Hillsdale bikers ride countryside
Professors and students bike area trails for exercise, scenery; some pedal the Hill for a quick trip to class
Emily Breiner
Issue date: 9/13/07 Section: Features
Southern Michigan's undulating hills, numerous lakes and miles of remote country roads present the perfect location for avid bicyclists.
Whether for pleasure or exercise, moderately disguised trails around the county provide an excellent escape from campus into the rural landscape.
"When I get out there on the road, with the smell and the atmosphere, I feel like I'm on vacation," said Angie Pytel, assistant professor of biology.
The six-mile Baw Beese Trail is ideal for those who only want to ride a short distance.
"The Baw Beese trail heads toward the lake from the college out to sandy beach," Pytel said. "Then you go down the dirt road a bit, and the trail narrows to three feet wide or so. I go out as far as I can until it gets really overgrown."
For a longer ride, isolated roads around Hillsdale County with a view of lakes and cornfields seem to be the best bet.
Associate Professor of Physics Adam Smith said he mainly bikes in the southern part of the county.
"I bike mainly in fields between farms toward Reading or Pittsford," Smith said. "I prefer the county roads. The Jonesville Bike Path has too many cracks which are hard on a road bike.
"I mostly bike in the summer. Once school starts maybe I'll go out once a weekend for a 60-mile ride because it just gets too busy."
Junior David Yount cycles 20 to 30 miles toward Reading and Camden every day.
"There are some nice lakes in Indiana past Camden that I like to ride out to," Yount said.
For others, long rides on winding roads in the middle of rural Hillsdale prove somewhat confusing-especially if one is not accustomed to maneuvering through backroads.
"I get lost almost every time I ride," Pytel said.
Pytel rides an average of 30 miles per week. She said she frequently uses mapmyrun.com to plan her ride before hitting the road.
To avoid getting lost, Pytel regularly rides with fellow cyclists. Smith said a group of professors and area residents gather for rides on summer Saturday mornings.
Whether for pleasure or exercise, moderately disguised trails around the county provide an excellent escape from campus into the rural landscape.
"When I get out there on the road, with the smell and the atmosphere, I feel like I'm on vacation," said Angie Pytel, assistant professor of biology.
The six-mile Baw Beese Trail is ideal for those who only want to ride a short distance.
"The Baw Beese trail heads toward the lake from the college out to sandy beach," Pytel said. "Then you go down the dirt road a bit, and the trail narrows to three feet wide or so. I go out as far as I can until it gets really overgrown."
For a longer ride, isolated roads around Hillsdale County with a view of lakes and cornfields seem to be the best bet.
Associate Professor of Physics Adam Smith said he mainly bikes in the southern part of the county.
"I bike mainly in fields between farms toward Reading or Pittsford," Smith said. "I prefer the county roads. The Jonesville Bike Path has too many cracks which are hard on a road bike.
"I mostly bike in the summer. Once school starts maybe I'll go out once a weekend for a 60-mile ride because it just gets too busy."
Junior David Yount cycles 20 to 30 miles toward Reading and Camden every day.
"There are some nice lakes in Indiana past Camden that I like to ride out to," Yount said.
For others, long rides on winding roads in the middle of rural Hillsdale prove somewhat confusing-especially if one is not accustomed to maneuvering through backroads.
"I get lost almost every time I ride," Pytel said.
Pytel rides an average of 30 miles per week. She said she frequently uses mapmyrun.com to plan her ride before hitting the road.
To avoid getting lost, Pytel regularly rides with fellow cyclists. Smith said a group of professors and area residents gather for rides on summer Saturday mornings.
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