Soft Rock Hard Times

Conan

Conan

Member
Helloooo again! Popping my head in here to post a few upcoming group rides that I'm planning. I also want to share a project that I've been working on the past two years (and may have bumped into a few of you along the way during scouting rides). I've been linking up as many trail systems as possible to form a bikepacking route train-accessible from NYC. Its current iteration stretches from the Round Valley Recreation Area to New Haven, clocking in at 387mi with 35k' of climbing, 38% of it comprised of rough singletrack. The goal is to have it ready as a bikepacking race late next year.

The fun part about all of this is that sections can be split into dayrides with the start and endpoints at a train station, all while maintaining a >50% dirt to asphalt ratio. Let's build up the ultra mtb community in NY/NJ/CT! I mostly post updates/messages on instagram.

11/6 West Of The 87 - 7:14a train from Penn station or meet at Glen Rock 8am. Day ride. Lunch in Erskine.

11/12 Cold Spring Clover - 6:45a train from Grand Central or meet in Beacon at 8:30am. For those opting to skip out on the techy, downhill mountain bike portion, you can meet us at Cold Spring Coffeehouse at 10:30am. Day ride. Bring a trail meal or grab something when we pass through Cold Spring

11/19-20 Round Up bikepack overnighter - Friday night train (11/18) leaving from Penn station at 8:48p. We will have to ride/push a steep 3mi to our campsite. Saturday's campsite will depend on where the group ends up towards the late afternoon. This one is hefty with plenty of hike-a-biking. Don't sign up unless you feel confident with all day bikepacking on dirt/singletrack.

Knobby 2.1"+ tires, suspension, tools, and lights recommended. Review the maps to see what the resupply situation is, otherwise, bring enough food/water for the day. Navigation skills and a bike computer is a must. Rides are canceled with heavy rain. We'll mostly stick together but know the bailout options.
 
Conan said:
Helloooo again! Popping my head in here to post a few upcoming group rides that I'm planning. I also want to share a project that I've been working on the past two years (and may have bumped into a few of you along the way during scouting rides). I've been linking up as many trail systems as possible to form a bikepacking route train-accessible from NYC. Its current iteration stretches from the Round Valley Recreation Area to New Haven, clocking in at 387mi with 35k' of climbing, 38% of it comprised of rough singletrack. The goal is to have it ready as a bikepacking race late next year.

The fun part about all of this is that sections can be split into dayrides with the start and endpoints at a train station, all while maintaining a >50% dirt to asphalt ratio. Let's build up the ultra mtb community in NY/NJ/CT! I mostly post updates/messages on instagram.

11/6 West Of The 87 - 7:14a train from Penn station or meet at Glen Rock 8am. Day ride. Lunch in Erskine.

11/12 Cold Spring Clover - 6:45a train from Grand Central or meet in Beacon at 8:30am. For those opting to skip out on the techy, downhill mountain bike portion, you can meet us at Cold Spring Coffeehouse at 10:30am. Day ride. Bring a trail meal or grab something when we pass through Cold Spring

11/19-20 Round Up bikepack overnighter - Friday night train (11/18) leaving from Penn station at 8:48p. We will have to ride/push a steep 3mi to our campsite. Saturday's campsite will depend on where the group ends up towards the late afternoon. This one is hefty with plenty of hike-a-biking. Don't sign up unless you feel confident with all day bikepacking on dirt/singletrack.

Knobby 2.1"+ tires, suspension, tools, and lights recommended. Review the maps to see what the resupply situation is, otherwise, bring enough food/water for the day. Navigation skills and a bike computer is a must. Rides are canceled with heavy rain. We'll mostly stick together but know the bailout options.
Click to expand...
I'm curious as I love long adventures and we definitely need more like this in the area. I've ridden a bunch of the sections the path crosses through in NJ but I'm curious how the other pieces are. It would be fun to explore.
 
The bit routed through NJ is such a blast. That section comes in at nearly 60% singletrack! I've spent so many weekends just chipping away to see what makes sense for pacing and flow. It could easily become much harder with more diffcult trails but I think there's enough "breathing room" to recover. Intel on the northeast is so quiet sometimes and it seems that most mountain bikers opt for purpose-built mtb parks
 
Conan said:
The bit routed through NJ is such a blast. That section comes in at nearly 60% singletrack! I've spent so many weekends just chipping away to see what makes sense for pacing and flow. It could easily become much harder with more diffcult trails but I think there's enough "breathing room" to recover. Intel on the northeast is so quiet sometimes and it seems that most mountain bikers opt for purpose-built mtb parks
Click to expand...

I completely agree with all of the above. I spend a lot of my time linking up NJ parks so this is very intriguing to me. I've done a few rides linking Mooch/DP/Stephens/Mahlon and then this would just take it above and beyond, beyond.
 
I was thinking of doing a Ringwood and Waway linked ride with likely Sterling and maybe even Jungle. Do you have linked routes for these parks? Too bad @liong71er is no longer here, you guys could be twins, lol
 
Oh, rad! Saving that route to try out @JimN. I'd love to continue growing the list of dayrides and overnighters. Maybe slowly form SRHT as the NYC version of Portland's OMTM
 
qclabrat said:
Nice, 12 hrs moving time on a fatbike sounds painful
Click to expand...

I'd say that it gets less painful every time you do it, but that would not be true. Maybe that's why I don't do it anymore.

Conan said:
Oh, rad! Saving that route to try out @JimN. I'd love to continue growing the list of dayrides and overnighters.
Click to expand...

Here's a few more then that might be of interest.

Three similar routes I did forever go, connecting Mahlon to Mountain Creek/Waway to Wildcat and some other stuff:
www.strava.com

Pretty Epic - Jim N's 65.9 mi mountain bike ride

Jim N rode 65.9 mi on Mar 12, 2016.
www.strava.com www.strava.com

Some other stuff around Mahlon:

Log In | Strava

Log in or sign up for an account on Strava
www.strava.com www.strava.com
www.strava.com

WMA's, Green Pond Ridge, Pequannock, etc. - Jim N.'s 36.5 mi mountain bike ride

Jim N. rode 36.5 mi on Oct 25, 2015.
www.strava.com www.strava.com

This connects Ramapo to High Mountain, though that kind of dead ends you, so probably not that interesting for you:

Heh, I would also say that I did that section of road from Kinnelon to Pompton Lakes once, and it was pretty sketchy.

I used to explore a lot so if there's anything in particular you are looking to add/improve let me know. Seems like you've done quite a bit yourself though, not sure you actually need any help. This thread might also be worth a skim if you've not seen it https://www.mtbnj.com/forum/threads/north-jersey-dirt-epics.39091/
 
qclabrat said:
I was thinking of doing a Ringwood and Waway linked ride with likely Sterling and maybe even Jungle. Do you have linked routes for these parks? Too bad @liong71er is no longer here, you guys could be twins, lol
Click to expand...
so glad you're thinking doing it,,start from small first then go from there,explore and get lost,,,too bad Murica too many restrictions on land traveling regulations,here i can freely travel or trespassing anywhere even in someone else's kitchen literally without worrying getting shot🤣
 
Whoooaaa. I wish I found you earlier, @JimN. It would've made scouting so much quicker. Thank you for sharing all those Strava activities. There definitely is much more to absorb.

There's much to link up with Ramapo and High Mountain. Not too much of a dead end, transit-wise. The Glen Rock station is only 5mi away from the william paterson uni trailhead for HM

Kinnelon to Pompton Lakes can be a little chaotic but there thankfully is a nice descent to carry speed. I've sent a few people down Skyline Drive towards Erskine and I hear there was plenty of white-knuckling there though.

Reading through the thread from 2016-17 you brought up, bikepacking gear could be minimal. I've been getting away with only a bug bivy on a patch of grass with a sleeping bag liner on warm nights. The warmest of nights, ditch naps with no gear at all could still be quite refreshing! 😅
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom