What is the Thursday Night Social Ride?
This is an all levels ride. There will be at minimum an advanced and a mellower group going out each week. If we have enough volunteer ride leaders, there may be an intermediate or other groups. Advanced and intermediate riders should know their own abilities. Experienced novice riders are welcome on the mellower ride. It's a great way to get out and meet fellow riders, learn about a great riding area and a great organization, and get in a good workout during the middle of the week.

When and Where?

For the 2013 season we will be hosting rides at BOTH Fells and Landlocked Forest.

Fells: Meet at the Flynn Rink parking lot.

Landlocked Forest in Burlington/Lexington/Bedford. Meet at the rear parking lot at the Estabrook School 5:45 and ride at 6:00pm. Directions to the Estabrook School.

Keep an eye on our website - www.gbnemba.org - we update the homepage regularly with the ride times if they change (sometimes a little later in the middle of summer). Also, in case of threatening weather we may cancel and that will be on the homepage. 

Who can go?
These rides are open to anyone who is interested in a fun evening ride, as well as current and prospective NEMBA members. All riders must be fit enough to handle strenuous activity for about 1.5-2 hours. Riders should bring a serviceable mountain bike, be over 18, have water and must wear a helmet. Remember that mountain biking may be an exhilarating sport, but it is also dangerous. Know your limits and don't take unnecessary chances. NEMBA assumes no liability...

So what's the ride like?
What you will first notice is our volunteer Ride Guides, who break off with small groups of riders with similar skills and pace and lead a fun and appropriate ride through the woods. We always need more Ride Guides, so if you know your way around the LLF and would like to volunteer, let This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it know.

We also use sweepers who are generally used to riding with certain leaders and know their routes. We always need sweepers, too, so if you would like to volunteer, let This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it know. It is the teamwork between these two folks that keeps a group together and having fun.
Some ride leaders also use a clever method to keep a group together and moving at the same time. It is a technique borrowed from the good folks at VORBA and entails having the first rider behind the leader stop at a trail intersection to wave the rest of the riders through until he or she sees the sweeper and is only then able to resume riding.

The ride itself depends on the ride leader, but typical terrain in the LLF is fun, swoopy singletrack. There are hills, but mostly short and usually somewhat steep. There are no long grinding climbs. Most of the terrain is suitable to novice and intermediate riders. Expert riders will only be challenged by distance and pace.

About the Landlocked Forest
The Landlocked Forest has flown under the radar for years. It is also known as the Private Reserve (PR) or Beddy. It is owned by Burlington but cut off from the rest of the town by routes 128 and 3. It has seen the ongoing threat of development constantly but that seems to have taken a turn for the better with the formation of the Friends of the Landlocked Forest and recent approvals by the Burlington Conservation Commission for some significant trail improvements that enhance and protect the forest. A good history can be found here. It has a great trail system and offers a suprising amount trail in a not very large space. We want to be sensitive to the neighborhoods surrounding it which is why rides will start from the Estabrook School lot. It is a privilege we do not want to abuse, so please be sensitive to the neighborhood, soil/trail preservation and the tranquility and safety of fellow users. Very important: no alcohol on Estabrook grounds!

Best practices include:

Rain Policy
If it is cloudy, threatening, misty, sprinkling - we ride. If it is pouring down rain - we cancel...but check the website to be sure! We’ll try to post on the NEMBA Forum as well.

See you out there! Any questions, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it