19 NE - It's all up from here

**Vt-Freeheel** · 10-14-2019, 03:50 PM

Where's the trail? ^^ lol It was an awesome weekend to be outside.

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**Boreas** · 10-14-2019, 04:51 PM

biking by Braille.

**JerseyDave** · 10-14-2019, 05:28 PM

Amazing outside today. Our classroom was trail building. My crew of 2 hustling to finish this last project. One last new trail this year...I've said one more day for 3 days now, but I think one more day...

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**gravitylover** · 10-14-2019, 09:08 PM

Great shot Dave

**handlebarsfsr** · 10-15-2019, 06:02 AM

Rode with a group of 25 on Sunday, and 6 yesterday in the CT flatlands. Fabulous 2 days to be outside.

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**buttahflake** · 10-15-2019, 03:36 PM

I know I bag on the Kingdom from time to time, but today was as good as riding a bike gets. No one there, perfect conditions, dry with endless grip. Sunlight coming through the leafless trees. Place has changed so much since I first rode there in the early 90’s. How long has that bike shop up near the top of Heavens Bench and Bill McGill been there? I wish I had stayed over to ride up there again tomorrow. Easy drive from my place, got there in 1:40. Closes on Halloween, get some.

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**Peruvian** · 10-15-2019, 04:10 PM

Buddy’s backyard trails

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**Laps** · 10-15-2019, 07:50 PM

Wtf is that specialized doing in Buttah's picture???

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**gravitylover** · 10-15-2019, 08:03 PM

Originally Posted by handlebarsfsr

Rode with a group of 25 on Sunday, and 6 yesterday in the CT flatlands. Fabulous 2 days to be outside.

Where were ya? There's some goods to be had down there.

Originally Posted by buttahflake

I know I bag on the Kingdom from time to time, but today was as good as riding a bike gets. No one there, perfect conditions, dry with endless grip. Sunlight coming through the leafless trees. Place has changed so much since I first rode there in the early 90’s. How long has that bike shop up near the top of Heavens Bench and Bill McGill been there? I wish I had stayed over to ride up there again tomorrow. Easy drive from my place, got there in 1:40. Closes on Halloween, get some.

That shop was across the street for a couple of years and has been in that barn building next to the Wildflower for 3 years now. Pretty cool spot for a bike shop right? It's the kind of place you'd want to work if you didn't know how nutty busy it gets.

'twas a sweet afternoon for a ride today wasn't it? It's super dry right now, amazing after how wet it had been for 18 months how dry it turned out this year.

**biggins** · 10-15-2019, 08:04 PM

I try to hate on the Kingdom, then I ride there constantly and love it every time. Guess them Quebecois know what's up.

**Anospa** · 10-16-2019, 06:15 AM

Originally Posted by biggins

I try to hate on the Kingdom, then I ride there constantly and love it every time. Guess them Quebecois know what's up.

That's my biggest piece of confusion, the trails in Quebec are waaaaay better than KT!! I guess if they wanna avoid rocks KT is a good alternative, but dammmmnnn

**buttahflake** · 10-16-2019, 06:24 AM

Originally Posted by gravitylover

Where were ya? There's some goods to be had down there.

That shop was across the street for a couple of years and has been in that barn building next to the Wildflower for 3 years now. Pretty cool spot for a bike shop right? It's the kind of place you'd want to work if you didn't know how nutty busy it gets.

'twas a sweet afternoon for a ride today wasn't it? It's super dry right now, amazing after how wet it had been for 18 months how dry it turned out this year.

Totally cool spot for a bike shop! I can only imagine what a shitshow it is on a busy Saturday. Heading to Ascutney today, looks like it’s gonna get ugly starting tonight. Anyone have firsthand experience with Revel bikes? Claremont Cycle Depot is a dealer, looking at the Rascal to replace my Stumpy.

**HankScorpio** · 10-16-2019, 06:50 AM

Originally Posted by biggins

I try to hate on the Kingdom, then I ride there constantly and love it every time. Guess them Quebecois know what's up.

KT is great when it's empty. I usually will head there in early morning hours to avoid the crowds.

I made the mistake of riding there Saturday morning because some friends from Boston were up there. We got going by 7:30 but by the time we ended at 10 or so we were getting off our bikes every few hundred yards to make way for people who feel the need to play chicken on the trails. It seems every tourist at KT feels the need to ride in an enormous group and just ignore any trail etiquette.

**radam** · 10-16-2019, 07:33 AM

Originally Posted by Anospa

That's my biggest piece of confusion, the trails in Quebec are waaaaay better than KT!! I guess if they wanna avoid rocks KT is a good alternative, but dammmmnnn

I did a Quebec trip end of summer and was blown away at how good the riding was. Then my latest issue of Freehub showed up and it's a photo issue devoted to everything around Quebec City. Can't wait to get back! (But yes, no shortage of rocks)

**biggins** · 10-16-2019, 08:57 AM

I generally find that on crowded days, simply avoiding Darling Hill does the trick. And yeah, greater QC is very high on the list for an MTB road trip.

**buttahflake** · 10-16-2019, 12:04 PM

10mg gummi had me in pure flow mode today at STAB. Fell back in love with the MTB in the last couple of weeks.

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**BigDaddy** · 10-16-2019, 12:22 PM

That gummi really brings out the colors...

**HankScorpio** · 10-16-2019, 12:23 PM

A 10 mg gummy and STAB trails are the perfect combo.

**Peruvian** · 10-16-2019, 01:24 PM

**jackstraw** · 10-16-2019, 01:51 PM

Originally Posted by buttahflake

10mg gummi had me in pure flow mode today at STAB. Fell back in love with the MTB in the last couple of weeks.

Wondering when you were gonna come back around from the dark side

Funny, I often will change a corner or two on a trail that I've built because it sucked...right. Today I'm on my trail and somebody blocked off my reroute and put it back to the original line...that I built. I guess I'll take it as a compliment, but that line sucks!!

**JerseyDave** · 10-16-2019, 02:49 PM

And "Finished". As in, the new run is clear and connected. Total run I think 3+ miles, from 2200 feet down to 900. 95% dh. 90% primitive single track, 10% chunky fast double track. Northfield Normal is now 3 big climbs, 3 big DHs. Very Stoked to ride it in...

**jackstraw** · 10-16-2019, 03:54 PM

3 miles is significant. Nice. Now the break-in period begins.

**HankScorpio** · 10-16-2019, 03:55 PM

Originally Posted by DaveVt

And "Finished". As in, the new run is clear and connected. Total run I think 3+ miles, from 2200 feet down to 900. 95% dh. 90% primitive single track, 10% chunky fast double track. Northfield Normal is now 3 big climbs, 3 big DHs. Very Stoked to ride it in...

Ohh interesting. Care to shed some more info on location? It took me a few tries to find the trails near the car battery....that area?

BTW, DaveVT does one hell of a job with the trails in Northfield. It's been a refreshing experience riding/exploring/getting lost there this season.

**JerseyDave** · 10-16-2019, 05:47 PM

Originally Posted by HankScorpio

Ohh interesting. Care to shed some more info on location?

You're on the right track. It's a 1/4 mile additional trail that continues the newest piece...down. It will be exceptionally hard to find...not impossible. The end is not connected for about 40 feet. Just cleared, none of it raked, just natural woods with rock work where needed....I did shuffle my feet a lot today on the way out. It's right where you think it should be if traveling south heading towards Slate Ave Trail and not wanting to dump vert on shitty rocky wheeler trail. G/L.

**MaineSkiAddict1** · 10-16-2019, 07:29 PM

Originally Posted by biggins

I generally find that on crowded days, simply avoiding Darling Hill does the trick. And yeah, greater QC is very high on the list for an MTB road trip.

QFT.

The weekends are a perfect time to climb from the lot to Moose Alley and ride that side, Farm Junk, Skydive/nose dive, etc. That side seems to get passed over by the masses. Darling Hill can be like an ant farm and those trails are empty.

Speaking of, I might try to get down there for closing weekend. Anyone going to be around?