Cycling OMP

Unfortunately it took me a couple decades to learn that I live in an area that has amazing cycling routes to explore. I spent my youth running around and banging heads with other helmeted individuals instead of enjoying the blissful feel of the wind on my face as I cruised along on my bike with my drive-train humming beneath me. It wasn’t until I’d accumulated a number of injuries & could barely walk until I looked to the bicycle, the world’s greatest invention, as an activity. And now I’m obsessed. Granted, I spend more of my time on the wooded trails, but it’s tough to beat a nice ride along one of our beautiful lakeside roads.

There’s always going to be a debate as to which peninsula is the better ride, Old Mission or Leelanau, not to mention the roads around Torch Lake in Antrim County and countless other routes. All of these areas are worth your time to head out and explore. Bluff Road in particular on the east side of Old Mission Peninsula has some amazing views of East Bay that are tough to beat. Rides on OMP are as easy or difficult as you want to make them. An out and back cruise along either bay is relatively flat or criss-cross back and forth between bays to add some challenging elevation changes. If you’re up for a longer ride, the roads towards the north end of OMP are more remote and offer some great scenery.

After a long winter the weather has finally turned the corner so I definitely recommend taking advantage of it with a cruise out OMP. It’ll be 20 degrees and snowing before you know it!

Roll out along East Bay to Bluff Rd, cross on Gray, then back on Peninsula Dr.

East Bay along Bluff Road