Tyler Mill

Date: 11/13/14
Report Type: TA Report
Trail Name: Tyler Mill
Town: Wallyworld
Trail Conditions: Good, leafy

Observations/Information: I took a ride at Tyler Mill today. I was joined by one other guy, Marc, who had never ridden The Mill before. I showed him the good stuff. We started at the Vet's Park lot and rode yellow, blue, red, red/black, and purple, as well as some of the unmarked side trails. The trails were clear of blow downs and grow-ins, and were dry in all but one or two places. There was a fluffy layer of dry leaves that concealed the roots and small rocks that are everywhere on these trails, and made the tight corners harder to negotiate. This is something New England riders have to learn to deal with. There's a new stair step bridge on red and a new elevated corduroy bridge under construction on green

We had a good time on the fast twisty trails at The Mill. We rode the teeter and some of the skinnies. The trails are pretty devoid of big hits but there's enough chatter that some suspension will make the ride more comfortable.

Trail Ambassador Name: Glenn Vernes
Trail Ambassador E-mail: glennvernesatgmaildotcom
How did you use the trail? MT Biking
Trails Ridden: Blue, yellow, red, red/black, purple, green unmarked.
Time of day: Afternoon
Time/Duration (hours): 1 3/4
Approximate Distance (Miles): 9.5

Tyler Mill

Date: 9/19/13
Report Type: TA Report:
Trail Name: Tyler Mill
Town: Wallyworld
Trail Conditions: Dry and clear
Observations/Information: Took a solo spin at Tyler Mill Thursday. The trails were clear but very dry in most places. A loose over hard condition (imagine sand on an asphalt road) that meant sketchy traction in turning and climbing. My rear wheel spun out several times on the climbs, maybe time for a new tire? Traction is the biggest challenge here, as well as the loose rocks that can throw you off line if you hit them. There was a little mud on the red trail where it runs along the river.

There were signs by the trail head warning people not to blow leaves off the trails. This has become an issue lately. The land managers don't like it and it probably damages the trails in the long run, so please don't do it. Fallen leaves aren't a problem yet, but they will be soon enough.
Trail Ambassador Name: Glenn Vernes

Chapter Meeting ride at Tyler Mill

Glenn (l) and Bob Bergen (r)

Date: 8/7/13
Report Type: TA Report:
Trail Name: Tyler Mill
Town: Wallingford
Trail Conditions: Good

Bill Boles

Observations/Information: This was our pre-board meeting ride and we had six or seven TAs plus a special guest in NEMBA co-founder Bill Boles. We started at the Vet's Park lot and headed south on the blue and red trails with a detour on red/black. We then rode the purple and green trails before heading back. The trails were in good shape, dry and well ridden, no new problems to report. A breeze kept the bugs at bay. We all enjoyed the smooth, fast and twisty trails.

Gorillas in the bush

Tyler Mill is a popular riding spot on Wednesday nights. We crossed paths with several groups including another TA who had to borrow a multi tool from us for a chain repair because he had lent his to someone else.

Trail Ambassador Name: Paula Burton, Jake Colvin, Jason Engelhardt, Peter Finch, Mark Lurie, Al Tinti, Glenn Vernes
Trail Ambassador E-mail: glennvernesatgeemaildotcom
How did you use the trail? MT Biking
Trails Ridden: Blue, red, red/black, green, purple.
Time of day: Evening
Time/Duration (hours): 1.75 hours
Approximate Distance (Miles): 7 miles

Tyler Mill

Date: April 8, 2013
Report Type: TA Report:
Trail Name: Tyler Mill
Town: Wallyworld
Trail Conditions: Mostly clear, very dry
Observations/Information: I took a ride at Tyler Mill Monday afternoon. I parked at Veteran's Park on East Center Street (the norhern end of the park). While there's more and better parking (and potties) at Veteran's Park, the best trails for mountain biking are on the southern end off of Rt 150. It's not a long ride, but it takes time eway from the good stuff.

I rode out on the red trail. There's a new trail, blazed blue, that takes a long detour around a steep scree slope on red. The trail looks brand new, the treadway still soft.

Once on the southern end I rode the purple and green trails, as well as some of the unmarked trails. The marked trails were all clear, as were most of the unmarked ones. There was a little mud on red along the river, and in the typically wet places. Otherwise the trails were as dry as I've ever seen them.

The best trails to ride are purple and (most of) green, as well as the black dot (red with bleck dot). They wind their way between the dead cedars that are everywhere in the park, few big hits but a lot of chatter, and short steep climbs with loose soil. The trails are tiring to ride because of the steep climbs and because they encourage fast pedaling. There are also hidden gems in some of the unmarked trails off green and red, particularly one at the end of green.

Trails were in good shape and well ridden, but very dry. Much evidence of saw work, clearing the dead cedars. On the way back I crossed paths with a group going out. They were riding everything from all mountain dualies to a rigid Niner singlespeed.
Trail Ambassador Name: Glenn Vernes

TM Report: Tyler Mill

Date: March 31, 2013
Report Type: TM Report:
Trail Name: Tyler Mill
Town: Wallingford
Trail Conditions: Good
Observations/Information: Brother and I hiked into Tyler Mill Easter morning. My main reason for going was to re-familiarize myself with the trails, but we brought saw and loppers and did corridor clearing along the way.

We parked in the lot at the end of Maltby Rd and went in the unmarked singletrack just off the dirt road there. This is a short twisty section with good flow that is sustainably built except for one short fall-line section. The trail was clear for the most part but we removed sticks and prickers where necessary. I found that by grabbing the prickers by the stem (with gloves, obviously) you can pull them out roots and all- probably the best way to obliterate them.

We then hiked the purple trail and continued the clearing where necesary. This trail also has good flow and even some well-built stunts (log-over and skilly) and two optional hucks near the end. We cleared a dead cedar that was blocking the trail just above the hucks. This trail was also dry except for one short section.

The trails at Tyler Mill have gotten some favorable attention lately. Blazes have ben painted and new well-built bridges have been put over the (many) wet areas. A few sections of trail look like they're just too hard to keep clear and have been abandoned.

The trails we hiked were well-ridden. I came away with a new respect for a place I had written off as having nothing but muddy, old-school crud. I'll be going back with the bike, soon.
Trail Ambassador Name: Glenn Vernes

Tyler Mill

Date: 10/17/*12
Report Type: TA Report:
Trail Name: Tyler Mill
Town: Wallingford
Trail Conditions: Leaf covered, some mud, some erosion, otherwise beautiful
Observations/Information: VERY IMPORTANT!!!

STARTING THIS SATURDAY, 10/20/12, THIS AREA IS CLOSED ON MONDAY, WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY FOR HUNTING. WE LUCKED OUT AS TODAY IS 3 DAYS BEFORE THE OPENING DAY OF 10/20/12. PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR TOWN AND OR LAND OWNER ABOUT WHERE YOU WANT TO RIDE. I BELIEVE THE HUNTING SEASON ENDS IN FEBRUARY. RIDE SAFE, RIDE ON SUNDAY, TUESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY.

Went exploring on the 'other trails'. (From 91N, make a right, follow Rt 150 till you pass the socceer field on your right, park at the socceer field on your left). Rode Rt 150 back the way we just came, a right out of the parking lot, past the socceer field now on your left, and entered the trails now on your left. Mostly old dirt roads, an easy rock garden, Wallingford's low ropes course, rolling to steep hike a bike, steep downhills, some erosion, all well marked, a good warm up to the trails we all know on the other side of Rt 150. Then it was off to explore the trails of the main park. Trails were mostly in good shape, some are getting a lot of use, others not. Enjoyable, sunny, warm fall day. Nobody else in the woods except for two hikers when we were near the end of our ride and 5 minutes from the parking lot.
Trail Ambassador Name: Ed Perten

TA Report: Tyler Mill

Date: 10/7/12
Report Type: TA Report:
Trail Name: Tyler Mill
Town: Wallingford
Trail Conditions: Poor to good; Dry to muddy; Leaf covered

Observations/Information: I haven't been to Tyler Mill in quite a while. Several of the trails are way overgrown, had to get off of the bike and duck under the overgrowth. There was some blowdowns, some appeared to be new, others looked like they had been there for some time. Some of the bridges are in disrepair, and then there were new bridges. Trails were mostly dry with a few big mud puddles and erosion problems. All trails were leaf covered, I suggest if you are looking for fall colors, go in a few weeks, they are just beginning to turn. The playground, the tetter toter had moss growing on them and were suffering from some wood rot, looked like they had not been used for a while. On the bright side, the trails have what appear to be relatively new trail blazes, very well marked.

We went to explore some of the trails on 'the other side of the road' (when getting off exit 14 or 15 on 91N and making a right to the socceer fields, the trails on your right), they are also well marked, some easy rock gardens, and the town of Wallingford's low ropes course. They also are suffering from erosion issues with evidence of quads and power all terrain vehicles which have torn up the trails. It was interesting to note that there was no hunting signs in this area, the right side of the road, while it appeared that the area of Tyler Mill is open to hunting.

Trail Ambassador Name: Ed Perten
Trail Ambassador E-mail: edperten(at)sbcglobal(dot)net
How did you use the trail? MT Biking
Trails Ridden: The intestines, white, blue, red, blue with white borders and others
Time of day: Morning
Time/Duration (hours): 2-3 hours
Approximate Distance (Miles): 2-3 hours worth

TA Report - Tyler Mill 12/19/10

Trail Ambassador Name: Troy William Turner
Condition of Trails(s): leaves and ground heaves due to freezing weather....but makes for a more enjoyable ride!
Taco'd my front large sprocket and had to limp along out of the trail. Rest of group went on without me.

Observations: some other riders and hikers.

TA Report - 7/10/2010 Tyler Mill

Date of Activity: 7/10/2010
Trail Ambassador Name: Troy William Turner

Condition of Trails(s): dry and in excellent condition. Some one did a nice job of trimming the canopy on the switch backs in the dense brush across from the double jump trail.
Observations: none
Trail Maintenance hours: 0.5
Work accomplished: picking up trash in parking lot. Special thanks to Stephen Katuska for clearing a fallen tree across a trail.

TA Report - Tyler Mill (5/30)

Date of Activity: 5/ 30 /10
Trail Ambassador Name: Troy Turner
Trail Ambassador Email: troy.turner@unilever.com
Trail Maintenance hours: picked up trash along the trails. Most notable fine was two beer bottles by the double jump.
Condition of Trails(s): trails are in good shape, some small mud spots at low spots on the trail. Not significant to interrupt your ride. One of the riders with me went over the double jumps and caught a fallen branch on the side of the trail, he then crashed and burned, but is ok. Moved the branch further off the edge of the trail.
Observations: few joggers and walkers in the area. No one else seen on the trails.
Work accomplished: none
Town: Wallingford
Location: Tyler Mill
Trail(s) Ridden: red/white/yellow
How did you use the trail: biking
What was the time of day: 7:15 am
Duration (Hours): 1.5 hrs
Distance (Miles): 6

TA Report - Tyler Mill (5/30)

Date of Activity: 5/29/10
Trail Ambassador Name: Ed Perten
Trail Ambassador Email: edperten@sbcglobal.net
Town: Wallingford
Condition of Trail(s): Trails are choking with vegetation and erosion, otherwise dry.
Observations: Trails, bridges, corduroys are in need of assistance. We had the park to ourselves, only saw a few people in the parking lot upon our return.

Location: Tyler Mill
Trail(s) Ridden: Several
How did you use the trail?: Mountain bike riding
What was the time of day?: Morning
Duration (Hours): 2-3
Distance (Miles): A lot

TA Report: Tyler Mill

Date of Activity: 5/29/10
Condition of Trails(s): good/some minor spots with mud but very few and not significant to disrupt a good ride.

Trail Ambassador Name: Troy Turner
Trail Ambassador Email: troy.turner@unilever.com
Town: Wallingford
Location: Tyler Mill
Trail(s) Ridden: red/white/yellow
How did you use the trail: biking
What was the time of day: 6am
Duration (Hours): 2.5 hrs
Distance (Miles): 8.5
Observations: nothing significant to report
Trail Maintenance hours: picked up trash along the trails.

TA Report: Tyler Mill

Date of Activity: 11/8/09 Trail Ambassador Name: Ed Perten Trail Ambassador Email: edperten@sbcglobal.net Town: Wallingford Location: Tyler Mill Trail(s) Ridden: A lot of them How did you use the trail?: Mountain bike riding What was the time of day?: Late morning Duration (Hours): 3-4 hours Distance (Miles): A lot Condition of Trail(s): Surprisingly there were some mud puddles, a lot of slippery leaves, otherwise trails in good shape