Western Mass, Western CT

Rusty

Rusty

Well-Known Member
It's official, my oldest is going to attend UMass in Amherst next year. I'll be going there off and on and am looking for the best sources of info (like this site) that covers the I84 corridor between Danbury and Hartford, then the I91 area up to Amherst....and anything within an hours drive of Amherst. So this is most of western CT and western MA....

Suggestions in that area for riding??

This provided Fox ever returns my rear shock :rolleyes: or I might be hiking instead....
 
icebiker

icebiker

JORBA: Morris Trails
JORBA.ORG
It's been a while since I've ridden there but MDC Reservoir in West hartford (exit off of I84) is decent. Not overly technical other than a rock garden or two, but scenic. Note the "no bikes" you'll see on the right side of the map applies to the green dotted trail, not the red or blue.

http://www.themdc.com/assets/uploads/files/Recreation/TrailsMapWeb_12_2013.pdf

within an hour of AMherst is Lenox. LOT of great riding there. Go to Arcardian Shop on Rt 7 and ask for maps to Kennedy Park and Yokun Ridge. Trails start at the shop.
 
Last edited:
jamie877

jamie877

Active Member
I second Mt Holyoke Range (Bachelor street). Trails are marked (sort of), are flowy and very technical, and there are many miles. Rode there a bunch when visiting a friend at Hampshire College. This also makes a great stop heading north to Kingdom Trails.
 
The Heckler

The Heckler

You bring new meaning to the term SUCK
I graduated from UMASS in 2012!!!!

Mt. Holyoke range was my jamz for 3 years while I was at school. Bachelor Street is a great spot. They usually have trail maps out at the Bachelor Street parking area or at least around the corner at "The Notch" visitor center. My first handful of times back there were difficult because I couldn't find the good single track. Once you find your way off the double track you should have a blast.

Across the street from The Notch are woods known locally as "Earl's Trails." They were mostly made by a local guy named Earl and his friends. There is some really really fun stuff back there, I highly recommend it. I park on Military Road and shoot back behind the bunker looking thing.

The marking in both areas is pretty poor, I recommend riding with your phone and a map or trying to tag along with a local. Make sure you stop at Atkins Market for post ride food.

Also: My favorite LBS is Laughing Dog Cyclery. They are located in Amherst Center down an alley kinda behind Bank of America. Super cool guys, say Jersey Matt sent you.

Further more: If your son takes a bike with him (which I recommend he should not just because I'm a cyclist but because the campus is so damn huge) there is a student run bike shop on campus for any pump/repair needs. I worked there two years and it is a great on campus resource.

If you have any general area/University questions shoot me a message!
 
Rusty

Rusty

Well-Known Member
Earls Trails and Batchelor Street Trails - Mt Holyoke

Hey guys, and especially Heckler, thanks for the tips.

Trip report....so weekend before last I was up at UMASS for my Daughters sports practice and had two free days to ride. I decided since I was alone and had the sketchiest maps, that I would try and avoid the highly technical stuff I read about at the Batchelor Street trails and hit Earl's first.

Earl's is a cool place, very isolated in feel, very lonely as I rode for quite a while and saw no one. Parked at Hampshire College, entered from the North and rode a good chunk of Earl's....Strava here:

http://www.strava.com/activities/156288678

This place is fun as heck with lots of climbing and smooth trails with an occasional punchy rocky climb or little rock gardens, but is really about flow and climbing...very enjoyable day out, managed to hit the two small peaks in the park and had a nice time at the top of the largest changing a flat. My map had the fireroads on it and it kept me in line with that and my gps....
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The shop in downtown Amherst that Heckler suggested did a 10 min RD adjustment for me after my ride for free, so I bought some little things and tipped the mech. Good folks in there. Then I hooked up with a nice seat in the outdoor dining area of the High Horse brew pub and melted into a burger and a brown ale or two....was dreamy.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Next day headed over the Batchelor Street...was lucky enough to meet up with locals Chase and Andrew. Andrew a strong rider on a 5" travel 26er and similiar bike for Chase...they looked funny at my short travel 29er and off we went. They took me for a lot of rocky climbing which was at about my skill limit but we got through quite a bit with only a few short walks of shame on my part.....ended up doing a "new" section they called Southern Belle and traversed the range so we could come down "rollercoaster" which was as fun as it sounded. Very fun place with lots o rocks, surprise drop offs when at speed, some slickrock here and there. When I say lots of rocks, I mean lots of dog head size rocks and larger.....great skills test for a guy from Central NJ....Strava for this one:

http://www.strava.com/activities/156726910

All in all there is enough there for a long weekend or more, I hit only the surface of both spots and there is significantly more nearby too. Destination worthy with cool small artsy towns with pubs and shops in both Amherst and Northampton to enjoy. Highly recommended.
 
TimBay

TimBay

Well-Known Member
Any experience/suggestions for tackling West Hartford Reservoir? I have a 3 day client on-site and was thinking of trying to ride while up there. Thanks.
 
gmb3

gmb3

JORBA: Sourlands
JORBA.ORG
I have ridden there and it's fun but it was a while ago and I don't remember much. My bro-in-law rides there so i'll reach out to him. More recently i've ridden Cowles and Case Mtn in that same vicinity. For Case, i followed Trailforks and it was easy to navigate and trails are mostly well-marked.
Here's the local bike club: https://www.nemba.org/chapters/cctnemba
Here's my Case Mtn ride: https://www.strava.com/activities/2260801483
And if it's around a weekend, there's a little DH park sorta nearby: https://powderridgepark.com/activities/mountain-bike/
 
TimBay

TimBay

Well-Known Member
gmb3 said:
I have ridden there and it's fun but it was a while ago and I don't remember much. My bro-in-law rides there so i'll reach out to him. More recently i've ridden Cowles and Case Mtn in that same vicinity. For Case, i followed Trailforks and it was easy to navigate and trails are mostly well-marked.
Here's the local bike club: https://www.nemba.org/chapters/cctnemba
Here's my Case Mtn ride: https://www.strava.com/activities/2260801483
And if it's around a weekend, there's a little DH park sorta nearby: https://powderridgepark.com/activities/mountain-bike/
Click to expand...
Wow, thanks for the info! When I looked at trailforks, it seemed there were a lot of good trail options, so I'm kinda excited. My client is in that town, so I figured if I stayed at one of those hotels, it would be pretty easy to get some riding in.
 
gmb3

gmb3

JORBA: Sourlands
JORBA.ORG
Yeah, if you're in West Hartford already, just ride the Reservoir. I think the trails are pretty braided there but trailforks should help.
 
Rusty

Rusty

Well-Known Member
2nd vote for Cowles. I found it more fun than the res....interesting to see this thread resurrected, now that the same kid is graduated and out on her own!
 
TimBay

TimBay

Well-Known Member
Rusty said:
2nd vote for Cowles. I found it more fun than the res....interesting to see this thread resurrected, now that the same kid is graduated and out on her own!
Click to expand...
Lol. Didn't really read the beginning. Just figured I'd piggy back based on the location. Congrats!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom