Most of the state's parks are closed to mountain bikes from Jan 1 to April 15. It's either been raining since then or I've had road rides to do. So even though tomorrow is a century ride in Wakefield, I decided to test the trails.

The trails were in really good shape and dry. They remarked them over the winter, so I didn't get lost. The Fells is a big place and there are some pretty vicious anti-bikers there that tear down all the trail signs. But, for now, the signs are all still up. This year, the MTB loop is a green stripe instead of the red square of last year.

The Middlesex Fells is part of an extensive system of parkways and reservations throughout greater Boston. More history here.

The MTB loop at the Fells is mostly fire roads, but there are some stretches of single track. It is very, very rocky with small stretches of dirt and gravel, and smaller areas of wetland.

There's really not much to say about the ride itself, but here are some pictures of Middlesex Fells. I'm really a roadie but I do enjoy MTB a lot as well.

Statisics:

Date:

15-May-04

Type

MTB

Miles:

14.45

Time:

3:19:21

Avg:

7.7

Max:

27.1

This is pretty typical of what most of the MTB loop looks like.

Another typical trail picture except that it's flat.

Overlooking one of the reservoirs.

This is what most of the Fells looks like: very loose rock and gravel. It's also quite steep.

More big, sharp rocks. NEMBA also takes very good care of the Fells. Here, they've installed a bridge (it's small, in the center of the photo).

My bike. Headed uphill.

This where I took a spill. My front tire hit that small rock there in the center and sent me nose first. When I got up, I made sure I was okay (I was) and the bike was okay (it was) but I totally forgot about the camera. I went to take another picture and the camera was not in my jersey, so I had to backtrack about ½ mile, but it was still there, right in the middle of the ledge.Good thing, too, I've only had it two weeks.

Another NEMBA bridge

I don't know what kind of caterpillars these are, but I'm afraid they might be gypsy moths. If they are, we're in for a bad year. They were everywhere.

Back home. Middlesex Fells is just a subway ride away. Take the Orange Line from Back Bay to Wellington, then it's about a 2 mile ride from there. Go from Wellington to Medford Center and turn right onto Governor's Ave. You'll run right into South Border Road and an entrance into the Fells.