Monday, June 22, 2009

Is this training, or just a good time...

Been a great couple of weeks, even though the weather has been particularly nasty.

Trail Work -

National Trails Day - we ran a big event up in Wendell. Put up a nice kiosk for a new map at the major trail junction. We also finished off the section of Trail I laid out to Connect to the Mormon Hollow Trail - AKA $13 Trail - off the M&M.

I cleaned out the Upper Link at Mt Toby. All is now good on that side of the mountain. We need to see what kind of mess remains on the Frost out toward Bull Hill.

Worked on the final connector at SLN. Probably get that finished early this week if the rains subside.

Riding -

Highlights - Petersham EFTA fun Ride

Rode with Pete O, Matt and GW for all but the out-and-back hero sections. About 4 hours in the rain slicked rooty rocky delight that lies just to the North East of the Quabbin. In spite of the slick conditions, they had nearly 50 riders show up, raising several hundred bucks for the scholarship fund.

Wednesday we headed to Wendell for the weekly BU/NEMBA ride. Matt, GW and I did a warmup run out the Frost to Leverett and back the Old M&M before joining the gang for a wild excursion down the M&M to the Mormon Hollow Trails mentioned above. That descent on the M&M is sure a burly downhill... From there we headed up the Fireroads to the upper trails for a nice less technical roundout of the ride.

Saturday was a big start to Father's Day weekend. The PV NEMBA boost the ranks event at Earl's and B Street. 25 or so riders, most current members, joined us for about 4 hours covering both sides of 116. Hot and humid morning, but a real nice group covered a lot of terrain. Later in the day, Matt and I headed down the valley to Robinson for one of Steve's kids rides. Nice leasurely pace with a great turnout of over a dozen families - over 50 total riders.

Father's day. Matt took me on a nice ride in Deerfield. We parked at Pokomtuck Rd and did everything but the Punish Loop. Two downsides to the ride. Matt got bit by a nasty little furry shoebox dog, no breaking of his skin or the Mutt's head resulted. Also, of late there has been a lot of really stupid riders on MXs on the Pokomtuck Double Track. These guys have no skills, so fortunately have stayed off all the ST, but they seem to think their roll in life is to splatter every bit of mud out of every puddle they can find to go through. Two of them met us as we were coming up Bruiser, I gave the universal slow down signal - palm downward -only to get a roostertail of mud up my back as the leader passed me accellerating down the hill. What a jerk.

Monday, June 8, 2009

Where'd the time go

Woops, been a long time since I got to writing up happenings in the Blog, well here goes...

Lots of riding - that goes without saying!

Hawley - damn it's nice to have that place back into shape. Been up there twice on the bike now to complement the dozen or so trips with the chain saw and rake! Another couple large work days and it will be done - by-by ice damage.

Mt Toby - led a diverse group on a no-drop ride tonight. I need to get up to the Upper Link with the saw. Would have thought some of the XC skiers would have cleared it out, must be only mountain bikers do trail work!

Wendell - several sessions in both riding and trail building mode. Great Trail Building session on National Trails Day. A dozen of us finished up the mile long section of the new Mormon Hollow I had started and laid out with the ranger. I was disappointed when I got home to have my SD card tell me it needed formatting though. At least a dozen pictures were lost to the ether.

Deerfield - Got out there once with Liam and Matt. Quite the suffer-fest, but it is all good.

Bear Brook - I must be an anomaly. Although the course was kinda fun, I really like the nasty ones better for racing. Too much pure speed and high speed handling. Give me some gnarly climbs and I'd have done a lot better than the 5th I got. Heck just make us climb the stairs or the rocky section we went down would have made it much more interesting!

Acton - got out with Bill and Philip before the EC meeting. PK did you plant all that poison ivy to keep the crowds away?