Any Real Freeriding in Mass?

[knucklebuste]

Is there any real freeriding in MA. I'm talking about see saws, bridges, drops and all the fun stuff you see in MBAction and such. I've been to Franklin, Foxboro, Leominster, Medfield, Dover, Wrentham and all these places do not seem to be enough of a thrill for me. Any suggestions would be well appreciated. Kevin
kfarrelldba@charter.net ???

[bullitboy]

Your best bet for stunts would be in Milford aka Nam. There are some really cool built stunts as well as plenty of natural drops. The trouble is finding the stuff. You would have to hook up w/ someone that know the trails well. I prefer Lynn Woods only because it is closer to me. Lynn has the best natural freeriding terrain around. Nam is a very close 2nd and that's only because the fun stuff is more spread out so there is a much higher pedaling to fun ratio. ;D

[CouchingTiger]

There are very few places with built stunts in MA for one simple reason, liability. It's just too risky.

That said, in many places you just plain don't need them. Areas like Lynn Woods and Vietnam don't need them as they have ample natural obstacles. In my opinion the only reason for man made stunts is to;

a) spice up a boring/flat area
b) as a bridge through an unpassable section

If you want stunts, do what I did, build them in your own back yard on your own land.

-Couch

[pk]

Yeah, Couch's backyard causes me shrinkage!

[knucklebuste]

About the post on liability. It seemed to me that the liability factor was obvious. Everyone has to ruin it for everyone else in this sue-happy state. God I hate Massachusetts, but I can't move. I'll bet in B.C people don't sue land owners and thats why all those cool man-made objects exist up there. I just get very bored with the regular trails I ride, Foxboro, Medfield, Franklin, Leominster. The single-tracks are cool but I get bored easily. I can't wait till It's leagal to park somewhere so I can get to Vietnam. I just don't know the area, so I know I'll be riding a 20 mile epic to find some of the drops and stuff they have pics of on the internet. But by the time I get there all the man made see-saws and such will be taken down because some ******* cracked his head open and tried to sue whoever. WORD - if you crack your head open, IT'S YOUR OWN FAULT. Let's get this message across before mountain biking is illegal in this state. Don't think it can happen? I've seen it happen with all the places I've ridden dirt bikes and atv's. There is basically nowhere left to ride because of a few idiots that try to sue land owners. Isn't there a law that prevents land owners from being liable if some idiot gets injured. I'm gonna have to spread the word. PEACE, Kevin

[sizlinseagulsoup]

I thought if the land owner just posted no tresspassing signs EVERYWHERE they were just about covered?

[CouchingTiger]

Yea, it's too bad about the liability situation here. In most states if you allow folks to use your land for recreation then they have no recourse against the landowner. In the lovely state of disrepair, I mean MA, all legal bets are off and anything is fair game.

So, when someone builds a really cool Trestle Bridge or something like that and little Jonnie who isn't smart enough to just say no, that he can't handle it, ride it and breaks his liver, mom and dad go looking for someone to blame cause god knows it's not their son's fault, and their not bad parents for not teaching him common frickin sense or .....

Sorry, keyboard rage.

Heck, I've even been concerned that someone might sneak into my back yard and get hurt on the back to back teeters or something.

You can't win.

-Couch

[johnnyt]

I am particularly fond of the deal in Vermont. If you have permission to go on someone's property for recreational use, then you can not sue them if you are injured. If you do not have their permission (eg you enter un-posted land which would be legal) and try to sue them, you become a tresspasser and could be charged and therefore all lawsuits must be dropped. Them northerner got it right.

Thanks Harvard Law!!!!

[sizlinseagulsoup]

We should just get a petition going.

[knucklebuste]

**** little Johnny. I'll crack his ******* head open and make him eat his broken liver. Then I'll burn down his parents house. I'm with you man, I can't stand sue happy *******s. Thats all that comprises this state. I have common sense. IF I CRACK MY HEAD OPEN, IT'S MY FAULT. DONE

[If_Rider]

Hey Couch,

Any more pics of your backyard? That looks awesome!!!

Mike

[CouchingTiger]

I'll see what I can find. I've got about 150 feet of split log walkways, a 4' and a 5' ramp drop and 2 teeters. Fun stuff.

-Couch