Introduction:
Bloomer park is just East of downtown Rochester, Michigan and a few years ago was a hotly debated park. The controversy was not over trail use, but over the proposal and installation of a velodrome! which is now open for riding...and hosts a successful race series during the summer. First time Velodrome riders must go through an orientation class to learn how to ride it, but many have soon found themselves hooked on the speed and banked turns. There are weekly classes and rentals avail. as well.
       The mountain bike trails here will provide hours of enjoyment for all levels of riders. Over the last few years Art Flemming of the MMBA has added a lot of new exciting sections and trails. You'll find the infamous Bloomer switchbacks, Logs, sand, and tight single track are mixed in, along with some fast sections and generous use of the limited elevation. Please keep in mind that the trails that follow the river on the North side of the old RR trail are on private land and NOT part of the official trail system. These private trails were the the more technical features of Bloomer, but have since been by-passed by the newer trails...not to mention that since this section followed the river in low areas the trail had a tendency to change after a large rain or even wash out completely. The rest of Bloomer's trail system has become more interesting and fun that these older social trails. Bloomer will provide you with a good mix of technical trails and some fairly beginner level sections too. Part of the fun about Bloomer can be that these trails seem to meandering throughout the park and for the rider who likes some adventure it can be a lot of fun. The MMBA is hoping to work on some new signage for the park's main trails to help new visitors find and use the trails better. Across Avon Rd. there are some more small adventure sections of trail that are in a thin strip of woods, parallel to the old gravel RR bed trail. To find this area you must follow the gravel RR trail South out of the park and head to Yates Cider Mill. Follow the gravel trail to its end, this section is less than a mile long.
      If you live near the park it is a goldmine of fun and practice...and has grown into a nice destination trail for all users. Many people hit this trail on a regular basis, and upon riding it you may ask why? But once you learn the trails and can find the normal loops and circuit the park can be a lot of fun. It may take a few visits to the park but will be worth it once you find a nice route. Back when I lived a under 2 miles form Bloomer I had a nice 15 mile circuit my usual riding partners and I used to hit all year long and even did some night riding. The only area that isn't always fun is the powerline, which starts from the trailer park and heads down a nice little decent, when dry this leads to a fun little single track. Unfortunately this section gets extremely damp (The water level rises), and hosts some killer mosquito's and stinky mucky water....but this is one small section of the park.