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about 12 mph, but I did it a little faster recently with no snow--

@@bcnephew Your old FKT's trail running were off the charts. Do you feel you are achieving equivalency riding on trails when you go for it?

@@hankschiffman1587 Thanks, I appreciate that! No, not even close! I race enduro with my son, and it is a different thing, much more skill based than conditioning, at least in NE. I'm a long distance guy, and the fast downhill mtb is more skill and power. Some of these KOM's are more XC, but I'm still not at the same level with that as I am as a trail runner, or was. Definitely improving, and maybe I'll do some longer races and see how that goes. Short mtb XC is intense, more like a 5-10k run, which I never had the outright speed for. Downhill on a mtb is typically more fun than running, I can't deny that, but it is also less safe!

Hi Hank, local trails in Westborough. I don't tend to loose many studs, 0-3 per ride, even though I am very fond of locking up the rear wheel. Rarely loose any on the front. I think the replacement studs I am putting in have a wider base and are less likely to peel out. I did use the studded tires at the Killington ESC enduro last year, which the staff found entertaining. I ripped out almost all the studs from the rear wheel over 2 days and about 15-16k of downhill. Not sure if they were the right call for those trails in those conditions, it was not all that wet for race day, but they definitely helped in many sections. I've recently been using superglue when I replace studs and have not lost any lately.

@@bcnephew Hi Ben. I'm amazed that superglue can resist the torque. But, as my father used to say, engineers could not explain how bees fly.. When. push comes to shove, as on glare ice, there is no substitute for studs.

@@hankschiffman1587 , not sure the glue is doing anything, could be the larger base on the replacement studs, but the knobs on my 45North tires are pretty soft, so I think it could be providing a bit more support to prevent them from peeling out.

@@bcnephew Have you visually compared the base of the replacement studs to the original? Logically, it would seem odd that there would be more than one manufacturing standard.

@@hankschiffman1587 I have, the difference is not huge, but there is variation between brands. Terrene makes some awesome studs that are very unique. My replacement studs are sold as car studs, you will laugh, they are 1/3 the price of bike tire studs.

Thanks, they are! Even better when the leaves are not quite so deep...

MA, right in Westborough. More vert than Lincoln, Vietnam, or the non ski side of Diamond, and more dirt! Happy to give you a tour---

Thanks, would have been nice to get more chase cam footage of Gav, but not sure exactly how to do that! Really interesting terrain with tons of potential for more trails.

Thanks, it is quite the good deal! It was great stock as a full 29er, but I prefer it as a mullet.

If you traverse from the bottom of Daredevils to Silver Spring, you should see it on the right. May be grown in, but there looked to be some other trails in there as well. I need to head back in drier conditions. It was a fun trail, and would be even better with a bit of clean up. There bottom section was pretty steep, and there were potential line options.

No, not even close. Wolfe Hill, between Goat Hill and West Hill Dam.

I feel your pain! I was riding there weekly last year and could not stay on the same trail half the time! Many of the trails magically evolve over time. Would be nice to have markings on the main trails.

@@bcnephew if I knew the trails better I’d try and organize something but I don’t know where to start of even if Lincoln woods would let us

It is even more fun than it looks. I've ridden a ton of places since first riding this trail, and it is still one of favorite trails anywhere. Not many trails are as fun whether on a hardtail for an enduro bike.

Just a 35 mm amazon stem, only 133g and very durable. I've had it on my hardtail and enduro bikes for a while now, and it has taken some big hits during crashes. 20 dollars..... I only paid 340 for that frame, so hard to justify 120 for a stem!

The trail with no name, they shut it down shortly after it opened. No idea why, possibly because it went through the grounds of the Warfield Inn. Wait, now it is apparently open. Wicked side to Westside trail. Just go right instead of taking Thunder Vision. This trail is just about as good as Thunder Vision, but twice as long.

sure thing! It's a great place to run, hike, or bike. I was introduced to that area by a trail race they used to run there years ago.

@@bcnephew Thank you so much! I'm slow to edit so hopefully next week it would be out. 😀

Depres property in Westborough, near Fay "Mountain"

Definitely a bad one, but luckily I am good at falling and no injuries. No interest in moving to clipless pedals. Realized there is no reason that roll has to be so narrow, not worth the risk, and that has been fixed.

Thanks! Still using an 8, and too lazy to color edit! I really need to at least upgrade my editing software--

The Westboro trail, in Westborough! There is a parking pull off where Ruggles st. crosses over the turnpike.

Thanks!

Well, that is an interesting question. 40 in the front, about 30 in the rear. Had 40 front and back, but the bike ejected out of our roof rack at, let's say, highway speeds. Should have had the rack set to 29ers rather than 27.5, and I don't think the studs helped. Rear wheel exploded, everything else was fine. I just looked at the width, and it is not that much different from the front and back, 2-3 mm. The profile is a bit more rounded in the back, but it will have more weight and be flatter when riding. My hardtail has 31 mm inner diameter wheels and I run 3.0 tires all the time, including knobby nics and ground controls, which are massive. I don't think a super wide rim is necessary in terms of maximizing the width or profile. If you want to run really low pressures, both diameters are fine as well, you will see squirm and/or hit your rim with both if you try to ride hard at low pressures. I'd rather have light rims to offset the weight of the tires.

no, too much of a pain changing tires at enduros and in general and typically prefer to run higher pressures and stay off the rim. As others have said in reviews, these are a really narrow 3.0, look more like a 2.6 than most 3.0 tires, but the grip is excellent. I have lost a few studs, but a lot of my riding involves hard stops. Don't try skidding on pavement! The schwalbe replacement studs fit well, the bases may be a bit wider than stock. Tempted to run these outside of winter on steep muddy and rooty terrain.

I was surprised as well. Happy to give you a tour. I'm sure the trails will be in good shape most of the winter!

Thanks! Some of that was probably not the best idea given that I was riding solo, but the conditions were great and that bike always seems to bail me out when I get into trouble. I think you have a Status as well? I need to head back with my stunt double to get some 3rd person and follow cam footage.

I do have a status, and I set it up as a park bike. I sized down to a S3 the reach on the S4 was way to much.

It is funny that we both ride a S3, given that you are about a foot taller! I think the jump from S3 to S4 is huge? It doesn't feel too big for me reach wise, other than in really tight turns, but it is definitely longer than my previous bikes. I've tried a lot of different wheel and tire combos on it and really enjoyed a 27.5+ tire with a light rim on the front. Handles small bumps better, easier to turn over, better in tight runs, even more stable when jumping, rolls faster than a 29 with big nobs, and still plows through the chunk and down the steep gnar. I also think it does better with a wider, aggressive tire in the rear, at least in terms of racing. We also both have Devinci's, but my 2017 Marshall is a bit different than your Troy! No chainsaw for a park bike? Looks interesting, but the value on the status is hard to beat. I can't believe how well it survived this last enduro season.@@mtbct

Strange spring skiiing conditions in December! It was enjoyable, but not great for the ski areas in general!

I'm from Plattsburgh, and the family is still up there, so I visit pretty regularly. Such awesome trails, I'm surprised they don't get more traffic.

@@bcnephew no way, that’s where I am from. Do you live in MA now?

I do, we live in Westborough, there are some pretty nice trails in our neighborhood, let me know if you want a tour. Small world!@@MountainDeweyMTB

@@bcnephew just friended you on Facebook, I ride Nam, Lincoln Woods and Diamond Hill a lot

@@MountainDeweyMTB Great! Noticed your other areas, we ride at Lincoln Woods for CCF enduro practice, so are there are all the time. Hopefully we will get over to Diamond more often next year.

Only the upper part, and I skipped about 3 miles of climb and hike a bike on the western end of the traverse of the entire trail. I've run the entire trail, and the middle 1-2 miles would not be fun on a bike.

And if there is someone who knows what a bad trail is like, you are that person! @@bcnephew

I think those are between Serpentine and Living Like Larry--

thank you!!!@@bcnephew

That is a tough call. While most of the kids are on full sus, I'd go with hardtail at that age and experience and upgrade to a larger full sus if he sticks with it as he grows.

@@bcnephew Thanks for the info, yeah..tough choice, don't want him to feel like he's got less of a bike than all the other kids either.

you can get him a nicer hardtail for the same money. More importantly, a nicer, lighter hardtail. Most of the NEYC courses are hardtail friendly, and with younger, lighter kids that have less experience, it is likely better to have a lighter bike that is faster on on most uphills and fast and flat sections. You are also forced to become a better bike handler and less likely to develop some bad habits.@@Souzaphotos

It is a few different, small, connected networks in Westborough and Upton. Libby Woods, Depres trails, and the Westboro trail off of Westboro Road.

I jump it for the fun of it, but squashing and pushing down is probably fastest. It is a pretty harsh landing if you jump, basically flat, and it is easy to get unsettled before that next step down. That step down, I think it is fastest if you can jump and clear the rocks.

There definitely are a few steep ones. It is too bad the two really steep trails on the north side are hiking only, those would be a riot.

It is actually not bad. Definitely some chunky sections of trail, and the steepest washed out downhill is certainly gnarly, but the trails are wide enough to offer line options, the roots are not bad, and the rocks tend to be rounded with decent spacing.

@bcnephew thx for the reply. I'll def have to check it out sometime. I just assume most gopro vids are 2x as gnarly as they look on screen so it's surprising to read that haha!

I agree entirely, my favorite enduro so far, all the stages were top notch. Not the steepest or most difficult, but it was nice to just be able to focus on trying to go fast and not worry as much about staying on the bike, although Gavin did venture out into the woods a few times!

Thanks! It is just happenstance, I'm just trying to survive at XC and enduro practices. The kids are human highlight reels, entertaining, but I also get into trouble trying to keep up at times. It is possible that I am faster on certain trails, but could be a fluke. I just picked up an enduro bike, so either I'll be able to follow more closely more safely, or I'll get myself into higher speed, more consequential trouble!

One of the most underrated trail networks in MA. We had the entire place to ourselves on a day with perfect weather. Trails were a bit loose, but it made it more more fun. There are nine 250-300 foot quality downhills in close proximity. I'm not aware of any other similar networks. The trails have far more flow than most MA networks.

I'm surprised this place is not more well known, multiple 250-300 ft downhills and extremely well made trails. Nicer than many of the other far more well-known areas. There are several other downhills I did not have time to check out. I'll definitely be back with some entertaining follow cam with some of the young enduro bros. I'll probably end up in the hurt locker.

Thanks! I noticed that Gav and I were in your vid from the race, and you in ours!

Thanks! It was great even in those conditions, and I think there are other nice trails, with less vert, in the southern section of the forest that I did not get to.

I've got too much gear as it is! That would have been really tight with telimark skis!