Russell Mills Pump Track

A little pump track action from Russell Mills. I locked my fork and tried it and it was a blast!

Riding the Burbs

Two unbelievable trail systems that I had the opportunity to ride last weekend after the Root 66 Mountain Bike race at Massasoit State Park. We started out at Great Brook Farm State Park, sampled the goods, and then headed over to Russell Mills where I rode text book singletrack.

Photo courtesy of Singlespeed Photography

Here is what we rode on Sunday in 3D. It would awesome if they could connect to the two properties such that your knobbies wouldn't have to exposed the indignity of riding upon pavement. I am sure the trail builders are working on a solution right now.

Salsa Big Mama in the rough

At Sunday's Board meeting ride, there was a guy from the Southern New Hampshire Chapter of the New England Mountain Bike Association with my dream bike, the Salsa Big Mama. If I had just pulled the trigger a week earlier I would be riding a mama myself right now. As some of you probably already know, Salsa is not making any more this year but rumored to be producing more for 2011. I wonder if they are addressing the chain suck issue? Let's hope. Of course, something could come along that captures my attention and is better than Big Mama and she'll be old news. Until that happens, one can only dream.

Below is a little video I shot of Matt riding this Big eFF'ing Rock roller:

Russell Mills: Text Book Singletrack

If you ever want to see the perfect example of text book singletrack, and you happen to find yourself in the northwest suburbs of Boston then head over to the soccer fields off of Mill Rd in Chelmsford, MA and ride this section of open space. All I can say is UFB! From the gate, there is 500 feet benching that runs between the access road and the water that is perfectly benched with grade reversals and rolling dips.

From this trail you can delve deeper into the trails or have a bit of fun on a pump track nestled into a small knoll between the soccer fields and a swamp.

After a few circuits on the pump track we headed off into the main trail system for some insanely twisty and flowy single track. These are truly text book trails. Skinnies galore, every rideable rock the trail accesses and technical sections are plenty.

At one point we rode up to a big rock, what I like to call a BFR. It turns out that it's a roller and two guys from our group showed us how it's done.

And of course, it wouldn't be a NEMBA ride without a few mechanicals.

A little problem of shifting one's chain into the spokes. What, no pie plate?