Biking on the Eastside

In the highlight of my youthful prowess, I completed 8 Detroit Free Marathons, countless 5k and 10k races and thousands of miles running. Now that I am in the twilight of athletic agility, I need another slightly less physically demanding form of exercise. With the purchase of my specialized crossroads hybrid bike, my love affair with cycling began.

Occasionally, I do like to load my bike on my car and explore riding trails in the region. Two of my favorite trails are the Wabash-Cannonball trail and the Eric Canal Towpath trail in Farnsworth located in Maumee Ohio, a suburb of Toledo. These routes offer some of the region’s most spectacular scenic views within an hour’s drive. However, living in St. Clair Shores, I have access to sidewalks and roads that can accommodate some great cycling adventures.

Local Macomb County routes provide unparalleled, diverse riding options close to home. My Sunday morning and occasional after work ride is the Mt. Clemens, Lake St. Clair Metropark and St. Clair Shores routes. I ride up Jefferson and catch the Clinton River Spillway path to the Freedom Trail that runs parallel to Metropolitan Beach Parkway. The trail ends at Lake St. Clair Metropark. I ride out to the gazebo at Huron Point to enjoy the infinite view of Lake St. Clair. It’s the best place to rest for a minute before continuing the ride.

Next, I head west on the Freedom Trail until you reach the Spillway path. Turn right and crossover the spillway bridge. I then turn right again and continue underneath Metropolitan Beach Parkway to catch a glimpse of the spillway before crossing over to Harper Avenue. Crossover the spillway once more to enter Shadyside Park in Mt. Clemens.

I continue my journey through historic Downtown Mt. Clemens. The sidewalk on the eastside of northbound Gratiot is wide and accompanied by ramps for a smooth ride through the city. Be sure to take notice the incredible architecture, especially the former Mt. Clemens Saving and Loan building at South Main and Terry Street. This building looks like it’s right out of an episode of Mad Men. I end the ride down Macomb Street past the Bath City Bistro, O’Halloran’s Public House and the Anton Art Center on my journey home.

This 25-mile route is a great local ride combing scenery and history right from my home at 13 Mile Road and Jefferson.