Philadelphia Mountain Biking Association - Forums

Forwarded from Trailspinners.

The Delaware Trailspinners mountain bike club is proud to sponsor our
2nd Annual Fall Mountain Bike Jamboree, a gathering to celebrate
mountain biking in the Mid-Atlantic region. We would like to invite all
mountain bikers in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey and
adjacent areas to join us for a group ride and cook-out at Fair Hill
Natural Resources Management Area near Newark, Delaware. So mark your
calendars now for Sunday, November 4, at Fair Hill. Tentative plans are
to begin around 10 AM and finish up around 3-4 PM in the afternoon.
We'll send out more details later about the location, ride and
activities. In case of rain, we'll bump the ride back a week to Sunday,
November 11.

Mountain bikers of all ages, genders and skill levels are welcome. There
should be lots of rides with different speeds and distances, so we
should have something for everyone. Those of you who have participated
in the Fair Hill Classic Race held every July know the Fair Hill trails
well. Over a hundred miles of fun on well-maintained singletrack! Let's
get together to share our enthusiasm for the sport and willingness to
support each other in responsible mountain biking and trail stewardship
in the Mid-Atlantic area.

Please forward this message to other bikers, clubs and websites who may
be interested in participating in the Jamboree. Here's a list of local
clubs that I will try to contact. Let me know if you know of other
groups who may be interested. If you are a club member or have friends
who may be interested, please pass along this invitation. I would
appreciate it too if you would send me a note indicating that you and
friends or members of your club are planning to attend.

Philadelphia Mountain Biking Association
White Clay Bicycle Club
Friends of White Clay Creek State Park
JAR (Jersey Action Riders)
YAMBA (York Area Mountain Bike Association)
MORE (Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts)
HVCC (Harford Velo Cycling Club)
MAMBO (Maryland Association of Mountain Bike Operators)
West Chester Cycling Club
Delaware Valley Mountain Bike Patrol

Stay tuned for more updates by checking the Trailspinners list server on
Yahoogroups and the Delaware Trailspinners official website at
www.trailspinners.org. If you have any questions or suggestions, send
them to Yahoogroups. Or contact me at directly at Ray.M.Geddens@comcast.net.
<mailto:Ray.M.Geddens@comcast.net>

Thanks to all for your support and participation in the Jamboree. See
you at Fair Hill in November. Don't forget that November 4 is the day
to "fall back" to regular time!

I did this ride last year - it's really well organized with lots of guides from the Trailspinners, plus different "levels" of rides.  I rode a section of Fair Hill that I had never ridden before.  If you've never ridden Fair Hill, you should definitely do this ride.  If you have been to Fair Hill, you should still go to see a well-run club event.

Jon

any idea of cost?

i'm down for some local guide expertise. i always seem to do the same loop at fair hill since it's what i know and the place is big enough to get seriously lost.

I'm in, the crew from MORE is a good group....................Any other takers??

I'm in too. Will bring my son too!

dz

Gotta check my calendar, but would love to go.

I think it was free.  And they had snacks, too.  Trailspinners must be well-financed.  You bring your own grill and food - they don't supply anything.  I didn't hang around after the ride, but a lot of people did. 

It's this Sunday.  I'll be heading down from NJ with a couple of other bikers.  Looks like the forecast is for mid 50s and clouds.  Don't forget that daylight savings time ends Saturday night or you'll arrive an hour early.  Bring $4 cash for the parking fee.  Attached is a Google Earth image of last year's ride (no, I didn't get lost - the route really is that twisty-turny!).

Anyone else going?  You gonna stick around for food or leave after the ride?

Jon

So who has an address or some good directions from Philly? I'm heading to my cabin this weekend, but will try to be back in time for some type of ride?

This is the location (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&q=big+elk+chapel+rd+and+gallaher+rd,+md&sll=39.688481,-75.84137&sspn=0.010898,0.019956&ie=UTF8&ll=39.688204,-75.841123&spn=0.002725,0.004989&t=k&z=18&iwloc=addr&om=1)

However if you automatically map it it tends to send you on a bit longer route.

I'd go 95S to 495 back to 95 to 896 North, through the U of D campus till the T junction, make a left and follow along the 273. Turn left at Gallagher rd, (after Appleton), and at the next intersection, Big Elk Chapel, is parking lot #4

This is the route I'll be taking (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=10851267713612048431,39.649080,-75.747570&time=&date=&ttype=&saddr=wises+mill+rd,+philadelphia,+pa&daddr=Exit+1B+%4039.649080,+-75.747570+to:Big+Elk+Chapel+Rd+%26+Gallaher+Rd,+Elkton,+MD+21921&sll=39.733594,-75.62027&sspn=0.176896,0.456619&ie=UTF8&ll=39.666103,-75.757256&spn=0.088534,0.22831&z=13&om=1), if I go.

Or yo ucould jump on 273 much earlier right off I95 and stay on 273 all the way. Simplify....  ;)

dz

PS I'll be going with Jr.

I can't make it as I am going to the jump jam in Downingtown (see other post) Make sure you guys talk to Todd and Jim from Delaware Trail Spinners. THey are real nice guys. Oh and thank them again for the $200!!

So what's the general plan among the people who are going? just going for the ride, or bringing food and grills to stick around afterward?

dz

I'm torn about trying to make it for the ride. I'm going to be in the middle of Pa all weekend and looking at a 3 hour drive to make back at decent time to enjoy a ride  ???

I'd be up for hanging around and grilling something, and have a small gas grill that works moderately well.  I think my passengers will want to get back in time for the Colts-Patriots game, but we should have plenty of time for that.

Ok, great, I'll mix up some good burgers and bring buns and cheese.

har-har,  lets have a splendid time.

Does anyone know where is the main event taking place? Which parking lot?

dz

I got some good burgers at Whole Foods too.  Are you bringing a grill?  We probably don't need two of them. 

I'm assuming the event is at the Gallaher Road parking area where it was last year, but it's worth checking the website.

I don't have a grill. Only a two burner stove, which i can bring if we want to boild water for hot chocolate or anything.

I will check the web site tomorrow.

I'm only familiar with the parking lots on Appleton rd and by the race track on 273.

I mapped it above in blue

OK - I'll bring my grill.

Hey guys the email I got from Todd and Jim said they are providing lunch. I think they are gonna have a big thing going. Jeff the Kona rep is going all the way from Pittsburgh. I think this is a huge event... Talk to those guys about having a Pedros-like event next Fall since Pedros has pulled out of the festival in NEw England. We should get one going in the Mid_Atlantic region. Team up with Delaware Trails Spinners and possibly MORE and PORC and JAR also...

Wish I had thought of this sooner...  Can anyone bring the PMBA banner?  We could put it up between or nearby our cars and hopefully get some good publicity.

It was a great time!!! We had a nice long chat with Todd. Good people with a lot to learn from them!

dz

Yeah - about 14 miles through all different types of trails.  Lots of twisty singletrack, then some smooth contour-line runs, lots of really tight trees, some blind nice obstacles mixed in with tight turns and few hills.  Trails marked nicely - much better than last year.  And we didn't even cross Route 273 to the trails over there.  Big parking lot, lots of tailgating plus food supplied by the Trailspinners.  Some "portable technical devices" too.  An outstanding place for a big biking event.

And Dmitri makes great burgers!

Great time! Here's a photo gallery if anyone's interested. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/repoman/sets/72157602918308183/)

Agh! URL Fixed.

URL no workie....  :'(

URL worked for me.  Nice pix. 

Here's the JAR gallery of pix from the Fair Hill event: http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLandingSignin.jsp?Uc=qaf24g4.gps2150&Uy=sqagqp&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp%3Fmode%3Dfromshare&Ux=0

Looks like they had lots of Portable Technical Devices, some of which were pretty difficult judging from the pictures of the crashes.  Looks like they also had a "bike toss" competition, too. 

Nice TTF's. Look well built.