Greater Boston Goals and Objectives

[T Grimble]

New Years is the time when we reflect on what we did last year and make plans for the year to come. This is true for Greater Boston NEMBA also. Last year was a pretty good year. Faced with a potential mountain biking ban at Lynn Woods, we rallied the troops and arrived at a solution to the rouge trail cutting that satisfied the City. In addition, we were able to build a great new trail that will continue to keep Lynn Woods on the map for its technical riding. We opened a bunch of brand new trails at Great Brook Farm. We successfully executed a grant to purchase a new Trail Maintenance trailer and all the tools we will ever need. This is by the way Greater Boston NEMBA's first substantial capital asset. We convinced the Town of Belmont to change the wording on the McLean Conservation Restriction so that Mountain Biking will not be legally banned in the future (although it could still be excluded through policy). We almost doubled the size of the area's mountain bike patrol which will be hard at work at Lynn, Great Brook and the Fells next year. We also initiated a state wide Trail Guide program that will act as good will ambassadors on the trails. I didn't mention the purchase of 'Nam or NEMBAfest because these are larger efforts that are not solely the responsibility of Greater Boston NEMBA but we are proud to have taken part in them. This is not a complete list by any means. Our fellow riders have been very busy this year.

Now it's time to start thinking about next year. I hope that we will be able to rattle off an even better list of accomplishments next year. There is a lot still to be done. I would be interested in hearing from you with ideas of what we should be focused on for 2003. NEMBA is your organization. We are your voice but we need to know where to place our emphasis. What goals do you think we should set in Greater Boston for 2003 both long term and short term? If you don't live in Greater Boston but have thoughts, post them anyways. The more idea's the better.

-Tom Grimble

Tom,
In thinking about long terms goals or projects:
I've always had my eye on Blue Hills -
The potential there just seems to be tremendous: lift access riding within Rt. 128! DS races without driving 2 1/2 - 3 hours. Cutting new and challenging trails - like the new ones at Lynn. Create a trials section for teaching and developing the youth & old alike. Create a dirt jumping section...basically turing this diamond in the rough into an all around bike park which could attract all age types.

The problems with this thought - I don't know if this transformation is possible - don't know who the land owners are- private or public - are the surrounding existing bike trails associated with the lift access - too many questions to list.....

But, there certainly seems to be enough land with unique chararcteristics that might make this work.

Just a thought :)

[fellsbiker]

You KNOW where I think the focus should be!!!

[zach11979]

I totally agree with the Blue Hills ideas mentioned above. It is a great place to ride. I would definitely spend time working on the trails there, if anyone gets a group together let me know. ;D

[bike187]

the lift access to blue hills seems like an awesome idea. there could however be problems with more rogue bikers bombing down the other side since the top of the lift is right near the tower/peak. the other side definitely has some awesome terrain (coon hollow is awesome). you would have to build some new trails on the lift side of the mountain. i haven't done much rding on that side but i have tried to bike up that side (up the slope) and think that going down would be awesome. it would be awesome to have some really tech sections with some chutes and ladders. i know i'd be willing to pay for a lift ticket if bluehills opened their lifts to MTBs in the summer. i've gotten used to early morning rides up the service ride and then down the trails on the other side, but after a while, i get tired. lift with DS and DH course would be awesome indeed. i fully support the notion at this time. added bonus of having the lift area, it's pretty steep so there aren't many other trail users on the slope side liek there are on the other side, probably cause there's more trails on the other side though.