Pachaug State Forest CT Thumper ride

[nobody]

I will be there if weather`s OK
Cheers
Claudio

[leonphelps]

Two days to go....!!

Chime in if you are coming! The more the merrier!

I'll be the guy with the white GMC Sierra and Blue WR205F...

[TURNERSVILLE]

Originally Posted by jbunceiii

Two days to go....!!

Chime in if you are coming! The more the merrier!

I'll be the guy with the white GMC Sierra and Blue WR205F...

You will be the second guy with a white GMC Sierra.

[leonphelps]

Mines a Flair side short bed.....with NO gas in the tank!

[leonphelps]

Can someone bring a small camera? I have a Canon Digital Rebel, its a little too big to whip out quickly for the crash/water crossing/weird picture.

I also have a 22 ounce MSR fuel bottle (.17 gallons) that I'll fill and carry for emergency's. The loop apparently passes some gas stations so we can fill as needed.

I also have an older Garmin GPS V that I'll throw in the backpack, but it looses signal in the woods if there is thick canopy covering the signal. So if someone wants to bring one also we can track and post the route on ADV for everyone to see.

Any other crap anyone can think of please bring it along.

The weather friday looks like sunny with some clouds and 82 degrees! Do the No RAIN dance!

[viverrid]

Originally Posted by jbunceiii

I also have a 22 ounce MSR fuel bottle (.17 gallons) that I'll fill and carry for emergency's. The loop apparently passes some gas stations...

There is a Gas Stop about 2/3 of the way around the loop. Not only that, but it's not like you'll ever be really that far from developed areas, this being CT not UT. The NETRA loop repeatedly often comes out on connector roads both dirt and paved, and runs past lots of houses on those roads. It is not a particularly remote area, more like suburban.

My buddy rides it with a Yamaha MXer that has about 2 gallons useable fill, and I have 2 gallons before Reserve on my GasGas 2-smoke, and we can both make it from Dow Rd. to the gas stop. I don't think you will need to fill that bottle. Bring it empty if you feel the need, and if anyone runs out, use the bottle to transfer fuel from someone with a big tank to the guy with the empty tank.

[ecrane99]

I'm bringing my helmet cam. Hoping to get some good footage to post on youtube. I'm in a silver Dodge Intrepid with KTM 450EXC in trail. Ed

[leonphelps]

I'll probably get there at 8:30 am tomorrow, get situated and such. I'll bring the donuts and coffee for 4?

[banshee8989]

Is anybody going to give us a ride report ?....... for thoese of us who wanted to go but had to have a familly day.

[nobody]

Originally Posted by banshee8989

Is anybody going to give us a ride report ?....... for thoese of us who wanted to go but had to have a familly day.

I missed this.Looks like every time I`m trying to ride in Pachaug different problems arrised.You don`t want to know what happend this time Banshee
BTW I called you this AM see if you were up for a ride
Peace and waiting for pics as well

[banshee8989]

Originally Posted by nobody

I missed this.Looks like every time I`m trying to ride in Pachaug different problems arrised.You don`t want to know what happend this time Banshee
BTW I called you this AM see if you were up for a ride
Peace and waiting for pics as well

Yeah... I thought that was you who called but was not sure I could not go riding yesterday anyway. Did you break down?

[leonphelps]

Ride report will be coming soon.....patience people...patience

[TURNERSVILLE]

Originally Posted by jbunceiii

Ride report will be coming soon.....patience people...patience

Pros and Cons of my Experience riding Pachaug:

Pros:
Easy Access - Drop off and take off was easy (Spaulding Rd.) with instant action. Came back with nothing stolen from our vehicles (even with the windows open).

Long Scenic ride - We went over 90 miles (gas search took almost 15-20 of it). The ride will take you from NE to SE CT and back via trails and pavement. There were many different types of terrain (rocky, muddy, ruts, burms, fast dirt roads, roots, water, downed trees, whoopi do's, slow agile trails etc. etc.)

Easy on the Bike - Some heavy clutch action over some rocky areas but most of the trail was finding the right lines to make it a smooth ride (to keep the monkey but away ass long as possible - get it "ass").

Easy to read - There were many areas that made John, Ed and I glad that it is Summer and not the wet Spring. Water levels were low enough to bypass the deep mud but a couple of more inches of water and it would of been a real mud party (I want to go again in April/May just tackle the mud). Most of the trails were relatively straight so picking your lines was easy.

Perfect Weather - Cloudy and not too hot.

Captain John - John (jbunceiii) used the "paper roll" to keep us on track. Without him I/we would of been shot or bit for driving on some one's land.

Cons:
Trails not clearly marked - Always had to look for the small red arrows. We learned that we couldn't trust the NETRA orange arrows (for a race not for the 60 mile loop). Had to use GPS to get our barrings. Would of finished hours earlier if we had a veteran but we did tackle it with no Pachaug experience (hard to do).

No Hills - We couldn't find the hero section (power lines) towards the end but I am a hills guy and there were no challenging hills.

Too much Pavement - I love dirt. Roughly 30% was on the tar.

Overall Experience:
Would ride it again next week.

[leonphelps]

Actually that pretty much sums it up! I'll just add a few comments.

The roll chart was pretty accurate, except for a few sections, or maybe I just missed them. We lost the trail at the 12 mile mark, the 24 mile mark, and 48 mile mark. We eventually found our way back to the 12 and 24 mark, but the 48 mile mark I got totally screwed up and we had to bypass the Hero section. Not that we wanted to but we couldn't find the trail!

My odometer was off a little, I had to reset it several times back 1/10th every few miles. But that could be the front wheel off the ground and/or maybe not really going "as the crow flies", more of a weaving on the trail.

A few times we ended up going in circles due to NETRA orange arrows on trees that were not for the big pachaug loop. The must have been for an event that just passed. It really screwed me up a few times. Remember its the small red arrows on the trees, not the big orange ones!

The water crossing wasnt too bad. Since I was leading, I picked the wrong line and got stuck in a marshy area. But Ed and Steve just went through the water fine, no problems.

A few times when we back tracked Ed took the lead and was gone like a shot. A superior rider to both of us. Hes pulling wheelies down trails making us look bad!!

I tried to keep a good pace and crashed several times. Ed had his helmet camera going so hopefully he got some good shots! I am short and i have to get on my toes when stopped...and I am not that good of a dirt rider.....

When we stopped for gas, after a 10 miles road trip to find a gas station, we ended up in North Stonington. There was an older fat guy sitting outside at a picnic table smoking a cig. So we all got food from the gas station and joined him at the table. We talked a bit with him...every other word was "fuck"...his "fucking transmission" was broken....etc....then he showed us his recent scar on his hand that should of had about 20 stitches but he decided it was fine without them.

So back on the road backtracking 10 miles to the trail head and we were off like a shot, maybe the 30 mile mark. We missed the hero section and I dont know how. We will find it next time.

It was a good ride and a good day. We covered about 98 miles total.

I was thinking July 12 or 13th for the next Pachaug ride. Its a saturday and sunday....

Anyone? lets start planing and get a bigger group for next time!

[nobody]

Originally Posted by banshee8989

Yeah... I thought that was you who called but was not sure I could not go riding yesterday anyway. Did you break down?

Let`s just say that Home Depot is in short supply of electrical tape right now Won`t miss the next one that`s for sure