[I Are Baboon]

MBC and I hooked up with MMcG for a jaunt through our local convenience spot. MMcG was a little worried about his legs holding up since he's hasn't been able to do as much riding as he would have liked so far this year. But as I expected, he kicked butt and did just fine.

Sunny and 85 today after work. Take away the swarms of mosquitos and it would have been perfect. Boy are the mosquitos harsh so far this year.

I had a strange instace of my tire separating from the rim about halfway through the ride. Not sure what that was all about.

Anyway, two hours and eight miles later, a great ride was finished.

A few pics...

 

[I Are Baboon]

Mark on a pile of logs.

MBC pedaling along. Pedal pedal pedal...

New toy to play on!

Mark gave it a try too.

More logs.

Not my best collection of pics, but you get the idea.

 

[splat]

where was that ?
and whu is MMcG riding ridgid ?

 

[Toshi]

two hours and 8 miles? awesome, sounds like my pace

 

[ukjason]

Is that a RideMonkey top that Mark is wearing

 

[I Are Baboon]

where was that ?
and whu is MMcG riding ridgid ?

That's the only bike Mark has. Fully rigid 29'er. He was rockin' it!

This was the West Hartford Reservoir.

 

[I Are Baboon]

Is that a RideMonkey top that Mark is wearing

Yyyyyup.

 

[Mackie]

That's the only bike Mark has.

And he's had it for significantly longer than any other bike he's owned!

 

[splat]

That's the only bike Mark has. Fully rigid 29'er. He was rockin' it!

This was the West Hartford Reservoir.

Hmm, How close is that to 91/84 ?? if you catch my drift

 

[MMcG]

Good Times Good Times!!! I'm diggin how the 29er handles those type of log crossings...no fork dive once you get up and are heading over and the big wheels help to smooth things out considerably!!

IAB got a nice huck in during the ride, but I wasn't ready with my camera to catch him in mid-flight. I took a few pics, I'll get em up later.

 

[stosh]

And he's had it for significantly longer than any other bike he's owned!

Ha, awesome point!!

Great pics and a great post work ride!

 

[I Are Baboon]

Hmm, How close is that to 91/84 ?? if you catch my drift

It's about 10 minutes off 84.

From 91, you catch 691 in Meriden CT to 84 in Southington CT. Real easy to get to.

 

[I Are Baboon]

IAB got a nice huck in during the ride, but I wasn't ready with my camera to catch him in mid-flight.

Heh, I forgot how big that drop was when you add in the tranny landing. I was in the air longer than I really expected.

 

[McGRP01]

Looks like a blast guys!! Can't wait to ride with y'all at MF!!

Wait...are any of you guys going this year!??!

 

[Heidi]

Ahhhh, isn't fresh air and dirt great?

 

[MMcG]

Looks like a blast guys!! Can't wait to ride with y'all at MF!!

Wait...are any of you guys going this year!??!

I don't think I'll be there this year. If I do go it would be a last minute decision.

 

[Serial Midget]

I will always have a huge amount of respect for full rigid riders.

 

[ukjason]

Yyyyyup.

I want one

 

[MMcG]

Again it was a great ride. The trails were in really good shape and the weather was ideal.

Here are a few pics from my camera. The best one MBC took. I suck at taking photos.

Here's IBA doing his best Ryan Leech trials riding impression on a short log ride early on in our loop:

MBC just riding along:

Phil up and over a pile of logs:

Me over the same spot (photo taken by MBC - not how hers is much better than my photo of Phil):

Phil coming around a slightly tricky uphill switchback (hard to tell from the photo):

Phil coming up a rocky uphill section, just before his wheels slipped out from under him (same thing happened to me in about the same spot - weird):

 

[tonyhawk]

It's about 10 minutes off 84.

From 91, you catch 691 in Meriden CT to 84 in Southington CT. Real easy to get to.

Huh?!? That's waaaay out of the way.

From 91S to take 84W (in Htfd) to the Rte 4 exit. Go right off the exit and the Res will be up a little ways on the left.

Where was my invite? :mumble:

Great pics!

 

[splat]

Huh?!? That's waaaay out of the way.

From 91S to take 84W (in Htfd) to the Rte 4 exit. Go right off the exit and the Res will be up a little ways on the left.

Where was my invite? :mumble:

Great pics!

I Will be coming from Bridge port , I will be on the bridgeport ferry, leaving port jefferson NY at 4:00 arrving Bridgeport 5:15 ( this is next thursday 6/29 )

 

[MMcG]

Huh?!? That's waaaay out of the way.

From 91S to take 84W (in Htfd) to the Rte 4 exit. Go right off the exit and the Res will be up a little ways on the left.

Where was my invite? :mumble:

Great pics!

Couldn't he come up Rt 8 from Bridgeport and then 84 East to Exit 39??

 

[tonyhawk]

I Will be coming from Bridge port , I will be on the bridgeport ferry, leaving port jefferson NY at 4:00 arrving Bridgeport 5:15 ( this is next thursday 6/29 )

Aha - nevermind. I had thought you were coming from MA.

Arriving in Bridgeport at 5:15 eh? Mark's right - take 8N to 84E. Here's a google map of the Res:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=10+Farmington+Ave,+Farmington,+CT&ie=UTF8&ll=41.748871,-72.778416&spn=0.024846,0.049181&om=1

 

[MMcG]

the only thing with riding the Res that late is that you'll have to haul major ass or do a shortened loop to avoid the MDC police who like everyone out of there at dusk.

 

[splat]

Aha - nevermind. I had thought you were coming from MA.

Yeah I will be spending 2 days down in Islandia,NY figured I stop by for a CT ride for my Thursday Night ride.

the only thing with riding the Res that late is that you'll have to haul major ass or do a shortened loop to avoid the MDC police who like everyone out of there at dusk.

so I guess I wouldn't need lights

OK so at that time what would you reccomend, coming from bridgeport ?

 

[MMcG]

perhaps Tonyhawk can recommend a good lights on friendly ride destination.

 

[MtnBikerChk]

I Will be coming from Bridge port , I will be on the bridgeport ferry, leaving port jefferson NY at 4:00 arrving Bridgeport 5:15 ( this is next thursday 6/29 )

From Bridgeport: Merritt Parkway (Route 15) to 91, to route 9 North, to 84W (1st exit).

He does NOT want to be going through Waterbury during rush hour.

I am the queen of directions in CT.

 

[tonyhawk]

perhaps Tonyhawk can recommend a good lights on friendly ride destination.

or maybe a closer destination?

Miller's Pond in Durham is about 10-15 minutes off exit 11 on Rte 9. We've been working with the land manager to build new trails here - one last year and one this year. Combined with a network of abandoned singletrack we found and cleared on the North side of Foothills Rd (see map), there's a solid 8 mile loop that is very technical with many natural log rides and other enhancements.

Since it's closer to Bridgeport than the WH Res by about half an hour, you can probably get there by 6 for a 2 hour tour.

 

[MMcG]

I knew Tonyhawk would have the solution.

 

[ukjason]

Where do you get those ridemonkey tops from?

 

[MMcG]

Where do you get those ridemonkey tops from?

They were sold last year on a one-off kind of deal.

Perhaps there could be enough interest to do another run.

Might be a good idea to post a thread in the lounge to see if there would be enough interest to merit doing a second run of the jerseys.

MJM