Good Places to ride? Darn snow....

[pk]

How's it looking out there? There wasn't much snow but it's sort of crusty and nasty .... tough going.

Any recommendations on good places to go this weekend?

pk

[Jisch]

Here in CT we have some ice with a snow dusting. I expect most of the ice to be gone as soon as we get up over freezing. We'll see. Right now you could ride, I would suggest larger tires to stay on top.

John

[bdee]

Not 100% sure but I'm thinking studs wouldn't be a horrible idea around here (work) at a place like Foxboro. At least over the next few days. The trails on the property here in Franklin are pretty iced over due to the snow/rain combo. The woods just has a dusting, but the trails themselves are sketchy to walk on, let alone ride. In Providence the ground is bare. I actually rode the road last night, and while it was wet the snow/slush was all gone.

RI would be a good call - - but I believe it's the height of gun hunting season in Arcadia and Big River right now. Lincoln Woods in Lincoln, RI offers bullet free riding.

[Longshanks]

Come on down the Cape. No snow/ice, very firm trails because of the cold. Otis is in fantastic shape right now. TOT is also.

[bikebob]

If you would like to experience winter riding you should join me and our crew for a ride on the Montague Plains tomorrow evening. We have between four to six inches of snow on the ground and last night I rode with a crew of six for an hour and a half. We hit some trails that had been packed down by snowmobiles and four wheelers. The riding was pretty tough in some spots but mostly we were able to keep a nice pace. It was pretty cold (20 degrees or so) but we kept warm enough that everyone had a good time.
:burndev:

[chqm8]

Come on down the Cape. No snow/ice, very firm trails because of the cold. Otis is in fantastic shape right now. TOT is also.

I'll probably be riding Otis this Friday at around 10 am or so. Sunday also with a larger group hopefully.

Otis is the bomb.

[DVRider]

I'll probably be riding Otis this Friday at around 10 am or so.

If you ride from or Near 151, you might want to reconsider this since it's right next to a wildlife management area and I can think of at least three permanent deer stands set up in that area near the teeter totter.

[dabedob]

Come on down the Cape. No snow/ice, very firm trails because of the cold. Otis is in fantastic shape right now. TOT is also.

I've recently gotten back into riding and ride most of the time now at Foxboro State Forest. I used to ride otis all the time back in the mid to late 90's. What's it like there now? Many more trails, or just the same? I do remember that is was a blast to go ride if you like hard pack single track with lots of twistys.

[chqm8]

If you ride from or Near 151, you might want to reconsider this since it's right next to a wildlife management area and I can think of at least three permanent deer stands set up in that area near the teeter totter.

Good point. We'll probably hit up Otis on Sunday only when hunting is not allowed.

Where to go on Friday now....?

I wonder if Borderland got any snow? There's no (legal) hunting in Borderland according to the park ranger I spoke to about 2 weeks ago.

[DAVID J]

XC skiing at Red Tail golf course in Devens is good for classic right now.Should last into next week anyways.Windblown is supposed to have 6k groomed for saturday.Who needs bikes??

[Jisch]

I rode at the Snip last night (Northeast/North Central CT). First off solo night rides are fun, but I'll admit that there was a time or two where I found myself looking over my shoulder. Gotta keep those ideas out of your mind... :D

Conditions were pretty good - a bit of snow with ice underneath. The trails were highly rideable, probably more so than last week when we were riding on wet leaves. The extreme steeps were not rideable, but that was only one or two spots. The one thing you had to look out for is the snow covered rocks, the ice under the snow made for a very slippery mix. Luckily its a very small percentage of the rocks that were snow covered. Of course I did find one and had a A over TK fall that was pretty dramatic - though not painful.

Anyway, riding was great, head down to CT if you want to get in a good ride.

John

[C.P.]

Good point. We'll probably hit up Otis on Sunday only when hunting is not allowed.

Where to go on Friday now....?

I wonder if Borderland got any snow? There's no (legal) hunting in Borderland according to the park ranger I spoke to about 2 weeks ago.

Borderland is a good choice for riding with No Hunting. As of last night, there is a 1-2" layer of hardpack frozen granular with some icy spots, which means studded tires would be helpful...

Here's a list of the Massachusetts state parks that DO NOT allow hunting: Always take extra care and still wear blaze orange, some of these parks may cross into public/private land that does have hunting activity. This Sat (12/8) will be especially busy, since it's the last day of shotgun season... (http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/dfw_deer_management_overview.htm)

Southeastern MA
Ames Nowell SP
Borderland SP

NorthEast MA
Hopkinton SP
Bradley Palmer SP
Great Brook SP

Central MA
Mt Grace SF
Pearl Hill SP
Robinson SP

Western MA
D.A.R. SF

Greater Boston
Blue Hills
Middlesex Fells

[bdee]

Borderland is a good choice for riding with No Hunting. As of last night, there is a 1-2" layer of hardpack frozen granular with some icy spots, which means studded tires would be helpful...

Here's a list of the Massachusetts state parks that DO NOT allow hunting: Always take extra care and still wear blaze orange, some of these parks may cross into public/private land that does have hunting activity. This Sat (12/8) will be especially busy, since it's the last day of shotgun season... (http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/dfw_deer_management_overview.htm)

Southeastern MA
Ames Nowell SP
Borderland SP

NorthEast MA
Hopkinton SP
Bradley Palmer SP
Great Brook SP

Central MA
Mt Grace SF
Pearl Hill SP
Robinson SP

Western MA
D.A.R. SF

Greater Boston
Blue Hills
Middlesex Fells

Doesn't it just feel too early to mount the studs?? I may throw them on tonight for a ride tomorrow AM in Foxboro.

[C.P.]

Doesn't it just feel too early to mount the studs?? I may throw them on tonight for a ride tomorrow AM in Foxboro.

Yeah, I think studs might be over-kill, but some might want them for insurance. I dont run studs till it's ice everywhere. (http://www.nemba.org/forums/showthread.php?t=18869)..

[chqm8]

Borderland is a good choice for riding with No Hunting. As of last night, there is a 1-2" layer of hardpack frozen granular with some icy spots, which means studded tires would be helpful...

Here's a list of the Massachusetts state parks that DO NOT allow hunting: Always take extra care and still wear blaze orange, some of these parks may cross into public/private land that does have hunting activity. This Sat (12/8) will be especially busy, since it's the last day of shotgun season... (http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/dfw_deer_management_overview.htm)

Southeastern MA
Ames Nowell SP
Borderland SP

NorthEast MA
Hopkinton SP
Bradley Palmer SP
Great Brook SP

Central MA
Mt Grace SF
Pearl Hill SP
Robinson SP

Western MA
D.A.R. SF

Greater Boston
Blue Hills
Middlesex Fells

Great info. Thanks!

[hammerhead]

Shotgun season is over as of sundown tonight. Matt and I hit the woods just about then. Saw a bunch of frustrated folks in orange and carrying coming out of the woods.

Wear orange, or at least a bright jacket, for another couple of weeks as the muzzle loaders will be around - but those guys (and gals?) are generally more aware of what they are shooting at, and there are a lot fewer of them. Less overall caution is appropriate.

Riding in the southern pioneer valley is darn good at the moment - who knows what tomorrow may bring.

H

[dabedob]

Yeah, I think studs might be over-kill, but some might want them for insurance. I dont run studs till it's ice everywhere. (http://www.nemba.org/forums/showthread.php?t=18869)..

Hey Great Pictures! :)

[errollthin]

Give Greatbrook a try. Rode there Sat and Sun Most enjoyable, no studs required.

[akahn]

Now that the snow and ice crust has sat for a little while, where do folks think that conditions would be good in Western Mass? The more manageable and packed-down the crust the better...

[hammerhead]

Snowmobile trails in the pioneer valley are super right now! The kid and I just got in from an hour and a half of fun...

Nice to be on wheels for a change instead of the skis and snowshoes!