A few thoughts from a Barnstable Harbor local that rides ToT ( & the surrounding a lot) - that may or may not be useful:skep: . Although I'm not a Cross rider, I have friends that will put a cross ride in at ToT. Sandy? well, there are a couple ST corners that have some sand, but in general Not a lot of the loose on the ST at ToT. On the other hand, the powerlines and fireroads can be deep in the sheet.
Almost anything that has peddles & two wheels can have fun at the ToT, an "advanced" rider can really, really move out in there, as well. That said, most popular among the regulars are HT, FS & SS rigs. A few hard cores run rigid forks and do quite well...but I'm with the masses & run a 2x9 FS or HT, but I'm old, w/real bad knees & carry a pony beer keg w/me. If I dedicated a bike solely for ToT it would be a 1x9 w/a 100-130mm fork. I very very rarely use a granny unless my knees are screaming back at me:headphones: . I see you have a nice SS 29er that would be sweet as a lot of others can attest. So as far as gearing on a cross, I'll have to ask a few friends, and let others Here help you out.
Tires? well, I'm a tire freak, but in over 9 years down here and thousands of miles, I have been most happy on my tubeless 2.3 Schalbes, but I ride a lot of recon off the beaten path...can you say briers! Anyway, not much for briers in ToT, but elsewhere they can be brutal, which leads me to your other question. Riding from the Barnstable Harbor to ToT can be done on about 60-70% in the wood, but it will require at least an extra tube and a patch kit. I can fill you in by PM or phone, it would take up a full page here, it's not a difficult ride. But you better have most of the day available to ride out there and back, ride ToT and/or the Sandwich Side all without getting twisted up or flatting out. To do it All including getting there, yur talking 40+ miles. :thumbsup:
Alternatively, you can Say a PRAYER (narrow and loaded with cars, but the roadies do it all the time) and (ride) take 6A west to Church street, left on Rt 149, cross over Rt 6 overpass, take a right on Service Road. enter left at power lines, take left & your in ToT. This way, on a Cross you can be there in a 1/2 hour from Barnstable Village. It's only the the 1st 1.7 miles that are the most dangerous with the car factor. A safer road ride from the village, not as scenic, but far safer, is to take "Phinneys Lane" (wider) straight all the way almost to (Rt 28 toward Falmouth) take last road on right before the light, it's called "Great Marsh Rd" go straight till you hit "Old Stage" take right on "Race Lane"...the main entrance to ToT is approx 4 miles down. Go straight though a little rotary and about 1 mile or so on the right is the brown "Branstable Conservation" sign entrance, off "Race Lane" There is a Map there as well, have fun! You can get to this entrance by either route.
You can also do a lot of riding in the other direction, as well, right from Barnstable Village (East), look at maps but basically it's the Mary Dunn -(think airport) to Willow to the Yarmouth trails...It's all so good - you'll have fun no matter what bike you take w/you...I would opt for something w/a little more tread...but thats just me, as my brain doesn't do the share the road thing, well*:incazzato:...
