July 2008- I loaded up the car with my girlfriend, dog and bike. The plan was to travel throughout the upper peninsula of Michigan camping along the way. We drove up the west coast of the lower peninsula towards the Mackinaw bridge. On the way we decided to stop in Traverse City and check it out. The city was packed full of people due to the ever so popular cherry festival. I had heard there was a decent cement skate park somewhere in town, which bikes were not allowed, of course. But that hasn’t stopped me before. We found the skatepark, and there were some kids on BMX bikes in the parking lot. I asked if they ever rode it, and they said that they do, but not very often. When they do ride it they usually get kicked out, and threatened to have their bikes taken by the police. A fine must be paid to get them back. BMX racism at its best, I thought. I went over and checked out the park, it was full of skaters, and a park and recreations employee. I decided that a session would not last long, so I went back to where the kids on bikes were. I asked them if there were any good street spots around. They gave me some shitty directions to a “bell tower tranny wall". It sounded cool so I headed off to find it. After driving in circles for 20 minutes I found the bell tower. Got the bike out, and rode it without a hassle. It was at some school, and I thought for sure I would get kicked out. It was tougher to ride than it looks, due to a kink in the transition which would buck you. It was also pretty narrow. After getting some pictures we loaded up the car and continued on our camping trip. It was a sweet find and a good ride.
July 2008- I loaded up the car with my girlfriend, dog and bike. The plan was to travel throughout the upper peninsula of Michigan camping along the way. We drove up the west coast of the lower peninsula towards the Mackinaw bridge. On the way we decided to stop in Traverse City and check it out. The city was packed full of people due to the ever so popular cherry festival. I had heard there was a decent cement skate park somewhere in town, which bikes were not allowed, of course. But that hasn’t stopped me before. We found the skatepark, and there were some kids on BMX bikes in the parking lot. I asked if they ever rode it, and they said that they do, but not very often. When they do ride it they usually get kicked out, and threatened to have their bikes taken by the police. A fine must be paid to get them back. BMX racism at its best, I thought. I went over and checked out the park, it was full of skaters, and a park and recreations employee. I decided that a session would not last long, so I went back to where the kids on bikes were. I asked them if there were any good street spots around. They gave me some shitty directions to a “bell tower tranny wall". It sounded cool so I headed off to find it. After driving in circles for 20 minutes I found the bell tower. Got the bike out, and rode it without a hassle. It was at some school, and I thought for sure I would get kicked out. It was tougher to ride than it looks, due to a kink in the transition which would buck you. It was also pretty narrow. After getting some pictures we loaded up the car and continued on our camping trip. It was a sweet find and a good ride.
