Wendell SF Sunday November 12-FUN RIDE

[Superb Man]

After you've all hit the final Topeak Ride at Harold parker in a Few Weeks-Don't hang up your Knobbies! PV-NEMBA will be hosting it's final Ride Event of the Season in the Lovely and Rugged Wendell State Forest.

PLace: Wendell State Forest - main Parking Area of of Montague Rd, Wendell MA

Time: 12:00pm-

Rides: There will be Two Marked Loops (yep with those ubiquitous paper arrows we've all come to know and love!) one Challenging loop one less challenging. We will also feature at least one guided beginner ride to Start at 12:00pm promptly- and most likley we'll recruit a number of local ride leaders for those who would rather explore with a group.

The Riding at Wendell ranges from fairly bucolic and pleasant forest trails to a few white knuckle technical xc rippers. It's a fair amount of singletrack with a bit more of a 'wilderness' feel than in other parks. This is on the Left side of the Mighty Connecticut River so yes, there is some climbing (but of course some great descending as well!). We'll have the trails in good shape!

We're also looking to have a few Bike manufacture reps there with demo bikes as well--I'll post more detail on this as it is confirmed.

Donation: $10.00-this will go directly to the State Forest land Manager--we've had (and continue to have) a stellar relationship with this very pro-biking park and great access as well-the donation is well worth it. But of course-we're all on the honor system here.

After party-Still undetermined- but in the past we;'ve used the rather unique Rte 63 Road House in Wendell and Chances arre we will again.

So Mark your calendars everyone-Riding doesn't end in Octtoberr-there will be a little (or a lot actuallyy) something for everyone at the Event.

Any Questions?? Drop me a line!

Liam O'Brien
ginaliam@mac.com

[Slappy]

I'm due for a visit - gonna try to make this one!
Hope to see you guys soon.
And tell the Roadhouse they better schedule an extra bartender this time. ;)
d

[Superb Man]

Awesome, Slappy-we'll look forward to seeing all the members of the Slapheadmofo leisure team!

I'll work on the Road House staffing woes

Liam

[Superb Man]

Well, I finally got off my lazy butt, hooked up with the crew and put in a day of trail work at wendell (with more to follow)---man-it's amazing what a couple of yokels can do with a few chainsaws and a backpack blower!

If we're not buried in snow, it'll be great ride and the trails will be in fine shape!

[BigMac]

there should be no issues in wendell trails are in great shape,clean and begging for some rubber-so come on out and tear it up.

[Superb Man]

there should be no issues in wendell trails are in great shape,clean and begging for some rubber-so come on out and tear it up.


Hey Gang-Yesterday I blew-off the Legendary Nipmuck Trail, the Maple Leaf Trail, and Most of the Hannah Swarton-and then last night around 8 pm I rode 'em with one lone, 5 year old helmet light and they were flat out dynamite--a few more days like this and we'll have the finest maintained trails in the late Fall anywhere--at anyy rate-If you guys are all a little tired of sloshing through knee-deep leaves and trail bramble-but still want rocky, hilly challenging fun c'mon out to Wendell SF-on Nov 12!! (12;00 pm main parking area!)

Any questions-shoot 'em to me
ginaliam@mac.com


Big Mac--we need to talk about Saturday--give me a call you non-riding palooka.

Liam

[TheHare]

We are riding at Bachelor St. at 7:30 am. Probably do about a 3 hour tour there. Grab some lunch... and then head to Wendell for the noon start. In case anyone is interested.

[Superb Man]

G-D it, The Hare-that's one awesomely abitious way to sample the best of the northern Pioneer valley in a day!

Hey-I here your advocacy efforts got a year reprieve on Robinson logging!!!! Yeah-it's not a victory but it's a real positive move! Great work you dogged rabble rouser!

Liam

[TheHare]

Hey Liam! Yes sir! We are making some very positive strides!!! Robinson is way more amazing than I had ever realized. I just love it for the (untrained) surface beauty I see... But the team of folks that have come together and their different interests have really identified the gInormous and rare resource that it is.

[BigMac]

Myself and Liam went out into wendell at 6am this morning for a few hours of touch up work, Liam is getting really good at blowing............the trails off with his back-pack blower, and I did a bunch of rock work where needed. later we met up with Jason D and we all worked our way back out to the cars and discussed future plans for wendell. All in all a goog morning of work C-mon out and enjoy our leaf-free trails.

PS. EVERYONE DON'T FORGET THE NEMBA FUN RIDE ON NOVEMBER 12 AT 12PM AT THE WENDELL STATE FOREST HQ.
UNTIL THEN KEEP-EM-SPINNIN':cool:

[Superb Man]

Hey Gang,

The good folks over at dieselbikes.com have posted the Wendell ride--man, they have a great website--and make some tremendous videos (I've also enjoyed the 'crazy fred' commentary short videos on the website immensely--everyone should poke around on their website and see what that organization is up to-good stuff!

Anyway, I'm pretty excited to see interest in our trails from the various great riding regions of NEMBA--and, we're still fine tuning the trails for sunday--if it's raining-moderate showers--I'll still host the event--but please bring your stickies tires as Rocks and Roots are plentiful at Lovely Wendell.

See Ya on Sunday

Liam
ginaliam@mac.com

[Ridge Wrecker]

Any estimates as to how long each route will be?

[Superb Man]

Any estimates as to how long each route will be?

Hi,

First off-which Ridge rider is this?? Deerfield Local or the the Ridge Rider on the Forum?? If it's the local I'd also like to mention that the PV-NEMBA chapter meeting is also at Wendell at 9:30 Nov 12th before the ride.

Anyway, how long...hmmm, well-in miles it should be around 15 miles (the longest option--I'll explain more in a minute), the terrain is pretty hilly, and in some areas pretty technical (in terms of ledgy rocks and roots, good stuff-but sometimes a little persistent grit is required!)-I don't want to use myself as an example since we haven't ridden together and everything is relative-I'll say-for a top-flight ripper-2 -2.5 hours, strong rider 2.5-3.0, average 3.0-3.5 hours. There are a few spots worth stopping at and soaking in the views as well-so factor that in.

Harold, Big Mac, even GANDALF2 or others-help me out here-How long do you think it will take-the route I'm planning is-Starting from Ruggles Pond Parking Area- go out to initial xc trail (to carrolton rd), then over to Ruggles Pond Trail to Probably Pine Tree Trail-Then up the Trail to the Lookouts (from just past Ruggles Pond), to Jerusalem Rd, then Up the next stretch of the Trail to the Lookouts turning right on the "new Trail" to Damon Camp Rd, From there we'd drop down to the "Bob is Fat" trail (lower hannah), make a left on the Maple Tree Trail following it all the way to the Nipmuck, take the Nipmuck down to Baker Rd-ride up Baker Rd Turning right at the top onto the Upper Hannah Swarton and all the way down to Davis Rd, then taking the Backside of the M&M Up to the Lookouts (it's awesome since we cleared it btw!) and Riding the "Trail To the Lookouts" all the way back down to Ruggles pond (and yes that hits one trail twice-but in different directions but it is 1. a great way--if not the best way-to end the ride and 2. with the improvements it's one of my favorite trails in either direction and worth riding!). Anyway-Hammerhead and Big Mac may have a better estimate But best guess for most folks-2.5-3.5 hours--pretty strenuous hours, but tons of fun too--welcome to Wendell!

As for the other routes-with the Beginer Ride being a Leader based group rides It'll depend on the group(s) figure 1.5-2.0 hours there.

The intermediate ride will basically be the same as the advanced with a few marked 'bail-outs' which will probably shave a half an hour off the ride--though, I think that most intermediates will be better off soldiering through the roough spots and plugging away at the whole ride--you'll miss great doable stuff and wonderful trail segments at the bailout points. Honestly. There's nothing death-defying or so sudden that you won't see coming and that you couldn't (you being the general you-and not anyone speciffic of course) quickly walk over or run up and remount. Just my my opinion of course, but I think most Wendell riders would agree.

Hope that helps! As you can see-I don't mind trying to fuly answer any questions!


Send more my way if you got 'em

Liam
ginaliam@mac.com

[Ridge Wrecker]

Liam,

Deerfield Ridge Rider here.

Thanks for the info. I've ridden Wendell a few times and I'm pretty familiar with the terrain there so I know that 15 miles at Wendell is nothing like 15 miles on the Deerfield Ridge! Might be too much for me, but we'll see. It's good to know that there will be a few bailout points in case I start running out of time. I should be able to make it, as long as it doesn't rain (or snow).

Yep-I'm a sally.

[chomp]

Well, I am not going to be able to make this ride, since I'll be at the Pats game on Sunday. Any chance that the arrows will be up on Saturday? I have some friends who are going to ride on Sunday, so I'll gladly kick in the 10 bucks for the fundraiser.. but I would really like to check out the park this weekend. Thanks!

[Superb Man]

The arrows won''t be up until late saturday and most likely early sunday..sorry dudes!

Ridge rider, The bailouts will take most of the teeth out of the ride-but leave much of the best riding (Nipmuck will be ridden by all levels for example).

Liam

[SuspectDevice]

I will be there for the meeting and the ride afterward. I should have both of the Sinister Trail/XC hardtails with me for people to try. Unfortunately no new VST XC bikes will be available.

_Mickey

[Superb Man]

That's great Mickey! Look Forward to trying one!

In addition I'm told Iron Horse/ K2 Rep will also be there with a few bikes to demo!

Liam

[Superb Man]

Now as for a rain date....

looks like some nasty weather could be on the way for Sunday (G-Damn it!)--If it's Totally Nasty-I'll post here early Sunday (or even late Saturday if it's obviouslty a washout!) and Probably Postpone the Ride Until the Following Saturday.--Yeah that's a Hassle-but what can you do?!? Well-I'll keep you posted.

Rain Date if Necessary: NOVEMBER 18th! Saturday-12:00pm