January 27th, 2003, 05:28 PM
Sunday i made the trek out to D.A.R. State Park to ride with the PVNEMBA group. The park is in Goshen Mass. which is 125 miles one way from Bradford. The temperature upon arrival was 14 degrees but sky was bright and there was no real wind to speak of.
There were six in our group riding all different bikes. I was the only non-PV member there but felt welcomed from the start. At 10:00 am we left from the parking lot and had a man down on the first 4ft of trail. Conditions were soft. Snowmobiles are allowed on all the trails there and while the compaction beneath the surface was firm the first 2 inches was loose as newly fallen. The leader wisely altered his route and led us up paths a bit more traveled.At the top of the first hill all the tire pressures were checked, lowered and away we went again.
If you have the chance to remove your studded tires before riding on soft crusted trails i recommend you do. The hot choice was the 3.00 downhill balloons with about 10psi. I was running Nokians and had all i could do to maintain floatation. Every time i put to much power to the pedals or exceeded a certain speed i cut through the crust to the soft stuff. Smooth circular pedaling got me up most of the hills but on one steep downhill i slipped off the edge of the pack. That 2ft of snow stopped my front tire quick and i went over and onto my back. Then i was glad the snow was soft.
We rode out for about an hour then returned along most of the same trails. If it ever warms up and the trails get a few freeze thaw cycles then the riding there should be great. The snowmobiles make nice high bermed corners.
I want to send out a big thanks to all the guys for having me along Sunday, waiting for me, even in the parking lot. Especially the MTB/auto mechanic that got my truck going so i could get home. They're a great group.
bill
There were six in our group riding all different bikes. I was the only non-PV member there but felt welcomed from the start. At 10:00 am we left from the parking lot and had a man down on the first 4ft of trail. Conditions were soft. Snowmobiles are allowed on all the trails there and while the compaction beneath the surface was firm the first 2 inches was loose as newly fallen. The leader wisely altered his route and led us up paths a bit more traveled.At the top of the first hill all the tire pressures were checked, lowered and away we went again.
If you have the chance to remove your studded tires before riding on soft crusted trails i recommend you do. The hot choice was the 3.00 downhill balloons with about 10psi. I was running Nokians and had all i could do to maintain floatation. Every time i put to much power to the pedals or exceeded a certain speed i cut through the crust to the soft stuff. Smooth circular pedaling got me up most of the hills but on one steep downhill i slipped off the edge of the pack. That 2ft of snow stopped my front tire quick and i went over and onto my back. Then i was glad the snow was soft.
We rode out for about an hour then returned along most of the same trails. If it ever warms up and the trails get a few freeze thaw cycles then the riding there should be great. The snowmobiles make nice high bermed corners.
I want to send out a big thanks to all the guys for having me along Sunday, waiting for me, even in the parking lot. Especially the MTB/auto mechanic that got my truck going so i could get home. They're a great group.
bill