Van Michael Trail @ Blankets Creek
Wow, this trail is tough with a capital T. It’s 3+ miles of torture. You start out with a brisk little climb that goes through several switchbacks and works it way up the hill. You have a few respites, as the trail teases you with a glimpse of some downhill runs and a few roller-coaster stretches, but mostly it is an uphill struggle. There aren’t any rocks or roots to climb over and for the most part the trail is buttery smooth, but it’s steep. I was passed by a lot of people that weren’t hardly breathing hard, and then again I passed a few guys that looked like they were having heart attacks. I was somewhere between there.
I have to say that I paused only about 4 times. The climbs seemed to go on forever, even though the trail is relatively short when compared to Yargo or Chicopee. So I found myself struggling in granny gear up this hills and then having to take a break to get my heart rate back under the alarm limit. Going the Wednesday direction, you take about 80% of the switchbacks uphill, so I managed to ride almost all of them. There’s a few downhill switchbacks that, if you blow the turn, you’ll end up having to climb back up a 100 ft embankment, or wait for the paramedics to find you. I skipped only two switchbacks because I was so whipped I could hardly see straight and I didn’t feel like having to explain another riding injury to the wife.
It’s indeed a HARD trial, but the downhills are a friggin HOOT. Think Greens Lick at Pisgah on a slightly smaller scale. I need to get back in better shape though so that I can say that the climbs are worth the payoff, because the way I am now, the climbs aren’t worth it. I’m not saying that I’m not going to ride this trail; in fact, I am going to ride it again this afternoon. I think I’ll take the camera this time though. That will at least give me an excuse to pull over and catch my breath.
Here’s a SORBA post from a pretty good photographer that shows some of the trail features. It’s a great trail and I’m looking forward to riding it again…regardless of what I said before.