The West Nile Sessions

[Paul_E_D]

So, not wanting to go soft after my forray into trail riding, I decided to go check out how my mx spot fared the floods. All the surrounding terrain, including the lower track was underwater deep for about a week. The silt line is five or six feet up in the shrubs. The water only spilled into one corner of the sand track though. Phew.

The gravity cavity sustained some erosion damage. It's ride-able, but not jump-able. The rest of the track is mint with only a little standing water in the whoops.

Now, if you live near the woods, you'll already be aware that there has been a massive mosquito hatch since the floods. I knew it would be bad, but the dead crow on the track was extra ominous... It was gutted and laying right where squirrel went over the bars.

I tried to ignore it, but every time I took a break I was paranoid about getting bit by infected mosquitos. Short breaks...

I did a few session when my chest protector started to fall off. All signs pointed to "get the hell outta here", so I went home after three sessions.

[typeone]

i was waiting for this report... how about the fields/roads on the way out? was everything under water?

we got lucky with the mosquitos so far (the bees are out of control). my sump pump finally got a rest about yesterday but my side yard is still squishy. havent ridden out back yet, i bet it's just sloppy everywhere

[Paul_E_D]

I couldn't get anywhere near the bridge for over a week. I think it went under water twice. Access roads were as much as 6-10 feet under water. The mini track (across the creek) was in the deep. That lower track was in disrepair before the flood, but it's impassable now.

The gravity cavity is technical riding now. The way up has a harsh hit at the top that you need to wheelie over, and the way down has a deep, narrow washout right at the landing zone. Jumping into it would be a near certain crash.

[BLACK SQUIRREL]

It still rocks to have that so close to your House. We should christen that section the "Squirrel Pipe"

[Paul_E_D]

Squirrel Pipe... I love it! (err, that sounded weird)

[OreoGaborio]

It still rocks to have that so close to your House. We should christen that section the "Squirrel Pipe"

Yeah I was just about to say, I'd kill for some local stompin grounds.

Squirrel Pipe... I love it! (err, that sounded weird)

HA!

[typeone]

Squirrel Pipe!

[typeone]

I couldn't get anywhere near the bridge for over a week. I think it went under water twice. Access roads were as much as 6-10 feet under water. The mini track (across the creek) was in the deep. That lower track was in disrepair before the flood, but it's impassable now.

The gravity cavity is technical riding now. The way up has a harsh hit at the top that you need to wheelie over, and the way down has a deep, narrow washout right at the landing zone. Jumping into it would be a near certain crash.

yeah, i bet. even normal rains seem to create tricky rain gutters on both sides of the gravity cavity

[Paul_E_D]

Whoa, wish I could go dirt riding instead of sitting in the car all day today... I guess stepping out onto the tarmac at NJMP will have to be my solace.

[breakdirt916]

Yeah I was just about to say, I'd kill for some local stompin grounds.

HA!

Are you sure there's nothing local? If there's anything I learned about central MA, is that everything is illegal, but there's some tolerated areas and some 'no-man's land' type of places that only the local riders know about. Check all the sand/gravel pits, power lines, and woods behind commercial shopping centers...and find dirty riders in your town and ask them. But play it cool when asking, because everyone usually doesn't tell because it's a secret

[ff36buell]

Pete, give me a call about "local areas" I have a few that are Jeep big but Dirty Bike fun....

[Paul_E_D]

Phew! Muggy day for MX today. Can this weather get any tougher on the track??? I think not. Heavy rains keep scouring deep erosion trenches on all steep slopes. Standing water in the whoops makes them very dicey to try to top. If you are charging and the front falls in the soft stuff, you are fucked.

The bridge I use to get out there is like a trials obstacle to get up on as the banks have washed away. If you miss, your going under water! I opted to get off the bike and hoist it up on the bridge.

[scubasteveRR]

Pete, give me a call about "local areas" I have a few that are Jeep big but Dirty Bike fun....

The North Reading pits is the place we went when we were younger. i grew up right on the other side in Wilmington. We even would bring trucks and shit down there in the snow.

[typeone]

every time i cross that bridge i think about kissing my bike goodbye it's simple but the wrong slip makes you wonder...

[Paul_E_D]

Now it's seriously dicey. On one side the approach is like a V with the decking of the bridge a foot more than axle high...

[typeone]

crazy it's held together this season, someone built that thing pretty stout.