Black Hills?

[scrooge]

Anyone know about the riding in the Black Hills? We're headed out there with the family and, though we can't do any extended touring, are looking for some good day trip routes. Suggestions?

Oh, and I'm assuming road. But my arm could be twisted into MTB if there's anything worthwhile out there.

[rphetteplace]

didn't do any biking, but LOTS of eating in the black hills last summer. Hit the German place for filets in Hill City, also out of this world pancakes at this little place just east of Keystone that may have had Wagon Wheel in it's name iirc.

[chuckred]

Anyone know about the riding in the Black Hills? We're headed out there with the family and, though we can't do any extended touring, are looking for some good day trip routes. Suggestions?

Oh, and I'm assuming road. But my arm could be twisted into MTB if there's anything worthwhile out there.

Both mountain and road.

This looks like a good family oriented ride!

100 + mile rail trail (http://www.mickelsontrailaffiliates.com/)

[xjoex]

I went rock climbing out there, it was really fun.

Whatever you do, make sure you don't go during, or one week before or after Sturgis... that was a mistake.

-Joe

[onekgguy]

I've been to the Black Hills several times but never with my bike. I think you would find some excellent roads for cycling. I took this photo (http://www.flickr.com/photos/onekgguy/92872897/) a few years ago on our last trip there.

I hope to someday get a chance to do some riding there. I think the Fall would be a great time after the tourists have gone and the roads are less traveled.

Kevin g

[rdparadise]

Beautiful pic guy. I have heard good things as well. Check out Bikely or mapmyride.com for rides in the area. I'm sure you'll be pleasantly surprised. Enjoy your trip.

Bob

[kbwheels]

Hi, I live in rapid city and have for 6 years now. I ride mostly rode but do some mtb. There are some GREAT rides for both here. Rode rides around hill city, keystone (Mount Rushmore), deadwood, spearfish. rides up and around Mount Rushmore is awsome, look for loops in custer state park, iron mountain road, and the needles highway. roads are good but there is a good amount of climbing although most climbs are 4-6 % there are a few climbs with 10% average for 2-4 miles. Worst part about riding here in the summer is the tourist traffic fair amount of RVs. As is was already said avoid the week of sturgis motorcycle rally. Hope you have a great visit.

[palincss]

Anyone know about the riding in the Black Hills? We're headed out there with the family and, though we can't do any extended touring, are looking for some good day trip routes. Suggestions?

Oh, and I'm assuming road. But my arm could be twisted into MTB if there's anything worthwhile out there.

Let me remind you about this forum thread (http://serotta.com/forum/showthread.php?t=54647&highlight=black+hills). The Mickelson Trail http://www.sdgfp.info/parks/regions/northernhills/mickelsontrail/index.htm is very popular; and of course, Needles Highway and Iron Mountain Road are legendary; we did those as a 60 miler starting from the Game Lodge. It was the only time we weren't carrying our luggage, and believe me, those are roads I wouldn't wish to ride with panniers. And they're most definitely not for beginners. If you're talking about a family trip, definitely the Mickelson Trail.

[old fat man]

i rode through there last summer during my cross country tour. i really enjoyed it and as others have said, the mickelson trail is very nice. here is a link to my journal:http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=3Tzut&page_id=84153&v=r

also, a friend of mine just finished traveling with the rapha crew and they did a ride in the black hills. here is a link to his recap (at the bottom) as well as some pictures he took:
http://www.dmroth.com/rapha_conti/rapha_conti.html

have fun, i definitely did!

[Tom Matchak]

The Mickelson Trail is a real gem, and takes you through some very nice areas without having to contend with the summer auto traffic. Most of the promotional literature shows riders on mountain bikes, but the surface is quite good and very ridable with a road bike and wider tires. If you can't do a long one-way, I'd recommend doing out-and-back day rides out of Hill City. For lodging in Hill City, the Harney Peak motel is a neat little classic motor lodge in the city center, comfortable and clean, and the couple who own/run it will treat you like family.

If you want to avoid summer RV traffic on a great road ride, consider the Needles Highway. It has some one-car-wide tunnels which are too narrow for motorhomes and trailers, and such traffic is prohibited on this route. Clockwise from Custer is a good way to go.

[palincss]

It just doesn't get any more scenic than the Needles Highway and Iron Mountain Rd. If you like riding hills, you will love this road, which after all, exists for the aesthetic experience. You might not even think it's hard riding. Maybe. Go to flickr and search for Needles Highway to get a sense of what it looks like.

I found one very curious thing about the Mickelson trail. We got to it coming from Mt. Rushmore. I thought, how hard could a 2% grade on a rail trail be? It would be a relief after all the hills we'd been on that day.

So we start this 6 mile section, climbing on that easy 2% grade. After 4 miles, I was dying. I ride in rolling country, and on this trail, between the grade and the gravel surface if you try to coast you simply came to a dead stop. After 4 miles I felt like I was a Victorian convict on the Cockchafer (punishment treadmill), with 2 more miles of climbing to go!