Murphy-Hanrehan is Open for the 05' season

[gopherhockey]

Murphy-Hanrehan Mountain Bike Trail Open for Season



Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve's 6-mile turf mountain bike trail is now open for the season. The trail is open through Oct. 31.



For more information, or for a trail map, visit www.ThreeRiversParkDistrict.org (http://www.threeriversparkdistrict.org/) or call 763/559-9000.



MURPHY-HANREHAN PARK RESERVE is located at 15501 Murphy Lake Road in Savage. From I-35W, take County Road 42 west to County Road 2, turn south on 27, then east on 154th Street, then south on County Road 75 to the park entrance. Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve is operated by Three Rivers Park District.

Murphy Mountain Bike Sprint Series
Aug. 24 and 31; Sept. 7 and 14, 2005 - Wednesday
Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve, Savage. Mountain bike on one of the Twin Cities' most challenging courses. Series of four 10K sprint races. Mass start, awards and door prizes each week. Registration 5:30 p.m., start 6:30 p.m. Helmets required. $10. Ages 14+. Co-sponsored by REI. Information: www.ThreeRiversParkDistrict.org (http://www.threeriversparkdistrict.org/) or 763/559-9000.

A photo of the trail is attached. If you use it, please give photo credit to Three Rivers Park District.

Nancy Lauseng

Public Relations Specialist

Three Rivers Park District

763/559-6745

nlauseng@threeriversparkdistrict.org

[briniel]

fyi - I rode MH last night. There is a tree completely blocking the trail shortly after the one way begins.

[FSSS]

fyi - I rode MH last night. There is a tree completely blocking the trail shortly after the one way begins.

I rode Murphy today... the tree is taken care of... the whole trail is clear.

My first time riding Murphy in a while - figured it was about time to try the big bike out on the rollercoaster.

Man, that place is frickin' fun! Of course I walked up all the big hills, but some of those downhills are just plain awesome.

I know it's for the best, but I'm gonna miss that old trail. :cryin:

It's one of the few places that I ride where I can let gravity do its work for any extended amount of time. Hopefully the new trail shares the old trail's love affair with gravity!!

[TRIBE]

Rode on 8/1 as is my tradition (my b-day)... chain broke on the big hill... nice 2 mile walk back to the car...

Rode again on 8/4 with new chain made it up big hill with no mechanical failures :)

Talked to a nice woman from 3 Rivers research deptarment, they are doing a trail use survey... she was unaware that the trail doesn't open until 8/1.

[col200]

Is the Singletrack open yet?

[JayT]

Is the Singletrack open yet?

Nope. It doesn't exist yet. The M-H single-track is scheduled to be built during the '06/'07 seasons.

[JLS]

My annual Chegaummy training has begun. 5 laps on Tue, then a 10 lapper Sun morning starting at 9:00. The trail was the best I've seen it in a couple years. With the rain and early morning dampness the big hill was much easier to climb - not quite as loose, I could even stand for all but the top part which is still too loose. I averaged about 15 minutes a lap - fastest lap:13:40 (p.r. 11:30) - slowest Lap:16:05. I had a blast, Murphy's a lot of fun when you're fit, but can really make you suffer if you're not!

[FSSS]

Murphy's a lot of fun when you're fit, but can really make you suffer if you're not!

I second that. :sick:

Nice 1st post John!!

[noise_is_life]

It's about time you showed up John. Now your fitness will go to hell because you'll spend all your time on here.

[PaulHill]

And *man* is it still difficult to do. Still haven't managed to get up that big hill yet. I got close, but never quite to the top.

I don't know if anyone agrees, but the surface is a little loose right now - makes the decents somewhat sketchy, and the climbs a tad difficult. We're due to get a great deal of rain over the next week so hopefully that'll help a little bit.

Still good fun though. :-)

[JLS]

I got my final big pre Cheguamegon training ride in yesterday morning 9:00. 2 laps on my race wheels but then the Stans wasn't holding the Kosmic Lights up so I rode back out to parking lot and switched to my training wheels and did 8 more. The rain made the big hill easier to climb but by the 10th time up I was ready to quit.

Oh Yeah, and if you were out there and saw a moron riding with no helmet, I was that moron! Got down there, no helmet, and I wasn't about lose 1.5 hours going to get it.

[Ogre]

I went there twice this weekend and boy is it a slap in the face, when you've
mostly been riding TO and LH.

I haven't raced in a few years. But a buddy is thinking of giving it a try.
I wanted to get a good fitness check as far as racing goes.
Assuming you want to finish at least in the middle of the pack.
Riding # of laps at MH without having to get off and rest nor
push your bike up a hill.

3-4 laps - Beginner
5-6 laps - Sport
6-7 laps - Comp
7-8 laps - Expert

What about Cheq?
What do you think simulates Cheq?

[JLS]

It's great training for Cheguamegon, but really doesn't simulate it. At Murphy you're either climbing or descending and in the 40 there's a fair number of fire roads so a lot of road training helps.

[Ogre]

I guess I assume everyone that races knows that road riding must be the staple for fitness. The time to achieve a sufficient leg and lung workout mountain biking isn't very comparable with road riding. For XC racers mountain biking is just for fun workouts and to keep the technical skills.

I remember reading many years ago, Paola Pezzo (who btw finished 14th at worlds recently at age ??38-39??) would only mtn bike during her prerace reconnaissance and the race itself. All her training was done on the road, but of course she used to be considered the best technical female racer. So she didn't need the practice.

But back to the point I have ridden and raced Cheq. and I feel MH is the best place (locally) to train for it. There are not sufficient hills neither road nor off-road close-by. Oh and if you ride your bike a few miles to MH do several laps and ride back home it does very much simulate Cheq.

[RedSquirrel]

I ride a full in/out of MH, then do 12 miles rt on the dirt roads past murphy lake, then in/out of MH, then 12mi dirt roads then one more full in/out of MH. It's the closest to cheq out there. Bring your water and gels so you can ride it straight through.

Too late now though, either you got it or you don't for cheq.

[Little D]

Finally got my first ride at Murphy this year tonight and was very happy with my fitness level and the fun that trail brings. Lung busting climb (which I finally did in my middle ring all four laps) and super fast rolling descents.

It's great to be able to ride this off-roadie trail and then hit something completely different like Leb later in the week. Variety is the spice...

FYI: Except for one new rutted area on a descent, I found the trail to be in about the same shape as it has been the last five years.

As Tall Pete says "Keep Murphy fast!"

[smeulebroe]

Anybody been out lately? Wet? Planning on checking it out tommorrow afternoon.