Root 66 Race Series

http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/epis ... ue=7858495

Got out onto the course for the first time in 2009. Still a bit of snow and ice, but very rideable. Didn't want to get my feet wet so I tip-toed around some of the wet sections.

The plan is to get out there and replace some missing ribbons, then rake some of the single track. You can ride on the leaves no problem but it might be confusing for riders that haven't raced the course before.

The Fox Hill sign has been ripped down. Some new litter. Two big blow downs: 1. Huge pine 2.4 mm on the Grassy Path and 2. Another huge pine 5.7 mm by Lazy Acre road to Six Mile Brook.

I rode easy to save Puppy and just to check things out. Stopped to say hello to a friend cutting firewood on his lot. 1:24 is a bit off from my goal of sub 1 hour.

I highly encourage pre-rides since the terrain is difficult. July 5th will be here soon...

https://www.bikereg.com/events/ConfList ... entID=7536

Matthew J. Domnarski
www.DomnarskiFarm.com
413-426-8040

Hey Matt.

My friend and I rode there yesterday and it was great! Thanks for letting us ride! I'll let you know when we head up again, this time we'll do the 10 mile section.

- Andy

Andy...glad you checked it out. Like I mentioned to you, someone has been pulling down my first sets of ribbons so I raked the first half mile of the course(s) so no one gets off trail. I'll put another set of ribbons where you missed the turn. Here's the 10.00 mile course in Red, Yellow is where you went. Pink is the 3.35 mile Beginner Loop and the deviation is marked by three red ribbons where you cut back towards the farm.
Here's a view of Palmer's second highest peak, Pattaquattic as view looking West. I made an orange line to show where you come through the saddle between Pattaquattic and Henry Hill down the first mjor descent.

As you ride back there you will see that there are some other ways you can ride to cut out the mud and hills.

Matt

Well...guess you can't see that orange line...how about this...
Orange is coming down the first descent. Yellow is the 10.00 loop (single track) headed toward the beaver dam. Green is where the single track picks up the jeep road (still on the 10.00 mile loop) back towards Rondeau Road.

Hey everyone! Its going to be 80 deg today. Going to take some laps at the farm. Probably going around 10 AM. Hope to see you there!

Wow, what a ride. I could only do one lap on the 10 mile! First mistake I made was I trekked all the way up Henry Hill, I didn't see any ribbons down that way. There was also a blow down about a mile from the start line heading up Henry. I have got to say that some of those climbs are EPIC! My bike is pretty light and loves to climb technical uphill, but man that was tough! I found myself walking up a few of them. I also thought the tree of death was a nice touch!

I'll post my time when I check my cateye.

Up until yesterday's rain the course was in the best condition I've seen it since its creation. I'm fine tuning some of the nasty spots to make them less deep, muddy and 100% rideable. My goal is to have a race course that challenges everyone from first-timer to Pro, but can also handle the abuse. Last year was good but some sections couldn't handle the abuse of 100+ riders and became run sections if you didn't carry enough momentum, especially if racers were unfamiliar with the terrain.

I've been laying down some stones in the more muddy sections so they are less deep, and beefing up the bridges so they don't rotate when a rider steps on them wrong. I added more ribbons but, again, some get pulled down on a regular basis. Come race day, I use yellow tape so racers don't have to think to stay on course.

Of course, last year was one of the wettest years on record and weather can have a dramatic effect from day to day. Some sections will offer a path to stay dry versus a quicker choice but much more wet/mud.

My Brother and I are considering riding at Domnarski this Sunday. We don't know the course and would be grateful to meet someone there who does. Any takers?

I tried riding the course on 6/2 for the first time and started by heading left out of the pit area (clockwise). Is this the correct direction of course?
Thank you Matt for access to these trails.
Chris

Nope. Wrong way. You start by going behind the stonewall, west as if you are headed towards Route 32. After that look for the ribbons. Some may be hard to see now but on race day I use yellow tape so you can just fly and not even think.

I'm planning on riding the course Saturday afternoon and Sunday evening after I get out of work. Conditions are always faster when the course is more dry but it handles water well, no matter how much it rains.

Bugs are out. You may want to spray down with insect repellant just in case you have to stop for a flat.

Matt