Mud Fest 2012

• Place: Village Park
• Trailhead: Library
• Riders: OMMB and Jesse Dog 
• Miles: 4.5
• Weather: rain, hard rain, really hard rain
• Temp: 42-ish
• Trail Conditions: muddy, really muddy, really really muddy, and wet, really wet, really really wet...and some snow!
• GPS Track: "no track for you"... GPS App nazi wasn't being friendly

Notes: So what happens when your wife goes to a girlie get together on a Friday night?  Well you take your dog for a night ride.  But it's raining, it's been raining all day, except when it was snowing heavy wet snow this morning, and it's still raining really hard.  Ooookay.  Let the mud fest begin!   It was sloppy.  Not only mud mixed with snow here and there, also puddles covering most of the single track.  On top of terrible conditions, visibility was tough even with lights full blast.  I was all over the place, even the simplest of ob-stackels were difficult.  It was embarrassing.  Maybe not as embarrassing as say, bending over to pick up a pencil at the office and splitting your pants ass-wide open in front of your co-workers, but yeah, embarrassing.  Get me atta here...there's Black Cherry flavored Jim Beam waiting to warm me up at home....



Wolf Dude, professional Mud Play-a.



Happy Trails,

OMMB

This post was Wolf Dude approved.

Old guy pace rules!

• Place: Village Park
• Trailhead: Library
• Riders: Bob, Jeff, Jesse, Marco, OMMB
• Miles: 7 (my new app seems to be coming up short, so I'm rounding up)
• Weather: clear
• Temp: 28 to 34
• Trail Conditions: great, frosty, fast 
• GPS Track: http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/n9REuC23aME

Notes: After yesterday's shellacking, Bob decided that today would be an "easy" ride, and before I got to the shop, both he and Jeff had decided that OMMB would lead the ride today (surely guaranteed NOT to be 7 minute mile pace!).  To make SURE today would be a slower ride, for me anyway, I had brought the 26er (and the dog).  Turns out that wasn't required, since all were pretty receptive to a somewhat leisurely pace.  Fun ride!

Tidbits: It was good to see a certain Elf on wheels today... "all work and no play is no fun at all work and no play is no fun at all..."  ...Gary Fisher

Happy Trails,

OMMB

Gees...

...thought I was getting faster, but these guys dropped me like a prom dress!

Although I'm able to keep up for maybe half the ride, my overall endurance sux! (yeah I know, do some road biking)

• Place: Village Park
• Trailhead: Library
• Riders: Bob, Ben, Jim, Matt, OMMB
• Miles: 8.7
• Weather: crisp
• Temp: 30-ish
• Trail Conditions: frozen 
• GPS Track: http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/sthKENtWN0Y

Tidbits:

1) Elf #1 has completed a bridge at the beginning of Up and Over, west side of Abrams Rock. 

2) Check out the March issue of NEMBA SingleTracks magazine...you may recognize a place (and name)

Happy Trails,

OMMB

Helloooo Archie

• Place: Big River, RI
• Trailhead: Burnt Sawmill Rd
• Riders: T, OMMB, Jesse 
• Miles: 6
• Weather: nice 
• Temp: mid 40's
• Trail Conditions: perfect
• GPS Track:

Notes: Our goal was a leasurely ride in search of the hidden trail identified by Archie.  With all the maps and gadgets I had (including a hint from JM), I still passed right by the trailhead twice.  The only reason we found it was Teri's keen sense of her surroundings.  After seeing me struggle with "the map says the trail should be here somewhere", shes says "hey there's a trail off this one back there"...and proceeded to show me where it was!  So glad she spotted it, because the trail is awesome, and worth the adventure to find! 

I'm NOT lost...I'm just thinking!



Hey she found it!  Archie and T agree, go this way around the loop.





YAY FUN DAY!



Tidbits: I found that my latest gadget app uses OpenStreetMap, which actually shows some of the Big River single track...very useful (but not complete).

Happy Trails,

OMMB

I know where you are, I see what you're doing!

• Place: Village Park
• Trailhead: Library
• Riders: OMMB
• Miles: 5 point 5
• Weather: drizzly
• Temp: mid 40s
• Trail Conditions: not bad considering rain rain rain...trails fared well 
• Whoops, Yikes, and Oh Sheets: a whoops mounting the newest bridge Westside Abrams on the start of Up and Over...hit the wet boulder on ramp and immediately exited stage left!  Good news is, no endo on Leap 3 rock drop...because I walked it (such a baby!).
• GPS Track: http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/38295954

Notes: Lone wolf today, so I decided to test out a free GPS app called Endomondo.  Pretty cool app and very easy to use.  I like how it calls out each mile and gives you lap time for the mile.  Supports all the mapping and tracking (GPX or TCX) I need.  It also TALKS to you with status like miles completed, lap time, and total time.  I will continue using this app...thanks to JM for turning me onto this gem.  What's REALLY cool is you can track others (once friended) LIVE during their workouts.  In fact, I'm tracking JM's progress through Arcadia right now (Sat 12:42) on the Endomondo website.  Creepy huh?

Tidbits:  Ok now REALLY creepy... I can send him a "Pep Talk" message via the website, if he has audio turned on, he will hear my message!

Happy Trails,

OMMB

"Can you show me Orion?"

And my iPhone 4 (if I had one) would say, "No shithead, it's too f-in cloudy to see stars tonight, can't you see it's too damn cloudy?  What are you stupid or something?  Gees!"

• Place: Village Park
• Trailhead: Library
• Riders: Chris, Danny (Danny, Manny, same difference...hahaha), OMMB
• Miles: 7 up
• Weather: Dark (and cloudy)
• Temp: 40's
• Trail Conditions: surprisingly good, given the thaw and light rain this morning.  A little slippery in spots (especially J-Lo), but overall good. 
• Whoops, Yikes, and Oh Sheets: Manny, formally known as Danny (because OMMB is an idiot), had a nice Yikes on Leap 3, end-o-ed on the rock drop with the nasty pot holes. 
• GPS Track: http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/1519460

Notes: Chris offered a night ride...hell yeah.  It was a perfect night for a ride; calm, mild weather.  Actually overdressed and heated up pretty quickly.  Of course trying to keep up with Super-chris-cross doesn't help you stay cool! 

Happy Trails,

OMMB

Hand numbing fast!

• Place: Village Park
• Trailhead: Library
• Riders: Bob, Jeff, OMMB
• Miles: 8.5
• Weather: nice
• Temp: 30-ish
• Trail Conditions: hard and fast  
• GPS Track: http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/downloadTrip.aspx?tripId=1517651&mode=gpx

Notes: Nice invigorating ride lead by Bob today...only a few short minutes of rest time.  Trails were in great condition for speedy travel.  A couple of new bridges...one in the works on the west side of Abrams and another Indian-like natural log bridge on J-Lo.  Rust never sleeps?  ELVES never sleep!

Happy Trails,

OMMB

Just a spin

Notes: Took the Jesse Dog out for a quick spin around Village Park.  GPS app was not apping so I don't have a track for today.  About 4.5 miles or so.  Amazingly, I returned the dog home with mud on his paws only!

Tidbits: The 100 map tri-folds we had printed for Bikeworks and Swansea Library are nearly gone!  My graphic arts printing Elf has made 200 more of the latest revision...look for them soon.

Happy Trails,

OMMB

Matt Atrack!

• Place: Village Park
• Trailhead: Library
• Riders: Bob, Jack, Jim, Matt, Paul?, OMMB
• Miles: 7 3/4
• Weather: mild
• Temp: 30s up to 40s
• Trail Conditions: good
• GPS Track: http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/downloadTrip.aspx?tripId=1512713&mode=gpx

Notes: Nice quick ride today...yes, somehow, I kept up.  On the 29er of course...arrrrrg.  Matt lead a great route that encompassed the new stuff ("Leap 3", and the tentatively, unimaginatively, named "Not Boulderdash", fire road east of Boulderdash)

Tidbits: Map with new segments...

Happy Trails,

OMMB

From the Makers of Ridge Loop comes....

...Leap 3! 

Cool new winding technical candy running from Up and Over (south side of Fire Road), ending on the Fire Road near where Roots starts.  We can all thank Elf R and Elf C for a nice job, with two of the best log-over bridges I've seen!  This was a night ride for me and Jesse, so I had to take the trail a little gingerly.  There's some great rock drops and tight technical spots that I'm looking forward to hitting in the daylight.  The Elves recommend, and after riding it I thoroughly agree, taking the trail from Up and Over.  Take Bridges out and Two Guys back then take a sharp right towards Up and Over.  You will find Leap 3 forking left before the large rock-over (if you get to the Fire Road, you missed the entrance).   Dark blue trail on map below. 

Also rode a new connect from J Lo to Pine Needles (no name yet, its creator is unknown at this time).  The trail is a straight shot but will maybe support an inner loop within the Pine Needle large loop someday.  Light blue on map below.



Whoa Jesse!  YOU'RE FREAKING ME OUT!!!


Happy Trails,

OMMB

Bob's Mix Tape

• Place: Village Park Swansea, MA
• Trailhead: library
• Riders: Bob, Jeff, OMMB
• Miles: 9
• Weather: almost Spring like 
• Temp: 40s
• Trail Conditions: frozen, but softened as the sun got higher

Notes: Bob put together a nice mix of trails for our listening, uh, riding pleasure.  I found his pace to be perfect for me...of course that was only possible because he was knocked down by a head cold and was riding slower! Works for me...great ride.

Tidbits: An Elf has cleared the rocks on the wall crossing that starts Neck and Neck...word on Elf Street is there's something new coming to that area.  Also, the deadly looking jump on Ridge Trail actually has a landing now...can't wait to try it! 

Happy Trails,

OMMB

Just a little O - Village Park

Notes: Me and the dog went for a quick ride before sunset.  Nice day, 45 degrees and clear, but the trails were quite soft.  Must have thawed throughout the day.  We looped a circle around the park, about 3.5 miles.  Ran into a guy on Rusty Car.  He was sitting by a nice campfire...almost felt like joining him.  He told me about some land on Rte 6, behind the Subway on 136 (I think) where there is a potential for bike trails...will have to check it out sometime.  He also was very thankful to the Trail Elves for all their hard work in Swansea.  Go figure, a random guy sitting by a campfire in the middle of the woods, grateful for the elves.  

Happy Trails,

OMMB

Team Zippy

• Place: Village Park
• Trailhead: Library
• Riders: Bob, Jeff (not Kona Jeff), Matt, OMMB
• Miles: 9.2
• Weather: chilly wind
• Temp: 30
• Trail Conditions: hard 
• Wildlife: heard a strange bird...maybe Spring is already approaching?
• GPS Track: http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/1503634

Notes: Rode with the non-stop speedy crew from Bikeworks.  I was "okay" for about 5.5 miles, then my legs were jello.  Mostly because I don't roll fast enough, requiring a lot of work to keep up with those dudes. It's back to the Kona 29 next time (until I figure out how to make my bike go faster)!

Tidbits: Superbowl weekend begins with the Extreme Beer Fest in Boston tomorrow...yay beer!  YAY PATS!

Happy Trails,

OMMB

Just a Nickel and Change

• Place: Village Park
• Trailhead: Library
• Riders: OMMB & JD
• Miles: 5.4
• Weather: overcast, damp, very light snow/rain
• Temp: 30's
• Wildlife: the return of smelly mud dog
• GPS Track:



Notes: Good little route for an afternoon ride.  Went out on Roots to Lakeside Connect, Rusty Car, cut across Fire Road to climb Chutes and Ladders, down Buddy to Fox Hole, around Pine Needles clockwise, down Thing 1, up Thing 2 (thought about Superman, nope, not yet), down Chutes and Ladders, up Fire Road DH, Boulderdash to Two Guys, Abrams Rock Eastside, out Graveyard then Ridge Loop counterclockwise. 

Tidbits: Silly dog kept dry the whole ride...until plopping into that mucked up mess on Fire Road heading out to the parking lot.  Lovely.

Happy Trails,

OMMB

Zig Zagging a Track

• Place: Village Park
• Trailhead: Library
• Riders: OMMB and Jesse Dog
• Miles: 9.3
• Weather: wow nice
• Temp: five oh up to five six (uuumm it's almost February, gees)
• Trail Conditions: good, still some lousy mud at the end of Graveyard before the bridge. The usual large muck collection at the beginning of Up and Over. Still mud and roots at the south end of Fox Hole.   
• GPS Track: http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/1500203

Notes: My goal, yes I had a goal, was to attempt a ride that included all the trails, well majority of the trails, by zig zagging through the Park.  It was an interesting goal, but not too successful, quite a few backtracks required. 



Ghost of Abram



Chutes and...

...Ladders

Jesse rockin the Boulder Loop

Happy Trails,

OMMB

RRRAAARRRR

• Place: Village Park 
• Trailhead: Library
• Riders: OMMB
• Miles: 5
• Weather: clear, windy 
• Temp: 42, but a chilly wind
• Trail Conditions: very good
• GPS Track: http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/1498138

Notes:  Felt a little pent up today, so off I went late in the day for a ride (before stopping at Home Depot of course).  Since time was limited, wanted more bang for the buck, so attempted to hit all climbs I could think of.  Also tracked the new Elf trail (project "Buddy") shown in blue on map below (.25 miles).  I felt pretty strong and attacked everything I could...good ride.

Nice 5 mile route for future reference...

• Went out Roots
• Up Men's Room
• Bouderdash to The Downhill, split to Buddy Trail
• Pine Needles to Kennedy Plaza
• Thing 1 to up Chutes and Ladders (not a bad climb)
• Clockwise around Wildcat Rock to Fire Road DH
• Rusty Car across field to Pine Needles towards Bull Bridge
• Up The Downhill to Boulderdash
• Two Guys then up Abram's Rock Eastside
• Graveyard (reverse direction around Teeter trail) and out

Tidbits: Climbs I missed...AR Westside, Up and Over, Ladies Room, and Thing 2

Happy Trails,

OMMB

Whew...

...I feel better now.  The other sluggish day was just a bad day.  Huffed out about 6 or 7 miles in "The Park", not sure because no GPS signal today....random.  Wanted to tool around and check out the new Elf stuff, since the weather was way too nice to stay inside.  Clear and upper 40's.  The newest of new trails has a couple of nice whoop dee doos...love it.

Tidbits: When Elves get tired from working sooo hard, they grab a seat...

Official Elf Seat

Happy Trails,

OMMB

"I Sucked"

• Place: Village Park
• Trailhead: Library
• Riders: OMMB
• Miles: 6.6
• Weather: cloudy, light rain
• Temp: 42
• Trail Conditions: soft and slow





Notes: What did Tom Brady say after the AFC Championship game?  "I sucked...but the defense came through and we won the game".    Well today, I sucked...but I stuck it out and got in a ride.  Not sure why I sucked...trail real soft, still wiped from sickies, too many days off for an old dude, or wait...was it the fact that my legs were jelly after the first real jog I've done in 2 years???  Yeah that's it, jogged an embarrassing mile or so yesterday.  THAT'S how bad the biking conditions have been, I resorted to jogging...ew.

Tidbits: Rode the newest again, Chutes and Ladders.  Although still soft, keep riding it!   No, Master Elf, I have not gone UP it yet!  (you show me how it's done! :) )   Also note that the Bull Bridge "skinny split" is done.

Happy Trails,

OMMB

Recent Ride Equations - Warren, RI

1. 8 to 10 inches of snow Friday and Saturday + flu = no ride
2. 50 degrees on Monday + deep slush = no ride
3. 56 degrees on Tuesday + slop = hit the East Bay Bike Path...

Happy Trails,

OMMB

Snow Day!

Notes: So what do you do when you're down with the flu and missed the first good snow bike ride of the season?   Well....you film your faithful trail dog having fun in the snow WITHOUT you! 

In Jesse's head, there was a clear blue sky...

...and that was filmed BEFORE the additional 8 inches of snow!! 

Oh the other thing you do while sitting around drinking Gatoraid and sipping chicken noodle soup...you update (again) your first attempt at a useful trail map.   Here's the latest for Village Park...

Tidbits: http://www.rinemba.org/abrums-rock/

Happy Snow,

OMMB

Oh Chute, a new trail!

• Place: Village Park
• Riders: OMMB and Jesse Dog
• Miles: 6.5
• Weather: clear
• Temp: 30
• Trail Conditions: mostly solid, some slight thawing slide outs

Notes: Insider info from down on Elf Street indicated that a new trail was finished.  Apparently Elf #2 blazed a new trail in record time.  The trail starts (or ends if you climb it) at the top of Thing 2 after the teeter, after going over the boulder climb, to the right.  Trail ends down on Thing 1, kind of paralleling the Fire Road DH. It's got a nice relaxing flow, great scenery through trees and boulders, kind of dreamy.  And it's name is....Chutes And Ladders!  Nice going Elf.


You can mouse over the flags on the map below, if you like that sort of thing...

Tidbits: Also from Elf Street, Elf #1 super sized the former Baby Teeter...now looking for a new home!

Happy Trails,

OMMB

PS- Elves were numbered in order of appearance, as I met them.

8

• Place: Village Park, Swansea
• Riders: OMMB, Jesse 
• Miles: 6
• Weather: clear 
• Temp: 28 or "high 20's" (makes it seem warmer)
• Trail Conditions: solid and fast
• Whoops, Yikes, and Oh Sheets: I was looking down at the water bottle (uh, ice bottle) I picked up for Bob going about 2 miles/hr, bumped into a rock, stopped dead and flopped over... "WTF" came to mind.

Notes: Well the Bikeworks crew rode this morning, but I decided to ride during the midday Sun.  It's all because of the number 8.  The number 8 should not be a temperature.  8 is okay for the time of day, 8 in the morning, 8 at night, both good.  8 is a good weight for a newborn baby, I believe the average is 7 pounds, but 8 is okay for that.  8 miles, that's a pretty good trail ride.  My friend Josh could eat 8 stuffed quahogs, if I gave him that many.  Domino's Pizza is selling a large pizza, mid week, for about 8 dollars.  That's a good number for the price of a large pizza, but not for a temperature.  After squinting at the thermometer this morning, not believing my eyes, I decided to stay home until the number seemed more reasonable... you know, like 28  ...now that's better.



THE Map!



Today's Route

 



Infamous Hunter's Perch, at the beginning of "J Lo"

 

Top of "Gentlemen's Club" (I've only seen Matt climb it clean)



Tidbits: I finally dropped over a boulder on Graveyard, cleared the mental block I had about it.

Happy Trails,

OMMB

Greasy Times

• Place: Village Park
• Riders: Bob, Jack, Jesse, OMMB
• Miles: 6
• Weather: yucky, but the rain held off
• Temp: 50
• Trail Conditions: slick greasy mud from all night rain 
• Wildlife: a deer, Jesse found it first 
• GPS Track: http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/1476312

Notes: Had to get a ride in, won't have much time this weekend, so I dragged the dog out into potential downpours.  Turns out the rain held off, Bob and Jack were ready to go, and Jesse brought mud jumping to a new level.  But before mud jumping, Jesse's first order of business was to chase down a pretty large deer right near the parking lot.  He got within a couple of feet of it's big white tail, but the deer smoked him in the woods.  Nice try dog.

Happy Trails,

OMMB

Manic Mechanicals

• Place: Village Park, Swansea, MA
• Riders: Bob, Jeff, Matt, OMMB and Jesse
• Miles: seven and three quarters
• Weather: very light snow left its mark before we arrived
• Temp: 30
• Trail Conditions: thin crust of snow, surprisingly grippy 
• Whoops, Yikes, and Oh Sheets: a couple of wipe outs by Jeff, tire seal issues
• GPS Track:



Notes: Other than Jeff slipping around on a hard rear tire, this was a good ride.   To keep the air in Jeff's new tubeless setup, high pressure was needed.  High pressure + crusty snow + roots = crash times three!  Once his right shifter broke, he decided that today would be best spent in the truck at the parking lot...so he sadly hiked out in hopes for better days to come.

Tidbits: Some pics of the new Elf features can be found by clicking on the icons in the map above.

Apparently Elves also keep the woods clean of human trash...

...nice elves!

Happy Trails,

OMMB

Sunday...a fun day to a T

• Riders: Teri, Jesse, OMMB
• Miles: 4.5
• Weather: real nice...not many of these during a New England January!
• Temp: upper 40s
• Trail Conditions: a little mushy due to the latest thaw, but not bad at all 

Notes: After a long layoff due to ankle surgery, I was able to convince T (aka Mrs. OMMB) that today would be a good day to tour the new stuff at The Village.  She agreed and had a blast on the new bridges. She especially liked Bull Bridge and much to my amazement, cleared the whole first skinny bridge on the Bridges Trail...very impressive!!

Tidbits: There's a new baby teeter in town...it's on Two Guys, to the left of the "T" on the large switchback (see map clip below).  Created by Elf #1, debated by Elf #2, and gets you over the log cross. BUT if you miss the line to the teeter over the logs, you could face certain and immediate death (well...a nasty tangled crash with a teeter at least).

Fun pix of the day...

Sunny Teeter

Riding the Bull!



Happy Day!



Yeah, whatever.

Let's do that teeter!

Sunny Slide Down



Go Green!  Even Kermit likes Mtn Biking.



OMMB trail reporting with a couple of lazy ass cats!

Happy Trails,
OMMB

Oh but wait... movies too...

On the Teeter...


And the Baby Teeter...


The water IS from my Camelbak!!

The Route!

• Place: Village Park
• Riders: Bob, OMMB (met up with Matt and Jim towards the end) 
• Miles: 8.7
• Weather: flurries early then clear
• Temp: 30 and rising
• Trail Conditions: solid, fast!
• GPS Track: http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/1466550

Notes:  Another great route by Bob...worth noting! 

1. Library to Graveyard
2. up Abrams Rock Eastside
3. North on Bridges
4. South on Two Guys to Two Guys Too
5. South on Bridges to Rock Drop
6. right at Abrams Eastside then North on Two Guys 
7. Boulderdash to The Downhill
8. Bull Bridge Westbound 
9. Boulder Loop then South to Kennedy Plaza
10. up Thing 1 to Pine Needles
11. Bull Bridge Eastbound to Foxhole
12. J Lo then South to Kennedy Plaza
13. up Thing 2
14. clockwise around Wildcat to Fireroad DH
15. through Four Corners to Neck and Neck
16. Roots then Ridge Loop clockwise
17. Lakeside to Rusty Car then up to Pine Needles clockwise 
18. down Thing 1 straight through Four Corners
19. Neck and Neck (met up with Matt and Jim)
20. Connect 1 to No One's Rock North
21. Fireroad North to Connect 2
22. Two Guys South to Abrams Rock Westside
23. Graveyard to Library

Happy Trails,

OMMB

Marked

• Place: Village Park
• Riders: OMMB and JD
• Miles: 4.5
• Weather: chilly

Notes: Went for a quick ride to store waypoints for all the bridges and man(elf)-made features in the park...all for the map in progress.  Snapped off a pic of a nice sunset on the icy pond.

Happy Trails,

OMMB

Bob Dreams Routes

• Place: Swansea Village Park
• Riders: Bob, Jeff, OMMB and Jesse
• Miles: 7 and a half-ish
• Weather: chilly, but bearable
• Temp: upper 20's
• Trail Conditions: frozen and fast, bikes were rolling nice
• GPS Track:

Notes: In case you didn't know, when Bob can't sleep at night, he thinks up different routes for the morning's ride.  This was a really good one!  (Damn I wish I could show directional arrows...oh wait, I can...)  

Happy Trails,

OMMB