Ride today at Bigelow Hollow, CT

[Jisch]

I had today off work, went on a GREAT ride with my wife. Whole write up is at MTBR Passion:

http://forums13.consumerreview.com/crforum?14@146.5hAQaVCuS67.7@.efd3673

NEMBA doesn't like the @ sign so you have to cut and paste.

John

One pic:

[Jisch]

One more pic...

[Slider]

I like Bigelow Hollow, too. It's less than six miles from my house, so it sometimes gets the nod when time is tight.

I agree that it is mostly more scenic than epic, but the loop near Mashapaug Pond has it all. Technical, scenic, and with lots of elevation changes.

The loop to the North, around Breakneck Pond, is much harder and has lots of hike-a-bike, but you can't get more remote than that anywhere in SE New England. And the ridges present some amazing views.

You got lucky. The swamp crossing in your pix at least looks passable now. When I was there earlier in the Summer, it was all under water. It was possible to cross using the same route you took over the logs at the natural dam, but we were never more than a misstep away from a real dunking. I didn't even attempt it in the Spring. The water looked at least eight feet deep in May.

I had a peek at it during the Winter, too. They must have seen an extra foot or more of snow than all the other riding spots in eastern MA and northeast CT. It stays pretty cold in those tight valleys, so it wasn't quick to melt, either. Long after all the other places were packed down and rideable, the snow was still way too deep to ride there.

For big mammals, my check list contains a moose, many deer, and a coyote. If I get to add a bobcat someday, I suspect it will be at Bigelow Hollow.

Last point - serious elevation changes on the surrounding roads make for some of the toughest road riding you can find around here! My twin ring Bianchi inflicted some serious pain. The area really requires a granny ring.

Slider

[Jisch]

Slider:

We should get together for a real ride up there some time. I live in Tolland, its about 25 minutes to Bigelow. When I do it for real (without the wife), I start at the Bigelow Pond fisherman's lot (right by the entrance) and ride the Mashapaug loop then head back over to do the Breakneck loop. I don't usually even ride the fireroad around Breakneck, but its a good alternative for my wife.

The last time I did that in the summer time the blue orange ridge trail (my favorite trail out there) was under water due to a beaver dam (damn beavers hahhaha). The new "route" around it was a hike a bike disaster. I gave about 3 quarts of blood to the mosquitoes and two pounds of flesh to the deer flies that day. As I did the loop, I thought it would be better in the reverse direction. Of course hills always look better looking down than up ;D

When I first started riding there, the log crossing had no log at all. It was about 3-4 feet deep and no way across except to wade or try and ride. I lost many a bottom bracket to that crossing ::) There was a truck under water at that crossing for about 6 months.

Let me know when you want to do a ride.

John

[Slider]

I am good for a ride just about any time, at least over the next two weeks. My recent under-employment is ending, thankfully, but I have two weeks before I start the new job.

Might be heading up to 'Nam on Sunday, so let me know if you'd like to check that out. Meanwhile, I am good any time Friday. No go on Sat, though. And today - well I might have to get in my first snow ride of the year.

If none of that works, just write or call and we'll work something else out. Next week is wide open.

Slider
ron@emumail.com
860-429-5489

[Jisch]

Yeah man. I hope everyone got out this weekend. What great weather for riding. Trails are in awesome condition too. We met Slider at Bigelow for some riding on Sunday AM. Wow. What a workout. You know if you ride at Bigelow you are going to be hiking. No problem, its worth it for this kind of riding:

[Jisch]

And this kind of scenery:
(more pics and descriptions at:
http://forums13.consumerreview.com/crforum?14@146.hbT8abMXVbp.5@.efd6de7

Cut and paste please...

[Slider]

Great ride, John. I saw stars a couple of times on those hike-a-bike sections. Kept on telling myself "the downhill will be awesome, the downhill will be awesome..." Fortunately, it always was!

Great pix. I'll get the look-at-the-camera thing down. I was just seeing if any new scars had spontaneously appeared on my shins. Of course, they had. ;)