favorite descent/downhill

[BigMitch]

Where is yours and why? I'm too much of a noob to really have one sorry. Well actually its a logging road in Underhill Vermont that we have permission to use from the landowner. Its not that steep or technical but it has given me a good safe spot to learn to go fast.

[Geoff G.]

i enjoy prospect hill in wampatuck state park, because of the many swichbacks, the other descent i also enjoy there is in "the playground" it's two extremely steep (almost verticle at some points) chutes one after another

[Quo Fan]

Any one that I don't crash on!

[gnurider1080]

my favorite descent is when im in midair and dont crash.

[bike187]

coon hollow in the blue hills and there's another trail on the houghton's pond side that's really nice.

[hammerhead]

Any preceeded by a lung splitting, switchbacking 45 minute single track climb. No down-hill is much fun knowing the climb will follow!

[Superb Man]

The Apollo Trail on the south side of Mt. Baldhead in Lenox is about as good as a twisty singletrack descent can get.

Serpent God and Twister at Batchelor St. in Granby are pretty classic singletrack, bony descents.

I Love whizzing down the doubletrack Mountain Rd to Park st. in Sunderland at Mt Toby (not to be confused with Mt. Toby rd-the main, smooth doubletrack up top the summit).

Climb (literally) up to the Platform atop Sachem's Head in Greenfield, enjoy the cliffside look out and then Ride the Blue Trail all the way down to the road without stopping...if you can-not exactly freeriding-but about as aggressive and enjoyable xc descent as you're going to find in these parts.

[comtom1]

The stairs at foxboro are pretty cool not much of a desent but there is a little challange if you are not careful i rode them alot with quo and a few other friends

[GregC]

The descent off Carr Ridge at Bear Brook is pretty hard to beat.


Greg

[BigMac]

I would have to say, either Big Mac's Drop, or the Rim Trail, both on N. Sugarloaf Mtn in S Deerfield.

[slapheadmofo]

Not sure exactly which trail would be my favorite DH, but it would be at Sunday River for sure. Some seriously steep and technical runs there. ;D

[Jisch]

I don't know if its my favorite, but we rode one yesterday at the Snip which has a very high pucker factor. Pretty long by CT standards, very steep and rocky. Yesterday was the first time I've ridden the whole thing. Given the rocks its an easy OBE if you're not careful.

John

[Slider]

I'll vote AGAINST that one, thank you. Besides that fact that it caused my first actual spurting-artery damage, I don't hold that against it.

It's more that near-vertical, rocky, rooty, generally-injury-threatening descents do not make my best list. I'm looking for flow, jumps, lotsa speed, and length. It has none of those.

Salmon River, on the other hand, fits the bill nicely. Haven't posted because I don't know the trail names. Maybe you can help out there. What is that one with the massive launch ramp at the end of the real fast part? The one knnda near the trees and the ledge...Well, you can see why I didn't post before!

Slider

[PutAwayWet]

greg, I'd have to agree with you. That descent was killer. I'm not much for downhill speed, but the technicals I do enjoy. I'd have to say one of the coolest descents I've done was in CO right in between Morrison and Golden. Can't remember the trail or even the name of the place, but I do remember looking down and seeing the highway 150 ft below me while riding a switchback that was no more than 3' in radius.

[Jisch]

Slider:

I don't know the names of any of the trails out at Salmon River either. I just know them when I'm there... No help. There are some really nice flowy trails there. Plenty of room to get speed and use it to your advantage on rocks and bumps. Come to think of it we should get back out there, its been a while since we've ridden there.

And Sunday was the first time I ever saw a wound act like a geyser too. I have a shot of it, but its kinda gruesome. You can see it here, I'd recommend waiting until dinner is settled:
http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=56220

I agree that downhill was zero flow, good challenge though.

John

[Big Game]

Slider -- are you talking about the xylophone trail? The xylophone is steep but short. The blue (which is legal) is nice and long going down and really milks the vert.

At Jiminy Peak, there's a real long run that goes form the summit to the road. DId it last year at Pedros. Nothing steep and actually its a fire road. But ripping down a long fire road with rocks to pop off of can be pretty dang fun. Below is the route I took with the Pukemaster. (it's the long yellow). We ran into people climbing up it on our way down....we cheated an took a chair lift up. There was definitly some unavoidable mud holes, but it was well worth it.



http://www.bikerag.com/images/MAPS/MA/ma_jiminy_peak_map.JPG

[Quo Fan]

There is a rather large rock face in Foxboro forest. It is about 20' high and goes almost straight down. Has a nice roll off the top, and a transition at the bottom. The first time I did it, the pucker factor was very high, now it is quite easy, and fun.

[slapheadmofo]

We rode the Midstate from Watatic to Wachuset yesterday -there were some nice fast flowy singetrack descents. Gotta do some climbing to get to them though - I've got rubber legs today. Sweet trail.

[Slider]

BG - my guess is that it's the longer of the two. I remember some serious speed, lots of great ramps, with a killer one right at the bottom, and you could get a great view of the landing area from up high as you approached. Even on my rigid Dean, you could no brake it, get some serious air, and land softly.

I'll post again if I figure it out on an upcoming ride. After the stitches are removed, though. I am stuck on the road bike this coming weekend, sadly.

Jisch - I'd have cooperated so we could get actual spurting in the pic, if I'd known you were taking it! Next time...

Slider

[boingboing]

Hmmm Lets see. I normally ride at Batchelor St. in Granby and theres a few in there Surpengod down from the middle of technical trail. Thats always a good challenge when maintaining good speed. Entrance exam has a small decent with an awkward 2.5 foot drop about half way down then up and over alarge steep rock. The drop is 2.5 to a bit of an incline so its more on the tricky side. I tried to clear that small incline with some speed, but the sloping rock you drop off of kind of forces you into it. MtSnow trail 18 at the bottom. Killington race course was great from top to bottom this year. Trail 13 has some nice rollers when hit with some speed. There are mostly fire roads at killington,but they are a blast going fast. Trail 7 and 7a have some great singletrack spots. Jiminy peak is awesome. Towardsthe bottom there is a rock face that is a great roll with a pretty short drop to finish it. Then it goes to some jumps off to the diving board. The diving board drop starts at about 4 or 5 feet if you wheelie rop it and goes to I guess 15-18 if you launch off it. Nice pitched landing area too. I wish I remembered the names of these trails. At trumbull in CT there are some nice steep rolling decents. One has a triple drop all 3 footers with the second one between 2 trees. These are all great descents because you can start slow and work your way up as you get comfortable with it. This is key when you can't bust youself up on the weekends because you have to make it in to work on Monday.

[Jisch]

Jisch - I'd have cooperated so we could get actual spurting in the pic, if I'd known you were taking it! Next time...

Yeah, at the time, I don't think you were really too concerned about getting a good pic...

John

[narlus]

quo fan, i know that wall yr talking about, it's a cool one.

SLMofo, good to hear the ride turned out well. i was on the fence about going, but my buddy called sat night and told me he had a ticket to game 2 for me, so priorities man. ;D

[Slider]

True, Jisch, I was pretty much thinking "Get me the F*** outta here!"

So - into a road ride this weekend? We've both got some amazing route options.

Slider

[Jisch]

Not sure what I'm doing this weekend, and I hate to abandon you, but if I can sneak in a dirt ride that's what I'm going to do. I have a lot of kids/Halloween crap, I mean enjoyable family activities to do.

John

[sizlinseagulsoup]

I would have to say, either Big Mac's Drop, or the Rim Trail, both on N. Sugarloaf Mtn in S Deerfield.


I've never seen these trails, where would one find them?

[hammerhead]

Kevin,

You have to get up early to find them. We usually ride these trails at 5:00 AM.

Go to the Hillside Rd Entrance to Sugarloaf State Reservation. There are 3 ways to the top. The fireroad that skirts the north side of the hill and the 2 single track/ hiking trails that Mac mentioned. For best results climb the rim trail - up the south edge and descend BigMac's - first right after the 2nd lookout spot. You can't miss them (unless you use my son for your navigator).

[BigMac]

thanks hammer!... kevin, if you ever want to check-em out drop me a line and maybe we could set somthing up. Like Hammer said we usually ride this at 5am but could set somthing up for a weekend, if not me you could hook up W/ Hammerhead, or Superb Man.

[Superb Man]

Speaking of, I've been dogging the morning rides (sorry)-anyone riding tonight on the deerfield ridge con Bob?

[hammerhead]

I'm there tonight. I really like the Dfld Ridge Ride.

Now that the SOX season is over - What is it with 8:30 Games?, the early AM rides should start again next week.