Saturday Ride

[johnnyt]

Anyone up for an east of the river ride tomorrow morning at around 11:00?

What time were you thinking about and where exactly?

I have to take my kids to hockey practice, but will be done around noonish with that. Would love to get in a ride on Saturday if possible.

I'm in Mansfield and I'm a novice rider.

[johnnyt]

How about Mansfield hollow at 12:30? Is that you Marin man?

JT

Hey JT,

One and the same sir!

Have you ridden the Hollow often? I could use a good guide. I was hoping to explore more trails a couple of weeks ago, but got my second flat of the weekend and was too pissed off to carry on. Luckily I was close to my minivan (the minivan makes me feel like an old man, but it is sweet for carrying a bike inside with the back seat taken out!) so I picked up and carried and took the dogs for a hike at Schoolhouse Brook instead.

Let me check with my wife on the plans for the day.

[johnnyt]

Let me know cuz I am good to go!
JT

The email has already been fired off to my wife. Shouldn't be a problem.

If you'd rather ride somewhere else, I'm game. Would be good to ride some other trails as well.

Your call JT!

I have the green light!

Feel free to name the place and I'll meet you there.

I'll be easy to spot. Driving a minivan and riding a Marin!

[johnnyt]

Ahhh, so many riding places, so little time. How about 12:30, Soapstone main entrance on Gulf Road.

I'm in! And I'll buy the first round of post-ride brews if you are up for one.

Directions Please! Feel free to send them here: mailto:mmcgrath@foundation.uconn.edu

Everyone I talk with raves about Soapstone!

Looking forward to it.

Would be cool if we could get others to join us.

[MtnBikerChk]

what's the weather for tomorrow?

Intervals of sun and clouds.........no rain in the forecast for tomorrow..........sounds like ideal fall riding weather to me!

I'm fairly new to CT and don't know many fellow riders yet.

Would be great if you could join us!

[johnnyt]

BTW - There is a good little waterin' hole near the park!

Sweet!


Makes Soapstone sound even better.

[MtnBikerChk]

ok. add two more to the group list.

pm me tho - I'm gonna need real names - I think if I show up and ask for Jolly Time I could get arrested.

Also, good directions would be helpful.

[I Are Baboon]

ok muchambos, what kind of skill level are you guys? I don't want to slow you down. 8) Don't get me wrong...I consider myself a decent rider. Just don't expect a pro.

[I Are Baboon]

BTW, view this thread to put faces with our names.

http://www.nemba.org/yabbse/index.php?board=8;action=display;threadid=93

I'm a novice rider at best.....but getting better with each ride.

I think Jolly Time will be the one slowing down his pace for us.

Really looking forward to this group ride as most of my rides this year have been solo - and that isn't the best way to ride IMO.

Directions to Soapstone can be found at http://www.bikerag.com

I'm Mark McGrath and I'll be arriving in a Ford Windstar and riding a Marin hard tail.

Psyched for the ride tomorrow!

JT knows Soapstone well.......what about the rest of you?

It will be my first time riding Soapstone. Most of my rides have been local Mansfield rides this year, with some excursions back to the Albany, NY area to ride with my brother in law at Grafton Lakes State Park (very rocky and rooty, but fun!) and Albany's Pine Bush (a fun ride, but not too difficult and sandy- UGH!)

[I Are Baboon]

My name is Phil. The wife (MtnBikerChk) and I will be in a green Acura Intergra with two bikes strapped to the roof. See my post in this thread to view my car: http://www.nemba.org/yabbse/index.php?board=10;action=display;threadid=372

Yes, I have a picture of damn near everything. ;D

We've never ridden Soapstone.

[johnnyt]

I will be in a white jetta with a red superlight.

The ride should be intermediate. Lots of very fun rocky singletrack. Stunts and expert stuff if you want 'em, but those are on side trails. Length of the ride can be from 3 miles to 30 depending on how we are feeling (probably 8-10 miles?).

Just ask for JT and you won't get locked up.

[MtnBikerChk]

I will be in a white jetta with a red superlight.




that wouldn't be a small superlight, would it? ;D dying to try one.

we'll probably be in a green integra - one ball burnished titus and one blue rm.

Uh Oh... I can tell already that I'm going to be the one huffing and puffing and draining my Mule trying to keep up with the rest of you!

But hey, that's how you get better right!!

[MtnBikerChk]

Uh Oh... I can tell already that I'm going to be the one huffing and puffing and draining my Mule trying to keep up with the rest of you!




no you wont. I had way too many chilis burgers this summer after riding.

btw, if I do blow past you - just think of it as boosting my ego as I'm usually the last in the pack!

[johnnyt]

My SL is a large, my wife rides the small but won't be joining us. Maybe next time...

[I Are Baboon]

It's gonna be a NIPPLE FREEZER tomorrow!!!! :o

[johnnyt]

It is also bow hunting season so wear bright colors! I hang a bell from my bike and jingle all the way. :D

[I Are Baboon]

I'll just rely on your bell, JT. ;D

Actually, I have a bright yellow fleece I'll be wearing.

[MtnBikerChk]

I'll just rely on your bell, JT. ;D

Actually, I have a bright yellow fleece I'll be wearing.


I think we'll go to dicks tonite and buy bright orange!

It is also bow hunting season so wear bright colors! I hang a bell from my bike and jingle all the way. :D


My inlaws used to do the bell thing with their Golden Retriever!

Good point about wearing the bright colors! I'll probably be sporting my black, orange and green "Freak" socks from the sock man. I think I may have a neon orange bandana that I can utilize somewhere as well. I'll have to look around for that one though.

My SL is a large, my wife rides the small but won't be joining us. Maybe next time...




JT..........do Santa Cruz bikes have short top tubes? I was on the web site last night and noticed that according to their size chart for the Heckler ( I was trying to spot where they put that bottle opener on the frame!) that they recommended trying a medium with a long (130mm) stem, or a large with a much shorter stem (105mm I think).

Did you find that to be the case when you were purchasing your Superlight?

[Thedewser]

Wow! All this talk about a Saturday ride out east is bumming me out!! I've only ridden a little bit of the hollow, once. 9am I will be at West Rock getting things ready for tomorrow's fiesta!! Oh well, next time you go, I would be interrested in joining you guys.

Dewser

We'll be riding Soapstone tomorrow.

But any weekend you want to ride the Hollow, give me a heads up. I live in Mansfield and it is only a hop skip and a jump to the hollow from my living room.

Take care,

Mark

[MtnBikerChk]

JT..........do Santa Cruz bikes have short top tubes? I was on the web site last night and noticed that according to their size chart for the Heckler ( I was trying to spot where they put that bottle opener on the frame!) that they recommended trying a medium with a long (130mm) stem, or a large with a much shorter stem (105mm I think).

Did you find that to be the case when you were purchasing your Superlight?


I test rode a large - with a monster stem and the reach really wasn't that bad so I'm guessing that effective reach is short.

btw, I'm 5' 2.5"

Are there other single pivot bikes you are interested in besides the Superlight?

The Ventana Pantera looks like a really sweet frame right around the same price point as the SL.

What Rocky Mountain model are you currently riding?

Where do you and your husband live?

Still trying to find a great LBS in the area. Any recommendations? I'm currently frequenting Scott's in Willimantic.

[I Are Baboon]

I hope the training wheels I have on my bike don't embarrass you guys.

I hope I don't embarrass you guys, and myself in the process by taking a digger or two tomorrow. I think this will be my fourth ride with my Time Aliums! :o

[johnnyt]

I was once told that if your not falling, you not trying!

I tell that to the kids who are skating "safe" at hockey practice!

I must have been trying really hard then on my second ride with the Times on the Schoolhouse Brook trails! One time I was glad that it was a solo ride! I bet I looked pretty damned funny toppling over to one side as I struggled to get unclipped!

[johnnyt]

One time I took a huge digger on a ride with two guys I had just met. I fell so hard I had tears running down my face and blood flowing like the Niagara. They told me I should not cry because they were strangers. I replied that my friends are the ones I don't want to cry in front of cause they would inflict pain would on me forever. I would likely never see those two guys again!!! :D :D

I sucked it up though and finished the ride. 8)

Great story JT!

Earlier this season I had a spectacular endo while riding in the Adirondacks (hit a log at full speed that was hidden under some tall grass on a trail that hadn't been ridden much). I still have a bump on my shin from where my "killer" Toe Clip pedal whacked my shin...........while my other foot remained in the toe clip as I went over with my bike!!

My brother in law's comment was....I wish I could have captured that on video tape while he tried not to laugh his arse off! His version of watching me endo was the topic of conversation over beers around the campfire that night and I suspect the subject will come up again when we visit the area for a long weekend again next year!

[johnnyt]

It is a rule , in fact I think in New York it is a law that it will come up next year.

So the story of my Endo in the Adirondacks will become someting of a legend in NYS then?

I guess it was well worth the pain and suffering then! :D

[gungywump]

Are there other single pivot bikes you are interested in besides the Superlight?

The Ventana Pantera looks like a really sweet frame right around the same price point as the SL.

What Rocky Mountain model are you currently riding?

Where do you and your husband live?

Still trying to find a great LBS in the area. Any recommendations? I'm currently frequenting Scott's in Willimantic.



Try North Haven Bike. They support NEMBA and have Cannondale single pivots and I think Ellsworth ISIS's can be ordered as well. May not be the closest but I think they're the best.