[Iboated]

My buddy and I are hitting this place up for the first time tomorrow.. Could someone who has been here alot, recommend us a decent ride..??

We were looking to do the whole thing in a day, but if someone could set us up with a half day ride, I'd appreciate it..!!

TR to follow..!!

 

[bad news]

My buddy and I are hitting this place up for the first time tomorrow.. Could someone who has been here alot, recommend us a decent ride..??

We were looking to do the whole thing in a day, but if someone could set us up with a half day ride, I'd appreciate it..!!

TR to follow..!!

Bah...tomorrow's a lousy day, I'm gonna be at Bradbury for the NEMBA ride. Otherwise I'd give you the grand tour. I live a mile from the trailhead.

What time were you thinking of riding?

Fort Rock isn't really signed, half named, and hard to describe due to being a real trail network and not just a bunch of easy to navigate loops. It's hard to go really wrong though. Once you get tired of rallying around the south side of the highway than head down to the tunnel and pass under 101. When you come out of the tunnel just keep staying left, left, left. That will take you onto the Demoralizer. You'll either love it or hate it.

 

[Iboated]

Hopefully in the am but its supposed to rain a bit.. Watching some videos, I like all it has to offer and some of those swamp crossing are really narrow

Should be a good time..!!

 

[ramshackle]

http://town.exeter.nh.us/swaseyforest.cfm New mapping is improved but not like having a guide. There are some numbered intersections out there, but not everywhere.

My usual is start at the train trestle lot S of 101. 1, a little bit of pipeline, st N of pipeline, 2, 3, 4, yellow, down to the tunnel, first part of hillzilla(Demoralizer), BLT trail, cross powerline, stay on yellow, over the swamp bridges, through the housing development, loop to the N off map on the snowmobile trail, PBR, 9, 8, 7, tunnel, back by yellow-6-1 or deane's dream. Maybe 2 hours ride plus stops.

 

[Iboated]

http://town.exeter.nh.us/swaseyforest.cfm New mapping is improved but not like having a guide. There are some numbered intersections out there, but not everywhere.

My usual is start at the train trestle lot S of 101. 1, a little bit of pipeline, st N of pipeline, 2, 3, 4, yellow, down to the tunnel, first part of hillzilla(Demoralizer), BLT trail, cross powerline, stay on yellow, over the swamp bridges, through the housing development, loop to the N off map on the snowmobile trail, PBR, 9, 8, 7, tunnel, back by yellow-6-1 or deane's dream. Maybe 2 hours ride plus stops.

Excellent, just what I was looking for..

I seem to lose you after you say to cross the power line as I don't see a yellow trail.. But I'm sure I'll figure it out..

Thanks!!

 

[ramshackle]

Yellow is not correct. Red (purple on the map?). When you reach the powerlines on BLT, the swamp bridges are straight across to the north.

 

[freddie53]

Wow! Sounds like you're dis'g Fomba.

Bah...tomorrow's a lousy day, I'm gonna be at Bradbury for the NEMBA ride. Otherwise I'd give you the grand tour. I live a mile from the trailhead.

What time were you thinking of riding?

Fort Rock isn't really signed, half named, and hard to describe due to being a real trail network and not just a bunch of easy to navigate loops. It's hard to go really wrong though. Once you get tired of rallying around the south side of the highway than head down to the tunnel and pass under 101. When you come out of the tunnel just keep staying left, left, left. That will take you onto the Demoralizer. You'll either love it or hate it.

strangely enough it doesn't make you elite to just love stuff that's difficult. It also doesn't make you special. There are groups for all types of mtn. biking and as strange as it may seem they all have their place.

I like Fort Rock and there are some sections that I can't do...yet, but I like the easier places to for the difference they provide. Fort Rock can be confusing if you don't ride there a bit to learn the trails...no matter what a local who rides there all the time says. It's also nice to have a reliable map so you don't have to rely on locals with attitudes.

 

[fda47]

Which one would you say is easier, Oaklands or Henderson-Swasey?

 

[kbreen30]

easy freddie, sounds like your dis'g badnews. Elite or not elite he was recommending the original poster a decent ride. Just like he asked for. Your post, which didnt answer the OP's question didnt help them. It sounds like you know the easy parts apart from the harder parts. Maybe you should have told the poster that. You could have told them the confusing parts since they've never ridden there before. And dont forget that every "local with an attitude" are individuals. Don't make fort rock sounds like a trail network with bad locals. Thanks. Enjoy the trails

fda and Iboated- Since your already prob ridding FR this post prolly wont help you either. Everyone you asks that actually rides fort rock daily will tell you something different regarding difficulty. I think the Oaklands side is harder to answer your question. Tighter and more technical in MY OPINION. Both sides have easy smooth paved trails though too.. Your already riding out there prolly so i wont tell you a good loop. Next time your there and you want to ride with a nice local, just ask. Hope you had a good day out there

 

[Iboated]

This place just ROCKS!! Blows FOMBA away.. We only rode a small bit of Oaklands, Henderson was awesome..!!

I only flipped over once and the top of the hill over by the Yellow trail (Fire Pit - is this blazed white?) where the fire pit was fun to blast around on..

Oh and theres lots of rocks..!!

 

[bad news]

strangely enough it doesn't make you elite to just love stuff that's difficult. It also doesn't make you special. There are groups for all types of mtn. biking and as strange as it may seem they all have their place.

I like Fort Rock and there are some sections that I can't do...yet, but I like the easier places to for the difference they provide. Fort Rock can be confusing if you don't ride there a bit to learn the trails...no matter what a local who rides there all the time says. It's also nice to have a reliable map so you don't have to rely on locals with attitudes.

Uhhhh...scroll back up and see who was the first guy to offer the OP a tour.

Fomba has a lot of trail that is as hard as much of Fort Rock. You will notice I made no comment regarding anything to do with difficulty. I will however make no bones about preferring a layout like Fort Rock over one like FOMBA's. The enjoyment of riding trail to trail, totally immersed in the forest and enjoying non stop fun will always trump pedaling down a fire road looking for your next bit of single track. However, as I noted, it also makes it a lot harder to describe a good route in the absence of very good signing and labeling as well as an accurate map, things Fort Rock doesn't really have. If I had been paying attention I would have pulled up the town of exeter maps and could have made better suggestions, but I forgot that those were up there.

I am always happy to ride with anybody who's a good sport regardless of their ability, including yourself. Perhaps with a few pointers or by seeing a new line you will be able to clean the sections you find unrideable now.

Francis, I think Kevin is right. The hardest stuff is found between the tunnel and the powerlines on the Oakland's side. The Henderson-Swasey side has a lot of challenging sections but area wise it's not actually that big and it's down hill back to the car for much of it so if you find your goose is cooked you can limp back. PM me if you want a tour some evening or weekend. We can hit the introductory loop.

Lboated, sounds like you guys had fun. Like I said, it's hard to go wrong. Almost everything rides well in both directions.

 

[fda47]

snip
Francis, I think Kevin is right. The hardest stuff is found between the tunnel and the powerlines on the Oakland's side. The Henderson-Swasey side has a lot of challenging sections but area wise it's not actually that big and it's down hill back to the car for much of it so if you find your goose is cooked you can limp back. PM me if you want a tour some evening or weekend. We can hit the introductory loop.

Hey Dave, I know I haven't taken you up on your numerous offers of giving me and my son a tour but most definitely soon. We will pick up new bikes soon, at least my son's is guaranteed by next weekend, so I will definitely let you know. Now that we've done all 11 trails at FOMBA (what's left is to get better at them), we're looking for a new one. Thanks!

 

[ooctrl]

Good to hear you had a nice time at FR. I've been riding that place for 8 years now and I guess I take it for granted, but it's a great trail system with a lot of nice features and challenges. I ride there a lot on the weeknights (3-4 days a week) usually around 5 or 5:30 if anyone wants the full tour. I park in a lot of different locations to vary my entrance points. This keeps this place fresh and helps to vary my loops.

bad news, are you up for a tour of the marsh sometime soon? I still haven't been.

btw, those new maps aren't half bad. They're way better than the old ones.

 

[idbrian]

I don't think Fort Rock requires a guide and with a map is very easy to navigate. Back when i was just visiting the area i strung together a great ride. The park is bordered by a lot of power lines and roads that help you stay well navigated.

I'm not a huge FOMBA fan either. I think the layout of loops and the signage is great. But other than the Fire Line trail i find the place rather bland. Little flow or technicality. I usually like to have at least one of the two, or the best places that have both at the same time.

 

[bad news]

bad news, are you up for a tour of the marsh sometime soon? I still haven't been.

btw, those new maps aren't half bad. They're way better than the old ones.

Sure, anytime. If you've been doing the same stuff at other spots for a while the marsh will definitely give your skills and fun factor a jolt.

 

[capt-high-pressure]

Sure, anytime. If you've been doing the same stuff at other spots for a while the marsh will definitely give your skills and fun factor a jolt.

There's still a tree to cut out of phase 2. Stunts to finish and the usual late summer clean-up. September will be the best. I've been riding everywhere else since the dearflies and greenheads emerged.

 

[ooctrl]

There's still a tree to cut out of phase 2. Stunts to finish and the usual late summer clean-up. September will be the best. I've been riding everywhere else since the dearflies and greenheads emerged.

Thanks for the heads up captain. The big biting flies seemed to really have thrived this year in most riding spots. I try to stay out in front of them.

 

[bad news]

There's still a tree to cut out of phase 2. Stunts to finish and the usual late summer clean-up. September will be the best. I've been riding everywhere else since the dearflies and greenheads emerged.

I'm waiting for the leaves to fall, then I got big plans haha. What was I there like 3 weeks ago? Wasn't too badly overgrown at that point.

 

[dan0]

There's still a tree to cut out of phase 2. Stunts to finish and the usual late summer clean-up. September will be the best. I've been riding everywhere else since the dearflies and greenheads emerged.

hey Dave
went there a week and a half ago, steaming hot day, frickin deer flies were riding on my bars, waiting...you cant out run that

btw 2 big trees down by the junk pile on section 3
any news on the development?

 

[capt-high-pressure]

hey Dave
went there a week and a half ago, steaming hot day, frickin deer flies were riding on my bars, waiting...you cant out run that

btw 2 big trees down by the junk pile on section 3
any news on the development?

That would be Phase 4....We left those trees there on purpose....we go in a few yards further up the road now. They just finished the traffic study and I anticipate the zoning change to be on the ballot this October.