June 10, Bear Brook Boogie, MTB Adventure Series Ride

[Husqvarna]

Come check out Bear Brook State Park in Allenstown, NH. It's only a 20 min drive from Manchester, NH and only an hour from the Boston north region. If you've never ridden Bear Brook, June 10 is your chance to sample some of the awesome single track, without the hassles of trying to follow an outdated map of the park or trying to figure out the best route to ride the trails. Kathy Evans, Southern NH NEMBA Trail Ambassordor at Bear Brook knows all the hidden (not shown on the map) treasures of singletrack, and she has laid out two incledible routes to ride.

Check out the link. http://www.mtbadventureseries.org/mtbadventure/BearBrook.htm

[SteveC]

I'm lookingforward to it! Raffles, BBQ, riding, sounds good! I think I convinced the wife that we needed to go checkitout with the kids. I'mhopingto getagood ride in whilethe kids (and wife)do their own ride. Is anyone leading a kids ride?
I'll be headingup from Quincy MA as earlyaspossible(myspacebarisdying).Anyone else?
Steve

[errollthin]

I plan on attending. Bear brook is always a good time.

[SteveC]

cool! I can't waitto leave assachusetts(my m's arejustfinethanksbutmyspacebaris stilldying)
SC

[jaime]

I'm starting to get pretty psyched for this event too, although I won't be able to ride this time around.

Kathy & the rest of the Bear Brook organizers have given my wife & I the opportunity to raise some money for cancer research & the PMC by serving BBQ at the event. We just did the bulk of the shopping last night, there's now 160 lbs of chicken in our freezer (it's bursting at the seams!). The plan is to set up on Sunday morning just as we would at a BBQ competition and smoke & grill enough leg quarters for everyone to have some. We're bringing 5 Weber Smoky Mtn cookers and 2 kettle grills to get the job done. I'm hoping to make the registration tent smell better than it ever has before.

All are welcome to enjoy the 'que: we're going to put a goldfish bowl out for folks to make donations as they see fit. All of the money will go to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute via the PMC (which is a 99% efficient charitable organization). Tax deductible donations can be made via the PMC website (pmc.org) by clicking on the "eGifts" link and entering my rider number: js0306

Anyway, if you like good barbeque (our competition team is the current defending MA st rib champs), keep an eye out for us there and try some. If you like it, stuff the goldfish bowl for a good cause. In addition to raising some bucks to fight cancer we're hoping to add a little to the event.

[AA]

I'm starting to get pretty psyched for this event too, although I won't be able to ride this time around.

Kathy & the rest of the Bear Brook organizers have given my wife & I the opportunity to raise some money for cancer research & the PMC by serving BBQ at the event. We just did the bulk of the shopping last night, there's now 160 lbs of chicken in our freezer (it's bursting at the seams!). The plan is to set up on Sunday morning just as we would at a BBQ competition and smoke & grill enough leg quarters for everyone to have some. We're bringing 5 Weber Smoky Mtn cookers and 2 kettle grills to get the job done. I'm hoping to make the registration tent smell better than it ever has before.

All are welcome to enjoy the 'que: we're going to put a goldfish bowl out for folks to make donations as they see fit. All of the money will go to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute via the PMC (which is a 99% efficient charitable organization). Tax deductible donations can be made via the PMC website (pmc.org) by clicking on the "eGifts" link and entering my rider number: js0306

Anyway, if you like good barbeque (our competition team is the current defending MA st rib champs), keep an eye out for us there and try some. If you like it, stuff the goldfish bowl for a good cause. In addition to raising some bucks to fight cancer we're hoping to add a little to the event.

I have been luck enough to enjoy BBQ made by Jaime, trust me it is beyond good! I may have to make the trek up to Bear Brook, riding and BBQ is a hard to resist combo.

[SteveC]

mmmmm.....maybe I'll justcome up and EAT!
BTW, is there an entry fee fortheevent itself? I didnt see any ontheflyer......

[Husqvarna]

FREE BBQ, thats awesome! Kathy's been keeping secretes from us, guess she's probably not that exicited about BBQ, being a veggie. But Kayle dog is going to love it.
We wouldn't want you going out of pocket for your expenses. How much of a donation per plate would you like to recieve?

[Husqvarna]

BTW, is there an entry fee fortheevent itself? I didnt see any ontheflyer......

Good question, it used to be $5 or $8 when it was an EFTA Fun Ride. Not sure what it is this year as MBAS Ride. I'll send Kathy an email and ask.

[Husqvarna]

As per the top....members $10, non-members $15, kids 15 and under free with adult, free if joining NEMBA , K

[jaime]

FREE BBQ, thats awesome! Kathy's been keeping secretes from us, guess she's probably not that exicited about BBQ, being a veggie. But Kayle dog is going to love it.
We wouldn't want you going out of pocket for your expenses. How much of a donation per plate would you like to recieve?

I'm hoping that folks will throw in $5 or $10, or even more, keeping in mind that all of the money goes to the Jimmy Fund. My wife and I are donating the cost of the food and other stuff like charcoal, as well as our time. It's hard to find a person these days whose life, or that of a loved one or friend, hasn't been affected by cancer, so I'm pretty optimistic that the out-of-pocket cost to us will be worth the donations generated for the charity. I'm going to bring along some flyers with more info about Dana-Farber, the Jimmy Fund, & PMC. There'll be info on there about how to make tax-deductible donations if folks want to go that route.

Even if Kathy isn't wild about bbq, I bet she's gonna like the way we make the place smell. Maybe we can "turn" her to the other (carnivorous) side!

[bdee]

Well, now I think I have to go. I was debating racing in Dalton MA, but then I found out about a great show the night before in town and.... well, let's just say after last night's show (the Slackers) in New London I awoke at the oh so early hour of noon thirty today. I believe my days of attending shows and getting up super early with enthusiasm are over. Sucks getting older. But now that I know Jaime is BBQing I may have to drag my sorry ass out of bed early next Sunday AM and trek up to NH. If anyone wants to carpool from the RI area let me know - it'll make me motivate more if someone else is waiting on me ;)

[Husqvarna]

Did some arrowing with Kathy, during a nice shower on Saturday afternoon and she's changed up the routes considerable from past years. Doing a figured 8 formation for the advanced intermediate loop, with the BobCat Trail and Hayes Field as the center of the loop.
The intermediate/advanced loop approximately 20 miles, will include lots of rolling technical singletrack, with some short sections of fireroads and some "Big Ring" fast double track.
Everyone starts from the event parking lot and takes One mile road, this is gravel park road with no automobiles on it. Then the advanced/intermediates take a right for a little climb up the Catamount mountain trail to the Old One Mile singletrack trail (unmapped), then on to the Bear Brook trail then up Little Bear, over to Bobcat and down Salt Lick, then Pitch Pine, Broken Boulder with a side loop to the old CCC Smyth Pond Shelter then onto Bobcat, Chipmunk to Spuce Pond Road then down BearHill and across to the Hedge Hog Ledge trail. At the end of Hedge Hog Ledge there's a nice offshoot to Bear Hill Pond which is great spot for a snack, a dip and a nap in the sun on the ledges. From there its Hall Mountain Trail to the I-Trail (unmapped) and then down Broken Boulder, down Bobcat and through Hayes Field (snack table) then onto to my favorite, Carr Ridge and the well know Stairs at the bottom of Cascade. Then a quick sprint through the Bear Brook Extension trail (unmapped) and a return to parking on the one mile road.

The Beginner loop is approximately 10 miles in distance with a mix of fireroads and double track trail. They will stay on One mile Road and Lane trail and then Hayes Farm Road and pickup the upper section of Little Bear near the stump dump over to Hayes Field, then Bobcat to Salt Lick, Pitch Pine, Broken Boulder back to Bobcat and through Hayes Feild and back to packing via the Lane Trail and One Mile road.

What's really great about this route is that you can ride the beginner loop and add on some of the advanced sections if you like climb a lot. There also some great options for the not so advanced, intermediate rider who's not yet up to 20+ miles or doesn't have 3-4 hours of time for the longer loop. Ride the advanced loop until you get to the Chipmunk trail then shortcut the long loop with the beginners on Bobcat to Hayes feild and then do Carr Ridge and Bear Brook extension. But if you can muster it, i highly recomend the long loop. Bear Hill, Hedge Hog Ledge, Hall Mountain and I-trail are some of the best technical singletrack trails in the park.

Tip: If your making a long weekend of it and camping at the Bear Brook Campground. FOMBA is only 10 miles south of Bear Brook. The Route 15 NH snowmobile trail connects the two areas with Tower Hill in the middle of both if want to ride. Or the drive from Bear Brook to Depot Road in Auburn is only 20 mins via By-Pass 28 and Hooksett Road in Auburn.

[Husqvarna]

The weather is looking EXCELLENT for this event on Sunday. Cool in the morning around 60. Sunny, Low to Mid 70's with a breeze mid-day.

Bring a chair, some sun block or a beach umbrella and a beverage and soak up the sun and some of Jaime's delicous barbeque after the ride.

The event parking lot at Bear Brook is a huge powdery sandy area, about 8 acres with very little shade and no grass for the buggers to hang out in.

Anyone have a volleyball and net?

[MtnBkr]

I might attend this. Its only about an hour and a half from me. Ill see what i can do

Edit: Is this going to cost any money. I bet it will, does anyone know the rough estimate of how much it will be

[pk]

The cost of the event is $10 for members, $15 for non-members ... and if you join NEMBA, you ride for free!

All proceeds will be going to future trail building and maintenance at Bear Brook, so everybody wins.

pk

[MtnBkr]

Alright..I take it i can Join NEMBA there? or no

[pk]

Yes, if you join NEMBA at the event, you're golden!

Don't miss out on Jaime's BBQ too. Where else do you get to eat fine food and help Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund at the same time!

pk

[errollthin]

Hey how is the weather up there?

[bdee]

So after reading the description - all rides are leaving after 11:00?

[MissJean]

So after reading the description - all rides are leaving after 11:00?


"Riders can follow marked courses on their own at any time or take part in a led ride.

Schedule of Led Rides:
Beginner Rides: 9:30am and 10:30am
Kids / Family Ride: 10am
Intermediate Ride: 11:30am
Advanced Ride: 11:30 "

[MtnBkr]

The Weather Was GREAT today! IT was a Perfect day for Riding. And the Trails were Great. I mostly Stuck around on the Intermediate, and tried some Advanced! It was Great!

[digger]

Really a great day! Thanks to all who made it happen. Fun to ride almost every trail in the opposite direction from my norm excpet for the blast down Carr Ridge. Way to go 'cue crew, hope you raised a lot o dough.

[PutAwayWet]

What a fantastic time today. It was good to see some people I haven't seen in a while. Also, riding those trails in that direction was a fun change! That BBQ was some of the best I've ever had - and Jamie....No heartburn! Thanks to you and your wife for a great feast :)

[jaime]

And thanks especially to Kathy E. and the NH crew who organized the event and allowed me to participate. We had a great time and it looked like all the riders did, too: everyone I saw after the ride had a smile on their faces.

We raised almost $580 for cancer research at Dana-Farber and the PMC. Thanks to everyone who pitched in! If I can convince the troops (wife & daughter) to join me again, we'll be at the Wendell event on July 1st. Hope to see some of you again!

jaime

[pk]

That was the tastiest $10 I've ever donated!

Thanks for coming to Bear Brook, Jaime, and I can't wait to have some more at Wendell on July 1st!

pk

[T Grimble]

It has been a long time since I rode Bear Brook and I forgot how much I liked those trails. They have excellent flow with enough technical features to keep you on your toes. My wife and I did most of the beginner loop with the Tandem towing the Burley trailer with my daughter. We all had fun but needed to keep it short. Apparently the ride in those trailers must be a little rough because we looked back and saw my daughter holding her head and protesting the bounciness.

I also got a solo ride in on part of the advanced loop. These trails just fill you full of confidence. They make everybody feel like a NORBA champion. Thanks to the NH folks for putting on a great event complete with cookies at a critical juncture in the ride.

Much thanks to Jamie and Mary for some excellent food. Nothing better then getting off you bike and having excellent BBQ waiting for you.

So where are the pictures PK???

[pk]

I'll put up a pic page later.... but here's one for ya.

pk

[ArmOnFire]

That was a good ride and some dayum good food (thanks Jaime and crew).

I only got to take a few pix (too much fun riding!), and some didn't come out that great, so here is what I have.

Perfect (Day/ Ride / Food).

[MtnBkr]

^^ Hey PK where were those trails where you took the pictures?

[Husqvarna]

^^ Hey PK where were those trails where you took the pictures?

There are no trail pictures taken by PK. If you are refering to the pics taken by AOF, there are on the long loop. The first of a rider in a grassy area, is the loggging road that leads into Hedgehog Ledge Trail. The second is pic with the ledge leading out to a pond, is an out and back to Bear Hill Pond also on the long loop just off the Ferrett Trail near the southern intersection of Hedgehog ledge.

[MtnBkr]

There are no trail pictures taken by PK. If you are refering to the pics taken by AOF, there are on the long loop. The first of a rider in a grassy area, is the loggging road that leads into Hedgehog Ledge Trail. The second is pic with the ledge leading out to a pond, is an out and back to Bear Hill Pond also on the long loop just off the Ferrett Trail near the southern intersection of Hedgehog ledge.

Wow.I don't know why i said PK..i thought they were by him..my B.