Trail to Nowhere

Well I finally got around to posting Video from our trip to Diablo in Vernon NJ. It was a great day of riding and I really felt like I was starting to get some stuff happening (At least for me) I cleared the Box Jump, went down some pretty technical downhills, and hit some of the drops.

The video is of Sean and Stefan who were hitting some really sick stuff. To get to this drop we had to cross some pretty high and narrow skinnies the rest of the trail after this drop is fun too.
In short it was all good.

A shout out to Sean for lending me a downhill bike again

If he didn't I might have wound up on something like this (If you take notice the fork is on backwards - This is a good reason to get your bike from a bikeshop and not the local Target or Wal-mart where the stock boy put it together)

Heads up, Cyclist: Rock slide closes link to boat basins

Rock and mud slides along the Henry Hudson Drive seem to have been happening more frequently the over last few years. I remember last year having to dismount and walk along the edge of the rubble above a pretty steep drop to get around the a slide that was about 15 to 20 feet long.

This years recent rock slide has a portion of Henry Hudson Drive closed for construction.
The road is closed to all vehicles, including bicycles, from Alpine Boat Basin south to Englewood Boat Basin, according to a notice posted yesterday on the Palisades Interstate Park Web site.
Authorities say they don't know how long the road will be closed. The Web posting says the closure is expected to last about two weeks.

This 7 mile stretch of road from Fort Lee to Alpine is a great place to ride for Novice to Advanced Cyclist with the 1 mile climb from the bottom of the Alpine Boat Basin to the top of the Palisades being a favorite challenge of this cyclist. (I once did this climb 8 times during a ride trying different gearing and pedal cadences) this is a truly a great place to work on your climbing ability. The scenery is beautiful and it is unfortunate that the route is closed during the time when the trees are at their peak color.

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A message from Jeff Mergler - IMBA/Subaru Trail Care Crew visits

IMBA is coming back to NJ in October and will be doing 2 IMBA/Subaru Trail Care Crew visits to 2 of New Jersey's favorite parks.
On October 11th and 12th, IMBA will visit Washington Valley Park (sometimes called Chimney Rock).
The following weekend (October 18th) IMBA will visit Sterling Forest/Ringwood State Park!
That's 2 back to back IMBA/Subaru TCC weekends!
One of these should fit into your schedule.If you are interested in learning how to build sustainable trails, or hone your existing skills please consider attending these events.
The basic agenda for both weekends will be a 3 hour classroom session (9am) followed by lunch then applied field work in the afternoon (1pm until 4 or 5pm).
The classroom session is mandatory and its sure to be fun, interesting and eye-opening.
Don't let another year pass without attending this training!
Pay Dirt: The field work sessions are valid for Pay Dirt hours!
For Ringwood that will be Saturday's afternoon session, for WVP, that's Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning's session. Racer's: you been asking for hours, here's your chance.
Note: this event is open to all trail users, including cyclists, equestrians, trail runners and hikers.

RSVP required: Each of these events requires an RSVP so please follow the instruction below for either park to do so. - WVP: please phone Christine Biskey at (908) 231-0802 ext. 24. Phone RSVPs only.

- Ringwood: online RSVP here http://go.imba.com/ringwoodIf you require more information about either event, full details can be found here: - WVP: http://www.jorba.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=955
- Ringwood: http://www.jorba.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=971
More about IMBA/Subaru TCCs: http://www.imba.com/tcc/trailschool.html

Happy trails!
Jeff Mergler
Executive Director