All the while, a good adventure was had, I'm trying to figure out where my decision making process went awry.
My plan was to seek out and complete a 'short' ride around the famous Cutler Park Loop, known as the easy-access and easy grade cross-country mountain biking circuit close to Boston.
I had been wanting to get on with an adventure especially on my mountain bike, since it was lying around my apartment collecting dust. The final push for me to get my ass off the couch was recently inspired by
Kyle Dempster's 2013 trip to Pakistan
, where he impressively biked and climbed (first ascents at that) all solo. My quick day trip is certainly infinitesimally less extreme and lower risk, but nonetheless, adventure is always just outside the front door.
Prepping to get going, I realized I didn't have a spare tube or schrader valve pump, I adjusted my route to stop by the closest bike store along the way to grab them. This would put my total mileage close to 20 miles, which I've been able to easily do in less than 2 hours on a road bike on roads. This trip would entail somewhere between 2-4hrs of riding, 20 miles, and approximately 1000 feet elevation gain, perfect to round out my zone training, and reasonably sound forecast of 40% chance of rain near dusk.
The plan was simple enough, but left enough unknown that made me really psyched to go discover something new, ultimately a tough thing to do in one of the major cities in the United States.
Before pic, just outside the apartment
I finally found my way to the bike store, but unfortunately they were closed! I should have called ahead, but c'est la vie. Not wanting to turn back, I was at least going to make it to the start of the actual loop, which from the bike store was less than 1.5 miles (per google maps).
But I got lost, and took a few wrong turns.
Eventually made it!
Some sweet single track
The riding around Cutler park is incredible for being so close to Boston. It's perfect training for both cross-country technique and provides an excellent workout. Now, I know that I still have a lot of brushing up on technique, as there are excellent side shoot offs that have been solidly maintained and I am particularly bad at maintaining consistent power and cadence in pedaling over small 10 foot hill rolls with roots as well as maneuvering rooty tight spaces. Otherwise, the distance and track of this loop is perfect for riders both novice and experienced.
More famous sections, great riding
The GPS track I was following had me go through what is now construction, though I was definitely not the first person to bike through this section either.
Around mile 15, my legs were hurting, in the unstoppable cramps kind of hurting. I recall my brother advising me on previous cross-country riding trips to pedal through, and I tried my best. I was able to make it to mile 17, where my left leg completely locked up straight.
I caught this moment with my phone, because I couldn't do anything else but wince. Thankfully a few passing cars stopped to ask if I was okay, and my phone was a reassurance to them that I would be. Here I waited about 10 minutes, and let Debra know I was alright and what had just happened. I thought I could make it back, being so close to the finish.
Unfortunately, 2 sleeves of shotblocks, 1 dark chocolate granola bar, and 3 liters of water weren't enough to stop me from cramping uncontrollably and relentlessly 3 more times in the next mile. I hopped off my bike and thought I could walk to the top of the last hill, so as to cruise down to the finish, but alas, my legs said no. My arms and hands were tightening up and I literally couldn't walk anymore; my legs were shot.
This is how close I was to finishing.
I gave in to backup plans, and called up my great friend Chris to give me a ride back to the apartment building where we both live.
Reluctantly sitting on the side of the road awaiting Chris
A quick introspective of the day's events and results are a great way to learn from mistakes, so as to further enhance one's output all around.
I wish I had video of my legs cramping, as it was an extraordinarily odd experience to see them spasm. I haven't had such extreme cramps in a very long time, but if I recall, the last time they were anywhere close to that level of exhausted was probably cross-country mountain biking in Stewart State Forest. I realize that I could have minimized stops by planning the route ahead of time, compared to 'winging' it. Albeit being unfamiliar with this route even being so close to where I live, this may help with general navigation in the future. Risk management was easy to do being so close to my residence, abundance of cell phone signal, and the proximity to the public. I was constantly near other bikers, hikers, and cars in case of dire need, and as such I received gestures of aid on multiple occasions during each one of my leg cramp stops. I know that I am not nearly as fit as I want to believe, and that a huge weakness in cross-activity training is not having good awareness of particular weaknesses, such as hill climbing on a bike.
I hadn't really planned to document such a simple plan, but I thought documenting would be a good reminder of the good and bad things that happened (and at the time, what might happen).
Hopefully, this quick write-up will inspire you to get outside and find your own adventure!
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