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 Ride Stats
Distance: 15.63 miles Route: Makwa Time: 02:27:45
Avg Speed: 6.35 mph Max Speed: 0.00 mph Avg HR: 0 bpm
Max HR: 0 bpm Calories Burned: 0 Weight: 183
Altitude Gain: 0 ft Terrain: Off: XC Bike: Cannondale Rush Trail/AM
Club: Secular Cycleism
Weather Conditions: Sunny. Perfect.
Ride Description: W/Sue... We rode about 8 miles of the Makwa to the Birkie Trail where we chatted with a couple from Phillips for a while. Steve Tilford and Catherine Wahlberg went by in a paceline of 4. We talked to them later at the Brick House.
It won't be long and Makwa will be complete to "OO". First ride on new 26 x 2.00 Hutchinson New Python Light UST front tire. Holds air great!
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 Makwa. (Ojibwa for Black Bear)
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"The Makwa was designed to be a great ride for all abilities. The rocks and roots have been removed to smooth the tread and enhance the flow. The climbs, descents and corners allow riders to maintain momentum." - CAMBA Trail Blog.
www.cambatrails.org/ctblog/?p=57

Now some might read that as a synonym for boring. They would be wrong, very wrong.
In fact, when you ride Makwa north from the Mosquito Brook TrailHead to Gravel Pit Road, it seems like the trail is mostly downhill. But when you turn around and ride back, it feels like that direction has more downhill! That is the magic "flow" that master trail builders strive for. Mission accomplished.

All the rocks and roots removed? Pretty much. (Except for a short section where the Makwa intersects the rocky Sugarbush Trail & the 1.5 miles from MBTH). Most of the rock sections on Makwa are very nicely armored spots that are usually pretty smooth. Check out the pictures of all the rocks piled high on the sides of the trail. Amazing.

If you like to ride rocks, try Rock Lake, or Hatchery Creek.

The first 1.5 miles of Makwa from MBTH has a different feel to it. As it is more of a tight twisty hand built roller coaster with enough rocks and roots to keep you honest. But you can avoid it if you ride the Birkie Trail to H1 to Makwa. We like to ride that section north, and take H1 to the Birkie on the return. The tight, twisty nature of that section makes sight lines on a two way trail a little difficult at times.

Makwa is a two way, point to point (Mosquito Brook Rd. to "OO") trail. When complete, (late August 2009) it will be about 13 miles. Whether you hammer it in the big ring, singlespeed it, or just go for an easy cruise, it is one of the most fun and beautiful singletrack trails you will find, anywhere.


Webster's Dictionary might have to add a new definition of flow - 1. Makwa.


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