Western: Yankee Springs

[Guppie]

Did 4 laps yesterday. It's all sand right now. You'll want 25psi in your tires to avoid washout on every turn and to float the sand pits.

Also, around the 6 or 8 mile mark (assuming you started at the beginning) my back tire burped so I had to stop and Co2 it with some air. Forgot to size up my bag so a nice Crank Brothers multi-tool fell out. I looked but couldn't find it. Let me know if you stumble across it.

Having a flat was good practice for race. Took me 55 seconds to open bag, attached Co2 and inflate.

[daffunda]

First time yesterday. 3 hours drive one way drove me insane... and those oil companies being greedy *beep* didn't help either.

Great trail, liked the pines, wish SE michigan had these trails.... Completely dry as I remember it. Sand was no problem, almost fun to slide around. I was running 26 psi though....

Low grass covering some part of the trail hides some rocks. I clipped one and bent my rotor on the first lap..... Being that I drove all the way there, I wanted to do at least three laps, but no...

I think I saw you at the trailhead yesterday GUppie, I didn't realize it until I read this forum. Do you always bike around that time during the weekdays? If your job is that flexible, I'm extremely jealous..... I was there since I had the week off.....

No I didn't find your multitool...

[Guppie]

I'm on a sabbatical from my job right now. I was very unhappy so I ve spent the last few months recharging myself. I am getting spoiled since I can ride so much. That's why I was there in the afternoon.

[xcrdr]

Any idea how he trail is after the storm last night?

[duotone]

did a couple laps today, it's in great shape!

[xcrdr]

Thanks tony, your right, it was sweet. My son rode the 1999 Catamount as a SS and did great. Even with the fat 2.4 Motoraptors!

[duotone]

...1999 Catamount as a SS ...

sweeeeet

[normlobo]

trail in great shape as of 7/12. Thanks for all who make it possible

[bery]

Trail is wonderful. A lots of sand to wrestle with.
There is one hick-up. There's a downed tree (huge) blocking the trail at mile 13. Right before you finish! so, watch out!

[jonvenlet]

+1 on the sand! bring your 29er if you have one...only way to float through the sand.

I did the better part of 3 laps today and it was really nice (other than the sand, but that is to be expected in West MI).

There was a tree down at the bottom of the long fast switchback-y descent, just after the log pile. Sure was nice to ride down that rather than up like in the TT

[rockaceone]

anyone think yankee will be ridable today after all the rain? i know it drains pretty fast...but don't want to waste the trip.

[billmania]

should be fine.
IMHO, yankee's at its best in just such conditions, wet sand means you slice right through it instead of feeling like you're in slush.
I set my Yankee personal best time a couple three weeks ago in just such conditions by a big margin. have a blast.

[sworks88]

Rode out there tonight. Trail was in awesome shape. The rain helped pound the sand down and the climbs were all tightened back up. Trail was fun and fast.

There was an older gentlemen out there with an ax chopping a tree out. Thanks again!

[Crash & Burn]

There was an older gentlemen out there with an ax chopping a tree out. Thanks again!

That was probably Dale. He does a ton of trail out work there on his own.

Rode there on Sunday morning with SteveF, and you are right the trail was in excellent condition. (Too bad I forgot how to ride and took a hard crash. Fortunately no permanent damage). And no I am not going to go out and cut out the Evil root that caused my crash.

[John_H]

There was an older gentlemen out there with an ax chopping a tree out. Thanks again!

That was probably Dale.

Dale is da man He's always out there.