Took a bunch of waypoints.

willowdale with waypoints at EveryTrail

Map created by EveryTrail: Share and Plan your Trips

We had a nice ride last night – 8 or so people showed up. This track shows the way to some really nice new single track to the north.

NEMBA Easy Ride – Willowdale at EveryTrail

Map created by EveryTrail:GPS Geotagging

This the the ride I’ve been doing with Jeff. It’s mostly single-track, and varies in difficulty, with much of it being smooth, through there are some rocky climbs that give me trouble. We’d like to add in more single track rather than turning around. there’s more to be had to the north and east, but in our last attempted we ended up riding roads in Ipswitch after losing daylight. I need to transfer this track to the official park map and marker numbers so we can piece it together.

What we’ve got so far is about 4.4 miles, and takes us 1:05 to ride.

Willowdale ST out and back at EveryTrail

Map created by EveryTrail:GPS Geotagging

Some of this was rocky and difficult. I have the scrapes to prove it. My GPS was off for the start of the ride – we started at Gordon College, rode around their wood chipping piles before picking up single-track were the log starts.

Gordon College at EveryTrail

Map created by EveryTrail:GPS Geotagging

Willowdale State Forest, 90 degrees! I was slow.

willowdale at EveryTrail

Map created by EveryTrail:GPS Geotagging

This from my usual exercise run – I really only hit 181, but I like the song.

Bradley Palmer at EveryTrail

Map created by EveryTrail:GPS Geotagging

It finally is warming up. I’ve got some catching up to do to get back to where I was last fall. Even so, it’s great to be riding again.

I tool a walk in Bradley Palmer yesterday – the snow was almost gone then, some ice on the trail made it tricky. Today we got 8″ new snow, so maybe I’ll try out the XC skiis.

Bradley Palmer at EveryTrail

Map created by EveryTrail:GPS Geotagging

My bike is a work-in-progress. It’s a Gary Fisher Marlin, bought in 2006. I rode it a bit that summer on fire roads in Lynn Woods, skipped 2007 by riding my road bike, so this summer is probably the first summer I rode it regularly, and on a fair bit of single track.

Over all, I like riding a hard tail, and plan on sticking with it. I recently put 2.35 tires on it (Kenda Nevegal), and it’s quite an improvement, but the rear tire doesn’t really fit, as the outer row of nubs hits the frame on the chain side with it flexes. I’ve “fixed” this by trimming the nubs with scissors.

I’ve also switched to clipless pedals (shimano SPD). So far I’m still on the fence WRT platforms vs. clipless. It boils down to platforms being more care-free, less hassle, and allowing me to take more risks, vs. clipless improving efficiency and power, making riding faster and more fun. Perhaps when I get more comfortable clipping-out, it will decide things.

I’m viewing this as a project to determine the bike I really want. So far, I think my GF has a few gaps:

- Quality/Durability – The marlin has been a good introduction, but I’d like something a bit more durable and higher quality.

- Must fit 2.35 tires – I’m still over 200 lbs, so I need them.

- Disk Brakes.

- 1×8 or 1×9 drive. – I’d really like to loose the front changer and extra rings.

I’m not sure where this leads for manufactured bikes. I’m sort of in an odd category.

It’s been a relatively cool spring where I live. I’ve discovered that there are a bunch of trails to go mountain biking on, so I’ve been out 2-3 times a week for the last month or so. Last year I used my road bike a lot. I may take the road bike out this year once or twice, but I really prefer off-road. No cars, more nature, more fun.

This week I went on a ride with the North Shore chapter of NEMBA – I had a great time, and the guys gave me a tour of some fun trails they’d been working on. I’m going to try and catch up with them again in the next couple of weeks.

I’m also trying to get the kids geared up for off-road. My 7-year-old’s new bike is a Gary Fisher PreCaliber – a kids bike with 20″ wheels, six speeds and suspended front fork. I’ve gotten him to come along off road a couple of times so far. Currently I’m searching for a MTB for my 11-year-old.

I’m slowly getting in better shape. My bike has suffered a bit. So far I’ve bent the middle chain ring, and broken the seat. Hopefully it I’ll get all the weak bits shaken out soon.