South Haven, MI riding?

[zacster]

I'll be spending a week in South Haven Michigan in August and plan on bringing my road bike. Are there any special places to ride there that I should be aware of? Any clubs? Is there a lakefront road/trail that is particularly nice? I've never been there (my wife's family had a summer cottage there a long time ago) and I have no idea what to expect, except maybe that its flat.

I'm looking for rides that would be good for 20-30 miles or so round trip for quick daily rides, and maybe a 50-60 miler for a longer one. Also, maybe a ride that the kids could do with me on a trail.

I did see something about a trail to Kzoo but it looked to be suitable for a MTB not a road bike. Is that the case?

[ColorChange]

There is a morning group ride at the bike shop in town (only one). Not too fast or far but a nice ride. There is a slower ride from the hospital on weeknights. Check with the guys at the bike shop.

The ride from South Haven to Saugatuck is not too bad.

Keep your bike clean, lots of sand.

[Kimbercop]

SAND, SAND and more SAND. The Holland MI, bike club has a ride up there every year. I downloaded their cue sheet last year. Sounds like a nice ride. OUt East of Holland and then in towards the lake.

http://www.macatawacyclingclub.org/hollandhundred/

[Redhouse]

You can take a great country ride on the Kal Haven Trail, it's 30 miles to Kalamazoo and it's a great ride both ways.

http://www.kalhaventrail.org/

[zacster]

You can take a great country ride on the Kal Haven Trail, it's 30 miles to Kalamazoo and it's a great ride both ways.

http://www.kalhaventrail.org/

Is this trail paved? It appears to be hard pack, but not paved. I'd do it on an MTB but not my road bike, at least not 30 miles on a road bike.

I'll check out the bike shop and the club.

[Redhouse]

Is this trail paved? It appears to be hard pack, but not paved. I'd do it on an MTB but not my road bike, at least not 30 miles on a road bike.

I'll check out the bike shop and the club.

It's hard packed and very flat, people ride road bikes on it all the time, I use a MTB, either way it's a great ride.

[zacster]

I'll take a look at it anyway. I generally shy away from MUPs, but this one sounds pretty quiet.

[ColorChange]

While it's a fairly decent but I don't think I would want to take my road bike out on the path.

[bdg49089]

I rode Kal-Haven trail yesterday on a 1986 Club Fuji. 700 x 28 SECAs on UKAI rims. As long as it's dry it's fine. One small section between Kibbie and Lacota is a little sandy in the middle.