The Way Back Machine.

 

Mr Peabody, why are we standing in a golf course...?

Oh my Sherman, the way back machine must have taken us to one..

Well Mr Peabody, which one? And Why ?

Sherman from what I can see it’s, a very luxurious one, and it’s situated deep in the Northwood's, and I believe this one is called the Garland Resort..

I’m confused Mr Peabody..

Well sit back young man and let me tell you the history of one the highlights for the mountain bike scene back before most knew the sharp end of a wattage meter.

You see Sherm, Around the early 1990s  some good folks thought of this neat idea to hold a mountain bike race around the posh grounds of this Resort, located in Lewiston Michigan. Sherm this is a near perfect setting for a mountain bike race, although no real major climbs it had nice rolling loamy terrain, cart paths, XC ski trails, two track and fire accessibility,  great accommodations, ample parking. And if the parking wasn't adequate enough, golf carts would transport the wives and kids to the start line, another nice touch was a free spaghetti and salad dinner awaited the tired riders at the end.

Tell me more....

Sherm, races were popping up more during this time than Instagram models in yours social media feed. The course would change over the years due to the mass development of the grounds and buildings and of course the new fairways being built every year. The course was often a mixture of two track, and rolling semi soft Michigan single track, nothing big to climb, a rather simple and rolling course. 

Until it’s final edition.

What happened then?

Some fine folks came up with idea to create a point to point race. Often hard to layout, and too busy to monitor the fire roads, and two tracks around the area made it a tad easier, that along with a brush hog!

Describe the course Mr Peabody!

the Start Sherm was not far from the actual finish. Riders were treated to a nice fast open fire road start, and then dump on to fresh cut courtesy of the brush hog, yes sir rough, bumpy and prostate abusing kind of stuff. The promoters tried to create single track, but Sherm they fell short. After moving out the first set of single track, the racers got to use there road tactics as for a number of miles it was all out hard pack fire roads. Getting close to the Garland resort, riders zig zagged there way around the pine forest on mostly two tracks xc trails and some waist high fall grass. Moving closer to the Garland the paved cart paths were used, and then the newly constructed cart bridge made for getting over  North Red Oak road. Arriving on the grounds of Garland. The course continued to use the cart paths to riders back on to last years XC loop. The course was approximately 28 miles, and i do believe all fields competed at the same distance. The race was late in the year usually around mid October, so it gave some racers that extra push for the up and coming ICEMAN event in Traverse City.

All things always come to an end eventually and Sherman the owners of Garland went through some hard times and events had to be cut to make way for new construction.

But for many it was another  fun weekend in Northern Michigan to ride bikes.