March 2015 - New England Trail Rider Association
News
Winter Riding in New England Big Bike/ADV Riding
March 2015
Wow. Normally at this me of the year everybody is talking about the first events of the year, which class they're going to run, and what new gear or bike bling they got during the off-season. Record snowfall has put those plans on hold for all but the most hardy snow riders. The Snow Run Enduro and the Leonard's Loop Hare Scrambles have already been postponed to much later in the season, and the snow con nues to fall. We'll all just have to be pa ent as there's bound to be a few more postponements. When this happens and an event gets a new date, inevitably we get a bunch of phone calls and emails complaining that now there's a conflict with some ECEA event, a Supercross, somebody's wedding, or the opening of hun ng season. Trust me, finding a new date that doesn't conflict with something is virtually impossible and the clubs have to balance their landowner's needs, other club priori es, and other considera ons when finding a new date. The clubs agonize over these decisions, so please cut them some slack. We're all volunteers who spend many hours trying to provide our members with great riding opportuni es; we didn't make it snow 100+ inches! So take advantage of the extra me and build up your condi oning, repack your silencer, and renew your NETRA membership. We'll all be riding soon.
See you on the trail!
President’s Message
NETRA Members,
CONNECT
ON THE COVER
The NETRA News is a monthly publica on of the New England Trail Rider Associa on. This publica on is emailed to more than 3000 ac ve trail riders and racers: your customers. It’s also posted to Facebook, Twi er and Instagram increasing the readership beyond NETRA members. Ad rates are based on adver ser provided digital artwork. Ads in Adobe PDF format are preferred but other image types may be accepted. Annual Rate includes 11 issues, February-December. Deadline for ads is the 20th of the month prior to publicaƟon.
AdverƟsement
Annual Rate
Mini rider Brayden NoleƩe Photo by Leanne Dutlinger
FOLLOW US!
Full Page
$500
Facebook
1/2 Page
$300
Twitter
1/4 Page
$200
Instagram
AƩenƟon NETRA members! Got a road trip you want to share? Do you have a legisla ve commentary you‘d like to post? Is there a picture you just have to show off? The content quality of this newsle er is up to you! THIS IS YOUR NETRA NEWS! Drop us a line via email [email protected]
H
‐
2014 BREN MORAN AWARD WINNER JIM HOELLERICH Jim Hoellerich was presented with the Bren Moran Award at this year's NETRA Banquet. Jim was one of NETRA's original fast guys, and was a top A enduro rider throughout the 1970's. He con nued a ending NETRA events including Turkey Runs for several more years. He has hosted the ISDE Reunion Ride at his beau ful farm in Cheshire, MA on mul ple occasions. The farm is also the home of Jim's spectacular Museum of Vintage Trail Bikes. The museum is home to over 100 show-quality an que Ossas, Bultacos, Dalesmans, etc. that Jim restored himself. Jim is always ready to show off his work, just call ahead for an appointment - it's worth the drive. Check out a video of Jim’s collec on on YouTube. h ps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lveObns4K0w
Photos by Leanne Dutlinger
B
ig Bike/Adventure (BB/A) riding is fast becoming one of the most popular forms of motorcycle recrea on. At the last NETRA Expo I gave a talk on BB/A riding and it was well a ended by an enthusias c crowd. Where to ride and what to ride were two common ques ons that were asked. I think NETRA is in a great posi on to provide answers to these quesons.
Before we go too far I should specify what I mean by BB/A riding. Historically NETRA has focused on compe ons such as Enduros and Hare Scrambles. For those who wanted a challenging ride there were the Dual Sport and Turkey rides. To quote Russ MacIntyre: “The Berkshire Trail Riders puts on the Berkshire Triple. It is a turkey run, a dual sport and an adventure ride. The diff between the TR and D/S is that the TR is basically our enduro trails. The D/S is much easier. We try to parallel the two and where they cross, give "rated" hero sec ons to those that want to up their game. I would ride the dual sport on my 650, but wouldn't think about doing the TR on less than my KTM.”
Does that help? D/S = very easy TR ..... TR= enduro without me keeping. The difference is that if you fall in a D/S or Turkey the rider behind you will help pick up your bike, in an enduro they'll use you for trac on. BB/A rides generally avoid ght single track, and concentrate on a wider, low key route through the woods. They are more about the route, the ride, and the des na on rather than an intense challenge. That doesn't mean that it's for old people on Gold Wings but rather just a different focus and lower level of difficulty. Not everyone is thrilled by roots, rocks, and mud! Different strokes for different folks.
By J. Braun
To be more specific, here are road classifica ons I came up with over the years of organizing the New England Transalp Rally. They are obviously subject to interpreta on. Your mileage may vary.
Class 0 - Paved road Class 1 – Graded dirt or gravel – eg county road – Yo momma in a Corolla. Class 1.5 Ru ed dirt road – Yo momma with bad language. Class 2 – Dirt road that would damage a car but not a pickup truck Class 3 – Two track – rocky or muddy single lane suitable high clearance pickup Class 4 – 4 wheel drive due to loose rocks and/or slope Class 5 – 4 wheel drive due to rock faces, sand, or jungle Class 6 – Single track – easy Class 7 – Single track – moderate Class 8 – Single track – hard Class 9 – Single track – extreme – expect damage and pain W1 - water crossing easy - puddles and mud W2 - water crossing moderate - streams and small rivers - axle deep W3 - water crossing extreme - fast rivers, swamps, bogs
BB/A riding generally s cks to classes 0 – 3 with class 4 – 5 for Hero sec ons. Last year's Berkshire Big Bike Rally was mostly class 0 – 2. I only rode one Hero sec on which I would have listed as Class 4 - W1 due to the slope and the giant mud / water crossing at the top. In the next few issues I'd like to discuss BB/A riding and offer my thoughts on bikes and gear. I will also be lis ng BB/A routes that are fun and legal to ride.
I'd be especially interested in any rides you would care to share with me. If you have comments, sugges ons, or ps you would like to offer, please send me a note at [email protected]
Visit the all new NETRA Forum! http://forum.netra.org Get the latest on up-coming events Connect with riding buddies Keep apprised of legisla
ve issues
Browse and post to the Classifieds … and so much more!
SCHEDULE CHANGES
Snow Run Enduro – postponed due to snow.
Leonard’s Loop Hare Scrambles postponed from March 29 to September 27th due to excessive snow.
Steerage Rock Twister: Junior Enduro, Pee Wee and Vintage postponed from April 25 to May 23 due to Supercross conflict. Many of this event’s workers are a ending the Supercross race.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 2015 NETRA Schedule
Winter Riding in New England Big Bike/ADV Riding
March 2015
Wow. Normally at this me of the year everybody is talking about the first events of the year, which class they're going to run, and what new gear or bike bling they got during the off-season. Record snowfall has put those plans on hold for all but the most hardy snow riders. The Snow Run Enduro and the Leonard's Loop Hare Scrambles have already been postponed to much later in the season, and the snow con nues to fall. We'll all just have to be pa ent as there's bound to be a few more postponements. When this happens and an event gets a new date, inevitably we get a bunch of phone calls and emails complaining that now there's a conflict with some ECEA event, a Supercross, somebody's wedding, or the opening of hun ng season. Trust me, finding a new date that doesn't conflict with something is virtually impossible and the clubs have to balance their landowner's needs, other club priori es, and other considera ons when finding a new date. The clubs agonize over these decisions, so please cut them some slack. We're all volunteers who spend many hours trying to provide our members with great riding opportuni es; we didn't make it snow 100+ inches! So take advantage of the extra me and build up your condi oning, repack your silencer, and renew your NETRA membership. We'll all be riding soon.
See you on the trail!
President’s Message
NETRA Members,
CONNECT
ON THE COVER
The NETRA News is a monthly publica on of the New England Trail Rider Associa on. This publica on is emailed to more than 3000 ac ve trail riders and racers: your customers. It’s also posted to Facebook, Twi er and Instagram increasing the readership beyond NETRA members. Ad rates are based on adver ser provided digital artwork. Ads in Adobe PDF format are preferred but other image types may be accepted. Annual Rate includes 11 issues, February-December. Deadline for ads is the 20th of the month prior to publicaƟon.
AdverƟsement
Annual Rate
Mini rider Brayden NoleƩe Photo by Leanne Dutlinger
FOLLOW US!
Full Page
$500
1/2 Page
$300
1/4 Page
$200
AƩenƟon NETRA members! Got a road trip you want to share? Do you have a legisla ve commentary you‘d like to post? Is there a picture you just have to show off? The content quality of this newsle er is up to you! THIS IS YOUR NETRA NEWS! Drop us a line via email [email protected]
H
‐
2014 BREN MORAN AWARD WINNER JIM HOELLERICH Jim Hoellerich was presented with the Bren Moran Award at this year's NETRA Banquet. Jim was one of NETRA's original fast guys, and was a top A enduro rider throughout the 1970's. He con nued a ending NETRA events including Turkey Runs for several more years. He has hosted the ISDE Reunion Ride at his beau ful farm in Cheshire, MA on mul ple occasions. The farm is also the home of Jim's spectacular Museum of Vintage Trail Bikes. The museum is home to over 100 show-quality an que Ossas, Bultacos, Dalesmans, etc. that Jim restored himself. Jim is always ready to show off his work, just call ahead for an appointment - it's worth the drive. Check out a video of Jim’s collec on on YouTube. h ps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lveObns4K0w
Photos by Leanne Dutlinger
B
ig Bike/Adventure (BB/A) riding is fast becoming one of the most popular forms of motorcycle recrea on. At the last NETRA Expo I gave a talk on BB/A riding and it was well a ended by an enthusias c crowd. Where to ride and what to ride were two common ques ons that were asked. I think NETRA is in a great posi on to provide answers to these quesons.
Before we go too far I should specify what I mean by BB/A riding. Historically NETRA has focused on compe ons such as Enduros and Hare Scrambles. For those who wanted a challenging ride there were the Dual Sport and Turkey rides. To quote Russ MacIntyre: “The Berkshire Trail Riders puts on the Berkshire Triple. It is a turkey run, a dual sport and an adventure ride. The diff between the TR and D/S is that the TR is basically our enduro trails. The D/S is much easier. We try to parallel the two and where they cross, give "rated" hero sec ons to those that want to up their game. I would ride the dual sport on my 650, but wouldn't think about doing the TR on less than my KTM.”
Does that help? D/S = very easy TR ..... TR= enduro without me keeping. The difference is that if you fall in a D/S or Turkey the rider behind you will help pick up your bike, in an enduro they'll use you for trac on. BB/A rides generally avoid ght single track, and concentrate on a wider, low key route through the woods. They are more about the route, the ride, and the des na on rather than an intense challenge. That doesn't mean that it's for old people on Gold Wings but rather just a different focus and lower level of difficulty. Not everyone is thrilled by roots, rocks, and mud! Different strokes for different folks.
By J. Braun
To be more specific, here are road classifica ons I came up with over the years of organizing the New England Transalp Rally. They are obviously subject to interpreta on. Your mileage may vary.
Class 0 - Paved road Class 1 – Graded dirt or gravel – eg county road – Yo momma in a Corolla. Class 1.5 Ru ed dirt road – Yo momma with bad language. Class 2 – Dirt road that would damage a car but not a pickup truck Class 3 – Two track – rocky or muddy single lane suitable high clearance pickup Class 4 – 4 wheel drive due to loose rocks and/or slope Class 5 – 4 wheel drive due to rock faces, sand, or jungle Class 6 – Single track – easy Class 7 – Single track – moderate Class 8 – Single track – hard Class 9 – Single track – extreme – expect damage and pain W1 - water crossing easy - puddles and mud W2 - water crossing moderate - streams and small rivers - axle deep W3 - water crossing extreme - fast rivers, swamps, bogs
BB/A riding generally s cks to classes 0 – 3 with class 4 – 5 for Hero sec ons. Last year's Berkshire Big Bike Rally was mostly class 0 – 2. I only rode one Hero sec on which I would have listed as Class 4 - W1 due to the slope and the giant mud / water crossing at the top. In the next few issues I'd like to discuss BB/A riding and offer my thoughts on bikes and gear. I will also be lis ng BB/A routes that are fun and legal to ride.
I'd be especially interested in any rides you would care to share with me. If you have comments, sugges ons, or ps you would like to offer, please send me a note at [email protected]
Visit the all new NETRA Forum! http://forum.netra.org Get the latest on up-coming events Connect with riding buddies Keep apprised of legisla
ve issues
Browse and post to the Classifieds … and so much more!
SCHEDULE CHANGES
Snow Run Enduro – postponed due to snow.
Leonard’s Loop Hare Scrambles postponed from March 29 to September 27th due to excessive snow.
Steerage Rock Twister: Junior Enduro, Pee Wee and Vintage postponed from April 25 to May 23 due to Supercross conflict. Many of this event’s workers are a ending the Supercross race.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 2015 NETRA Schedule
