Jimmie Cotton's Trail

Jimmie Cotton's Trail

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	Jimmie Cotton's Trail
Location:	Florida
Nearest Town:	Fort Meade
Directions to Trailhead:
Trail Description:	Consits of several types of terrain. From the challenging ridges that peak between two phosphate pits to the singletrack trails that wind through the forest. This trail has many challenges for the expert rider. This trail is riden by many people on Monday mornings. This trail is also by invitation only.
Trail Length:	miles
Trail Type:	Singletrack & Fire Roads
Skill Level:	Advanced
Submitted By:	Julia Newsom

Kevin Smith from Brandon, FL Date: November 15, 2001 Trail Ridden: Every few months
Recommended Route: I like Naugle's recommended route. Other recommended trails in the same area: Toe, Carter, Alafia
Review: UNBELIEVABLE!!!! Jimmie has put together a trail that will knock you in the ding-ding! Climbs, drops, and ridges that are bonechilling!! GREAT STUFF! If you are lucky enough to get invited to his trail, bring water, gatorade, powerbars, an extra set of legs and lungs and a bike that can take a licken. You will be huffin and puffin but with a great big smile! Not for beginners! Super technical stuff where one could (and has)get hurt badly. Jimmie and I experienced Sam go over the bars headfirst, land on nasty hard phosphate white-rock, crack his helmet and elbow, and then go over somersaulting over a HIGH ridge. It wasn't pretty. Jimmie is AMAZING!! He is a legend in my book!! Can't wait to go back!!	Overall Rating:

Sam from apollo beach fl Date: November 12, 2001 Trail Ridden: Every few months
Recommended Route: Other recommended trails in the same area: I'll list the local trails I've ridden in scale of 1-10, 10 being the hardest. Morris bridge 1 Boyette 2 Carter 4 Toe 7 Alafia 7 Santos 6.5 Jimmies 9 Grand Canyon 3 mine as well close this place unkept!
Review: Ok I finally made it back to this trail today. After getting my confidence back after the last major crash, I was still a little scared! And my fears were not unfounded, this trail was still hard as ever.(though I did not crash this time thank god!) Since last time I've ridden harder trails, built up my stamina, work on my technical skills and believe me you're gona need it. Since you know what the trail is like from previous reviews I skip the descriptions. If you've ridden the local areas trails then I"ll give a run down..to compare. you better be able to do 5 continous laps at carter or 2 complete laps at the toe, about 10 laps at Morrise bridge, to be able to really campare of how much stamina you'll need here... once you get tire you make mistakes.. and believe me you do NOT want to make any big mistakes here! Technical wise its like the Toe, just longer and tougher climbs and a Sh*t load of them. And the decents...pretty nasty, rooty, twisty, rain worned....many are 2-3 times as long as most of the ones you see at carter or toe and santos. btw: Jimmie still kick my butt but at least this time I finish the trail and my bike is still in one piece! :)	Overall Rating:

Naugle from Plant City, FL Date: July 17, 2001 Trail Ridden: Every few months
Recommended Route: Join the Ridge Riders, Train at the TOE, Lead a life of ascetism and denial of all physical pleasure, and you may get there. Other recommended trails in the same area: The TOE (technical), Carter Road (fast)
Review: This Trail is great. Like all of Florida's more technical riding, this is an old mine. The unreclaimed areas retain high ridges and valleys (by Florida standards). Jimmy has laid out an incredible trail system. He takes full advantage of the topography, with leg burning climbs followed by tasty steeps, one after another, with no time for recovery. To compound matters, the inclines are rooty, the ridgetops narrow. The place holds the summer rain well, better than the TOE, Carter, Hardrock and other mine trails which tend to turn slimy when wet. The downside is that when dry, there are some sandy areas. On my last ride there I was able to hang with Jimmy for the first half, but between the heat, humidity and Jimmy's pace, I languished. That 61 year old can dish out some serious whup-ass. I had to bail before I passed out. Thank you Jimmy!	Overall Rating:

Hurting Sam from Tampa Fl Date: May 7, 2001 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: Other recommended trails in the same area: Boyette, Morris Bridge, Carter Rd.
Review: 1st let me say Cudos to Jimmie C. for making such a great trail, that 60 year old man dusted me, I only hope that when I'm his age I'm 1/2 his health...great trail work Jimmie!This trail is absolutely positively not for beginners. It makes Carter Road look like a cake walk. Climbs are Endless, no rest maybe 2 or 3 but seems like 0 cause I was so dam tired most of the time. Drops are are pretty cool 90% are do-able by an intermediate rider such as myself (it was all them climbs that kick my ass!) Had several crashes this day... one really bad one on a 35-40' ridge right before Harry Scary.. I endo into some rocks, smack my elbow, sternum, and head then bounce off of it like a ping pong ball then tumbled down the ridge... (yeah what site that must have been) knocked the wind out of me(had to sit at the bottom of the ridge humbled couldn't breath for at least 15-20min)..Bruised and cuts on several parts of my body..I'm lucky nothing is broken that I know off. Not to mention my bent Rolf wheels.. seat broke etc. Yeah, What an ass kicking this day was :) let me get my bike fixed, and these bruises to heal and get my stamina up..."I'll be back" Dam I'm hurting right now. :( PS. did I mention this trail isn't for a beginners?	Overall Rating:

RidgeDiver from Tampa Date: April 2, 2001 Trail Ridden: Once a month
Recommended Route: Contact RidgeRiders.net for directions and information. Other recommended trails in the same area: TOE, Carter Rd.
Review: Not for the weak at heart or legs. Your lungs scream for mercy, your legs will want the same. The trail is always changing thanks to the trail master (Jimmie) and nothing is easy. There are no resting/easy sections. You are either climbing, behind the seat braking, or holding your breath as you ride on top of a 6" wide ridge with 50' drop offs on both sides. The entire course is under beautiful oak trees. The local riders are usually hostile (meaning they have no mercy on new guys). Hairy Scary is the biggest hill and it has claimed a couple of collar bones, the rest are the hills are mearly a small mistake from a free ride to a local hospital. The first trail is a warm up of what you will see, the next trail is some of the same and everything is a build up to the Cow Trail. The distance of the trail is @ 7-8 miles of nearly all singletrack and everything is possible. Don't forget your hydration and powergels and if you ride on Monday mornings the guys always race to the finish, which is Jimmie's house. NO BEGINNERS!!!	Overall Rating:

from Date: March 29, 2001 Trail Ridden: Once a week
Recommended Route: Other recommended trails in the same area:
Review: It is a great trail for especially advanced riders. I would not recommend this as a trail to beginners. It is an awesome and exceptionally fun trail. Believe me, you will definitely come away with a few scrapes and scratches.	Overall Rating: