30 Days of Biking - Day 28

Finally, some nice weather!

Headed out on the Sex Machine this evening after work to test a few things out. I put new brake pads on, straightened the hanger and tried a new seat pack. Not a new pack, one that I have had for while that I have used on different bikes in the past.  Right off the bat, this seat pack wasn't going to work because my thighs were hitting it when I pedaled.

The temperature was 60 degrees this afternoon and I went out in bib shorts and a jersey.  I started out by first hitting Pond Brook Road and then headed over to Collis P Huntington State Park

I rode the carriage road from the Dodgingtown parking lot down to the bridge at Hopewell Road.

Along the way I stopped at Huntington Pond

Sun was going down

From Huntington I road over to the back side of Mt Nebo Road and then climbed up to Ox Hill. Felt pretty good to bomb down that but I noticed my right brake lever has a little more pull than the left. I think an adjustment, along with a different seat pack is in order.

It was sundown by the time I hit Beaver Dam and the temperature was dropping. 

At Deep Brook, I stopped and put my riding jacket on because I was freezing.

Riding on Elm towards 302 I met up with a fellow Newtown Lunartics cyclist Scott Davidow.
We chit chatted for a bit. Then I put my headlight on and headed home.

Fat Amy likes Rock & Roll Hoochie Koo

It was time to take the big girl out to some real trails.



Headed out to Huntington State Park Sunday morning to ride some single track.
It's been 3 years since I last rode here and it was a little confusing first.

I felt more comfortable with the flats that came with the bike but they also have a cost.
Found some new connector trails off of Old Dodgingtown Road but everything was done by amateurs.

NEMBA Trailfest Day 2: Benching

On Sunday, we came, we saw, we Benched!

This is on the South Park Trail side looking north east

Looking south west

The whole shooting match

#TrailbuildingSelfie

Saturday's NEMBA ride Huntington

Here's a topo view of the new trail that was built on Saturday

After the build session we went on a 5 mile ride that included

the new trail, Hoochie Koo, South Park, South Pond, 

Rock & Roll and the Big Burn, five miles of awesome singletrack

There is always time for a #MountainBikingSelfie

We just rode the new trail and everyone was jazzed!

At the Big Burn there was sessioning

Riders on the Trail

Who ever was working the other side of the trail sent these guys down it for the first time

They didn't do so hot on the spine line.

The guy on the green bike wiped, too

This corner proved troublesome

but when I rode through it wasn't that bad,

at least I never dabbed

Building New Trail at Collis P Huntington State Park

Additional pictures from Saturday's Trail Fest and Build

at Collis P Huntington State Park

Harold working on the Rusty Bed Springs Up and Over

The ladies were benching

Paula gives guidance on rock features

Found a near by BFR to ramp into this feature

The finished product, you can roll it or huck it!

Benching

Sweet Singletrack

More sweet singletrack

Berming project

The Gnome Berm

Lunch

Great food

Commaraderie

Back to work after lunch

Building more Singletrack

Spineline option

Location Map

Sandy Hook Elementary School Memorial Mountain Bike Ride

Paula Burton came up with the idea to do a Teddy Bear ride at Huntington for the survivors of the Sandy Hook Elementary School Massacre but I suggested that we do a cash donation because I had heard last week that there were already thousands of Teddy Bears headed our way.  So we decided to put on the New England Mountain Bike Association Sandy Hook Elementary School Memorial ride and if people wanted to donate, we would do so to one of the town charities.

 

I took out the mechanical stragglers this time around.  Jason, on the left had a flat and Cory (below) could get his shock pump to work but he eventually did.

We rode the Glacial Erratic, my new trail (aka South Park) and then hit Rock and Roll, the Big Burn, then looped back to the Sunset Hill lot.  There, we had hot chocolate and Cory brought a smoked Turkey that was out of this world!  I think we had 70 to 80 people show up for the ride and it was a smashing success.  The donations were unbelievable!

We all signed a card that will be placed at one of the Memorials in town.  I am really impressed how Mountain Bikers in our community came out to support event and make the lives of those that experienced this great tragedy a little better.

 

Cory (left) with his smoked turkey and Paula (above, green jacket) taking pictures

 

Bethel Cycle was well represented and So was Ridgefield Bicycle Co.

Bill Lake (r) wasn't riding due to a broken collar bone but came out anyway

Kirsten, aka @cyclocrossgal came out and rode her single speed

Jason daughter was the star of the show!