Profiles of MSU Cyclists

Mike Lang

MSU Network Engineering,
Academic Computing and Network Services

Click photo for more photos from Mike's Hartwood Acres photo album (Yahoo login maybe required)...

Webmaster's Note: Mike is the Bike Project Treasurer & one of the hardest working volunteers in the Bike Project.

Being that I grew up in the Golden Age of BMX, the late 70's, and got hooked on off road biking I am still trying to relive the days where I used to thrash around on trails and jumps with my friends on my Supergoose and Redline. Now that I am a little bit too big for those small bikes, mountain bikes fit the bill for getting my exercise and satisfying my sense of adventure. I don't do many of the things on bikes now I would have done back then...I don't need any more broken bones.

I had chances over the years to work in bike shops helping people with broken bikes and I'm doing the same now with the Bike Project. Helping people is satisfying. I really enjoy the challenge of focusing on a problem and fixing it quickly and learning new things about what makes bikes work, I've always had an ability to fix things. In fact, it's what I do at ACNS (Academic Computing and Network Services), I fix computer network problems.

When I was a student in economics and physics at MSU I rode year-round to work in the Computer Center and to class on my Mongoose MTB, even through blizzards. I now mainly ride on the trails that the MMBA keeps up all around the state and commute by bike when I get a chance. We here in Michigan are blessed to have an organization like the MMBA. Many other states don't have a group like the MMBA that maintains mountain bike trails. I love riding in Pennsylvania, for the hills and scenery mainly, but the trails in PA could use some work.

My goal for next year is to increase my tolerance for pain and better my climbing skills and endurance. I have a long way to go but have some help in the members of the MSU Cycling Club. They can really hammer.

The Ohiopyle and Hartwood Acres

Since I'm from Western Pennsylvania, I know some of the best places to ride in the area. I make it back to Pittsburgh quite often. Hartwood Acres and Ohiopyle are two of the better trail systems. Hartwood Acres is a county park right outside of Pittsburgh. Ohiopyle in South Central PA is well known for whitewater rafting and the Frank Lloyd Wright designed Fallingwater. The fireroad that I bombed down was 8 miles long and went through 1000' of elevation. It was very quick and there were surprises on the trail like 100' of baseball sized pointed rocks used to "pave" the road. At the end of the fireoad was a pick up for a Rail-to-Trails trail that ran along the Youghiogheny River for 17 miles. Very flat and very fast. It was a perfect day so I stopped watched the rafters and fishermen enjoying the great weather and beautiful river. Unfortunately, I had to ride back up the hill after I got back to Ohiopyle, at the base of Sugarloaf Mtn. I found that you can't train for ascending mountains in Michigan. But I'd do it again in a heartbeat.