For me, however, the Petoskey-Charlevoix leg has been a steady favorite. Not only is the distance preferable (about 34 miles roundtrip), the scenery is, too. From beautiful, multi-level East Park, across the top of stately Bay Harbor and on to woodsy West Park and beyond, this section offers more - for me - than the Harbor Springs segment (about 20 miles roundtrip).
All Photos by Eric Cox Locations include spots along the Little Traverse Wheelway near Harbor Springs, Petoskey, Bay View and Charlevoix; Bear River Valley Recreation Area; Petoskey State Park; and other area locations.
For Angus, it was a childhood bicycle crash that gave him anxiety about getting back in the saddle as an adult. But, Margie had watched too many Tour de France stages and was sure she couldn't ride a bike without a full kit and a team car. Old Earl had his reasons, too. He was … Continue reading Encouraging Others to Ride Bikes Sometimes a Slippery Slope
New Year's resolutions have a funny way of slipping our grasp. The concept has become so trite it's almost self-defeating. Fingers secretly crossed, we sometimes declare these lofty intentions with a giggle, knowing the burdensome new routines will be cast off in a few short weeks. However, there's a way to avoid these failures of … Continue reading Struggling to be Resolute? This New Year, Choose Discipline
Latitude 45 doesn't sell LeMond spin bikes. We do sell True Fitness equipment, including bikes similar to this one. I'm a regular cyclist, but not a super adventurous one. I'm not a mountain biker, and I usually don't ride after the snow flies. I've logged almost 2,500 miles this year, most of it on paved … Continue reading Indoor Cycling – A Love/Hate Relationship
For those of us who don't often ride bikes in harsh winter conditions, late-season rides - made possible by relatively mild temperatures - can inject fun and fitness into months when there ordinarily aren't many opportunities to enjoy bicycling. The last few weeks, for example, have been peppered with some really chilly, uninviting conditions. Yet, … Continue reading Late-Season Rides Often Chilly, But Also Fun and Exhilarating
Bike rides have a way of helping clear out mental cobwebs, bringing enhanced clarity. Cardiovascular exercise increases blood flow to the brain, and that fluctuation often helps me think. It also helps me not think. Lately, I can’t decide which one is better. With everything going on – and not all of it positive – … Continue reading Stress and Anxiety Got You Down? A Bike Ride Can Be Good Medicine
Latitude 45's fifth annual staff bikepacking expedition took place Sunday, Sept. 13, and Monday, Sept. 14 and featured a 150-mile route that included circumnavigation of Bois Blanc Island (Boblo). Inclement weather altered the trip itinerary, pushing departure back a day to Sunday. This year, only four staffers opted for the adventure, with each departing from … Continue reading Latitude 45 Staff Bikepacking Trip 2020
Sometimes seemingly small things can have a big impact on one’s life. New Top of Michigan Trails Council Executive Director Brent Bolin grew up playing in the creeks around his childhood home in Cleveland, Ohio. As a high schooler there, his appreciation for the water nurtured a keen interest in environmental issues. … Continue reading Ohio Native Brent Bolin Named New Trails Council Executive Director
Life at the 45 