Poto Ride
I have been wanting to go get back to the Potawatomi aka Poto trail that I first started at June 6 of last year for some time now. But with injury and time constraints this year I have not made the journey to one of the hardest mountain bike trails in Michigan until last night. For those that are not aware, Poto has a few loops(2.5 miles, 7 miles, 11 miles, and 17 mile loops). The hills are endless and the descents can be tricky. My goal for the night was to ride the 17 mile loop and be done by 8:30pm at the latest. I figured if by the half way point I was not making good time, I would just cut the ride short and do the 7 or 11 mile loop.
The journey started when I left work at about 5pm. Traffic was heavy and so I took back roads to the trail head inside the park. Once I got there I realized that I left my Heart Rate Monitor back at home…well isn’t that a bummer I thought, but oh well it will be ok. I figured that I would use the jaw drop method by where when my mouth started to drop from lack of oxygen, that it would be a good key to slow down the pace.
And so the ride began…mind you the entrance to the trail starts with a monster 1/4 mile climb. My friend Jeff and I call this climb the “Welcome to Poto bleep” climb. So with that in mind we were off. After about a few miles in I began to recall how tough this trail really was. However, I kept my hopes high and pushed forward. I finally reached the point where I either take the 7 mile loop or continue on to tackle the 11 or 17 mile loops. Mind you the next section of the trail is clearly labeled “Serious Hills” and that is no joke.
So I pushed on through the serious hills section, stopping at a road crossing to intake some fuel. I also started to get some cramping in the inner muscle right above the knee on the left leg. This I found odd as rarely cramp up, so I stretched it out on the bike and drank more water. I then came to the point where I had to decide to either ride 11 or 17. Now for those that do not know me all that well, when I set a goal I do everything to meet it if not exceed. I estimated I had an hour of daylight to finish about 6 miles.
So on I went with the leg cramp. As I continued the right leg started to get he same cramp, so I kept drinking and stretching. It was also at about this point where I started to get hungry. I had some food left, but had planned on eating it when I finished. well my stomach told me otherwise so I finished off my food. About a mile up I hit the monster climb of the trail…as I approached the top both legs went into full cramp mode. I basically could not move. I locked the brakes, clipped out from the pedals, and sat on the bar drinking water until the cramping passed. I walked the bike up the rest of the hill, and the legs started to recover. I took a few more sips of water and noticed that I had no more. With 3 miles to go I was without water or food. But I told myself 3 miles is nothing and it is pretty easy from what I recall…just some rolling hills. I was correct on the rolling hills and that it was easy. the problem is that I took a wrong turn and after about a 1/2mile I turned around.
Once back on the main trail I was feeling better and crossed the first of two roads. I knew the second road would take to my car and bypass about 1/2 mile. I figured that be best with no water. However that did not happen, because at about 2 miles out…I got a flat. I have not had a flat since I started riding, but as they say there is always a first time for everything. at this point I had two choices, either swap the tube out or walk out the rest of the way. I started to look at the tube and became dinner for the mosquito community. That answered that question and I started walking. I got back to the car at 8:40pm and went home.
In retrospect I will have to carry more water, more food, wear some bug spray,bring my heart rate monitor and make sure to replace my tubes once a year no matter what. As far as the cramping goes, I was recently professionally fit for both bikes and my position on the bike has changed, hence working different muscles. Looks like a few more weeks of hard work to get the muscles in gear. Do not fear, I plan to ride Poto next week again. You see I have a 46 mile ride coming up on September 15 that uses 14 miles of this trail, so I need to get familiar with it before then.