Originally published in Michigan Cyclist Magazine:

Many people have never heard of Bloomer Park, which is too bad. This onetime state park, now run by the City of Rochester Hills, is destined to become a hub for local recreation in Oakland County. First, it’s at the south end of the Paint Creek Trail. It will eventually have multi-use paths connecting it with Stony Creek to the north and the River Bends Park (and Metro Beach) to the South. And, the Grand Trunk West rail line which runs through the Park is being abandoned. With the help of the local communities, this could become a rail trail connecting Bloomer with Romeo, Armada, and Richmond to the east, Pontiac and Auburn Hills to the west.

After a hurried warm up, it’s time to take my place in the starting line. The caffeine is kicking my brain into overdrive: Is this the right gear to start in? Is my computer reset? What about the mud? What about these legs? In the midst of the mental chatter, the steady starter gives the cue and I muscle a big gear out of the saddle. Everything switches to automatic as I cross the field to the wooded trail…

Bloomer Park is blessed with interesting terrain with the highlight being a steep ridge that runs through its core. The trail cuts back and forth across the ridge, exchanging grinding climbs with hairpin switch backs. Near the north of the Park, the Paint Creek joins the Clinton River. Together they move briskly through the Park on their way to the Yates Cider Mill and Lake St. Clair.

Well, I’m surviving. There’s a big advantage racing on a oft ridden local trail. You know the gearing better and where all the ugly, rubber grabbing stumps hang out. You hit the stream crossings at full speed and hammer out of them. You know each berm in every turn. You have more confidence, fluidity, and funkiness. I was praying these factors would deliver decent results, good legs or not…

Bloomer suffers a bit from too many trails and too few signs. Fortunately today, everything’s marked, but you still need to keep your head in the game to keep your bike on the proper route. This is especially true when the trail rides across the crumbling river bank. One bad move could put you and your fancy rig in the icy drink.

By the second six mile lap, I’m relying more on my motivation and less on my adrenaline. As I slowly crank through a mud bog for the final time, I approach the finish. However, in my frantic effort to finish strong, I accidentally whip past the finish chute and was starting a third lap. Not good. With guidance from other racers, I pull a U-turn and race 100 yards back to the chute where I gritted my teeth and repeated “dummy” to myself a half dozen times. All and all, it was another exciting and challenging race at a revived venue, with complimentary flowers for Mother’s Day and more achy legs for me. And in spite of all my worrying and extra mileage, I surprised myself and won my class. Yeah.