Greetings,
I think I know a couple of you from the races...

I reside in CT, but recently purchased a cabin in Unity. I plan to come up for riding, (MTB and Road), whenever possible.

I'm looking forward to checking out the Pinnacle trails and Moody park...Is Pillsbury a good ride spot? Any suggestions on other networks? Current trail conditions?

Appreciate the info...

Thanks, Sam

Welcome to the area Sam. This is a good spot to keep up to date on rides but also get your email addtess to PJ at Newport Recreation Dept and either Mark or Bob for Claremont Cycle Depot rides. There is a road ride leaving Newport HS at 5:30pm today.
Dan

Sammy,

We have chatted before at a couple of the RT 66 races, (the two pictures above are from the '05 Fat Tire race) welcome to the area. You will definately enjoy riding the Pinnacle trail system, group rides start next Wednesday evening and there is almost always some folks heading out on the weekends. Moody is a little slower to dry up, but once ready you will enjoy it. The Moody race loop is very similar to a RT 66 race, short and fast. There is also Webb forest in Sunapee, another EFTA race venue that we frequent throughout the summer. For more technical stuff you can visit the Cornish trails just outside of Claremont. Pillsbury is not known for mountain biking, but that may be because of its location. I know there are alot of snowmobile trails in that area, but do not know what the summer conditions are like. We will be doing quite a bit of night riding also in preparation for Great Glen if that is something you are into.

Keep an eye on our message board and feel free to join us anytime.

Brian
 
[img:7c60f52a7e]http://www.team-pinnacle.org/albums/bc_personal/120x90.png[/img:7c60f52a7e]

I don't own a road bike so my comments all speak to mountain biking, however, trail conditions are the best I've seen them this time of year at least at the Pinnacle, can't speak for the other locations I'm about to mention, since I haven't been to anything else other than the Pinnacle as of this writing, yet this season. I haven't been to Pilsbury State Park in 3 years but wasn't impressed with the riding there at that time, perhaps I'd have a different take on Pilsbury now. In addition to the Pinnacle there are several other locations in the area that offer up some pretty good riding: the Cornish Town Forest being one of the more technical, Moody Park in Claremont has more moderate terrain, and Webb Forest in Sunapee also has mostly moderate terrain. I mention these 4 because they all have designated trails that are fairly easy to follow, however there is a lot more riding to be done in our area outside of these spots, but you're probably better off exploring them with someone who knows them, else you could get pretty seriously lost.

Hope this helps.

Ryan

[quote:ea3fcb0e89="Brian"]For more technical stuff you can visit the Cornish trails just outside of Claremont. [/quote:ea3fcb0e89]

Brian - Can you give me some more details on this place including directions? Hopefully will be up north soon to enjoy more Pinnacle action.

Thanks in advance!
Bri
 
Stearing by IMPACT in search of FLOW

Bri,

I'm going to defer this one to Rockboy, he has much more experience with these trails.

Brian
 
[img:7c60f52a7e]http://www.team-pinnacle.org/albums/bc_personal/120x90.png[/img:7c60f52a7e]

CTF trails are in great shape for this time of year...been clearing winter blowdown when I'm out there and it dry in all but a few places.

Post your email and I'll send you pdf's of the trails and parking spots.

Sammy, looks like JN beat me to it, but here is some additional info.

The Blue trail is what the Cornish riders consider the classic loop, and is what we usually warm up on, then we would proceed to a combination of the other loops which would normally include at some point the Red trail up a monster climb to the Lookout. Most of the trails are marked quite well with their coresponding color blazes, however there are some unmarked trails that extend outside of the Forest land, I don't recomend taking any of those unless you're with one of the Cornish riders who knows where they're going.

I don't think the Cornish group has started up yet for the season, but I've been a little out of touch with them this spring, however, they usually mtb Wed nights from a variety of locations but the Cornish Town forest is one of the main stays, a loose group will frequently get togeather on the weekends too.

Ryan

[quote:d7e3c7c1b0="jn"]CTF trails are in great shape for this time of year...been clearing winter blowdown when I'm out there and it dry in all but a few places.

Post your email and I'll send you pdf's of the trails and parking spots.[/quote:d7e3c7c1b0]

Sweet! bgrayatscarsdaledotcom is my e-mail - look forward to receiving that. I live down in NY but visit my GF's folks who live in Claremont about once a month. looking for other quicky's besides Moody.
FTB
 
Stearing by IMPACT in search of FLOW

It would be nice to have access to those pdf's through the Team Pinnacle website. (hint hint, nudge nudge Pinnacle web masters)
 
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Brian,

I have a plan to put something togeather on this, in time, in time...

Ryan

Hey, Big thanks to those who replied....

I was up for Friday morning-Sat evening and got over to the Pinnacle trails via the road/jeep roads and rode alot of the trails there. You guys have done a great job on maintenance and I really enjoyed the rock sections etc., keep up the good work. I look forward to getting over there again sometime.

Sat. I did a road ride over to Ascutney and up the Mtn. Whoa, that was the hardest climb I have ever done. If you want a serious workout, check it out. Also stopped in to the Bike shop...

I will try and make some group rides sometime...I am mostly up for weekends, once or twice a year I come for longer.

Thanks again for the info everyone.
Sam

Sammy Welcome to Sullivan County. The Pinnacle and Cornish Town Forest hold the best riding around and your new found town is close to both.
Unity has some great ClassVI road to explore and now is the best time to check it out before the leaves bud. Any topo or even to NH gazzetter will lead you down to the Mice Mine Rd. for a killer view of VT. There is a bunch of old farm road (Chandlers etc.) and double track all around Pike Hill going north into Newport. Check out Cochran Rd. for some bad ass granite slick rock to challenge your ascent/decent skills.
Cheers, Nathan
 
Alone in the woods, who stands to be King?

Yeah...I know about a couple of the class 6 roads, my place is on Potato Hill.

After seeing your tips I looked at the map and will plan on checking those others out next time I'm up.

Had trouble finding Cochran Rd., could you clue me in to what it is near? Thanks Nate.

See ya, Sam

You can do alot from Potato Hill, I use to ride out that way from Newport quite often. You can follow trails from Potato Hill into Weed's Pit in Newport. From there you can get down to the railroad bed or head towards Bible Hill in Claremont. If you go to the Rail road you can ride to the Pinnacle trails or hook onto the RT 5 snowmobile trail and get to the Corbin Park Fence loop.

Lots of options for you.
 
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Sam,
Cochrane is the next Class VI north of Potatoe Hill (Dan Quail spelling). You can get to it by taking the Mice Mine road off the 2nd NH Turnpike, in a couple of 10th Mica Mine road turns 90-degrees north, ride straight on to Cochrane.
You can also drop (east) down Potato Hill to Gilmon Pond road, take your first left, another Class VI across from the grave yard. The road will bend left then fork. If you stay straight, a hill climb, you're on Cochrane, bare right and you will go to Pike Hill and Weed's Pit.
Like Brian said, there is a lot of old farm and logging roads as well as new ATV and snow machine trails so you may get turned around, but it wont be for long as you're surrounded by humanity in all directions. :wink: Nathan
 
Alone in the woods, who stands to be King?

This sounds like a perfect opportunity for a Sunday group ride when Sammy is in town. I've been from Chandlers Mill Rd to Claremont and from Chandlers Mill Rd to the sand pit but other than that, this area is a mystery to me.

Anyone interested in leading a Sunday ride in this area?

Ryan