Michigan state parks E-bikes prohibited

[JPLabs]

Hey, thanks for all that great location info! Definitely sounds like a potential destination for a day trip.

[JCHobbes]

Sorry I haven't replied sooner. I don't get on the board much.

The trails are just east of Battle Creek in Emmett Township, Calhoun County, MI. The primary trail we ride is approximately 5.5 miles one way. Smooth dirt trails, no challenge except some grades. There are some wooden walkways that are slippery as greased ice if they are wet. There are several side trails that could be considered somewhat "technical" or more challenging. Here is a PDF of the area.

https://www.calhouncountymi.gov/assets/1/19/County_Parks_Brochure_Map2018.pdf

Coming from Detroit - Take I-94 west to exit 104. Turn left to Citgo station, then turn right on Michigan Ave.
Coming from Chicago - Take I-94 east to exit 100. Turn left, go approximately 2 miles to Columbia ave (2nd traffic light, 5 lane road), turn right. Columbia turns into Michigan Avenue, evidenced by the split at the left side of the PDF map.

Be vigilant about watching for walkers. There are many people who walk the trails.

Historic Bridge Park is a great place to park vehicle and start ride. Bring grub for post ride cookout. :D The trail also runs next to a McDonald's on East Michigan Ave (middle of the map). Dave, the guy I ride with, lives 2 blocks from the northern end of the trails, so I go to his house to start ride. If you ride to the very north end of the trail, the Battle Creek Linear park paved path system (bike friendly) is about 1 mile west. The map has blue squares at top left corner showing way to linear park.

The map shows several parking areas. Personally I would recommend parking in the back of McD's or at Historic Bridge park.

I don't know the brand name of the guys hub motor, but it resembles a magic pie direct drive.

I have a 20" Mongoose Kong fat bike with stock gearing in back and 42T chain ring on the BBSHD. When on the trails I was constantly shifting, to the point it was annoying. I don't want to strain the BBSHD and burn it up so I gear down when climbing hills. My bike tops out at 28mph per radar cart. Dave claims his tops out at 35 mph, which I believe. Our first (and only) drag race seemde like matching up a corvette and a lawn mower.

[calfee20]

Most of the DD hub speed guys are using fast wound motors with smaller tires. The smaller tire is like low gearing but then they spin them like crazy for the top speed. They will push 50 to 150 amps through them or more. I have put 70 amps at 80 volts or so through 2 different hub motors and I was using a small 12 fet controller. A BBSHD can't compete with that unless you encounter a real STEEP LONG hill. Then the BBSHD might prevail.

[JPLabs]

I don't think so. There's probably a gear combination on the BBSHD which is just as advantageous, if not better, right? If the hub trounced it, then it's not just a gearing advantage. Must be in the motor design and losses, then? More copper, larger radius of magnetic field, things like that? I don't know, but I don't think the gearing is the sole answer.

[calfee20]

It is because of his 20" wheel.

[JPLabs]

Made acquaintance Iwith another e-biker here in my town. He took me on some local trails where e-bikes are permitted. I took my 20" bmx with 48 volt, 1500 watt bafang mid drive. This was the first time I rode dirt trails with any of my e-bikes. I had a blast! He has a 20" bmx with 52 volt, 1500 watt hub motor. His bike TROUNCES the bafang mid drive. Even climbing steep grades he pulled away from me. It's still awesome to finally know someone local with an e-bike to ride with. :)

Hey, cool! Glad to hear that. May I ask, what place did you find? Which dirt trails do welcome e-bikes in MI? Are they extensive enough to keep a guy entertained for a day? Might be worth a drive for me!

I'm surprised at his hub performance, although I've never ridden one off-road and aggressively at the same time. Do you think you are optimally geared on yours, for the conditions when you 'raced up hill'? Do you know if he has more than 30A available? Or, if his is a geared hub? I wouldn't have expected that result. But, I suppose for the right conditions, optimal speeds and loads, etc, a direct drive motor can be even better/more efficient. Larger motor, no chain, all that.

The magic of mid drive is being able to pick gears to match conditions, but it's got more losses, too. And a direct drive hub can have pretty good cooling. A 20" BMX might be a great application, I'd love to ride that.

[JCHobbes]

It's tempting to ride there anyway, but as violent as people have become, I might get shot, stabbed, or beat and left for dead by someone / group of someones who gets angry 'cuz I'm ignoring the rules.

[JCHobbes]

Made acquaintance with another e-biker here in my town. He took me on some local trails where e-bikes are permitted. I took my 20" bmx with 48 volt, 1500 watt bafang mid drive. This was the first time I rode dirt trails with any of my e-bikes. I had a blast! He has a 20" bmx with 52 volt, 1500 watt hub motor. His bike TROUNCES the bafang mid drive. Even climbing steep grades he pulled away from me. It's still awesome to finally know someone local with an e-bike to ride with. :)

[Hard Tail]

Hi Fattys. Treat the sign with the contempt it deserves. You're out there making the best of your situation and that's that's commendable. I,ll have a beer and pizza in solidarity. Ride on mate.

[jaymz77]

I am starting to see here in Washington state that most state and county park trails are becoming bike free. I have a stealthy BBS-02/52v Mighty-mini MTB that is hard to tell it has power but if bike are simply prohibited, then it doesn't matter if it is powered. Really sad because I have biked these trails the last 20 years but here it seems the down hill bikers (which I did for years) is tearing up the trails and having close encounters with hikers.. you know how it is, one or two bad apple spoils the bunch. I like morning rides, so I ride them anyways :)

[max_volt]

Thems fightin words

[calfee20]

I would have a hard time remaining civil if someone said these are "my trails".

[naturebiker]

Fort Custer E-Bike Riding. We have camped in the park many times and always ride our e-bikes there. Although this last year we found the local mountain bikers at odds with us riding on what they claim are "their" trails. Last summer we ask the park ranger about e-bikes and they were clueless. We sent a letter asking for clarification and they ignored us. From additional research, we have found that we are welcome to use any road or trail that is not marked specifically banning your class of e-bike. We have walked trails at Fort Custer for many years and most seem to allow all kinds of bikes and even horse trail usage. By far, use by horse trailing cause the most trail damage... So don't be afraid to go back to Fort Custer, but know what class of e-bike you have, and watch for signs that may limit use in some areas.

[max_volt]

Your loss, my freind

[calfee20]

Good thing I have no desire to go to Michigan.