I... am... a... mushroom! - Village Park - Swansea, MA

• Trailhead: Library
• Riders: OMMB & JD
• Miles: 4.5
• Weather: dark
• Temp: 71
• Trail Conditions: dark 
•  GPS Track: http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/1281736

Notes: Nice little night ride...left the house after dark.  I was sort of in a hurry so I grabbed the Gold Member who still had a light mounted from the bike path ride the other night.  I had kind of a wild ride.  I believe partly because the 29er is fast and partly because the headlight was just that... my head "helmet" light.  Not a wide beam like my actual bike mount lights, so the spot light was all over the single track making it tough to judge the turns. I also think the tires were a bit too hard because the ride was jittery.   Anyway...I kept seeing these white things popping up in my peripheral.  I thought maybe they were little mini-ghosts.  After stopping for a break, I realized they were mushrooms.  All over the place...strange.

Tidbits: Not often do you come home from work to find a bunch of turkeys in your yard (well...it HAS happened, not just too often, and they usually brought beer ;) )

Happy Trails (please pass the cranberry sauce),

OMMB

Social Sluggy Sunday - Village Park - Swansea, MA

• Trailhead: Case Jr High
• Riders: OMMB and JD
• Miles: 4.5
• Weather: muggy, sluggy
• Temp: 73 (but felt like a muggy 95)
• Trail Conditions: perfect 
• GPS Track: http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/1275606

Notes: A sluggish ride. I will blame the muggy weather. Sluggy weather. So sluggy, I raced a slug, I barely won.  Well...actually the slug won.  But I gave him a run for his slime.  Before the slug fest, I did run into Greg and Al, last Winter's riding friends.  We chatted about Matt's phenomenal ride out at the Leadville Trail 100 (he finished in less than 10 hours!).  A few minutes later, I ran into another riding acquaintance, Tim.  We chatted about the Blackstone River Bike Path...need to try it for ATK's rehab.  DAMN SLUGO! Beat me by one tentacle...



 
Happy Trails,

OMMB

50 Bugs per Second - East Bay Bikepath - RI

Notes: Wanted to get some pedaling in on this 75 degree somewhat humid night; so I hopped on the Kona "Gold Member" at sunset and gave the bike path a shot.  Like most road rides in my world, compared to a trail ride, it was boring.  BUT is was fast and a good workout for almost 9 miles.  Had a head wind down to Colt State Park yet pulled off an overall average speed of 19.5 mph (3 minute mile pace on a MTN bike, not too bad...the bike is quick).  Saw lots of rabbits and ate lots of bugs on the way home with the headlight on. Bug munchin at 20 mph, that was fun.  

- GPS Track:




Tidbits: Jesse had his bath at the groomer and I'm not allowed to take him in the woods just yet since he's smelling nice and clean (well that's one persons opinion, my opinion is he smells like an old lady).

Happy Trails,
OMMB

Son of a Leech! - Big River, RI



A little mini toad!



- Trailhead: Burnt Sawmill Rd

- Riders: OMMB and JD
- Miles: 7.25
- Weather: cloudy, light rain
- Temp: 70
- Trail Conditions: excellent
- Wildlife: "look at the little mini toad"
- Whoops, Yikes, and Oh Sheets: Went over a pretty hefty pair of roots and started pedaling air. Thought, "my that's strange". Then realized that my front wheel seized up on root #3 and I was floating close to and endo! Thankfully drifted back down safely.  Sometimes gravity IS your friend.
- GPS Track: http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/1264130


Am I a toad?


Notes: Even though a nasty storm was threatening the area, I was determined to get to BR, late start and all.  We were lucky to receive nothing but light rain throughout the ride.  Given how wet everything was already, the rain made little difference. My intent was to route a decent ride, not too short and not too rough, for any potential SMGR.  The track takes you directly to the hidden single-track, skipping the Mark-Broken-Arm (MBA) Trail. After leaving the hidden track, you can take the Coaster Trail option, which I did. After Coaster it's pretty much a nice cruise back to the trailhead on typical wide BR trails. Still hope an SMGR will happen this summer. 


That's my tire, top left. Mini toad near the middle.



I am NOT a toad!



I AM A FREAKY WOLF CHANGELING!!!


 

Glad he's not really a wolf changeling. 
THAT would be creepy (especially since I turned my back on him)!






On Dog Pond


Tidbits: Somewhere in mud dog's travels, he picked up a small leech.  Found it on his fur when we got home. Jeesh a leech! And that IS creepy!

Happy Trails,
OMMB

Future Pro MTN Biker! - Village Park - Swansea, MA

- Trailhead: Case Jr High
- Riders: Patrick "Patch", OMMB, and JD
- Miles: 2.25
- Weather: Still perfect
- Temp: 75
- Trail Conditions: Still perfect (although Patch was hoping for lots of mud)

- Whoops, Yikes, and Oh Sheets: a couple of whoops by Patch, one blood point

- GPS Track: http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/1261219

Notes: I had promised the little 8 year old nephew a mountain bike ride quite some time ago...he did not let me forget!  So I finally came through on a good day and took him for a ride.  He's quite the little athlete so I was assured he would do just fine tearing through the woods!  Indeed he did.  He had a real joy on the downhills, some pretty tricky, and had no issue hauling his bike back up to ride down again.  Too funny.  He also really enjoyed the wooden bridges and tried his best on the skinny plank over a mudhole (now dry).  The only thing that slowed him down was a broken pedal!  Unfortunately I did not have a wrench, so we hike-biked back to the trailhead.  And of course he managed to find plenty of downhills to ride, one pedal and all!   



Ready, set, go....



yaaaaaaay...



And back up again!  Don't even need an admission ticket for this ride!



First bridge crossing...clean!



Cruising along!



First wall crossing...a breeze!



Slight mishap on the first boulder climb...but spirits are not broken




Great downhill reward on the other side of the boulder!


Then comes the WIPE-OUT!



Now ready for the BIG hill...

...here he comes!!  




Getting ready for the loooong bridge!


 

Then disaster struck...at least the Camelback still works!



Oh the sadness!

But really...who needs a pedal when you can do this...



We HAD to get a water crossing in!

Way to top off a good time by playing with the pooch...




Tidbits: Checking Patch's bike more carefully would have resolved the loose pedal issue (my bad), but I think he got an idea of how tough the trails are on your bike (and yourself)!  Off to Double D we go....

Happy Trails,
OMMB


Top Ten Excuses... - Village Park - Swansea, MA

...for not going mountain biking today:

#10. The weather is way too perfect.
#9. I have to get ready for Massachusetts tax-free shopping tomorrow.
#8. The trails are much too dry.
#7. The Red Sox are playing on the West Coast tonight. Late game, I'll need to rest.
#6. It's going to rain on Sunday (today is Friday).
#5. Price of gasoline is down, going for a drive instead.
#4. School starts at the end of August.
#3. I need to cut my toenails.
#2. I haven't been on my mountain bike all summer, why start now?

And the #1 excuse for not going mountain biking today is... My dog ate my pedal.

Well I didn't have any excuses...so I went riding... (in fact I went twice, this was Ride 1)

- Trailhead: Case Jr High
- Riders: OMMB & Jesse Dog
- Miles: 5
- Weather: Damn what a PERFECT day...unheard of for August!
- Temp: 68
- Trail Conditions: dry
- GPS Track: http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/1260528

Happy Trails,

OMMB

Bring on the DEET - Village Park - Swansea, MA

• Trailhead: Case Jr High
• Riders: OMMB, Jesse 
• Miles: 4.5
• Weather: Fuggy
• Temp: 85
• Trail Conditions: Still good, despite 2 days of rain/thunderstorms 
• Wildlife: a big fat toad
• GPS Track: http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/1255979

Notes: Went for a mid-day "lunch break" ride but it was just too fuggy (that's "f*in muggy" if you live in my head). Managed to get an okay ride in, but it was hard to see where I was going, with sweaty balls and all (eye balls that is).  Dryer days ahead...hope to grab some miles.

Tidbits:  Judging by how many bugs were following me, you'd think I was the only creature in the forest worth harassing! 

Happy Trails,

OMMB

Squirrel Bin Laden - Village Park - Swansea, MA

- Trailhead: Case Jr High
- Riders: OMMB and dog
- Miles: 4.25
- Weather: perfect
- Temp:  the same year I graduated High School minus 1900 (first person to guess correctly wins a free tour of the hidden trails at Big River)
- Trail Conditions: perfect
- GPS Track: http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/1249253

Notes: A real nice quick ride through the very dry trails in Swansea.  Re-mounting the front derailleur with chain guide made a big difference...gee the chain stayed on!  I did fine without the granny gear.  In fact, felt pretty strong...best I've felt in a while.  A good clean ride with one exception.  When your dog is faithfully running by your left side, at a good clip I might add, and a squirrel (should I stop here?).........runs across the trail from left to right, your dog takes a jump ahead and an immediate right because he just can't help but chase anything that moves (especially a squirrel so arrogant as to run across his path) and runs right in front of your wheel as you hit him broadside, almost sending owner, bike, and dog rolling into a big heap.  Wow that was the longest OMMB sentence yet.  Damn squirrel tried to killed us.  I'm going to call Seal Team Six.

Happy Trails,
OMMB

Genius - Big River - RI

- Trailhead: Burnt Sawmill Rd
- Riders: The usual...me and the dog
- Miles: 5
- Weather: perfect and dry
- Temp: 75
- Trail Conditions: same as the weather
- GPS Track: http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/1246891

Notes: GREAT day for a ride.  I was hoping to log about eight to ten miles today.  My bike only wanted to do five.  Well I can't really blame the bike, because I'm the wizard that decided to remove the front derailleur for the heck of it (no granny gear, why should I need the derailleur?).  I found out that they just don't put that chain guide on the derailleur for the heck of it...smart move.  Chain proceeded to jump off the front ring about every 5 to 10 minutes.  Had to manually reset it, while the high performance deer flies attacked.  Even tried removing a few links from the chain but that didn't work...good times.  Anyway, the trails were in fantastic condition.  Intent was to map a good course through the hidden single track for the next (hopeful) SMGR.  Got pretty sick of resetting the chain, so back to trailhead I went.  To top things off, while heading back, Jesse Dog decided to chase a red squirrel up a tree and must have twisted himself.  He started yelping like a baby hyena (sounded like he was yelling "my leg is broken!"). When I looked back, he was just sitting on the trail. A few head pats and he was good to go...I'm guessing he through his hip out or something.

Happy Trails,
OMMB

Ask Yourself the Question, "Do I Like Mtn Biking?" - Village Park - Swansea, MA

Notes: Went for a 4.25 mile ride on the Kona...nice weather, nice conditions. If you are not riding trails right now, you are missing out on nice dry conditions...like last summer!  I know some of us have good excuses, like ankle surgery and pregnancy (valid "conditions"), but I think some of us just have EXCUSES!  Come on people, the summer is TOO SHORT!  SMGR?

Tidbits:  Still don't know how ya'll ride hardtails in New England!  What a freakin beat-down ride!  Yes...faster and more efficient pedaling on the 29er, but oh my aching kidneys! 

http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/1243351

Happy Trails,
OMMB

PS-If you answered "yes", then what are you waiting for???   Email me to pick a day (direct to my DingleBerry, I mean BlackBerry)... srebello@aol.com

Do I Really Need Granny Gear? (Part 2) - Village Park - Swansea, MA

- Trailhead: Case Jr High
- Riders: OMMB and JD
- Miles: 5.25
- Temp: 88, not so comfortable
- Trail Conditions: very dry, fast...with one exception

Notes: Within five minutes of leaving the trailhead, the question was answered.  Whether I subconsciously hit the left shift lever, or bounced the chain over a bump, result was a downshift to the vacated granny gear.  The chain managed to lodge under the grommets where granny once lived. It took quite an effort to dislodge the chain (I'm thinking that single speed bikes must have some solution for this, I'll have to take a closer look).  At this time...I need granny gear.

Although it was uncomfortably humid today, I was able to squeeze out another mile over yesterday.  I wasn't feeling very enthusiastic though. When I got to the section of trail owned by the gun toting quad driving farmer I decided to take the "public" cut off down the pipeline (straight track heading left starting on right of map below).   I also didn't feel like taking the risk that Farmer Quad may take shots at my coyote look-alike riding partner. But apparently this trail is only manageable when frozen, because OMMB and dog had to walk through knee deep muck to get through.  It was absolutely lovely. 

Jamming up the chain, dealing with some rear derailleur quirks (been too lazy to tune it up), AND finding a rear flat tire due to multiple thorns (with a Slime Tube???)....decided I will ride the Kona 29 "Gold Member" next time out.

Happy Trails,
OMMB