Anyplace to ride in Westborough?

[monadnock]

I'll be employed in Westborough MA in a couple weeks. Is there any decent trail riding around there?
- Deane

[TheHeckler]

Behind the insane asylem. Just watch out for the guys in the white suits. :o

[monadnock]

That works! If I'm having a particularly bad day, I can go check in after my ride.

Medication Time! ;D

[splat]

Yeah there are also Some trails over toward Northboro. Cedar Hill is Nice ,but the Sudbury Valley trustees control it and they don't like Mt bikes.
Butthe Talbot trail in Northboro can give you a nice loop when hooked up with the State Hospital tails

[vinnycactus]

I used to work at the EMC building just off rt. 9 in westboro. it took me 8 minutes to get to the Nam.

[Baconman]

Nam is the best choice. Northboro Conservation land on Berlin border is a good choice for less tech riding. It's on the NE side of Ball Hill.

As far as Sudbury Valley (SVT) is concerned, they don't own land. What they do is setup trusts for conservation land. Landowners make the rules for use, within the constraints of the conservation deed. There's no explicit bike exclusion from SVT although landowners may choose to. I know this because my family has used SVT to conserve a nature corridor and we still ride on it, even during SVT tours.

[splat]

I guess a good question would be where in Westboro are you ?

[monadnock]

>>I guess a good question would be where in
>>Westboro are you ?

I'll be at the EMC building. Very close to the Rt9/495 junction. With the days getting shorter, I may need to jam in some lunchtime rides. The state hospital land appears close enough for that.

I'd definitely like to hit Nam some evening...never been and have heard about it for years and years. For kicks, I usually ride Groton and Leominster.

[Tim]

Upton State Forest is very close (10 minute drive) and quite good. Hopkinton State Park is not so great, but also close. Are you on Computer Drive or Coslin Drive?

Tim

[05stumpy]

Hopkinton SP sucks and you have to pay $5 to park inside...bunch of short little loops, or some swampy fire roads on the back-side.

Agree your best local choices for XC are UPTON SP, Callahan SP (Marlboro side, accessed via rt 9-E to rt 85N to Farm road) and 'nam.

The state "looney-bin" trails in Westboro are ok...it's a few-mile long loop, the other section is for bird watchers and is kinda hike-a-bike (and supposed to be closed to bikes as was mentioned). It's a better place for trail running than mt. biking IMO.

Pisgah in Northboro is also ok, just not a big area.
maps and links are here:
http://www.town.northborough.ma.us/ntrails/trails.htm

[splat]

There is also Lake White hall, which can be connected to Upton. If you are interested in pisgah I jhave made an Awesome map, from the GPS. edmund Hill in northboro, fun but not a lot there. and if you are intested in the looney Bin trails Let me ( or SloMoJo know we can show you the Interesting stuff.

[Tim]

Yo Splat, just been getting back into riding Pisgah; have you found the new trails on the SW end yet? I only explored a little, but the trail I did was pretty nice - there were a couple of rock faces that I sure wasn't riding down until I can see them in daylight! Don't know who cut the trails, but it looks like it was a biker. And yes, they do look officially sanctioned - there was a Dept of Fish and Wildlife map up.

Tim

[monadnock]

Thanks for the advice! Those Northborough land maps are kind...definitely curious about "Mt Pisgah". A friend of mine apparantly used to backcountry ski there...must be challenging.

I'll be starting the new job in a week. Looking forward to checking out some new places!

[Rych]

>>I guess a good question would be where in
>>Westboro are you ?

I'll be at the EMC building. Very close to the Rt9/495 junction. With the days getting shorter, I may need to jam in some lunchtime rides. The state hospital land appears close enough for that.

I'd definitely like to hit Nam some evening...never been and have heard about it for years and years. For kicks, I usually ride Groton and Leominster.


I work at emc in westboro. There are several EMCer's who hit 'nam after work every now and then. You'll need lights this time of year, but you'd be welcome to go with us.

[RideDaEpic]

I have been riding Pisgah for long time and I know all the new trails up there. I ride there a few times a week, as well as at Rayburn, Upton, and Singletary (the orchard). Just put a post up if you want to do a ride there. I ride mostly after work so you will need a light.

I also do Nam or Lemonister on the weekends

[SloMoJo]

New trails at Mt Pissa .. .really?
I have not been there all year.

Tim are there trails at Lyman St entrance, across the road & over the tracks? Someone said there was more. You know?

[Tim]

SMJ, not sure what you mean by "over the tracks" - are you referring to the Linden St. entrance? If so, the new trails are on the complete opposite end of the property.

If you take the main cart path (think it's called "Berlin Road") all the way to the southwest, eventually it makes a 90 degree left, and then goes about 50 feet and splits, with the left branch heading up a pretty washed out section that gets you to one of the overlooks. At the 90 degree turn, one of the new trails goes out to the right. There is a kiosk with a map. The new trails aren't long, but seem pretty nicely cut.

Tim

[SloMoJo]

Roger that Tim.
I understand where you mean.

Yea, I was talking about accross the street from Linden St entrance.
RR tracks are accross the street with a couple trails.
I went over there once, and trails kinda fizzled out.
I met someone at pissa that said there was more to it over there.

No sweat, sounds like you have not been over there either.

I have been on a fishing binge lately, with the fall striper run and all.
My riding bud's are ribbing me good.

I'll have to get over to check out the new trail and such.
Thx
-Slo

[splat]

Roger that Tim.
I understand where you mean.

Yea, I was talking about accross the street from Linden St entrance.
RR tracks are accross the street with a couple trails.
I went over there once, and trails kinda fizzled out.
I met someone at pissa that said there was more to it over there.

No sweat, sounds like you have not been over there either.

I have been on a fishing binge lately, with the fall striper run and all.
My riding bud's are ribbing me good.

I'll have to get over to check out the new trail and such.
Thx
-Slo


Yeah , he's not a Mt biker any more. all he know about spinning is goes with something called "casting"

[CharlB]

Tim, you were right, the new trails were cut by a mnt. biker, I did them, and yes they are sanctioned by the Dept. of Fish and Wildlife - MassWildlife, who owns the 95 acres the trails are on.

FYI there are about 3 miles of new trails on the Northboro side of Mt. Pisgah, combine those with the Northboro Conservation and Berlin Conservation land trails and there's some good riding there.

I started cutting the trails last fall and finished up this spring. Bill Davis the F&W Central Mass Director has authorized me to "enhance the property for the publics use", so I did, and he has authorized me to maintain and make improvements to the trails as needed. He provided me with all the official Mass F&W signs, which I posted recently. I also sat down with the Northboro Trails Committee representative this week and an agreement was made to blaze the trails with the official Northboro Trail Blazes. So, I'll be removing the one's I already put up, and replacing them with T of N blazes next week. The map that's posted on the Kiosk at Berlin Road Trail and Howard Ridge Trail is the one I made. NTC will be producing a new map with GPS info. I provided, and when that is available I'll post it.

The Vernal Pool Trail goes across some private property, and I had to close one section of trail in that area recently because that property owner didn't want the trail used anymore. I thanked him for his cooperation over the last 20 years, sent him a gift basket, raked over the trail for him, and then re-routed it as he suggested.

Another trail is being planned, which I talked over with N.T.C., and I may have time this fall to work on it with other guys I bike with.

Any questions, or if anyone wants a map contact me and I will email you a copy. Although, there is one map on the Kiosk, and then others at all the trail intersections, so it should be easy to find your way around. Also, I've been coordinating with the Sudbury Valley Trustees on producing a detailed map of the entire Northboro and Berlin "Mt. Pisgah Corridor", but that map wont be available until spring 2006.

charleshbradley@charter.net

To access the F&W trails - park at the Northboro Smith Road trail head and follow the Mentzer Trail to the Sparrow Trail, Sparrow to Berlin Rd. Trail, then right (south) on Berlin Rd. Trail until you see the Kiosk.

Happy Biking.

[Tim]

Charles, you da man! Nice work.

Tim

[SloMoJo]

Bravo Charlie! 8)
We all thank you.


Splat ..... I'll see you in November. ;)

[Slider]

Yeah, that is impressive diplomacy and trial work rolled into one. Should be a case study on how to get things done.

Slider

[CharlB]

Yeah, that is impressive diplomacy and trial work rolled into one. Should be a case study on how to get things done.

Slider


Thanks guys. FYI another quote from Bill Davis was that MassWildlife is "not in the trail making business, we leave that up to folks like you." I'm not sure if Bill understood the scope of what he said to me. But, on that note he suggested other areas I might look at for mountain biking. One area is the Martha Deering WMA in Millbury, fondly known to all of us at Rayburn, although only a portion of the Rayburn trails are on the WMA property which enters at the stone pillars. He also suggested I look at the Merrill Pond WMA in the towns of Millbury, Oxford and Sutton, which is the area south of Singletary Lake, and has over 700 acres. I plan to get out to Merrill Pond and check it out for possible new trails and then make a proposal to Bill Davis. Any help would be appreciated. Bill expressed a very open attitude about the publics use of WMA property in his area, simply it is there for the publics use and enjoyment, and he seemed to welcome help in "enhancing" the properties for the publics use. I'm all for that, and I will continue to be in contact with him about my suggestions. Also, if you guys have any thoughts, pass them along to me and I can sit down with Mr. Davis. He also expressed we have to co-exist on the WMA land with hunters, and we had a discussion about that, because after all his agency promotes hunting, fishing and trapping. Oh well, I think we can do that. Here's a link to MassWildlife properties in the Central region.

http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/dfw_cd.htm

CharlB

[splat]

Cool Beans!!! If you need Help let us know ! I would be willing to help.

also When I get home I will email you the map I have of the area. I made a Detailed GPS map last year. I guess you have just made a Great excuse to go ride there again !!!


Any one up for Sunday At Pisgah ?

[steve_b]

He also suggested I look at the Merrill Pond WMA in the towns of Millbury, Oxford and Sutton, which is the area south of Singletary Lake, and has over 700 acres. I plan to get out to Merrill Pond and check it out for possible new trails and then make a proposal to Bill Davis. Any help would be appreciated. Bill expressed a very open attitude about the publics use of WMA property in his area, simply it is there for the publics use and enjoyment, and he seemed to welcome help in "enhancing" the properties for the publics use.

CharlB


Let me know when you are going to Merrill Pond. I'll join you if I'm free.

[CharlB]

He also suggested I look at the Merrill Pond WMA in the towns of Millbury, Oxford and Sutton, which is the area south of Singletary Lake, and has over 700 acres. I plan to get out to Merrill Pond and check it out for possible new trails and then make a proposal to Bill Davis. Any help would be appreciated. Bill expressed a very open attitude about the publics use of WMA property in his area, simply it is there for the publics use and enjoyment, and he seemed to welcome help in "enhancing" the properties for the publics use.

CharlB


Let me know when you are going to Merrill Pond. I'll join you if I'm free.




Ok

[CharlB]

Cool Beans!!! If you need Help let us know ! I would be willing to help.

also When I get home I will email you the map I have of the area. I made a Detailed GPS map last year. I guess you have just made a Great excuse to go ride there again !!!


Any one up for Sunday At Pisgah ?


I'd go to show you around, but I'm off hiking in the White's for 3 days. I tried sending you 2 maps via email, but they returned.

[splat]

Cool Beans!!! If you need Help let us know ! I would be willing to help.

also When I get home I will email you the map I have of the area. I made a Detailed GPS map last year. I guess you have just made a Great excuse to go ride there again !!!


Any one up for Sunday At Pisgah ?


I'd go to show you around, but I'm off hiking in the White's for 3 days. I tried sending you 2 maps via email, but they returned.


Fixed my Email addy.

[BrianK]

Charlie, nice job on the new trails. Some nice technical sections on the short section I rode today before I discovered the hanger bolt on my derailleur was stripped and my derail was just floating around back there. Then I broke my cheapo knock off leatherman while making my bike single speed... Then the first bee sting on the ride back... Then the 2nd bee sting.... Not a good ride :'(

Can't wait to go back and finish checking out the trails after I repair my bike!

[splat]

Cool Beans!!! If you need Help let us know ! I would be willing to help.

also When I get home I will email you the map I have of the area. I made a Detailed GPS map last year. I guess you have just made a Great excuse to go ride there again !!!


Any one up for Sunday At Pisgah ?


I'd go to show you around, but I'm off hiking in the White's for 3 days. I tried sending you 2 maps via email, but they returned.


Steve_B and I just got back from there !!!

What an inceredible job!!! Thank you Thank You Thank You!!!!

[monadnock]

I'm sort of settled into EMC and ready for some local rides. Mt. Pisgah seems to be the place. Anyone up for a riiiiiiiiiiide next week?

[BrianK]

Just want to thank you again Charlie! I finally got my bike fixed last weekend (lot of good that did with all the rain) and finally got to ride all the new trails today. Those are some great trails! And you did a good job with the drainage too. I only found one big puddle and that was because it was right off Berlin road.

[Tim]

Roger that Tim.
I understand where you mean.

Yea, I was talking about accross the street from Linden St entrance.
RR tracks are accross the street with a couple trails.
I went over there once, and trails kinda fizzled out.
I met someone at pissa that said there was more to it over there.

No sweat, sounds like you have not been over there either.

I have been on a fishing binge lately, with the fall striper run and all.
My riding bud's are ribbing me good.

I'll have to get over to check out the new trail and such.
Thx
-Slo


SMJ, re-reading this thread, I finally got what you meant by "over the tracks" - you meant in the flood control area on the other side of Linden St. I went over there once and once was enough - that place chomps the big chimichanga. Sandy, washed out trails, all churned up by quads. Just say no!

Tim

[splat]

This reminds me I need to get out to pisgah soon!