The DNR is asking for your input on the future of Waterloo Recreation Area, and they want to hear from YOU! They’re developing a 10-year plan for the park, and mountain bike trails are a key part of the discussion. Here’s how you can make your voice heard:
Attend the meeting! The DNR is hosting a public meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 22nd from 5:30-7:00 pm at the Eddy Discovery Center (17030 Bush Road, Chelsea). Let them know you’re in favor of building more trails at the former old gravel pit and the former Cassidy Prison site.
Fill out the online survey! The survey closes on Jan. 24th. Be sure to select the checkboxes for these actions:
Develop a mountain bike trail loop and beginner skills course in the old gravel pit site.
Resolve Pinckney Waterloo trail erosion and drainage issues.
Want to see trails in the former Cassidy Prison site? The survey has a section for “Should any actions be added to the list?” Let the DNR know your thoughts!
Thank you to all of our members and sponsors for your support in 2024. And a few special thanks…
Thank you Jason Jones
The PotoMBA Board would like to thank Jason Jones for his 30 years of service to mountain biking. He has been integral in his advocacy of mountain biking throughout the state and locally. He has had a huge impact on our chapter with the best representation being bringing the DTE Energy Foundation Trail to life. Learn more about Jason’s contribution by reviewing his “Thirty and Out” Facebook post. Thank you Jason for your dedication and all you have done. Enjoy your new adventures!
Thank you Ann Arbor Velo Club
Work will continue as weather permits this spring on the Poto Revitalization Project. We are still accepting donations. The more we raise, the more we can do! Big thanks to the Ann Arbor Velo Club for their generous donation of $5,000 this year dedicated to the Poto Project!!
Volunteered? We want to recognize YOU! Log your hours today.
Did you volunteer for Poto chapter activities this year? Whether it is trail work, prepping/preparing/transporting equipment, advocacy, fundraising, map making, volunteering at TTC or other events, administrative work, building changing stations…we would like to capture that time.
Our land managers periodically ask for our volunteer contributions to the trails. Logging volunteer hours helps us with these relationships, showing our Poto MBA dedication to the trails and can enable new trail opportunities for the Poto MBA as we saw with the opening of the Poto-DTE Connector last year.
We are continuing our volunteer recognition program and will be hosting a volunteer recognition event in February. Be sure to log your hours on the Google form linked below, back to January 2024, no later than December 31st.
Log your volunteer hours here. And thank you for your time in supporting our chapter and trails!
Batman and Black Friday Rides
We had a great turnout at both rides this year. 2”+ of snow hit the Black Friday Ride, but it didn’t slow the singletrack and gravel riders. Thank you to Wheels in Motion for your sponsorship of the Black Friday Ride.
2025 Poto MBA Events – Save the Dates*
January 11 (or January 18 – backup date) –Abominable Snowman Ride @ Pinckney Recreation Area
March 13 – Poto Membership meeting (In-person!)
September 12 and 13 – Triple Trail Challenge
October 15 – Batman Ride
November 28 – Black Friday Ride
*Additional events and links to Facebook events will be posted as finalized
Interested in making a financial donation to Poto MBA? Contributehere. PotoMBA is a 501c3 non-profit organization. All or part of your gift may be tax deductible as a charitable contribution. Please check with your tax advisor.
Join or renew your membership with the Potawatomi Mountain Biking Association today. We build and maintain the local trails that we all love to ride. Click here to join Poto MBA.
Adopt-a-Trail-Segment Program is reopening! Learn more about the program and sign up to adopt a trail section in the link below. Spots are limited and filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Just like adopting a pet from the Humane Society, be sure you’re committed to caring for your trail section!
Thanks in advance to all of our great volunteers who help make DTE one of the best trails around!
There are four styles and two colors to choose from, in both men’s and women’s sizing. $15 from each jersey sale goes back to the Poto MBA.
Jerseys are custom made to order, so please place your order by November 12.
These are custom made to order and will ship directly to you. We will not have extra jerseys for sale or exchange. The standard quote time for custom orders is 8 weeks.
All orders must be placed by November 12, 2023. Order your Poto Jersey here: (Note: You will need to create an account to view the jersey page.)
Tree Fort Bikes and the Potawatomi Mountain Biking Association are proud to present the 2023 Triple Trail Challenge! Riders will experience nearly 50 miles of SE Michigan’s premier single-track combined with scenic gravel roads, all nestled in the heart of the Waterloo-Pinckney State Recreation Area. Ride it all or try a shorter loop.
Similar to last year, this year’s Triple Trail Challenge is a 2-day, pre-register only event. You can ride on Friday, September 15 or Saturday, September 16 or both! The rain date is September 17th. This non-competitive ride is capped at 700 riders, so register early!
Entry to the event is $40 and is pre-register ONLY. There will be no day of registration! You will receive a number plate for your bike and a wristband which is required for entry to the beer garden. Proceeds and donations from TTC 2023 will help fund the Poto Revitalization Project.
Registration includes a course map, an aid station stocked with food, hydration and mechanical support, AND an entry to the after party. The aid station and after party will take place on Saturday only (rain date Sunday the 17th). The aid station, post ride food, swag, and entertainment are provided by Tree Fort Bikes. Local craft beer from Wolverine State Brewing Co. will be available for $5 per glass.
Pre-order merchandise by August 16th at midnight
TTC logo pint glasses and men’s and women’s event T-shirts (see below) are available by pre-order only here! Pint glasses are $15, and t-shirts are $30.
Packet pickup
Number plates, wrist bands and pre-ordered merchandise can be picked up at Tree Fort Bikes 1866 Whittaker Rd. Ypsilanti from September 11th to 15th. We will also have a pickup station one night only at Wolverine State Brewing Co., 2019 W. Stadium Blvd in Ann Arbor. Look for the Poto MBA tent in the parking lot on Thursday, September 14th from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
The Route
The route will be similar to last year, using the connector as a one way trail, paved path to the Waterloo hiking trail at Green Lake/M-52 to Bush Rd./ McClure Rd. into Sugar trail, then the return route. Be aware that trails may run through areas open to hunting, so orange or bright colors are recommended.
The after party is held on the picturesque shore of the Silver Lake swimming area. You can take a refreshing dip in the lake and hang out! Each trail has a unique character. Poto is known for its “old school”, technical climbs and descents, and that big loop trail design that makes you feel like you’re far away from everything. The Waterloo-Pinckney hiking trail is a rare sight for riders and will allow you to experience the rustic beauty of the recreation area that might otherwise go unseen. Then roll on to the flow of Michigan’s “Dirt Roller Coaster”. The DTE Energy Foundation Trail is full of sculpted berms, rollers, jumps and rock piles that will have you grinning and feeling like a kid again.
You and your friends can challenge yourself with a full-on epic adventure or scale it down to one of the shorter loop options.
Triple Trail Challenge is the single largest fund-raiser for the Poto MBA, so register today! More info about Triple Trail Challenge can be found here: http://www.tripletrail.com/about.php.
Membership promotion – Join or renew your IMBA membership with auto renew at 2023 TTC and you will receive a free limited edition Poto pint glass.
Triple Trail Volunteers Needed!We need your help! For this event to run smoothly, we need many volunteers during TTC and beforehand. A little of your time can go a long way! You can volunteer and still do the ride. Sign up for one of the many flexible volunteer options on Sept. 16 here or to help with handing out merchandise and registration packets at Wolverine State Brewing on Sept. 14th here.
Potawatomi Mountain Bike Association will be hosting a mountain bike skills clinic the weekend of June 3-4th at Brighton Recreation Area. The clinic will run Saturday and Sunday from 9:30 am to 4 pm. You can sign up for Saturday or Sunday or BOTH. Two clinics on Saturday and one on Sunday will help you improve your skills! Cost is $150 dollar per day. Space is limited so sign up today!
Saturday’s 9:30 am to 4 pm Tech Clinic will focus on the skills necessary to navigate technical trail features. We’ll start with some building blocks and then move into our other topics of slow speed maneuvers, navigating up and down steep features, high speed cornering, and technical climbing and descending.
Sunday’s All Day Air Clinic
This clinic will focus on getting your wheels off the ground (safely). The morning will start with some building blocks and then move into drops practice followed by jumps. Most of the day will be spent off trail on ramps and will be progression focused.
The Potawatomi Chapter of the Michigan Mountain Biking Association is excited to announce its Take A Kid Mountain Biking Day event (#TKMBD) at Brighton Recreation Center, Sandhill Pavilion, on Saturday, June 11 from 10am-2pm. This event is part of an international celebration supported by IMBA to encourage communities to join together and ride mountain bikes with kids. Learn more by clicking here.
Poto Revitalization Project Orange Jerseys – Order by September 19
Looking to be highly visible for the Fall and hunting season? We’ve updated this year’s Castelli jersey in orange in multiple short and long sleeve designs with men and women sizing. $15 from each jersey sale goes directly to the Poto Revitalization Project.
In order to access the Castelli store, view jerseys and place an order, you will need to create an account first. The store closes on September 19th and jerseys are expected to ship around Halloween. Jerseys will ship directly to buyers and have a shipping cost of $15. Order here.
Poto MBA is pleased to announce this exciting new Castelli jersey design to commemorate the Poto Revitalization Project. We couldn’t decide on a single color theme, so you have the option of two color choices! You can pick your preferred one in the store, or order both if you can’t pick just one! You must create an account to access the Castelli store. $15 from each jersey sale goes directly to the Poto Revitalization Project, where we are continuing to add sustainable improvements to the trail while maintaining the ruggedness that we all love. Jerseys will ship directly to buyers after the store closes. The shipping cost is $15. Order yours today! Store closes on July 10th.
