CaptMike

Hello there. My girlfriend has a cabin in Bayport, MI, and family close by. We are heading there next month to visit, which will be the first time for me. At one time, I thought I saw that there was a decent bicycle shop in Bad Axe. I am unable to find it now. It looks like there are a lot of backroads in the upper half of the "thumb". How is the riding up there? Are there any bike shops in that area? We are going to be spending some time there, and checking out different parts of the State. Thank you for your input.

friday1970

Riding up there is incredible. Many of the road are smooth, flat, and very little traveled by automobiles.
I did a ride up there last month, starting from and ending up in Port Austin via m25 and Fillion roads. Hardly a car on Fillion, and M25 has great shoulders.
As far a bike shops, dunno. Never had to look for one.

azgdds

Bay City has a couple great shops. Rays and Jacks. It is likely the closest place to bayport with a good shop.

CaptMike

Thanks for the replies. We will be heading down there in a week. I am looking forward to checking out the area, and seeing some Fall colors. Although I know it gets cold there in the Winter, it has to have a longer riding season than the Anchorage area. And the roads look a hell of a lot better for riding.

Henry III

There's some basic parts at the True Value and supposed repair shop there but for an actual bike shop...nope. I live about 45 minutes away southeast. There's a kayak/bicycle rental shop in Port Austin I believe. Otherwise Saginaw/Bay City are your best bets. Jacks is a cool shop in Bay City. M25 is nice as it runs next to the Bay and on the Huron side also. Also lots of gravel roads if your into that things.

Henry III

There WAS a bike shop but he has health issues and sold it to True Value but like I said it's pretty basic stuff and nothing to write home about or let alone stopping by unless you need a tube or something simple. Think Walmart in terms of bike stuff honestly. I would hit Bay City as the shops in Saginaw are kind of meh. There's some trails down in that area also but here in the thumb there isn't a single "trail", but honestly like the back gravel roads as there's no cars to deal with and maybe the occasional tractor or amish horse and buggy.

Trust I worked at a shop and lived in Oregon before the thumb so it's like going from everything bike friendly to nothing up here. But at least here you don't need climbing gears or worry about goatheads popping you tire every mile or so. It's getting cooler now so tights and a long sleeve jersey or even a light jacket in the mornings.

OldsCOOL

You would think to have more shops in your area what with the population numbers. Our area is much lighter on city and crowds but where I live there are like 6-8 bike shops within a 25min drive. I think it's the accessibility to riding and the resort base up here.

Henry III

The CL bike section is pretty grim so that gives me a pretty good idea of the interest of cycling here IMHO. Even for the size of Port Huron there's only two shops and not the greatest either. If you don't own a tractor, interest in hunting, smoke or chew or have at least one confederate flag then you need your man card revoked. Lol. M25 is a nice ride from Port Huron all the way around with a decent size shoulder but even a resort town like Port Sanilac or Lexington could support a shop and could only be a seasonal shop. There's a reason why Michigan is one of only a few states that allow dual residency because many people who live along M25 are retirees and live in Florida in the chilly months.

If you take a drive along M25 there's alot of closed businesses which isn't very promising. I keep referencing M25 because it's the only road I see cyclists as I'm always on the lookout for people to ride with in the area.

Wildcat445

Timely thread, as I was just looking at a map of trails or bike-friendly roads up that way. Drove up M-25 in mid summer to Lexington and noted the wider, paved shoulders. Might be something to do in the spring as I'm pretty much done for the season. (Other commitments.)

oddjob2

Plenty of bikers on Mackinac Island during the summer!

Henry III

David that's probably because only horses, bikes and shoes are allowed on the island. lol. I think there's a half dozen shops on the island alone.