pontiac and VK are the closest we have in SE Michigan and NE Ohio to black diamond trails.

I love both of these trails. Pontiac is really the only place in SE Michigan where there are natural rocks that will come up and bite you if you’re not careful. The Knob doesn’t have rock features, but it’s chunky, technical and steep in places, and everybody I know crashes there every once in awhile. Both Phat Jay and I have been attacked by the Ghost of the Knob and we’re happy we came away with bike and body relatively unscathed.
Both trails have a feature that will always be challenging: the 50/50 climb up from McAfee (I think that’s what it’s called)at VK, and the drop and high berm about four or five miles in at Pontiac. I look at that high berm every time I ride there and tell myself I’m gonna hit it someday, but I probably won’t. The Knob also has the Expert Line which is loose and gnarly and ballbusting, and you always feel good when you get to back to the top with everything intact.
I think people have tried to smooth some things out at both trails systems, but each one seems to resist it: there’s alternate lines through some root and rock gardens at Pontiac that no one seems to mess with, and there’s just no modifying some of the best stuff at the Knob. Hats off to Weeze and crew and all the people who have helped maintain the Knob over the years. Same to the Pontiac Trail crew who let things be what they are.
It would be interesting to delve into the history of both trail systems. I’ve got a few stories of my own about the Knob, and I’m sure there’s people who could tell some good ones about Pontiac.
Special note about the Knob: it’s an old trash dump and don’t be surprised if you see some stuff sticking out of the ground. But that’s the character of the Knob. It’s also where I have to give the edge to the Knob: because it’s private property, you can relax and drink a beer with your buddies after a hard ride, and man have there been some times! I can’t imagine quite the same vibe in the Pontiac parking lot.
So if you’re coming from Ohio, definitely hit up Pontiac. Ride it fast and hard. And if you’re coming from Michigan to ride Mohican, you owe it to yourself to ride the legendary Vulture’s Knob (and maybe backwards if you get a chance!). Two laps at each is just pure mountain biking heaven.

PL 17.9
VK 18

Shootout #10: Mohican vs. Poto
Special bonus points will be awarded at the end. As you can guess, I’ve left out a classic Michigan trail.

SE Michigan vs NE Ohio SSS #8: Modern Trails

East Rim in the Cuyahoga Valley and the DTE trails in the Waterloo Area were both designed by the same trail building company, Spectral Designs, and both the product of a lot of work by a lot of people over a long period of time – the standard story for any contemporary new trail construction these days. People bitch about how long these things take, but if you think about it, these trails are supposed to last forever, and so it makes sense to ensure they’re done right. I’ve spent a few trail building days on each, and if I ever settle down, I’d like to do more.

Let’s start with DTE. Most people from Ohio have heard of the DTE trails and many have made the pilgrimage, so there’s no reason to try to describe them. I’m gonna go right out on a limb, though, and say that DTE is pretty much a “green” trail, with the exception of some jumps and grade reversals. I’m also gonna say that after being told that the advanced sections of DTE would rival Copper Harbor, I’m sadly underwhelmed. I know a lot of passion went into to developing the system, but for me, a few rides there was plenty. Especially when Poto is so close by. The recently opened Waterloo Connector gives you the possibility of a truly epic ride, and we’ve had some fun on the Triple Trail Challenge days, but I think the engineered design of the system sanitized the mountain biking experience that most of us seek. And I think with the exception of a couple of segments, Spectrum Designs has done better work elsewhere, most recently The Dragon (dumb name) near Newaygo.

East Rim is elsewhere. Granted, there’s no comparison in terms of the mileage that the two short loops ER offers. Unfortunately, most riders end up doing two or three laps of Phase 2 just to get an after work fix. It’s no destination in itself, but ER is central to Bedford, Hampton Hills, and some cool “backcountry trails” plus the whole Cuyahoga Valley, and it also opened the door to mountain biking in National Parks. I still maintain that the “turnpike descent” at the beginning of Phase 2 CW is one of the best short descents I’ve ever done. And what DTE has in mileage, ER has in elevation and fun rock moves you just won’t find in the LP. And once again, I’ll probably never clean the CW Expert Line.

This one will surely piss off the Michigan people, but if I have time to ride on weekday evening, I’ll head to ER just about every time. I can’t say that about DTE:

DTE 13
ER 16

Two more rounds to go!

SE Michigan vs. NE Ohio Suburban Singletrack Shootout #7: West Branch vs. Highland

I couldn’t think of a category that would include both of these old timers. Ok, maybe Old Timers. However old West Branch makes me feel, I’ll still ride it from time to time. (I believe it may have been the second mountain bike trail I ever rode.) But I’m pretty much done with Highland, even though I once rode there a lot.

West Branch is composed of two loops comprising 10-15 miles of what I’ll call “near Appalachian” singletrack: even though the elevation gain is probably only around 50 feet per mile, there’s enough rocks and roots to make you feel like you’re verging on a different geological zone. In fact, I’ve hit Moraine State Park just over the PA line, then WB on the way back and felt like they’re kissing cousins. (Get it?) The system is cool in that it combines three types of terrain: a section that follows the contours of the lake, the section that goes in and around rocky ravines, and the Rock Quarry loop, which defines the term “rock garden.” There’s also the short “Expert” segment that I’ll probably never clean. Most importantly, WB ranks at the top of my upcoming Bikes and Boats World Tour.

Highland desperately needs a refresh. Yes, I said it out loud. Call me. I’ll help. I know there’s plenty of people who love Highland, but I’m done giving it any more chances. I’ve ridden it rigid, SS, full squish, and on an ebike, and sorry, but there’s just so many momentum killers: completely unnecessary 90 degree turns (especially the C loop) and irritating windiness just to fit in a few more feet of trail. It was described somewhere as an intended “handling problem” but in my opinion, there’s a lot of places that could easily be straightened out without adversely affecting the overall mileage the four loops offer. No doubt there’s a lot of good to be said for the system. It offers around 100 feet per mile of climbing, and you can start and finish your ride in Milford (or my house!!), but as J. Messina said recently, there’s just no payoff for the effort. I agree. I’ll be the first in line to help with trail work. Just don’t do me like the CAMBA boys did years ago when I and a few other people spent a whole day hacking out a 50 yard section at WB only to later be told that it was not going to be used. I haven’t participated in a whole lot of trail building since. A bitter old timer.

WB wins 14 points
Highland 12 (because that place could be really cool someday)

Current Shootout Totals:
Ohio 55, Michigan 51

Coming up: DTE vs. East Rim

SE Michigan vs. NE Ohio Suburban Singletrack Shootout # 6: NOT IN MY WHEELHOUSE

The Stony Creek Metropark trails near Pontiac, and the Tuscazoar Trails near New Philadelphia are both at least an hour drive from my home bases in Wixom and Medina, and I haven’t ridden either one enough to come to any conclusion as to which is “better.” But they’re both about 10-15 miles of intermediate riding that qualify for a higher number of ranking points.
I’ve only ridden Stony Creek a couple of times a few years ago, and my memory tells me that the trails were punchy and a bit two-tracky, but I know there have been constant improvements over the last few years. I suppose you could link up the nearby River Bend trails and Addison Oaks/Bald Mountain trails in a day, but my memory of Addison and Bald Mountain is that they weren’t worth the drivetime for me to return (they may have improved as well). People seem to like Stony Creek, but I can’t recommend anyone from Ohio to spend the time weaving through the non-interstate driving route to get there from the Wixom/Milford area.
Tuscazoar has been the scene of a lot of activity over the last few years. The Knobby Side Down crew has developed its own riding culture based on the trail development and race program at Tuscazoar. I’ve ridden there twice recently, and its a fun place, with a cool jump line and enough interconnecting loops to keep the place interesting. I know some people who prefer it over Vulture’s Knob or even Mohican, but for me, it’s just too far to drive.
Gotta go with a tie:
Stony Creek 12, Tuscazoar 12

Next up: Highland vs. West Branch (promise)

BTW: if anybody is actually reading this and you’re having a tough time reading the small print on your phone, I’ve been publishing these reviews on my blog, travelswithpops.blog.

SE Michigan vs NE Ohio Suburban Singletrack Shootout #5: A LITTLE SOMETHIN’ SOMETHIN’

Legend (and probably some police reports) have it that there used to be other ways to blow off a little steam besides riding mountain bikes at Island Lake near Brighton and Royalview in Strongsville. Nowadays, most of the happy endings have to do with drinking a few brews with your buddies in the parking lot after the ride.
Around 2008 when I met my wife, she had a trail in her backyard that led directly to the Island Lake loops (not the only reason I ended up marrying her!). I had sold my Red Line Monocog 26 inch SS and bought a new-fangled Raleigh XXIX 29er SS, and boy was it a hoot ripping around Island Lake’s 15 miles or so of high speed, dedicated singletrack. There’s a bit of backcountry exploring to do in the park as well as the Badlands, an old sandpit area, frequented by snowmobiles and fat bikers. I especially like the sections along the Huron River. I don’t ride there much anymore, but it makes a good wrap up ride after a weekend at Poto/DTE and Brighton, or you could extend your ride on the paved trail around Kent Lake in Kensington Metropark.
Royalview will always be haunted for me by Ray Petro’s tragic accident a few years back. Like Island Lake, it tempts you to ride its 12 or so miles of twisty, rooty singletrack at speeds that border on dangerous. It’s located centrally for my friends, so we end up doing group rides there from time to time. It alternates direction daily, and I’m sure there was a reason for the overall layout of the trail, but it just doesn’t seem like the directions match up with the terrain very well. And be ready for a Royal Scrotum Smashing because the roots have “reared up” (ha ha!) over the years and it gets bouncy.
I gotta go with Island Lake in this match up.
Island Lake 11 and Royalview 9

Halfway there. Next up is Highland vs Tuscazoar

SE Michigan vs. NE Ohio Suburban Singletrack Shootout #4: WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN

Proud Lake Trails near Milford and Austin Badger Trails in Medina could have been so much more. Proud Lake is a state park within pedaling distance of my house in Wixom, and Austin Badger is a defunct golf course that could’ve been ever cooler than it turned out to be. Both could have been so much more, the first limited by the Spoke Junky-type vision of a local trailbuilder, the second restrained by subdivision bitchers and whiners.
Let’s start with the Ohio trail first this time. Austin Badger is where I ate shit a couple of years ago and afterward got to enjoy the pleasures of ketamine and morphine. It’s a short, purpose-built trail that contains plenty of hoppy, jumpy features as well as small a BMX park that hosts races. Building credit goes once again to Phat Jay who had a vision for a much larger system, but who was cut short by uptight people who didn’t understand that mountain biking is the new golf. It’s a fun rip that begs for multiple laps. You can also ride the former cart paths which are about as much paved fun as you can get on a mountain bike. Ride Huffman Reagan and AB, then relax and drink a brew at the town square in Medina. There’s a lot of bike related stuff going on there since the days when the crew would ramble and gamble in the Medina “backcountry.” Lots of good memories there.
Proud Lake is my go-to trail when I’m in Wixom. It’s the scene of considerable trail development over the last few years. The lake side features a few miles of twisty, old school singletrack that then links up with the Proud Lake Trail proper. Up until last year, it was an oasis, a place where you could ride mountain bikes or horses and feel like you were up north. Unfortunately, the fringe dickheads on both the mtb and equestrian sides couldn’t keep their mouths shut, and what resulted is the splitting up of a precious small tract of land into horse-only and mountain bike-only trails. I will say that “Herman’s Dream,” a short machine-built rollercoaster in Loop 4 (3?) is one of the better designed segments of trail I’ve ever ridden. But the sacrifice of a maze of rocky (yes, rocks in Michigan) chunky legacy trails for a few miles of babystroller “flow” makes me sad and angry every time I ride it. The builder (Bill) could’ve created a unique blend of old and new trail design and retained some of Proud Lake’s character while still appeasing the horse ladies, but instead, hid behind the “sustainability” argument and destroyed one of the more interesting trails in SE Michigan.

I’m pissed: Austin Badger 9, Proud Lake 5

Next up: Island Lake vs. Royalview