Trail Report...7/30 - Swansea, MA

- Place: Case Jr. High, Swansea, MA
- Riders: T & OMMB
- Distance: 4.7 mi
- Weather: clear
- Temp: 80
- Humidity: low (shocking)
- Pollen Level: low
- Trail Conditions: good
- Technical Level: intermediate
- Hills: 20%
- Bug Report: not too bad
- Wildlife: a chipmunk
- Whoops, Yikes, and Oh Sheets: nope
- Notes: some dingle-berries have cut trees down over some of the trails. looks like they are cutting property boundaries....oh boy.

Tidbits: there seemed to be some fussy sounding noises throughout the ride...but I'm sure it was only the squeaking from my bike (needs a tune up).

Plans: Second attempt for a group ride at Big River this Sunday AM...weather permitting. Come one come all... even if you're a chump Yankee fan who prefers to golf over MTB!

Happy Trails,
OMMB

Trail Report...7/26/09

- Place: Massasoit State Park, Taunton, MA
- Riders: T, Mark, OMMB
- Distance: 4.25
- Weather: HHH
- Temp: 85
- Humidity: High
- Pollen Level: Med
- Trail Conditions: Rooty...a little mud
- Technical Level: intermediate
- Hills: 25%
- Bug Report: med
- Wildlife: nope
- Whoops, Yikes, and Oh Sheets: none
- Notes: My second visit to Massasoit...due to the morning rain, thought this would be a good (dry) place for a ride. Was not as impressive as the first time I hit the place for 7 miles. Lots of roots and not much variety...but then again, maybe the humidity made us fussy....

Bottom Line: Trails were not really worth the drive to Taunton....should re-visit Rocky Woods.

Tidbits: Holy Cow...Uncle Ed's Ice Cream is BETTER than Grey's!!!! (Thanks Mark!)

Happy Trails,
OMMB

Trail Report...7/22/09

- Place: Case Jr. High, Swansea, MA
- Riders: T, Anna, Mark, OMMB
- Distance: 5.8mi
- Weather: good
- Temp: 80
- Humidity: high
- Pollen Level: med
- Trail Conditions: it's baaaack...muddy!
- Technical Level: intermediate/expert
- Hills: 20%
- Bug Report: med
- Wildlife: no beer, no wild life
- Whoops, Yikes, and Oh Sheets: whoops by OMMB, slow roll off the bike down a hill (stopped, dropped, and rolled)
- Notes: heavy rain the night before mucked up the trails...again.

Happy Trails,
OMMB

Trail Report...7/19/09

- Place: Case Jr. High, Swansea, MA
- Riders: Patrick, OMMB
- Distance: 4.5 miles
- Weather: perfect
- Temp: 75-80
- Humidity: low
- Pollen Level: low
- Trail Conditions: very good, almost dry
- Technical Level: beginner/intermediate
- Hills: 15%
- Bug Report: some skeets when you stop
- Wildlife: a hawk (or falcon) took off from a stream right in front of us
- Whoops, Yikes, and Oh Sheets: one Oh Sheet by Pat; first endo this season resulted in a dislodged rear axle and a left hook to the gut from his handlebars!
- Notes: got Pat a nice intro ride to the area

Tidbits: 1. P & R were married at the waterfall near the trail head! (who knew???) 2. Happy Bday Pat - 7/18/09

Links:
Google Earth File: Case Jr High - Swansea MA - 4.5 mi - 19 Jul 09.kmz

GPX File: Case Jr High - Swansea MA - 4.5 mi - 19 Jul 09.gpx

Happy Trails,
OMMB

Trail Report...7/7/09

- Place: Case Jr High; Swansea / Rehoboth, MA
- Riders: Bob, Jack, Matt, Scott, Pat (not the musician, a girl Pat), OMMB
- Distance: 12 miles
- Weather: overcast, misty
- Temp: 75
- Humidity: high
- Pollen Level: low
- Trail Conditions: very good
- Technical Level: intermediate/expert (because of the heart rate)
- Hills: 25%
- Bug Report: skeets if you stop to long
- Wildlife: rare sight...a box turtle, Jack made enemies with a bee, 2 dear deers.
- Whoops, Yikes, and Oh Sheets: 2 whoops by Jack (slide out & where'd the trail go), 1 yikes by OMMB (half-endo on a stone wall)
- Notes: nice long trail ride, not too technical, but ridden at a fast pace caused a few mishaps (like ripping my shirt on a tree when leaning into a turn on a rock bridge)

Tidbits: most likely the last ride before vacation...see ya in a week and a half! In the meantime, ponder this ride from my West Coast friends (note the vertical profile)...

Happy Trails,
OMMB

Trail Report...7/5/09

- Place: Big River East - Hopkin's Hill
- Riders: T, Patrick, OMMB
- Distance: 5 miles
- Weather: gorgeous (could it be summer...already?)
- Temp: 80
- Humidity: low
- Pollen Level: low
- Trail Conditions: some mud & water crossings but overall, excellent
- Technical Level: intermediate/expert (whoops)
- Hills: 40% (whoops again)
- Bug Report: low (but tasty)
- Wildlife Observed: a turtle (painted versus snapping)
- Whoops, Yikes, and Oh Sheets: some minor whoops by T; some Yikes expected from Pat, but no go
- Notes: a real nice (read "technical") 5 mile single track loop with all the typical New England "good stuff"

Tidbits: Local music sensation, Patrick McAloon, joined us for his first ride in many (more like many, many) years! He really did unexpectedly awesome, considering the nasty trails his Dad threw at him. T nailed the ride too (glad Pat was there as a buffer for OMMB ;) )

Happy Trails,
OMMB

Trail Report...6/27/09

- Place: Bradbury State Park, Pownal ME
- Riders: T, Anna, Mark, OMMB
- Distance: GPS died, but from the map, about 7 miles
- Weather: only sunny while riding, otherwise rain all weekend!
- Temp: 70
- Humidity: high
- Pollen Level: low
- Trail Conditions: a bit wet for Bradbury, but good considering the rain
- Technical Level: intermediate
- Hills: 40% (sorry Mark!)
- Bug Report: plenty, couldn't stop for long ("hop, hop")
- Wildlife: chipmunks and red squirrels, cava, Gritty's ale, Dogfish IPA, etc. We know who doesn't have a wild life...Tammy the Ranger.
- Whoops, Yikes, and Oh Sheets: other than the occasional "whoooo", all had a clean ride
- Notes: we were lucky, the trails had been closed due to the rain. Tammy was considerate enough to open the park on Saturday. Go Tammy!

Tidbits: Great place for a camp/bike trip but be warned...they "strictly enforce the no alcohol policy" for Maine State Parks (we strictly enforced our right to consume alcohol in the State of Maine).

Links:
http://nemba.org/ridingzone/bradbury_mountain_2.html
http://www.state.me.us/cgi-bin/doc/parks/find_one_name.pl?park_id=12

Happy Trails,
OMMB

When it rains...it pours cava!

Trail Report...6/25/09

- Place: Case Jr High, Swansea MA
- Riders: Bob, Jack, Jason, Paul, OMMB
- Weather: overcast
- Temp: 70
- Humidity: high
- Trail Conditions: good, considering all the rain
- Technical Level: beginner/intermediate
- Hills: 10%
- Distance: 9.4 miles
- Bug Report: none (didn't stop long enough)
- Pollen Level: high
- Wildlife Observed: 2 rottweilers and a chick
- Whoops, Yikes, and Oh Sheets: none
- Notes: Jason the trailblazer took us on some new areas, great addition to extend the normal loops.

Tidbits: heading North this weekend...Bradbury State Park - Freeport, ME

Happy Trails,
OMMB

Trail Report...6/16/09

- Place: Case Jr High, Swansea MA

- Riders: T, OMMB
- Weather: sunny...FINALLY!!!
- Temp: 70
- Humidity: none
- Trail Conditions: excellent...surprisingly dry
- Technical Level: beginner/intermediate
- Hills: 10%
- Distance: 3.5 miles
- Bug Report: none (used a real smelly spray)
- Pollen Level: low
- Wildlife Observed: a huge snapper!!! (turtle that is) ...crossed a dirt road in front of us.
- Whoops, Yikes, and Oh Sheets: ouch...classic gear bite on T's calf!
- Notes: quick little last minute ride with T...good to see the sun again, so we took advantage.

Tidbits: Gotta see this (snapper-licious)... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gn8EQ0azXpQ&

Happy Trails,
OMMB

Trail Report...6/4/09

- Place: Case Jr High, Swansea MA
- Riders: Hector, OMMB
- Weather: overcast
- Temp: 70
- Humidity: high
- Trail Conditions: moderate mud
- Technical Level: intermediate (moderate pace)
- Hills: 15%
- Distance: 5.2 mi
- Bug Report: manageable
- Pollen Level: high
- Wildlife Observed: nope
- Whoops, Yikes, and Oh Sheets: nope...clean ride
- Notes: quick loop before sundown...started at 7:10 and finished in 1 hr

Tidbits: stayed away from any rock jumps or ledges...fearing Hector Knievel might strike again!

Happy Trails,
OMMB

Trail Report...6/2/09

- Place: Big River, West Entrance
- Riders: Hector, Ron, OMMB
- Weather: Rain at first, then cleared
- Temp: 75
- Humidity: high
- Trail Conditions: excellent
- Technical Level: intermediate/expert
- Hills: 20%
- Distance: 13.87
- Bug Report: moderate
- Pollen Level: high
- Wildlife Observed: Ron got chased by a deer
- Whoops, Yikes, and Oh Sheets: an awesome Oh Sheet by Hector "Knievel"...watch the video!


- Notes: these CA riders do not tire easily (riding up mountains year round does that)...and I'm a little afraid of their after-ride activities (see picture)

Tidbits: liquor stores are scarce around Big River, we ended up at Flo's for fish & chips...and pitchers of Bass!

Great tracks recorded by Ron on his iPhone ("there's an App for that")...

Google Maps Link

Google Earth File

GPX Track File

All the pix...
http://picasaweb.google.com/srebello417/TrailReportPix6209?feat=directlink

Happy Trails,
OMMB

Trail Report...5/31/09

- Place: Case Jr High, Swansea MA
- Riders: T, OMMB
- Weather: nice
- Temp: 79
- Humidity: low
- Trail Conditions: great...mud is all dried up
- Technical Level: beginner/intermediate
- Hills: 20%
- Distance: 5 mi
- Bug Report: not too bad
- Pollen Level: high
- Wildlife Observed: headless squirrel - in the woods, you never know what might be waiting to eat your head! ("Hey Rocky, watch me pull your head out of my hat...whoops, wrong hat")
- Whoops, Yikes, and Oh Sheets: Oh Sheet by T, rocks knocked some of her balance, a little tree took the rest...off the bike in true Superwoman style into the spiders and bushes! Some awesome bruises to show!
- Notes: we reversed the loop to make things interesting...it worked a little too well.

Tidbits: fellow riders from the left coast will be joining me this week...wish them luck ;)









More pix...
http://picasaweb.google.com/srebello417/TrailReportPix53109?feat=directlink

Happy Trails,
OMMB

Trail Report...5/30/09

- Place: Case Jr High, Swansea MA
- Riders: T (SR), Anna, OMMB
- Weather: excellent
- Temp: 79
- Humidity: none
- Trail Conditions: excellent
- Technical Level: beginner/intermediate
- Hills: 20%
- Distance: 6 mi
- Bug Report: if you stop too long, the giant skeets get you
- Pollen Level: med
- Wildlife Observed: a chipmunk, a swan, a farmer, Anna & Steve saw SRs, T saw a full portuguese moon
- Whoops, Yikes, and Oh Sheets: one whoops by OMMB, ended upside down
- Notes: a great day for a break in ride for Anna Swedie. Teri was forced to learn the snot rocket (SR) technique, now she's addicted

Tidbits: riding with these two sweeties, apres-ride G&Ts, eating oysters and salmon by the bay, Mark...wish you were here!

Happy Trails,
OMMB

Trail Report...5/27/09

- Place: Case Jr High, Swansea MA
- Riders: OMMB
- Weather: rain
- Temp: 48
- Humidity: high, but cool
- Trail Conditions: soft & wet, at times very supple
- Technical Level: beginner/intermediate
- Hills: 15%
- Distance: 5.2 mi
- Bug Report: minimal
- Pollen Level: minimal
- Wildlife Observed: 3 deer and whats left of the just dead mink (someone has a new coat)
- Whoops, Yikes, and Oh Sheets: just a little slippery when wet
- Notes: wet branches in the face; good way to wake up on early morning rides

Tidbits: Happy Birthday Robin!!

Happy Trails,
OMMB

Trail (Hike) Report...5/25/09

- Place: Weetamoo Woods, Tiverton RI
- Hikers: Teri, Alexa, Anna, OMMB
- Weather: Nice
- Temp: 80
- Humidity: low
- Trail Conditions: very good
- Technical Level: if you can walk, you can hike here
- Hills: just rock climbs...highest was to top of High Rock RI where we had a Provender lunch
- Distance: about 3 miles
- Bug Report: minimal
- Pollen Level: med
- Wildlife Observed: several hawks and osprey, also I snuck up behind a rare Swedish Sasquatch that was sasquatching in the woods (I don't think she saw me).
- Whoops, Yikes, and Oh Sheets: one whoops by Alexa, a classic trail slide out
- Notes: great place for a recreational (to re-create) hike. Intent was to watch Alexa do some rock climbing (one of her passions).

Tidbits: the weather"people" were finally right...great day! ...and Happy Birthday Mark!! (we ate chocolate chip espresso cookies to celebrate)

More pix...
http://picasaweb.google.com/srebello417/TrailHikeReportPix52509?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ7o5Iqf247L1gE&feat=directlink

Happy Trails,
OMMB

Trail Report...5/24/09

- Place: Case Jr High, Swansea, MA
- Riders: OMMB
- Weather: overcast (beat the rain)
- Temp: 60
- Humidity: moderate
- Trail Conditions: very good
- Technical Level: intermediate
- Hills: 20%
- Distance: 5.7 mi
- Bug Report: low
- Pollen Level: med
- Wildlife Observed: the mink is still there by the side of the trail, it's just dead
- Whoops, Yikes, and Oh Sheets:
- Notes: found some additions to the normal loop. great ride for a Sunday morning wind up of the MTB god.

Tidbits: the weather"people" really blew the forecast this weekend. couldn't be more opposite than the beautiful weather they predicted. hoping for more sunshine and higher temps for Memorial Day tomorrow (don't forget to thank a Vet). planning to do some hiking/rock climbing at Weetamoo tomorrow...

Happy Trails,
OMMB

Trail Report...5/22/09

- Place: Massasoit State Park, East Taunton, MA - Riders: OMMB
- Weather: NICE!
- Temp: 80
- Humidity: low
- Trail Conditions: excellent
- Technical Level: beginner/intermediate
- Hills: lots of sharp steep hills off the main dirt roads
- Distance: 7.5 miles
- Bug Report: not too bad
- Pollen Level: high
- Wildlife Observed: heard a few creatures, non observed
- Whoops, Yikes, and Oh Sheets: some yikes, steep drop offs
- Notes: First time riding at Massasoit State Park for OMMB. Started off on a steep climb (Peter something trail). Unless you veer off the main double track trails, not too technical. A good place for a break in ride, or if you wish to work on your skills you can break off the main trail to some gnarly single track. But be prepared to walk, there's a lot of steep ups and downs. There's a crazy steep area used by quads...be fun to watch that! Some great places to stop and view the lakes. All in all, the real fun part of the place was a nice long single back to the parking lot (blue trail).

Tidbits: Happy Birthday to Swee-D! Happy Half Birthday to Swee-T!

Happy Trails,

OMMB

Trail Report...5/20/09

- Place: Big River, South Entrance off Rt 102 (near the Gun Club land)
- Riders: OMMB
- Weather: NICE!
- Temp: 70
- Humidity: low
- Trail Conditions: excellent
- Technical Level: intermediate
- Hills: two that required going for an uphill walk
- Distance: 5 miles (guestimate since the GPS didn't lock in)
- Bug Report: everything you could imagine (all tasted the same). And there's going to be a serious gypsy moth caterpillar issue here.
- Pollen Level: low
- Wildlife Observed: none
- Whoops, Yikes, and Oh Sheets: none (other than missing the plank bridge)
- Notes: Tried entering BR from a new location off Rt 102 (intersection of Congdon Rd and New London Turnpike). Decent loop (some real technical stuff) but I was unable to grab a digital track due to the GPS never locking into enough SVs (satellite vehicles). I will post the map that enabled me to make it back to the truck asap (asap = when I finish making the BLOG site). DONE! See below.
- Interesting Tidbit: came across a very old locked safe. Yep, like a Bonnie & Clyde relic on the side of the trail. Anyone got dynamite?

Happy Trails,
OMMB

Trail Report...5/16/09 - Case Jr High, Swansea, MA

- Place: Case Jr High, Swansea, MA
- Riders: T, OMMB
- Weather: clear
- Temp: 60
- Trail Conditions: moderate mud
- Technical Level: beginner/intermediate
- Hills: 10%
- Distance: 4 miles
- Bug Report: mosquito bastards
- Pollen Level: med
- Wildlife Observed: none
- Whoops, Yikes, and Oh Sheets: none (although I heard a couple of eeks and whoas from someone)
- Notes: nice loop with my wife, who has mastered the bridge of rocks over mud technique!

Happy Trails,
OMMB

Trail Report...5/14/09 - Weetamoo Woods, Tiverton, RI

- Place: Weetamoo Woods, Tiverton, RI
- Riders: OMMB
- Weather: Windy, muggy
- Temp: 60
- Trail Conditions: more mud than usual, enough for everyone
- Technical Level: intermediate
- Hills: 5%
- Distance: 6 miles
- Bug Report: tons of mosquitos (didn't seem to be biting though, maybe they were full from eating at Grey's)
- Pollen Report: low
- Wildlife Observed: none (maybe these woods are haunted)
- Whoops, Yikes, and Oh Sheets: none (still sore from the last one!)
- Notes: Fairly technical single track with plenty of variety (log hops, rock gardens, bridges, ledges). I hope to take my son here someday ;)

Happy Trails,
OMMB