Hopkinton, NH: Live Free and Ride Free in the Granite State

The Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew joins the newest NEMBA chapter and the US Army Corps

Singlespeed wheeldrop off a granite outcropping at Bear Brook State Park.
Lakes make good positive control points; the crew enjoys the beautiful summer evening.
Sure, they're all smiles now, but wait until they're dirty, sweaty, and being eaten by mosquitoes!
The Three Bear rocks (from left to right): Baby Bear, Mama Bear, and Papa Bear, prior to construction.
Bermed turns are a lot of fun to ride, adding a nice bit of flow to any trail. Scouting out an existing natural berm upon which to build the turn meant a lot less dirt had to be moved, and it blends in well with the surrounding terrain.
This father-daughter team was a machine when it came to doing rockwork. Here they build a small retaining wall, so that an off-camber turn can be backfilled and elevated above adjacent tree roots.
Volunteers work their tails off to bench in the approaches and landings for the Three Bears drops. Having a flat, clear landing area for the drops minimizes injuries from botched landings. Note also the proper placement of the waiting tools: above the trail, handles back towards the workers, and the sharpest edges down in the dirt. Nice job!
Looking down at the Mama Bear rock on the left and the "easiest line" through the middle. The Baby Bear rock is hidden by the tree on the right.

On July 21 - 24, Jill Van Winkle and Chris Bernhardt joined the newly-formed Central New Hampshire chapter of the New England Mountain Bike Association for a visit to the Hopkinton Lake property, run by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The USACE is one of IMBA's federal partners , and the rangers at Hopkinton Lake were gracious hosts to the weekend's Trailbuilding School and trailwork party. While the USACE's primary function is flood control, the agency recognizes the importance of recreational opportunities on its open spaces and has encouraged the development of mountain bike trails. At Hopkinton Lake, this has created a great opportunity for local riders to develop new, sustainable trails.

Club leader Glenn Kirby selected a new section of trail to be built that included a great multi-skill rock drop called "The Three Bears". The Baby Bear rock will allow users to roll down a 12" face. Right adjacent is the Mama Bear rock, with a nice 30" high drop. Next to that is the Papa Bear rock, with a huck up to 48" tall. Such variety will allow riders to choose the challenge level that is "just right" for them. Of course, those riders who want to keep both wheels on the trail will have an easy gap between the rocks.

In addition, volunteers built approximately 300 feet of bench-cut singletrack, with a fun, yet subtle, bermed turn thrown into the middle to make a sustainable change of direction along the hillside. Plenty of armoring under the tread will keep the trail durable over the years.

Friday night's club ride at Bear Brook State Park was quite enjoyable, as the riders showed the Crew some classic New England trails, complete with roots, rocks, drops, and insane humidity. The highlight was a wonderfully technical section of bench-cut trail, complete with rock stairs, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s.