Sat/Sun rides 17–18 October

[mudmucker]

About this time of year I slow it down a bit, take a break from the road bike a little and take to the woods with my mt. bike. For the last 20 years I have been riding a rigid mt. bike of late 80's vintage. They hadn't come out with front suspension back then yet. I took a ride on the rigid bike in August and said "that's it, this is the last ride on this bike". The bouncing around and impact to my shoulders, arms, and wrists were just getting to be too much. So I did something I didn't think I'd do in a real long while. After all, I want to be comfortable as I approach my happy golden years as I am turning 50 next year. I went to my favorite LBS and got a new mt. bike. It's a Specialized Myka Comp, a lower end hardtail, as I don't need an over the top mt. bike (not like the road bike). I got disk brakes which I never had so I can ride in the rain (which I won't do on the road) and I have front suspension. Both are amazing things and yes new and novel to me. I am having a total blast on this bike.

I go to Leominster State Forest which is 20 minutes from me. That has a combination of some pretty technical with moderately difficult to easy riding and has a NEMBA presence. I've also gone to Wendell State Forest. I've xc skied there for the last 33 years and in the last 4 years or so NEMBA has put in some single track. I've found WSF to be a bit difficult. It's not the obstacles but the relentless steep uphills with said obstacles on some of the single track. For me, I get real tired on that after a 1/4 to 1/2 mile of that stuff uphill. Downhills have alot of steep with dropoffs with steep ravines about a foot over. Too much for me.

I have found I have the best in my own back yard. I have 2000 acres of never to be developed land behind my house that has been the most fun. More of consistent rolling topography where I am able to rest. Some smoother riding patches that allow me to rest. Lots of fun rock gardens and downed trees to jump, and steep sections if I want them. There is no NEMBA presence there so there are no created obstacles. Best of all, the car stays in the yard.

The beauty is that I have never encountered anyone here in 6 years. Which obviously can be a bad thing too as I am out riding alone. People do go through though as I dodge a lot of horse droppings along the way. There is a barn that boards horses on my road. There are some pretty destinations within this area such as ponds and rivers.

I managed to get in 10 miles yesterday, as I am trying to finish up an addition to my shed before winter. Here are some pictures. These were taken over the last couple of weeks but is the same trail I've been riding in "my back yard".

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2...02221940zLWAiQ

The photos and the leaves flatten out what it's really like, and the leaves cover up some of the tricky nuances. Nothing too technical but a lot of fun.

Some rocks gardens


Sure nice to have front suspension now


Pond. A nice destination


River


Peaceful. Just me and the animals


This was challenging. They are logging here.


Normal stuff. Fun downed trees to jump.