Mountain Biking Mecca

Elno Lewis · Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 53 Location: A2

Of course, there are several--but this one is a quick and beautiful six hour drive from Michigan--and trails are just one attraction of this adventure. Its called Grouseland. Murray, the guy who runs it, is the realization of every serious mountain biker's dreams. He own 75 acres on a mountain with a great wife, a perfectly equipped bike shop, a swimming hole, numerous trails, surrounded by pool table smooth paved roads, and miles and miles of dirt roads, fire trails and paths leading to adventure in every direction. Murray rents bikes, gives mb classes and mb and roadie tours, takes you kayaking, repairs and sells bikes--and just shows you the time of your life!

The campgrounds, on the top of a mountain, offers a spectacular view and includes a volley ball court, horseshoe pits and everything you need to camp. There's a portajohn, too! But, walk or drive or ride a hundred yards down to the shop and step into a modern bathroom straight out of Better Homes & Gardens complete with shampoo, soap conditioner, towels and whatever else one desires in a bathroom--and--its a mountain bike museum as well--you just gotta see it. First time I've ever been excited about a bathroom! A full five gallon water jug was waiting for me when I arrived, along with a Weber grill (with charcoal and a starter) and a close line and lawn chairs and three large picnic tables. Grass is freshly mowed. (Saw a big deer driving back to the campsite.) $5 a day per person to camp there--cheap!!! He'll even rent you air mattresses. Of course, there is a fire pit well stocked with chopped wood, too.

THE SHOP! Murray is an authorized Cannondale dealer, and the Cannondale factory just happens to be a mere 20 miles away--tours are available. Murray is a heck of a bike wrench, too. The shop is awesome and prices are CHEAP! Internet cheap! I *beep* you not. Its full of all sorts of eye candy and memorabilia (sp--I know, but I am tired.) I went with my son and after setting up camp we went for a quick ride and as if the Mountain Biking Gods were...well, within 5 minutes both our bikes suffered fatal casualties. (derailleur hanger and derailleur) Fortunately, we were less than a half mile out so the hump wasn't a death march. Drove down to the shop and Murray fit us to a couple of Cannondales and we were off on our new steeds. Talk about sweet! Ask Murray, I came back from our first ride and bought a Rush 600--put it on the plastic (And the factory ran out so I got to wait for it!)

This is getting long, so--let me....swimming hole, pet fish, raft, kayaks, screech owl holding, Jupiter telescope looking, sign eating tree, $25,000 pine tree, teeter-totter, tractor tires, figure 8's, limbo bar, good lager beer, monster ascents and descents, road kill cafe shrimp dinner $3.95, atmospheric spheroid accelerator, old, huge steel railroad bridges, huge windmills, Allegheny Tunnel, mountain lake, toll rode and...

www.grouseland.com

Look for yourself. You can call and Murray will get back with you. Had the time of my life with my son. Am going back Labor Day to the 72 Hours of Elvis. Check it out.

Be a good place to stop before heading up to the place the Schwinn guy talked about--Thanks for the tip, Schwinn guy! Getting the maps this afternoon.
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Ride it like the seat is on fire!