Zizzo Liberte - folding bike

[A2022]

Empire Michigan was good again. $3 per night parking / camping. I had the whole place with only a couple transients. the bike trails were some of best I have ridden, and the food and beaches were great. I rode every day. Lake Michigan is warmer than Lake Superior. the fried fish is the photo is walleye, dinner was $18 with live music. can't believe it. I'm getting to know my way around there and finding the really good spots.

Since the offsite campsite was full up, I decided to use the lightweight Liberte bike and I debated between the slick tires and the original. I decided to use the original (fatter than the slicks) and glad I did because some of the roads and trails had sand. these tires were just right.

the ground at Empire was easier than it looks on the feet and I normally went barefoot.

as usual, Arts hot wings let me down. I asked if they had any tabasco, but they only had Franks... Northern Michigan.

no fuel at Empire but hop over to Frankfort for some.

probably the best value trip I have had, low cost, and Northern Michigan drivers really treat bikes well.

found a great place to do paddle boarding. my wife is ready to go next time to give it a try.

seems that I climbed to 38K ft without knowing.

[A2022]

Empire photos cont'd...

[A2022]

Empire photos cont'd...

[A2022]

Empire photos cont'd... clouds were nice on the way up but very smokey and hazy on the way down. I find the west shore of Michigan usually clear, just need to get thru Ohio.








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the Big Agnes chair is really good. bigger, stronger, and more compact when stored. it's a winner, happy with the purchase and I will use it a lot. bungies tie all the rods together, like tent poles, so it is quick to assemble. I like good mechanical designs.

[A2022]

planning for Petoskey (Harbor Springs airport) in mid-August when the camping sites are more plentiful. I like to pick good weather days, a day or two in advance. ride from Petoskey to Charlevoix.

[A2022]

Redshift clip-on aerobars. I needed to add silicon tape to get a larger diameter for the clamps and I am using the 26mm spacers. it may hold. if not, I'll do something else. test rides were good. I wanted these to be clip-on for quick assembly. this is the ultra-quick Liberte with slick racing tires. I feel the need, the need for speed!

[A2022]

test ride with the "elk horns" on this close coupled steering folding bike. it took about 5 miles before I learned to use my thumbs with the elk horns for smooth stabile ride. I think these are really going to be good. I noticed a speed increase when in the tuck position. they are on to stay!

Springfield Ohio today. they have lots of flowers and the corn around is about 10 ft high! HUGE.

meatball sandwich with a poached egg inside, something new for me. I liked it.

the first statue I have ever seen of a patent attorney.

new drone training facility at Springfield is almost complete.

I didn't feel I did much riding today.

[rockwoodrv9a]

Steve,
Thanks for the report and pictures. I may have to give that area a try. Have you ever been to Beaver Island? I watched a youtube video about it last night and it looks interesting too.. More trail or dirt road ridding but lots of history on the island.

Im stuck working most of the time for a couple months in Calif but hope to get up there this fall.

[A2022]

could be good. take a life vest, one of those wearable inflatable kinds. if you go down, that water is cold, at least they could find your body. the heart stops beating when the core reaches 77F.

I am planning for Petosky mid to late August when the campgrounds unload.

Also, Marquette is on my scope. 17-mile ride into town from Sawyer.

[rockwoodrv9a]

We flew up to Charlevoix a few weeks ago for breakfast and it is a nice area. The landing was great but the wind picked up when we left and it was more than I expected or a gust got us as we lifted off. It was a little squirrelly and got my attention. I flew over Mackinac Island in the winter and it looked really cold. Ice about 1/h was across when I went.

Another cool spot is Boyne Mt Resort. KBFA. It is right across the street from the resort. There is a cool suspension bridge activity and lots of biking. If you dont feel like camping there are places to stay and some limited food. It is a fun place to go.

[A2022]

Oh, I like Boyne City. the code for the FBO door is 5321. I jogged into town and all around. I want to go back. maybe I will stop by after Petosky. Michigan is truly a destination... in my opinion. firstly, I'll make a run up the Champlain Valley NY, equally beautiful.

Best rated Life vest according to some. I have something similar for over the Lakes, so they can find my body. this one is auto, or manual activated.

US Coast Guard approved Type V life jacket with Type III performance
Convertible from automatic/manual to manual only inflation

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NXVUKUS?Su ... n1-20&th=1

[rockwoodrv9a]

I havent been to Boyne City. I will have to give that a try.

As for the vest - it looks good but I have read you do not want an auto inflate. If you flip over and it inflates, it would be difficult to get out of the plane. any thoughts on that? I can see both ways.

[A2022]

NO Auto Inflate in the aircraft. switch it to OFF. you do not want the vest to activate in the plane.

[A2022]

nice ride today. John Bryan State Park and the gorge area was beautiful and new to me. this gorge was carved by glacial melt water that was able to get to soft rock below and is unique since the surrounding broader area doesn't have any of these features. the rock is much younger than the Michigan UP Keweenaw billion-year-old stuff. Dolomite, Shale and Limestone and a little Sandstone.... that's Ohio. I carried the bike about a mile when in the gorge because bikes are not allowed and there is no way to ride those hiking trails. carrying a 20 lb bike is not a problem. a good workout and a very good day! the new phone mount for the bike worked well. I checked out some shops in Yellow Springs, sandwiches, coffee, bakery, etc. it was nice. I felt I almost had the State Park to myself.

the soybeans are doing very well.

[A2022]

local bike trail has been extended to my home airport, HAO. it's a short course but is much better than I expected. the trail extension is part of a master plan and is headed westwards in the future. Google map doesn't show the extended portion yet, so I drew the line. I rode to the new Vietnamese Noodle Shop and was impressed with the food and restaurant, very clean and the food was so fresh. a little trip that was a winner and from my home airport. no flying, just cruising on a bike to eat some good food.

[A2022]

five days biking in Northern Michigan. more photos to follow....







it was a very nice bikepacking trip, Monday thru Friday to Harbor Springs and Charlevoix and around. Weather was low overcast and cool and perfect for riding. I met a lot of very nice people along the way and ate at Abe's (a switched on A320 pilot) dinner at his family's tent. I gave it a five-star rating! Other campers were always trying to give me food. a special lady asked me to fly over the park as I left. I made a pass but stayed over the water.

the smokin' betty burger at Petosky Brewing may have been the best burger I have ever eaten. I had to try it twice to be sure. it was recommended to me by a local burger connoisseur.

my first bike was a Huffy and it was a good one that I rode everywhere, mfg in Dayton, thanks Horace Huffman. I came full circle when I saw his write up in Northern Michigan. I wondered if there is a connection to Huffman Prairie where the Wright Brothers really learned to fly in Dayton.

Monday - Cincy to Harbor Springs airport, MGN. Camped at Petosky State Park.
Tuesday - Rode from Petosky State Park to Fisherman's State Park and camped.
Wednesday - Rode back to Petosky State Park and camped.
Thursday -Remained camped at Petosky State Park and rode to Harbor Springs and Alanson
Friday - Harbor Springs to Cincy airport, HAO.

these should be in order...

[A2022]

photos continued...

[A2022]

photo's continued...


















































































The RV9 is not a rocket but sometimes I wish I could point the nose straight up and go.

Elton John - Rocket Man (Official Music Video)
https://youtu.be/DtVBCG6ThDk?si=nbuSDkOVu4H-2o3Y

[A2022]

flew to SGH and rode the trail to the mountain bike trails and rode there for a couple hours. perfect 23C and clear dry weather. it doesn't get any better. I ate at the oldest tavern in Ohio in Yellow Springs. German influenced menu and I liked it! highly recommended and inexpensive. Spicy bratwurst and sour kraut with Dusseldorf mustard.

the color "green" was intense today.

[rockwoodrv9a]

My wife and I went to Mackinac Island yesterday with our Zizzo's! Great trip and the bikes worked well.