Date
We will be closing a section of the Reservoir trail near Money Hill. This is an ongoing project that started in the Spring of 2017 and was in planing stages for years prior.
This work will include loosening of the trail bed, planting and or transplanting native species, covering the old trail with duff, and we may build some check dams on steep slopes and remove one old boardwalk. This work is being done because there are multiple parallel trail segments in this section of the Fells. Once closed it will create more connected habitat and reduce the trail system complexity. Both of those are important goals of the Fells Resource Management Plan.
Come and give us a hand in trail un-building :-)
We could use as many people as possible, we have a huge tool trailer and plenty of trail work tools
We will meet at our regular Wednesday meeting place at Fallon Rd in Stoneham (MarJam) at 8:30a-ish we will have some simple paperwork to fill out and a safety briefing before we head out around 9:00a.
Map to meet-up location: https://goo.gl/maps/WixNzsFSDrr
If you can come in for just few hours that's OK too, come on down
Lunch to follow after work.
Read more about [node:title]
Location
Bear Hill Parking Lot (Marjam)
Chapter
Greater Boston
Trail
Event Leader
Maciej Sobieszek
maciej@gbnemba.org
Event Date
10/15/17 9:30am to 1:30pm
Sunday, October 15
GBNEMBA will once again be celebrating all things kids and bikes by hosting a Kids Mountain Biking Festival at the Middlesex Fells, Sheepfold Parking Lot. This event also marks the National Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day.
Come join us for some biking, arts & crafts, food and much more.
Schedule of Events
- 9:00am - 11:00am: Sign-in
- 9:45am : Led Rides
- 10:15am: Led Rides
- 11am - 1pm: Stunts demo/ learning
- 11:30am: Balance Bike Race
- 10am - noon: Arts and Crafts (including Pumpkin Decorating)
- Noon: BBQ lunch
- 12:30am: Swag raffle (must be present to win)
* We will have a short coned course perfect for training wheels and balance bikes.
The Kids Rides are designed for children ages 6-15. Based on the skill levels of the participants, we typically break into two groups: one for kids who have more experience with riding, and a second group for beginners. All we ask is no training wheels on the rides BUT we will have a short marked course for training wheels.
No registration is required. If you have any questions about the Kids’ Rides please contact Andrea Jones.
These rides allow children to have fun while enjoying the outdoors and getting some fitness. In addition to learning some biking skills, kids are taught respect for the parks, trails, and other trail users. The ride will be well staffed and every safety precaution will be observed. Parents are welcome on the ride but not required. Riders must have a serviceable bike, properly fitted helmet, and water for the ride. All riders must wear closed-toed shoes - no flip flops or sandals.
Click here for GoogleMap Directions Read more about [node:title]
Location
Middlesex Fells - Sheepfold Parking Lot
Chapter
State
Massachusetts
Ride Level
All Levels
Ride Types
Ride Style
XC
Ride Leader Name
Andrea Jones
Event Date
9/24/17 10:30am
Come join NSNEMBA and GBNEMBA for the September Kids Ride at Dow Brook Conservation Area, Ipswich on Sunday September 24. This will be a BONUS Ice-cream ride. Kids Rides are a great way for kids and teens to build strong bodies, build confidence, have tons of fun and enjoy being outside!
Meeting at the ball fields 100 Mile Lane Ipswich Ma 01938.
The Kids Rides are designed for children ages 6-15. Based on the skill levels of the participants, we typically break into two groups: one for kids who have more experience with riding, and a second group for beginners. All we ask is no training wheels.
No registration is required. If you have any questions about the Kids Rides please contact Andrea Jones.
GBNEMBA 2016 Kids RIDE SERIES
- May 6 - Kona GBNEMBA Ride at Middlesex Fells, Medford
- June 10 - LandLock Forest, Estabrook Elementary School, Lexington
- July 16 - 4th Annual Ice-cream ride at Great Brook Farm, Carlisle
- Aug 19 - Beaver Brook North, Belmont
- Sept 10 - Kona MVNEMBA Ride at Great Brook Farm, Carlisle
- Sept 24 - Ride and post Ice-Cream at Dow Brook Conservation Area, Ipswich
- Oct 15 - Kids Mountain Biking Festival, Middlesex Fells, Medford http://nemba.org/rides/kids-mountain-biking-fest
- Nov 25 - Toys for Tots Ride, Middlesex Fells, Stoneham
These rides allow children to have fun while enjoying the outdoors and getting some fitness. In addition to learning some biking skills, we teach respect for the parks, trails, and other trail users. The ride will be well staffed and every safety precaution will be observed. Parents are welcome on the ride but not required. Riders must have a serviceable bike, properly fitted helmet, and water for the ride. All riders must wear closed-toed shoes - no flip flops or sandals. Snacks will be provided! Read more about [node:title]
Location
Dow Brook Conservation Area
Chapter
State
Massachusetts
Ride Level
All Levels
Ride Types
Ride Style
XC
Ride Leader Name
Andrea Jones
Tuesday, June 13, 2017
Most people first experience their local NEMBA chapter through a chapter sponsored ride. Hopefully they have a good experience and end up coming back for more rides and other events, such as trail work days.. For many mountain bikers, a weekly chapter ride, attending a special event, and paying annual dues is the extent of their participation in their local chapter. There are other benefits your local NEMBA chapter brings to the table that might not be completely obvious, though, and these benefits are why you might want to consider volunteering time to them, in addition to your annual dues.
Sure, your local chapter organizes group rides so you can get together with other awesome mountain bikers just like you, but the importance of your chapter runs much deeper than organizing group rides. Your local chapter’s most important role in mountain biking comes in the form of advocacy for trail access. Trail access has always been a huge issue for mountain bikers, and lately there has been an increase in trail user conflicts all around the country. In the past, we only heard stories about trail sabotage occurring on trails on the West Coast, where a much greater level of trail use conflict occurs, but in the past couple years, we have encountered several cases of booby traps on our own trails here in New England. Here in MA, we have been blindsided by some trail closures and restrictions by state agencies that seemingly came out of the blue. On a more positive note, some of our local independent groups of mountain bikers have recently partnered with NEMBA to work with state agencies to create agreements to officially recognize existing trails on state lands, add them to official trail maps,and allow us to maintain the trails. Situations like these truly reinforce the importance of NEMBA in fostering mountain bikers’ rights to share the trails with other users.
The NEMBA umbrella provides a solid support structure for local chapters to fight trail closures and gain trail access. NEMBA is recognized by most regional landowners and land managers as an organization that promotes responsible trail usage and maintenance. They know that if they sign a land usage agreement with NEMBA, NEMBA will uphold their promise to build appropriate trails and maintain them. Land owners and managers are much more willing to work with an organization that has a solid reputation than they are to work with just a group of seemingly random individuals who want to build trails. NEMBA also provides resources to help local chapters obtain grants and other funding sources, trail building schools, and summits to join mountain bikers from all over to discuss the next biggest ideas in mountain biking.
Another important aspect to consider is that NEMBA and its chapters can only be as great as the effort its members put into it. NEMBA is a bare bones non-profit, covering almost all of New England, and only has two paid staff members. Everyone else representing NEMBA is a volunteer. NEMBA relies heavily on its members to lead weekly rides, organize events and help to fill the roles necessary to run events, or to work with local and state agencies for trail access. So the next time you find yourself asking “When is NEMBA going to fix that section of trail,” or “When is NEMBA going to organize a ride on Tuesday nights, when I’m actually free,” remember, that you are NEMBA. Talk to your chapter officers and volunteer to organize a trail work day to fix that muddy section of trail or to lead a ride on Tuesday nights. If you live near a trail system that you enjoy riding, build a relationship with the land manager and see if there’s anything NEMBA can do to help maintain trails there. Be creative. If you feel NEMBA could benefit from one of your special skills, talk to your chapter officers to see how that skill can be utilized. If everyone just stands back and waits for someone else to take the initiative to do something, nothing happens and we end up with an inactive and lackluster chapter. Your chapter officers love fresh ideas and initiatives, so don’t be afraid to approach them with your thoughts! They are there to help you make great things happen!
-Brenda Smith
Event Date
Repeats every week every Tuesday until Sat Sep 30 2017 .
4/18/17 5:00pm

Join us for our infamous Tuesday Ride at Lowell-Dracut-Tyngsboro State Forest. This is an advanced-intermediate technical ride typically 12-15 miles in length.
The pace is a bit more moderate for the first few weeks as we all shake the rust off, but ramps up to a steady challenging pace with occasional stops to regroup. The ride has two start times to accomodate traffic and schedules. A warmup loop of a few miles leaves the parking lot just after 5PM, and that group swings back through the lot to pick up late arrivals by 6PM.
IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT PARKING: Due to lack of parking at Trotting Road, this start of this ride has moved. We now meet at the public park behind the ballfields located at
10 Gumpus Rd., Lowell MA
Location
NOTE: New Parking Location -- 10 Gumpus Rd., Lowell MA behind ballfields
Chapter
State
Massachusetts
Ride Level
Intermediate
Ride Types
Ride Style
XC
Ride Leader Name
Barry Moore
Date
Greater Boston Mountain Bikers - we need you!
The Greater Boston chapter of NEMBA will be having a trail build in the
Middlesex Fells on Saturday, April 22nd, 2017. The goal of this is a reroute of a section of the Orange/Green trails from the south side of Money Hill to the north side of Money Hill. This will resolve some ongoing drainage issues, put that segment on more singletrack, and ultimately increase connected habitat as at a future date, we will be closing down and re-vegetating the original trail.
We will be working on a section of existing trail and also building a new re-route to link it to that existing segment.
We need 20-24 volunteers to complete this in one work day. The work day will be from
8:30am to 4pm. Lunch will be provided.
Please come to the
Bear Hill parking lot off Fallon Rd in Stoneham, MA. Wear comfortable clothing for trail work, bring work gloves if you have a favorite pair (we also have plenty) and a water bottle (we will have extra).
We are asking attendees to RSVP so we can have an idea of numbers - please email maciej@gbnemba.org
Location
Fallon Road, Stoneham, MA
Chapter
Greater Boston
Trail
Event Leader
Maciej Sobieszek
maciej@gbnemba.org