Maah Daah Hey riders question

[Simon]

Hey Guys,
I'm planning a MDH trip ni a couple weeks, never been there before. The trip will be supported along the way, but I'm planning on riding the whole thing. Do you think 2 days is enough for a top 50 chequamegon rider, assuming good weather and no catastrophies. All I've seen so far are 4-5 day reports, can't imagine it's that grueling, or is it??? I appreciate your thoughts.
s-

[Don Youngdahl]

Sounds like 2 days will be enough for you, as I've heard reports of riders doing it in one day. But you may want to slow down to smell the roses and enjoy the vast open spaces, particularly if you haven't ridden much in the west before.

Don Youngdahl

[mikebikeski]

Some of us in top 300 sh-wammy riders just did most if it in two days. Two days is plenty of time, one day is forcing it but possible. Biggest issue, not getting lost. First morning we started without a good map and took a few detours, no panic, just slowed us down. Get the Forest Service map. We started on the north end and tried to go around the national park. Big mountain, big hike-a-bike, Big mistake. I guess you can walk?? through the park. I do not know how the detour on the south end is.

Have Fun, post some pics, check out our pics under Maah Ha Daah www.acesolidwaste.com/pictures

[Simon]

Hey thanks for the replies, guys. Btw, great pictures as well!
What would you judge the temp to be like at the end of October? Is it any warmer than in the twin cities?
Also, what would you have done differently in leau of the hike a bike up north? I heard there is private land you can cross (after paying a fee???)
How many flats did you guys have? Slime???
thanks!
s-

[mikebikeski]

Now, you know, part of the fun is not knowing, but here are a few more hints. On the north end when we came to the gate to the park and the no biking sign, we followed a bike trail?? along the fence which turned into a rather large hill, which turned into an almost mountain which was OK going up but a little dangerous going down, have fun

As to flats, over blown (ha, ha) I have tubeless, no problems. Two of my friends with tubes had two flats each. I think it was the tire. A little "heavier" tire helps - no race tires.

Check the weather channel - Medora, ND

That is it no more info, make sure you post us back with the adventure.

[martini]

I haven't done the whole thing, just parts of it, but I would assume that it doable. I know a bloke that operates the shop out there, and just before we got there, he did it solo, one day on a Spot SS in about 13 hours. The man is hard!

Weather, I'd be prepared for anything, honestly. The week we were there was the week before it got cold here. On the trail it was at or above 100°. HOT. But late Oct., I'm willing to bet that you're more than likely gonna get snowed on, maybe even rain. If it rains, You're screwed. You can't do anything witht the clay they've got there.

I went out with about 20 folks that met up. None of us had flats if I remeber correctly. I didn't use slime, and I don't know if other did or not.

Have fun!

[Rockhoppa]

Do any of you guys know my uncle Dale Heglund? he helped build the trail and bikes there alot.:crazy2:

[Trevize1138]

How was the trip? :)

We got talking about next year's MDH trek over lunch today and I got all excited. We might move the date up from Sept. to May 'cause I don't think I can wait to ride it.

I'd imagine you didn't have too many troubles riding two days of 50 miles each, especially with no camping equipment to haul. We each had roughly 50 lbs extra of equipment and our longest day was 39 miles.

Simon, who works at Dakota Cyclery in Medora said he tried training to do the whole thing in a single day once by riding 90 miles a day on the road. He got 50 miles in and had to quit! At least, that's what he told us this past May when we were there. Perhaps he's the shop employee who rode the whole thing finally later last summer?

[martini]

Yep, he did it the day I got there for the ND-NAG. He completed it in roughly 13 hours, and on a single speed. weather was perfect for it too, about 65° and sunny. He had a good day.

[Trevize1138]

So, it was Simon? Kick ass! I'll have to congratulate him in May :)

[TML]

Josh "Deathrider" Peterson and Tim "Chuck" Norrie, a couple of guys from here, did the whole trail in a day, two summers ago. I think it took them around 13 hours as well.

[country]

I just moved here in September and this is probably as close as I will ever live to MDH. I just moved back from Germany for 7 years and have been dreaming of heading out to MDH. When do people start taking trips out that way? I saw may mentioned. I also want to go to Fruita while I am in the states? Next year I am probably moving to Japan so I wanted to sample as much of good ole USA single track as possible. Ride on!

[mtnbykr]

"I also want to go to Fruita ....."

stay tuned into these forums for info on the fftf trip this spring.
several of us are headed out in april to ride, ride, ride....

kl

[soupboy]

...the man. The whole sha-bang, solo, unsupported in one day on a rigid SS Surly, not Spot Marty.

Then the f'ing weather went hellistic with daytime temps running to 105+. Just glad I brought my snowboard pack and could fit two 100oz Camelsax in it.

Plus, being on the windward side of the open-air cesspool didn't help any of the campers or revelers in the heat.

BTW - Memorial Day ND-NAG being organinized as I type beeeyotches.

Get some.

Sean