New Plum Creek Trail in St. Cloud!

[sensorysonic]

St. Cloud has a new single track mountain bike trail at Plum Creek Regional Park! The trail consists of 5-6 miles of tight twitchy single track and steep little hills and decents! Super fun trail! I biked 5 laps and had a blast! The trail is built and maintained by Mid-Minnesota Cycling Club. Also, be sure to stop in and thank all the mates at 'Out-N-About' bike shop for their volunteering and efforts on this trail!! (outnaboutgear.com) Directions: From Twin Cities go west on I-94. Turn right on exit 171 (St. Cloud/St. Augusta exit). Take another right onto Stearns Cty 75 (North) towards St. Cloud. Travel on Stearns Cty 75 for about 1.5 miles and look for a brown park sign for Plum Creek Regional Park Compost Site, and then turn right (east) on Clearwater Road. Follow the Green 'Compost Site' signs. You will go right (east) on Clearwater Road for a half a block, then continue right (east) on 33rd St. S. Follow the Green 'Compost Site' Signs. When you cross Lancewood Drive, look for a Green 'Compost Site' sign and entrance with a gate on your right. Park your car on 33rd St. S. Don't drive into the compost site and park if the gate is open, as the compost site is only open to vehicles for a couple hours a day. There is a door entrance to the right of the gate. Ride your bike about a 1/4 mile down the grey gravel road until you see a Green Porto-potty on the left and a green round picnic table on the right side of the road. Across the road from the picnic table, and just ahead of the porto-potty is a round yellow trail marker! This is the start of the trail, so throw down and have some fun! :banana:

[TML]

Sounds good! Thanks for the beta Paul. I'll look forward to getting up there and having a go of it!

[Dr. Guitar]

Thanks for adding dirrections.

[J2]

great trail eventually. right now very raw but with some time, and a little TLC, things should smooth out (lots of little bumps and dips). I'm wondering if it would help to haul in some dirt and just go around with wheelbarrels and fill in the potholes, or who knows, it may just flatten out with time. Also alot of the turns are very sharp; you need to be ready with the brakes to avoid skidding. would be nice to see some berms around the hairpins; that would keeps things flowing. Overall a perfect ss trail since even my grandma can handle the toughest uphill, and she rides fixed! thanks ben and luby and rest of onag crew / porkchop club ; good to see you can take time from your busy schedule of work/drinking to build a good trail for us lazy ass working class slobs...

[gopherhockey]

If anyone gets some pictures we could work up a trail review...

[ryno lite]

Paul, you better get the digital out there and get us a report!

[sensorysonic]

Paul, you better get the digital out there and get us a report!

As Joel describes, the trail is brand new and a bit raw. The trail is in the break-in phase, and thus pictures might not do it justice right now. Once the lines are created by riders, the trail will look kewl for some digi-pics!

[ryno lite]

Sounds good Buck!

[igor]

:shocked: Oh man 5 or 6 laps! Oh boy! Old Buck you are definately getting that preferred Chequamegon start and are lookin' for a podium finish! Save some beer for me.

[sensorysonic]

:shocked: Oh man 5 or 6 laps! Oh boy! Old Buck you are definately getting that preferred Chequamegon start and are lookin' for a podium finish! Save some beer for me.

Lil' Buck, I just ride.... You are the Fattire training man! Running, 26.2 marathon run races, commutting to work everyday on your Scott cruizer. Everyday is a LanceArmstrongepic training day for you, Lil' Buck! bike commutting, trail riding, and running everyday. How do you do it??
........I'm just a Clydesdale, doing a little riding, drinking a few pints, and listening to some local indie rock. Pretty simple, lazy lifestyle! Cheers Lil' Buck! :beard:

[J2]

Hey, Paul, how often do you make it up to st cloud? I think i talked to you the other day at plum creek (you had a imba shirt?) I usually ride in the evening like 7 or 8pm. Would be cool to hit it up with another rider since I usually am solo.

[ryno lite]

All I have to say is that I'm just moving over for you two at Chequamegon! You guys will be taking no prisoners and I don't want to be roadkill!

[sensorysonic]

Hey Joel, You were riding a kewl Salsa Caballero I think? Actually, I'm not in St. Cloud very often, except for bike mech at 'Out-n-About.' Definitely one of my fav shops in Minnesota! I really dig this trail, so I might be heading Clouds way more often. If I start coming to town more often, I'll check in at Out-n-about!

[sensorysonic]

All I have to say is that I'm just moving over for you two at Chequamegon! You guys will be taking no prisoners and I don't want to be roadkill!

Ryno, looks like you have 'the force' on your side! I never underestimate the force!!

[At the Gates 2121]

James looks like we have another trail to look at


Joel

[ryno lite]

Went to my parents last weekend, so I figured I'd go the extra 25 miles to check out Plum Creek. Always nice to try a new trail. It wasn't too bad. Right now I'd give the trail a C rating, but with some work and break in it could move up to a B (I give Leb an A on my scale). I would say if you are in the St. Cloud area to check it out! I don't know if the trail as it is right now warrents a weekend road trip from the cities. My complaints are that it needs some work and break in and it is rather short. I'd say 3-4 miles. It very lumpy, especially the first half. It's a hard trail to get a flow on especially with the incessent huge lumps all over parts of the single track. I know it's mountain biking, but it was a pain. These problems can be fixed over time and I realize it's still a trail in the making! If they can build some additional trail on the wooded bluff by this area, you'd have the makings of a pretty cool trail.

I may sound negative, but I had a fun time! Great job by the guys in Cloud! A little more work on the trail, and hopefully more singletrack potential and you could have a real nice trail eventually! I would describe it more, but it's unlike other trails I have ridden. It defenetely has a BLAST type feel, but is was different than Elk, Monti, or Milaca. Anyway check it out if you can!

[sensorysonic]

The current issue of IMBA Trail News has a nice writeup on Plum Creek! "Hey Minnesota, you've got a new trail! With support from the city of St. Cloud, the Mid-Minnesota Cycling Club recently completed work on the Plum Creek Trail. Located at the Plum Creek Regional Park, this technical three mile trail is designed for one-way traffic and provides a fun and exciting challenge for mountain bikers of any level." For info visit: http://www.midmncycling.org/ --IMBA Trail News Late Summer 2004

[TML]

Kudos to Mid-Minnesota Cycling club!

Nice job on building a sweet little loop in St. Cloud. I had a chance to ride the trail a couple of weeks ago and really had a blast. It's about a 3 mile loop of tight undulating singletrack. No real climbs, but lots of short, technical ups and downs <10ft.

While I was riding I noticed someone quickly coming up on me from behind. Shortly thereafter I heard, "You must ride this pretty regularly" in a woman's voice.

"Why's that?" I replied.
"You're flowing really well"
"Thanks, it's my second loop but my first time on the trail" I said.
"Well good job then."

She asked my name as she whizzed past and I asked hers. As I suspected, it was Kyia Malenkovich. Felt pretty good to be complemented by a Pro! We proceeded to chit chat for as long as I could hang on to her rear wheel (wasn't long) and she said that they've got plans to add on another 2 miles hopefully.

It's definitely worth checking out if you're in the St. Cloud area. If they get another couple miles put in there it'll really be a nice trail.

[ryno lite]

Yeah, it's a good start, but needs more mileage. It would really kick butt if they could get on that bluff on the south side of the land. Sounds like that idea was shot down for environmental reasons. Too bad, there is potential there!

[Tim Wegner]

I attended a meeting in St. Cloud last night. The facilitator for the city worked very hard with the group to make the trails multiuse with side trails to add challenge for mountain bikers. This was a big change from previous where they were going to limit mountain bike use to a very small area in one corner of the park.

TW

[ryno lite]

It sounds like they have an active group up in St. Cloud. Any chance of a MORC chapter up there? Would MORC help out on any trail design and building? Just wondering because we are always talking about being statewide. It would be cool to have some more trail there. As it stands now, it's not enough to drive from Mpls to Cloud to ride. I rode it once when I was at my parents place which is a little closer. It seems like every day I hear of the possibility of new singletrack in a new spot in MN. Pretty cool!

[Tim Wegner]

Ryan
I am not sure but I think this group in St. Cloud is a MORC chapter member.
TW

[ryno lite]

Yeah, I know they were an affiliate at one time, maybe still are. Just wondering if they will access our resources and expertise on trail design and building technique or continue their current style of building trails.

[Tim Wegner]

Don't know what their plans are for the design. Parks will have to approve the trails. I have reviewed their trails in the past and they do adhere to the IMBA guidelines so will have to wait and see.

TW

[Alden]

Tim,

I can get you in touch with the local guy that took charge of that trail. I think his name is Chris Anderson. Let me know if you want his contact info.
Alden

[Tim Wegner]

Kyia has taken the lead on this project I think it something to do with politics or something, but she is doing a great job.

I have met chris in the past but seems like kyia has this one under control.
TW