looking for new ride area in michigan,ohio or indianna
#11
06-28-2001 | 01:50 PM
Pro Rider
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 286
Likes: 0
ingoldx,
Would enjoy meeting you sometime. Just met a guy from Allegan last week that was kind enough to take the time to sit down and tell me all about Wisconsin. Great guy who really had a lot of info.(Thanks, Steve) I'll try and e-mail you with my shop and cell#. I ride a Sportsman also; my girlfriend enjoys(?)riding but only has been out once up at Baldwin where the whoops are pretty bad. First time on a 715# machine can be an experience. Anyways, let's get together sometime at your convenience.
Ox,
As usual, you're the one to ask and appreciate your help. Judging from your posts I will definitely be exploring that area soon(or W.VA. or WI. or ................I gotta retire)
Would enjoy meeting you sometime. Just met a guy from Allegan last week that was kind enough to take the time to sit down and tell me all about Wisconsin. Great guy who really had a lot of info.(Thanks, Steve) I'll try and e-mail you with my shop and cell#. I ride a Sportsman also; my girlfriend enjoys(?)riding but only has been out once up at Baldwin where the whoops are pretty bad. First time on a 715# machine can be an experience. Anyways, let's get together sometime at your convenience.
Ox,
As usual, you're the one to ask and appreciate your help. Judging from your posts I will definitely be exploring that area soon(or W.VA. or WI. or ................I gotta retire)
#12
07-08-2001 | 04:37 AM
Pro Rider
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 704
Likes: 0
Michimaniac,
I also am looking to retire soon. I've riden most of the trails in Lower Michigan. My favorite is Atlanta Trails. There's over 140 miles of trails there and all kinds of animals.
There's a plan in the works to connect many of the trails we ride in Lower Michigan. It stretches from White Cloud, north through Cadillac, up to Petosky, back down to Greyling, over to Mio and back to White Cloud. You will be able to pack your bag and ride for weeks without seeing the same place twice. If you'd like more information, I suggest you join an ATV Club, like the MATVA and get involved. We as ATVers have to be the leaders when it comes to our trails. We have some great trails in Michigan for the whole family to enjoy and we need to keep them open as well as to continue to develop them. Now what do you say?
Chuck
I also am looking to retire soon. I've riden most of the trails in Lower Michigan. My favorite is Atlanta Trails. There's over 140 miles of trails there and all kinds of animals.
There's a plan in the works to connect many of the trails we ride in Lower Michigan. It stretches from White Cloud, north through Cadillac, up to Petosky, back down to Greyling, over to Mio and back to White Cloud. You will be able to pack your bag and ride for weeks without seeing the same place twice. If you'd like more information, I suggest you join an ATV Club, like the MATVA and get involved. We as ATVers have to be the leaders when it comes to our trails. We have some great trails in Michigan for the whole family to enjoy and we need to keep them open as well as to continue to develop them. Now what do you say?
Chuck
#13
07-08-2001 | 12:08 PM
Pro Rider
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 286
Likes: 0
Chuck,
MATVA member that's not NEARLY close enough to retire as I'd like! We really NEED to recruit more people outside SE MI. if trail maintenance for ALL of our trails will ever be more than a pipe dream for our club. The ONLY way that these more remote trails(farther from Detroit) will remain open is with a working relationship between (ideally)LOCAL club members,businessmen and the regional DNR offices throughout the state. This, obviously, is a big job. Personally, I do not think development of a new riding area in SE MI.(read 'suburban Detroit' to most 'outstaters') is politically feasible for our club UNTIL we have the maintenance/development of every single present trail in hand. You can BET the snowmobile,orv,cycle and DNR administrations feel the same way. We had better prove ourselves STATEWIDE before a guy in Iron MT. gives a hoot about wether some yahoo from the suburbs is afraid to leave his backyard or husband/wife won't let them be gone for more than 3 hrs. at a time.
MATVA member that's not NEARLY close enough to retire as I'd like! We really NEED to recruit more people outside SE MI. if trail maintenance for ALL of our trails will ever be more than a pipe dream for our club. The ONLY way that these more remote trails(farther from Detroit) will remain open is with a working relationship between (ideally)LOCAL club members,businessmen and the regional DNR offices throughout the state. This, obviously, is a big job. Personally, I do not think development of a new riding area in SE MI.(read 'suburban Detroit' to most 'outstaters') is politically feasible for our club UNTIL we have the maintenance/development of every single present trail in hand. You can BET the snowmobile,orv,cycle and DNR administrations feel the same way. We had better prove ourselves STATEWIDE before a guy in Iron MT. gives a hoot about wether some yahoo from the suburbs is afraid to leave his backyard or husband/wife won't let them be gone for more than 3 hrs. at a time.
#14
07-08-2001 | 01:12 PM
Pro Rider
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 258
Likes: 0
Michi;
One trouble is that it costs $. I don't know how much luck you will have getting it mandetory to have a permit, but you could still have a permit or "DONATION" sticker and put up some signs or articals in local papers and "trade journals" kinda like Michigan Snowmobiler only some sort of ATV same thing if one exists aboot it being ONLY RIGHT to pay for your trail rights. SOME people will donate to feel involvement even though they don't have the time to put into it. It takes both kinds. Some with time and some with donations to pay for bridges, stone for crick crossings, maybe trail signs, etc. I haven't rode anything in Michigan in the last 5 years other than a few weeks ago i rode with a bud through the Hiawatha Club in UP. HE definitely paid for his trail rights there! But if you get something like that in place, I'm sure a couple of us would check it out and be willing to buy where we ride. I think local marts along the trail should be hit up HARD as they are esentially the ones to gain moniterilly (sp?) from this. Also sell advertising on trail maps to the local businesses that will benefit like the motels and restaurants and don't forget dealers and even some of the factories will feel obligated as to PR.
One trouble is that it costs $. I don't know how much luck you will have getting it mandetory to have a permit, but you could still have a permit or "DONATION" sticker and put up some signs or articals in local papers and "trade journals" kinda like Michigan Snowmobiler only some sort of ATV same thing if one exists aboot it being ONLY RIGHT to pay for your trail rights. SOME people will donate to feel involvement even though they don't have the time to put into it. It takes both kinds. Some with time and some with donations to pay for bridges, stone for crick crossings, maybe trail signs, etc. I haven't rode anything in Michigan in the last 5 years other than a few weeks ago i rode with a bud through the Hiawatha Club in UP. HE definitely paid for his trail rights there! But if you get something like that in place, I'm sure a couple of us would check it out and be willing to buy where we ride. I think local marts along the trail should be hit up HARD as they are esentially the ones to gain moniterilly (sp?) from this. Also sell advertising on trail maps to the local businesses that will benefit like the motels and restaurants and don't forget dealers and even some of the factories will feel obligated as to PR.
#15
07-08-2001 | 05:02 PM
Pro Rider
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 286
Likes: 0
Ox,
I agree that a riding area over on the SE side of the state might ultimately be able to sustain itself (with volunteer support also) on a fee basis. I also want to commend and support the folks from our club who are probably maintaining trails right at this moment. What concerns me most is that maybe the sparce volunteer support that is availiable to our fledgling club at this time would be best spent shoring up our present system(Norway-partially closed; Tomahawk-maintained as cycle trail;etc.) rather than building another one. Referring to Chuck's post up above; can you imagine the manpower that will be needed to maintain THAT system? This would be world-class and I'm all for it; yet I know of one relatively small system that I have volunteered for that is a job in itself as it is! Regardless, I am impressed with the people I have met so far in our organization and hope everyone that rides here would at least consider membership.
I agree that a riding area over on the SE side of the state might ultimately be able to sustain itself (with volunteer support also) on a fee basis. I also want to commend and support the folks from our club who are probably maintaining trails right at this moment. What concerns me most is that maybe the sparce volunteer support that is availiable to our fledgling club at this time would be best spent shoring up our present system(Norway-partially closed; Tomahawk-maintained as cycle trail;etc.) rather than building another one. Referring to Chuck's post up above; can you imagine the manpower that will be needed to maintain THAT system? This would be world-class and I'm all for it; yet I know of one relatively small system that I have volunteered for that is a job in itself as it is! Regardless, I am impressed with the people I have met so far in our organization and hope everyone that rides here would at least consider membership.
#16
07-08-2001 | 05:35 PM
Weekend Warrior
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,572
Likes: 0
MATVA
members and the association is currenty responsable for the maintenance of 4 L.P Trailheads.For now,I feel that is enough for the organization to handle until membership grows.Im with John,lets perfect what we have now and ask for more trails later.
The CCC or the Cycle Conservation Club of Michigan is responsable for maintaining the other trails in Michigan.Im not real impressed with their upkeep of some of their trailheads,but it ALOT to ask of one organization.
Bill [MATVA member]
members and the association is currenty responsable for the maintenance of 4 L.P Trailheads.For now,I feel that is enough for the organization to handle until membership grows.Im with John,lets perfect what we have now and ask for more trails later.
The CCC or the Cycle Conservation Club of Michigan is responsable for maintaining the other trails in Michigan.Im not real impressed with their upkeep of some of their trailheads,but it ALOT to ask of one organization.
Bill [MATVA member]
#17
07-08-2001 | 11:12 PM
Pro Rider
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 704
Likes: 0
Michimaniac, you have me to your advantage! I don't know who I'm talking to but you obviously know me.
Yes, I do trail maintenance in Michigan and as Bill said, we have enough to keep us busy for now. I'm not looking to get a trail in or near Detroit, in the forseeable future but hopefully it will happen some day, before I get too old to ride it. I didn't mean to mislead you on that issue. My post was about making the trails better in the L.P. and getting involved so we keep them. Not about trails in Detroit!
You're right. We need more members and we need them now. Bill's right. The CCC, is having to carry the load and they need help too. We're it! You and me...
ox, you make some very good points. Local businesses are going to have to get involved as well. But we have to let them know that all us clubs and members support them. We have to rub a lot of shoulders. Starts now...
Oh, one more thing, Michi. We do have some very good trails to ride so try being possitive a little, Eh?
Chuck
Yes, I do trail maintenance in Michigan and as Bill said, we have enough to keep us busy for now. I'm not looking to get a trail in or near Detroit, in the forseeable future but hopefully it will happen some day, before I get too old to ride it. I didn't mean to mislead you on that issue. My post was about making the trails better in the L.P. and getting involved so we keep them. Not about trails in Detroit!
You're right. We need more members and we need them now. Bill's right. The CCC, is having to carry the load and they need help too. We're it! You and me...
ox, you make some very good points. Local businesses are going to have to get involved as well. But we have to let them know that all us clubs and members support them. We have to rub a lot of shoulders. Starts now...
Oh, one more thing, Michi. We do have some very good trails to ride so try being possitive a little, Eh?
Chuck
#18
07-09-2001 | 08:26 AM
Pro Rider
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 286
Likes: 0
Chuck,
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought you were extolling the virtues of the new proposed interconnected trail system and I commented on how difficult it will be to maintain this system let alone one in Detroit at this time. My info comes from the MATVA website under the headline ABOUT US that lists education/safety,maintenance,BUILDING RIDING AREA IN SE MI.(which, quote'is underway')and lastly membership as MATVA's FOUR MAIN OBJECTIVES.Maybe #3 doesn't ring so true for a guy in Norway whose local trail has been closed for 3 years.(oops! not politically correct!) Hey, I realize everybody wants respect right out of the box; but I don't think stating that EARNING IT FIRST is 'talking negative'. Think I also mentioned how impressed I was with people met so far,commended the volunteers and encouraged membership. positive a little, Eh? See you up north!(I'll be the positive guy on the 500;LOL).
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought you were extolling the virtues of the new proposed interconnected trail system and I commented on how difficult it will be to maintain this system let alone one in Detroit at this time. My info comes from the MATVA website under the headline ABOUT US that lists education/safety,maintenance,BUILDING RIDING AREA IN SE MI.(which, quote'is underway')and lastly membership as MATVA's FOUR MAIN OBJECTIVES.Maybe #3 doesn't ring so true for a guy in Norway whose local trail has been closed for 3 years.(oops! not politically correct!) Hey, I realize everybody wants respect right out of the box; but I don't think stating that EARNING IT FIRST is 'talking negative'. Think I also mentioned how impressed I was with people met so far,commended the volunteers and encouraged membership. positive a little, Eh? See you up north!(I'll be the positive guy on the 500;LOL).
#19
07-09-2001 | 09:31 PM
Pro Rider
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 704
Likes: 0
#20
07-10-2001 | 08:01 AM
Pro Rider
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 286
Likes: 0
uhhhhhhhhhhhhh,has replying to your request for me to be more 'positive' in my comments somehow turned into you gotta ride a 500? So I DARED to QUESTION exclusive memberships/preferrential benefits and the Detroit riding area. Nobody's ever told me what LOL means,(see post above) but I assumed it meant 'lots of laughs!' This quad riding is a LOT more serious than I thought!