Mountain Bike trail riding at Caloosahatchee Regional Park
Weaving through the S turns between the trees at Caloosahatchee Regional Park, I smiled a huge grin. I felt like a kid again. In my mind, I was racing my BMX bike through the woods back home. Only a few differences now. Today, I’m 51 years old and riding a mountain bike in Florida. But it felt the same.
Several months ago, I treated myself to a new bike. For Christmas, I purchased a Diamondback Mason Trail mountain bike. The bike is a plus tire bike with 27-in wheels and tires that measure 3-inches wide, smaller than a true fat tire bike but bigger than a typical mountain bike. The purchase was part of my efforts to lose some weight and get back into shape.
I ride my bike to work when I’m in the office and not on a field assignment. I ride it on the weekends to the beach and have taken it on long road rides up to 35 miles. The purchase price of the bike stretched my budget, but any reservations I had about spending the money has long since gone. The fun factor and renewed strength in my legs was well worth the price.
Biking to work, who would have ever thought I’d be “one of those guys”
I had learned about the the mountain bike trails at Caloosahatchee Regional Park several months ago and set it as a reward for a weight lose goal. I reached the milestone goal. I have a lot of weight yet to lose, but having reached the milestone, I felt ready.
The trails at the park are perfect for a rider of my skill level with plenty of room to grow as a rider. My mind can visualize me whipping through the high bank berms and catching air topping the table tops, but I’m sure the visual of me riding the course is much less dramatic than what I was feeling.
No bunny trails for me. I went straight to the blue trails. Maybe next time, I’ll attempt a black diamond trail.
After a mile or so, the trail leaves the meadow and the BMX track like course. The trail then enters into the woods and the single track winds around trees and up and down short steep hills. Here at mile two, I had my first crash. I bounced my shoulder off a tree when I cut a turn too short. In doing so bent my seat post. I took a photo and texted my son, “Mile 2 – 1st wreck, this is fun.”
Caloosahatchee Regional Park in Lee County Fl is a great place to learn the ropes on single track running.
The back section of the single track has wooden boardwalks and berms, more table tops, rocky trail sections and fast paced turns weaving tightly in the trees. I had so much fun that after a short rest, I ran the back loop a second time.
On the second loop, I attempted a wooden ramp jump. My foot slipped off my pedal and blood dripped down my shin. The fresh cuts in the flesh covered the scars from pedals of 35 year ago. I could hardly contain the laughter. I was having a blast.
New scars equal living life to the fullest
Back at the parking lot, I sat at the pavilion in the shade and ate a light lunch. Blood ran down my shin, my shirt was soaked in sweat, the seat post on my bike was bent and I wore a big old grin across my face. I felt 12 years old again.
The Caloosahatchee Regional Park is about a half hour drive from my office in Fort Myers Fl and will be a regular part of my exercise program. This is a whole lot more fun than a trip to the gym. Who says exercise can’t be fun.
