The Great Give 2017

Update: thanks to all who gave.  We received 50 gifts totaling $3,804! 

From 8 AM May 2 thru 8 PM May 3, your donation can not only help us grow mountain biking in Connecticut, but help us win prizes and matching gifts.  And all contributions we receive during The Great Give 2017 will benefit Rockland Preserve and their new Rockland Bike Park project! (Read more about it…)

Trails Day Ride @ Rockland

Saturday, June 4, 2016
9:00 AM-11:00 AM

As part of Connecticut Forest & Park Association’s Trails Weekend, CCT NEMBA will host a beginner level ride at of Rockland Preserve to introduce riders to the singletracks network.

This will be a mountain bike ride to introduce riders to the Singletracks of Rockland. Riders should bring a trail bike (not hybrid) and be fit enough to ride on hills and through narrow trails. The ride will visit a sample of trail features at Rockland Preserve that will be fun for multiple levels of users. All riders must wear helmets, have an appropriately tuned bike, and be comfortable riding on narrow, windy, unpaved trails.

Leader(s): Jason Engelhardt & Dave Anderson

Total Distance: 5 miles

Meeting Place:
99 Renee’s Way, Madison, CT 06443

Rain Plan & Registration Details: Rain cancels.

Pre-registration is APPRECIATED

RIDE LEADER NAME
Jason Engelhardt
860-834-1667

Clean Up – Green Up @ Rockland

Sunday, April 24, 2016
Meet at Route 79 Trailhead, 9 AM.

Support Town of Madison’s Clean-Up — Green-Up Day by riding and cleaning Rockland Preserve. We’ll clean the parking area first and then look for trash along a no-drop intermediate level route. Bring a bag to clear trash along our ride.

Rockland Preserve

Date: 4/28/15
Report Type: TA Report
Trail Name: Rockland Preserve
Town: Madison
Trail Conditions: Awesome

Observations/Information: I hosted a SLAW (SLow After Work)ride at Rockland Tuesday night and got 4 participants to come with me. We started at the Rt.79 lot and went up the south side of East Loop- the standard route most riders take. We then rode up to the summit station, did Mary's Ghost, the first part of Thunderdome, then Dirt Church, and Darkside. We rode back down to the parking lot the same way we rode up- the southern portion of East Loop. I rarely ride down that trail but it's a fun descent.

The trails were all in great shape, dry, and free of blowdowns or stick litter. I continue to be amazed at how well these trails are holding up considering the use they get, and I attribute that to two things- good design and responsible riding. People stay out when it's wet or muddy and the trails benefit. Thanks to everyone who does that.

All in all a great ride on awesome trails.

Trail Ambassador Name: Glenn Vernes
Trail Ambassador E-mail: glennvernesatgmaildotcom
How did you use the trail? MT Biking
Trails Ridden: East Loop, Mary's Ghost, Thunderdome, Dirt Church, Darkside
Time of day: Afternoon
Time/Duration (hours): 1.5
Approximate Distance (Miles): 6

Rockland Preserve

Date: 11/5/14
Report Type: TA Report
Trail Name: Rockland Preserve
Town: Madison
Trail Conditions: Good

Observations/Information: I participated in a group ride at Rockland on Wednesday the 5th joined by Andy, Dave and Kevin. Great ride, and the trails were in great shape. Just one wet area, at the very beginning of Thunderdome, and some thorns growing in on the top of East Loop. There were some sticks on the trail from the recent high winds, but no blockages. The parking lot has also been graded and gravel has been put down. No more eternal mud pit. Rockland was busy as usual, one ride was wrapping up and two beginning.

We did a 10 mile loop and lingered at the skinnies. I found that having front suspension makes them easier. The transition up on to the skinny is less bouncy and it's easier to hold your line.

Rockland is the place to practice your log skinny skills, and the trails are holding up fantastically.

Trail Ambassador Name: Glenn Vernes
Trail Ambassador E-mail: glennvernesatgmaildotcom
How did you use the trail? MT Biking
Trails Ridden: East Loop, Thunderdome, Darkside, Mobius.
Time of day: Afternoon
Time/Duration (hours): 2.0
Approximate Distance (Miles): 10
Image Description(s)/Instructions:

Rockland Preserve

Date: 9/14/14
Report Type: TA Report
Trail Name: Rockland Preserve
Town: Madison
Trail Conditions: Good
Observations/Information: Cleared fallen trees from Orange trail where it connects to beyond t/d extension and darkside.
Trail Ambassador Name: Dave O
Trail Ambassador E-mail:
How did you use the trail? Other
Trails Ridden: Hiked
Time of day: Morning
Time/Duration (hours): 2
Approximate Distance (Miles): 1.5

Rockland Preserve

Date: 8/24/14
Report Type: TA Report
Trail Name: Rockland Preserve
Town: Madison
Trail Conditions: Good, dry
Observations/Information: Took a spin at Rockland Sunday PM. Although the parking lot was uncharacteristically empty (just one other car), the trails were in great shape and dry. The other car was owned by a rider who had just moved to the area and had never ridden Rockland before. I gave him a short tour, and he was impressed. I continue to be amazed at how well the trails are holding up. Well maintained also. No grow ins, down trees or trail litter on the trails I rode.

My main reason for riding was to practice my log skinny skills. The skinnies at Rockland seemed to be slipperier and harder to negotiate than they used to be. Maybe they've gotten polished by use and the elements, or maybe I just need more practice on them.

Ride sustainably at Rockland!

Trail Ambassador Name: Glenn Vernes
Trail Ambassador E-mail: glennvernesatgmaildotcom
How did you use the trail? MT Biking
Trails Ridden: East Loop, Thunderdome, Mobius, orange
Time of day: Afternoon
Time/Duration (hours): 1.5
Approximate Distance (Miles): 7 miles

Rockland Preserve

Date: 8/23/14
Report Type: TA Report
Trail Name: Rockland Preserve
Town: Madison
Trail Conditions: Great
Observations/Information: Trails drained well after rains. Nice "sticky conditions." Only muddy mess is the parking lot.
Trail Ambassador Name: Dave Okamoto
Trail Ambassador E-mail:
How did you use the trail? MT Biking
Trails Ridden: most
Time of day: Morning
Time/Duration (hours): 2
Approximate Distance (Miles): 8

Rockland Preserve

Date: June 29, 2014
Report Type: TA Report
Trail Name: Rockland Preserve
Town: Madison
Trail Conditions: Good, but very dry
Observations/Information: Rode Rockland w/ the bro on Sunday. We parked at the upper lot on Renee's Way. We rode Thunderdome and beyond, before working our way down to the bottom of the hill, and back up East Loop, and then the new Bambi trail. Trails were clear, but the soil was almost totally dry, with just moisture left to keep dust down. This affected traction. The trails could use some rain. Evidence of new benching on East Loop. Well done, still a little soft.

On the way out we stopped at the (very dusty) Rt. 79 lot a pulled out some thorns that were growing into the trail, just in from the lot.
Trail Ambassador Name: Glenn Vernes
Trail Ambassador E-mail: glennvernesatgmaildotcom
How did you use the trail? MT Biking
Trails Ridden: Thunderdome, mary's Ghost, Beyond Thunderdome, Mobius, East Loop
Time of day: Afternoon
Time/Duration (hours): 2
Approximate Distance (Miles): 9

Rockland Preserve

Date: May 21, 2014
Report Type: TA Report
Trail Name: Rockland Preserve
Town: Madison
Trail Conditions: Primo
Observations/Information: Took a spin at Rockland Wednesday PM. I stuck to the more established trails closer to the Rt. 79 lot- East Loop, Thunderdome, Mobius, etc. The trails were in great shape and holding up incredibly well given the amount of use they get. Good design makes a difference, as does maintenance (clearing). No grow-ins or trail litter to diminish the experience. I also think the great majority of people exercised restraint (thanks in part to our incessant nagging) and stayed off the trails during mud season- thanks to all who did that, and please continue.

The well designed and maintained trails at Rockland are a pleasure to ride.
Trail Ambassador Name: Glenn Vernes
Trail Ambassador E-mail: glennvernesatgmaildotcom
How did you use the trail? MT Biking
Trails Ridden: East Loop, Thunderdome, Mobius
Time of day: Afternoon
Time/Duration (hours): 1
Approximate Distance (Miles): 6.5

Rockland Preserve

Date: 5/21/14
Report Type: TA Report
Trail Name: Rockland Preserve
Town: Madison
Trail Conditions: New Trails
Observations/Information: Mag 5 trails are ready to ride. You can enter via Bambi trail (starts from top end of Beyond T/D). Entrance to M5 is midway. Look right between two log crossings). Trail is flowy and a bit more advanced than the other trails @ RL. Several rocky sections to pick your way through (Note rocks are part of trail design and you're discouraged from making any changes to the trail to make it easier). Stonework is impressive! Trail is good, but would benefit from more traffic to get it ridden in. Enjoy!
Trail Ambassador Name: Dave Okamoto
Trail Ambassador E-mail:
How did you use the trail? MT Biking
Trails Ridden: Mag 5 section 1
Time of day: Afternoon
Time/Duration (hours): 1
Approximate Distance (Miles): 2+
Image Description(s)/Instructions: Features on Mag 5, Section 1

Rockland Preserve

Date: April 21, 2014
Report Type: TA Report
Trail Name: Rockland Preserve
Town: Madison
Trail Conditions: Great!
Observations/Information: Effort put into building sustainable trails is really paying off. Trails survived winter and need only minimal repair.
Some of the sections are still covered with leaves so it's a little tricky on some steeper sections.
Most of the trail sections have dried out and you'll only need to walk around a few mucky areas.

Trail Ambassador Name: Dave Okamoto
Trail Ambassador E-mail:
How did you use the trail? MT Biking
Trails Ridden: Thunderdome & Darkside
Time of day: Afternoon
Time/Duration (hours): 1
Approximate Distance (Miles): 5

Rockland Preserve

Date: October 10, 2013
Report Type: TA Report:
Trail Name: Rockland Preserve
Town: Madison
Trail Conditions: Good, leafy
Observations/Information: Took a spin at Rockland Thursday morning, intending to beat the rain forecast for later in the day. My goal was to work on my log skinny riding skills, and Rockland is a great place to do that because there are skinnies all over the place. Some are long, some are short, some flat, some with kickers at the end, but all are safe and well built. Many have interesting carvings in them as well (see photo). Most can be ridden in either direction. My favorite skinny is one on Mobius Rip. It's rated experts only but I find it to be one of the easier ones because it's relatively wide, level, and straight.

   

Trails were in good shape, no blockages, a little stick litter from the high winds we had on Monday. It's also now officially leaf season, thanks to that wind. Not a deep layer yet, but enough to hide smaller rocks and roots, and make the trails harder to follow in places.
Trail Ambassador Name: Glenn Vernes

Rockland Preserve

 

Date: August 16, 2013
Report Type: TA Report:
Trail Name: Rockland Preserve
Town: Madison
Trail Conditions: Excellent
Observations/Information: I rode Rockland Friday PM. I put out a ride alert but no one else showed. The biker-built trails were dry and well tended, no blow downs or overgrown areas to report. Some of the legacy trails were grown-in in places.

The Rockland trails are acquiring the final polish that separates good trail systems from great ones. The trails are getting ridden in, particularly those closer to the parking lot (Thunderdome is still a little soft), and new bridges, skinnies, and rockwork are starting to appear. All of it is well done. The new skinnies are a little more intermediate level (wider and straighter), and have nice carvings on them (see photo). There's also a new bridge on the blue trail, up near the top, that's sturdy and well-built (photo). I cleared a few sticks off Thunderdome, other than that there was nothing for me to do but have a good time.
Trail Ambassador Name: Glenn Vernes
Trail Ambassador E-mail: glennvernesatgeemaildotcom
How did you use the trail? MT Biking
Trails Ridden: East Loop, Thunderdome, Mary's Ghost, Mobius, other
Time of day: Evening
Time/Duration (hours): 2.0
Approximate Distance (Miles): 9.5 miles
Images/Photos: Rockland 081613 004.JPG
2nd image: Rockland 081613 002.JPG
3rd Image: Rockland 081613 005.JPG
4th Image:

TM Report: Rockland Preserve

   

Date: May 26th 2013
Report Type: TM Report:
Trail Name: Rockland Preserve
Town: North Madison
Trail Conditions: Variable
Observations/Information: Hiked in to the lower part of beyond thunderdome.

Benched and created a better flow through a recent re-route that was originally fall-line riding... Now the re- route flows well, and is very obvious... It is about 60'-80' of trail that is contours a fairly steep grade of about 22 degrees.

Trail Ambassador Name: John Biehn

Rockland Preserve

Date: 5/20/13
Report Type: TA Report:
Trail Name: Rockland Preserve
Town: Madison
Trail Conditions: Dry, hardpacked
Observations/Information: Rode and then did trail work. Conditions were great prior to Sunday's rain. Trails are holding up well. Tim Burton and I spent 1.5 hours reshaping a rythm section on Zip Line between the burms.
Trail Ambassador Name: Dave Okamoto

Rockland Preserve

Date: May 16th
Report Type: TM Report:
Trail Name: Rockland Preserve
Town: North Madison
Trail Conditions: Excellent
Observations/Information: Walked in to the lower section of beyond thunderdome and repaired/finished the first of the three berms. THe existing berm wasn't finished and because of this the trail had a slightly awkward twist that begged folks to hit their brakes....

My new berm should ride, drain, and settle in well... it will certainly make this section faster, flowy and more fun.
Trail Ambassador Name: John Biehn

Rockland Preserve

Date: April 26th 2013
Report Type: TA Report:
Trail Name: Rockland Preserve
Town: Madison
Trail Conditions: Great
Observations/Information: Trails are in great shape and fun obstacles are spread throughout the new single track. Lots of great (fat) skinny's to practice.

Trail is getting more compact and starting to feel faster... shot a short video I'll share once uploaded...

Some branches/logs needed clearing on the stinger trail... We cleared some but still a few left. Picked up garbage in the lot (lots of keg cups, wine bottles, etc.)

Perfect riding weather! Go get it!
Trail Ambassador Name: John Biehn

Rockland Preserve

  

Date: 4/18/13
Report Type: TA Report:
Trail Name: Rockland Preserve
Town: Madison
Trail Conditions: Dry
Observations/Information: Spent a couple of hours on upper Zip line trail. This section was machine made and shows signs of poor drainage(deep tire tread marks). Attempting to improve by changing the tread outslope and adding a couple of "nicks" to section above the eroded area. This section exceed the half rule. Eventually will need to add some grade reversals to aid in drainage and add more flow to the trail.-d
Trail Ambassador Name: Dave Okamoto

TM Report: Rockland Preserve

 

Date: 4/7/2013
Report Type: TM Report:
Trail Name: Rockland Preserve
Town: Madison, CT
Trail Conditions: Dry and even a little dusty
Observations/Information: CT NEMBA's Spring Trail Building seminar was held today for Rockland Preserve.

There were 12 new Trail Ambassadors trained up and released onto CT Trails today.

After lunch we headed into Preserve and around 10 guys and myself benched a 300' section of Trail that is essentially a singletrack alternative to the orange trail which is more of a hiking trail.

At the end of our benched trail a really nice bermed turn was created.

Jon Peterson was there making skinnies. Some really fantastic work is going into these!

 

Trail Ambassador Name: Mark Lurie
Trail Ambassador E-mail: ctnemba@gmail.com
How did you use the trail? Hiking/Walking
Trails Ridden:
Time of day: Afternoon
Time/Duration (hours): 2
Approximate Distance (Miles): 2