Rode the Mickelson trail

And I am HOOKED on rails to trails. :D

Last weekend we left Deadwood SD at about 9:30 AM
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!

The first 7 or 8 miles is about a 3-4% grade, piece of cake I thought. NOT.

I am not used to that kind of riding. I could hear my hams and glutes talking to me. After a little downhill interlude we climbed again. the Black hills scenery was so beautiful it made us forget our discomfort. (sort of)

Sweet reward was about to be had - 17 miles of downhill. We went though 4 tunnels - very cool.

After another climb, false summit, and downhill we spent the night in Hill City
(about 50 miles total for the day) We stayed in the Comfort inn there. Hot tub, swimming pool and about 50 feet off the trail. They also have a room for you to lock your bikes up over night. We carried packs on our back w/ the necessities. Panniers may be a new purchase for the next trip

I was riding my ooooooold steel frame schwinn high plains sierra mtn bike. (Poor baby at about 17 years old she was put through the paces :( I do know now that every one of her 21 gears work :D

The next day was a longer one (60) miles but more down than up. I was pleasently surprised that we stayed in the trees longer than I thought.
We passed by Crazy Horse and got some clear pics but didn't diverge off the trail to see any other sites. (I have done the SD, Mount rushmore tourist thing so didn't feel a need to do it again - our sole intent was to ride the trail)

As we were pulling out of the hills the scenery wasn't as dramatic but still pleasant. Temps were rising, fewer people were on this section (few as in 2)
and stops were further apart w/ only 2 towns in about 30 miles and the one town could barely be called that, no pay phone, no cell service, no gas station but a GREAT restaurant - last chance for food.

When we pulled into the trail end at Edgemont SD the bank sign read 99degrees. The air conditioned bar and cold beer were a welcome sight while we waited for our shuttle to pick us up

My riding partner had the karma of the gods looking over him. He got a flat tire from a thorn 1 block from the bar :D

Already I am looking to ride more R2T. Wisconsin or Idaho is calling my name for next year. We can take the train out for both of those and make it a full holiday!

Word of advice - if you ever head out to SD to see Mt Rushmore definately take your bikes there are many easily accessible trailheads to hop off and on the trail and the scenery is gorgeous. Road bikes w/ skinny tires are not recommended. My friend was riding a hybrid and his tires worked just fine. Mtn bike tires are overkill but that is what I had and was glad of it on some loose soft stuff and ruts on the 2nd half. The top half is pretty packed and smooth as it is constantly being ridden.

September or early October would be a great time to ride the trail.

Thanks for the report! The Mickelson Trail is one my DH and I definitely have on our list to ride. It sounds great!

Emily

Thanks from me, too. DH & I are planning on doing that one, too, as soon as we do all the other great rides we've planned.

But it's on the List!

Mom on Bike

Bump the Mick up on your list :D

if you are in Nebraska it isn't that far from you, there isn't any wind, and it isn't usually too hot (on the top half anyway) Any ride I do that doesn't have wind is a good one :D

Hey, thanks for the report. It reminds me of a wonderful road trip I took that brought me that way...through SD and NE. I had an incredible retreat at Blue Cloud Abbey in SD, and I've always thought about going back. Now I know I will take my bike!