New England Epic?

[Jisch]

I have one free weekend a year, when my wife and kids are out visiting the in-laws. It happens this year on the weekend of August 19th. Last year DNA and I did a tour of NE, hitting Fort Rock (x2), North Conway and Lynn Woods. It was a great weekend, but I'm looking for something more epic and which involves less driving (and traffic).

Ideally, this trip would involve car camping with 5-6 hours (20-30 miles) of riding each day. Hopefully swimming near by. I know I could just hop out to Kingdom Trails, but I'd really like something more technical and epic. 4-5 hours of driving from CT is fine, I would like to park once, ride twice.

Any help appreciated. Guided tours will be rewarded with free beer.

John

[MTBME]

Not many replys? See most of us can't relate to the wife and kids taking off and leaving us to our our devices for a week. :o It will take a little time to sink in. Be patient ;)

[radair]

August 20 & 21 is our 5th annual White Mtns MTB weekend. There is a self-guided Harpoon Adventure Ride on Sunday 8/21, optional trail work on Saturday. Free camping & party on Sat. night (same location as IMBA Epic).

I could easily point you in the right direction for a mega-epic, but I will be building trail/bridge or something on Sat. so could not guide.

[ArmOnFire]

Hey Jisch,

I'm in the same boat (family leaves for a week or so and I get to do what I would if I was single for a weekend during the summer).

Last year I went to Kingdom Trails, did 25+/- the first day, and my co-padre wasn't up for a repeat the next, only did 12, but I think you could easily do more there.

This year the family is going away during Pedro's fest.

Did you check out Backcountry Excursions in Maine? Never been, but I've heard it is cool.

I don't know where you could find 2 days worth of 20-30 miles of technical singletrack though (40-60 total). Might have to incorporate some doubletrack, etc. [See radair]

SNEMBALen was talking about doing a ride from:
Bear Brook-->snowmobile trails-->FOMBA-->reverse

I would classify that as an EPIC, sounds like fun!

Sorry for the rambling, good luck planning your trip and have fun.

-Dan

[slapheadmofo]

Midstate trail from border to border would be a great mulitday epic. It would take a little creative shuttling but would be a pretty cool feather in the cap; I'd figure on 3 days to do the 90ish miles and I'd probably go north to south. Let me know if you want any more info on it - even if you don't do the whole thing, the north end is pretty sweet and would easily eat up a day.

Other than that, we could surely find a few 5 or 6 hours rides for you in the N. Central/Western MA area. Hit up a few of those Pioneer Valley guys - they've gotta have something up their sleeves.

Another suggestion is mix it up a little - maybe spend a day DHing at Jiminy and then a couple more riding XC stuff in the area.

[EVIL BOTA]

Or maybe just go on a tour .I know you said you didn't want to travel to much,but hit 2 places a day. Ride nam in the morning and foxboro in the afternoon. Than do Fort rock the next morning and massabesic in the afternoon. Last day stay close to home and hit case and arcadia? I'm sure you can find some people who will guild you and maybe even put u up for a night.
Or Bring a tent and camp out..If you go out to western mass.
Steve B took us to a place called Kennedy park I believe. You could get a nice 4-5 hour ride there. Then like slap said hit the pioneer guys up for another place.

Good luck!

[steve_b]

It's too bad there's no campsites at Douglas State Forest, although I have heard camping off of the Midstate trail is permitted as long as you are the required distance from trails, and streams and use an existing site? Otherwise it might work. There's a beach, and you could park once and ride twice. You could easily do an 5-6 hour loop within Douglas one day, using the Midstate and other trails that are almost all singletrack and are certainly technical. You could head into RI the second day and do an out-n-back of sorts on the North-South trail.

Jisch: Your not very far away. Tours can be made available on a weekend day. Actually, there's going to be a Sunday afternoon 4-5 hour ride there soon. It will get posted here. 8)

Edit: Slaphead is right. Doing the Midstate border to border would be an awesome experience, but would probably involve 3 days of solid riding and a shuttle.

[bdee]

RI NEMBA did the North South trail in two days last fall. The ride went from the NW corner of RI to the beach. I think it was around 70 miles or so total, single and double track and some road riding was involved. The only issue for you would be getting someone to pick you up at the southern end and get you back to your car. If you are at all interested let me know, I can ask Jim about the route etc. (I didn't get to go last year ). I'll be tied up at a fundraising event that Sunday the 21st, - that is unless I head out to the SS World Championships for the weekend. Wait a minute why don't you head out there? It's only in State College, PA (5 - 6 hours from Providence). You don't have to be registered (already full :() to ride, party and have fun. Rumor has it you can show up and race, just leave after the field takes off. The riding should be plenty technical and epic.

[Geoff G.]

August 20 & 21 is our 5th annual White Mtns MTB weekend. There is a self-guided Harpoon Adventure Ride on Sunday 8/21, optional trail work on Saturday. Free camping & party on Sat. night (same location as IMBA Epic).

I could easily point you in the right direction for a mega-epic, but I will be building trail/bridge or something on Sat. so could not guide.


I'm going up on saturday, and staying the whole week, what trails is the harpoon ride on, and where in north conway does it start?

[Jisch]

Wow. Thanks for the ideas guys.

Rob - That sounds good, but I can't fight that traffic again, it was easily a six hour ride home last year.

SHMF - the mid-state looks like it might fit the bill with some creative stashing and shuttling. I'll have to see who else might want to go and figure out if that would work. I don't really have the gear for DH, but hey might be a good time to try it out.

EB - I did the tour thing last year, I really had a great time (thanks Radair) but the travel (traffic ARGH!) was a bit much.

SB - Cool. Keep us in the loop and I may be contacting you later on, a Saturday at Douglas, Sunday in PV might be just the ticket.

First order of business is booking the kennel for the dog... got shut out two years ago because I didn't book early enough!

John

[hammerhead]

As Slaphead recommended a trip up the east side of the Pioneer Valley might be just what the doctor ordered. From a central point in the Amherst area, you could do the Batch and Earls Trails at Mt Holyoke State Park one day and a epic round trip M&M - Wendell - Robert Frost back to Amherst via Mt Toby. Day 1 would be almost all single track while day 2 would have some double track sections. Another great option, 45 minutes north-east of Amherst would be to visit Petersham, those guys can easily give you a 5 hour sampling of some damn nice singletrack. Or you could head a half hour west and sample the DAR and/or Dubuque.

[slapheadmofo]

Petersham, Leominster SF and the N. Midstate are all within about 20 minutes of each other. Not sure where to camp right around here but I could find out easily enough. If you're not dead set on camping, the Wachusett Village Inn is RIGHT on the Midstate, minutes from Leo. They've got a outdoor pool with bar service too. ;)

I think a lot of the lower trails at Jiminy would be fun without a big bike. The shop has a few pretty sweet rentals too. Also, Killington would be a fun place for a trail bike too, and there's camping nearby. I've foung that a long day of XC followed by a day of DH makes for a pretty sweet combo ;D

[Jisch]

Petersham, Leominster SF and the N. Midstate are all within about 20 minutes of each other. Not sure where to camp right around here but I could find out easily enough. If you're not dead set on camping, the Wachusett Village Inn is RIGHT on the Midstate, minutes from Leo. They've got a outdoor pool with bar service too. ;)

I think a lot of the lower trails at Jiminy would be fun without a big bike. The shop has a few pretty sweet rentals too. Also, Killington would be a fun place for a trail bike too, and there's camping nearby. I've foung that a long day of XC followed by a day of DH makes for a pretty sweet combo ;D


Hmm. that does sounds awesome! Gotta keep costs to a minimum - this is a trip without the wife - so hotel might be out of the question, we'll see.

I love NEMBA...

John

[Scott O]

After riding all over New England, trips to Utah, Colorado, AZ, etc.., Big River and Arcadia in RI are still two of my all time favorites. You can get from the main lot at Big River to Arcadia in @15 minutes, or you could ride some back roads to connect them. You can easily spend a whole day in each. It would actually take you days to explore all the trails from ARcadia and the trails it connects to in Connecticut. You can get a campsite in Arcadia, but I think its limited and you'd need to reserve it early. You can do swimming at both too.

[Jisch]

I've ridden extensively at Arcadia. It is a very cool place to ride. I'm certain I have not ridden everything, but I think I've seen much of it. Actually two years ago, when I missed getting a kennel for the dog, I went to Arcadia and did a 25 miler. It was great. I've never ridden Big River, I understand its pretty mellow?

Its a good idea, I'll consider it... hmm

John

[hdmsmz]

Savoy state forest and dubuque were the site of an imba epic a few years ago . i have heard you could ride for days up there . I might even want to join you .Harry

[talisman]

A Big River RI, Arcadia RI and Pachaug CT epic can easily be put together for a massive multi day loop with little road riding. There is a tent campsite in Arcadia off of the North South Trail and I believe Pachaug has campsites. There are several private camp grounds in the area, Oak Embers is close to the 'center' of a Pachaug, Arcadia and Big River epic. Burnlingame in RI also has some riding and camping.

Good GPS maps are available at bikerag.com.

[sizlinseagulsoup]

Robert Frost trail has my vote. It's 52 miles of uninterupted trail, mostly very technical singletrack (in my opinion, the most difficult trail in the Pioneer Valley). Bachelor St is pretty good, but it's basically flat and rocky. Haven't done much riding at Wendell (where the RFT ends), so I can't comment. If you want really technical trails, you might want to hit up in the D.A.R. or the trails in the heart of the Berkshires as Bachelor St. isn't really that difficult.

[Slider]

Jisch - thought about western MA at all? Not a bad road trip from central CT, and I bet there's lots out there.

I am thinking a Berksires thing would be pretty epic, maybe including Mount Greylock. I did some awesome Amherst area riding years ago, but I don't remember the name of the place we rode.

Any input from the Western MA folks?

Slider

[Jisch]

Any input from the Western MA folks?

Slider


Yeah, Pioneer Valley = Western MA (I think).

[Slider]

I think Hammerhead and Slaphead hit it on the nose. Reasonably close, very remote psychologically, but with all the amenities. Now, give up the camping idea, find a decent cheap motel, and I am in. That assumes I can convince my wife...

Slider

[steve_b]

If you decide on the Berkshires, there's camping at Pittsfield SF and also October Mtn, I believe. You could setup base at one or the other, but would probably have to do a quick shuttle to the other trailheads for day 2 and 3. Good riding at both, but you may need one of the locals to show you some of the trails. Try asking for a guide on the "No Rules" Yahoo group.

Some ideas for the Berks.....

Yokun Ridge / Kennedy Park / over to Bosquet and back
Potter Mtn / Pittstown SF / Skyline Trail / Jiminy area
October Mtn and Kirvin Park
Mt Greylock (Hope you like to climb)

[TA]

In amherst you may have ridden at Amathyst Brook which both the m&m trail and Robert frost trail pass through.The m&m trail (can be found online and they have it broken down in 5-10 mile sections)can be ridden in most places and goes from Ct to NH and passes through Bachelor st. area Mount Holyoke range www.hampshire.edu/cms_html/Holyoke_Range.htm. M&M is unrideable in this area but you can connect back up to it. It then goes through Amathyst Brook and on to Wendel.
Im not sure what Kevin considers flat but the Bachelor st area has about 800' of elevation change.Also Kevin is probably a better rider than me but my riding friends and I think it is plenty technical.
There isn't any camping in the area so that might be a problem.
DAR has camping, Ive only ridden there twice but the riding is great not sure how many miles of trails though.Nice lake for swimming. Check it out at the DCR website

have fun
Terry

[hammerhead]

If you decide on the east side of the Pioneer Valley option, and are stuck for a place to stay, I have space for camping on the CT river, just a quick canoe river crossing and 5 +/- road miles from the M&M or Frost in Amherst/Leverett. PM me if you choose this option.

I'll second Westerner on the Batch being a a tad tougher than 'Flat and Easy' more like 'Lots of nasty technical with a few steeps thrown in to keep you honest'.