Northeast TW mountain bike meetup at Kingdom Trails (VT) - June 25-26

Several of us in the New England BS Thread have been talking about a meetup to do some mountain bike riding this summer, up here in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom, at Kingdom Trails. This is our planning thread.

For anyone who hasn't heard of it, Kingdom Trails is a premier MTB destination here in New England. There's riding for everyone, from mellow wide doubletrack to singletrack of all flavors, and there's lift served downhill available at Burke Mountain, right in town.

Kingdom Trails Association

Dates:
June 25-26th
Plan to be in town early Saturday morning to meet up for rides. We'll gather at a convenient spot in town and ride from there. For most people that will mean arriving Friday afternoon/evening.

Lodging:
You're on your own for lodging, there are a ton of options in town and within a short travel distance of the trails.

Camping options

Other camping not on the list above:
Newburke Camping Rentals (my buddy)
Kingdom Campground

Inns/Hotels

Rentals

Who's in:
@BadDNA - at home
@Pugga - Kingdom Campground
@guitarjamman - Kingdom Campground
@mach1man001
@GarlicFarts - boondocking
@Sloth
@Chris(NJ)
@Vegasstunts
@Rexfordian13 (gonna try) - Derby

 

Sweet! You would probably know best when a trip would be ideal - been up there before in May and it was before the bugs and still pretty warm during the days. Also gone in early October, but no way would I want to wait that long. When I have been up there before, ended up going by the White Caps Campground at the south end of Lake Willoughby and want to try it out - but would be open to any campground in the area I could bring the camper to. I'd be fine tent camping if it makes more sense as well.

 

I'll check my calendar and throw out a couple of dates. I can also point you at several options for camping. I have a friend with a campground (RTT or ground tents only, one rustic cabin) in Newark - 10 minutes to the trails, there's a RV friendly campground in West Burke about the same distance away, White Caps in Westmore is a little bit further, there's a budget option of Island Pond SP even further than that, and probably a couple others that escape me at the moment. There are tons of condo and cabin rentals in the area as well because in addition to a biking destination there's a ski resort in winter on Burke Mountain, check out AirBNB or VRBO and look for anything in East Burke VT.

 

I am IN.

I do only have my 26 HT right now. Might try to find a 27.5 hardtail, likely before this. TBD. I didn't use my full squish nearly as much as I wanted to but I used the HT in place of it a lot.

Edit I'm also super out of shape but that will hopefully soon be remedied.

 

Don't worry about the out of shape part, I've got plenty of experience as a ride guide and on my group rides we're only as fast as the slowest guy. We'll have a ride that's fun for everybody though. Honestly, there's nothing wrong with a 26" hardtail up here either. Won't be as efficient as a newer rig, but it's still capable.

 

In. I need to get a new bike, looking at May time frame for that. So hopefully I have no chance to get familiar with the bike before going. Diving in full retard is the best way to do things.

 

I'd love to go but I'd be needing a new bike also!

 

I'd be in depending on dates. I'm doing RAGBRAI in the summer and will probably pair that w/ some riding up in MN/WI area. So if it's outside of that, I'd be in for it.

 

I've got some family up that way and we'll probably be up there sometime this summer. If timing works out I'd love to be there! I've heard so much about it and have yet to get a successful ride in.

 

I agree and would hate to see someone pass up the opportunity to ride a premier trail network due to fitness concerns. It's safe to say there is elevation to climb as you are riding in the mountains, but the climbing trails are either well groomed switchbacks or clean fire roads - take as many breather breaks as needed to keep everyone together at a social pace. The reward is downhill runs that are guaranteed to put a long lasting smile on.

Nothing like getting an ice cold beer at the tiki bar after a good day of riding!

 

Oh I've hit NEK a ton, I love it up there. I'm just sayin', I will be huffing and puffing at the back haha.

PS someone was talking 27.5 vs 29, I am on the 27.5 boat too. I come from BMX though where we ride 20, and everything is small compact and nimble. I'm used to that, so getting on a 29 trail dozer just doesn't feel right to me. Especially when I tried my full squishy. I just don't see 26 sticking around and being future proof, which is why I'm thinking about a 27.5. My 26 needs enough work to make it "great" that it just makes sense to buy something in the 500-750$ range (likely used...) hardtail instead of putting that money into a 26.

This year looks like I'll probably be swapping out to a 27.5 HT and my road bike likely selling it and getting a newer gravel bike, I don't do these 300 mile enduro rides so a drop bar gravel bike is likely where I'll land, and try to get something that's more modern - sealed HS BB etc, same idea as the MTB is to get something a bit more modern and future proof. I'll probably get down to 3 bikes.

Anyway ramblings aside. I'll be out of shape on a 26, so that'll be fun

 

Completely get it on the tire size - I have a 29" full suspension stumpjumper and it does feel like a tank running the trails - but it makes up for my lack of skill . Allows me to just plow over anything in the way. Back when I was younger I had a 26" full suspension bike it was quite nimble and fun, but I stopped riding when I realized girls were more fun than riding in the woods. Came back into the scene a little while ago when the beers started to show up on my waist line and everything is completely different. Was wild sitting on a newer geometry bike and not feel like I'm over the front tire.

If you are looking at gravel bikes, I just picked up a Poseidon Redwood for the upcoming season - modern and out the door for less than $1,000 (direct to consumer company). Has 650b wheels but can run 700's with no issues, and can fit up to a 2.8" wide tire if that's what you fancy.

 

Oh damn I like it. I also might be able to start biking to work in the near future so that's a selling point. I'm likely to get a decent gravel bike and an electric car like a nissan leaf or something for the ishy days, don't want to cycle my engine without warming it up that often.

My gravel bike will likely be mechanical disk brakes if I can swing it.

Anyway - yeah I have a 2008ish 26 inch, I rode a 2015 full squish 27.5 and it was wild enough different. It was definitely a cool ride, I didn't not like it, I guess, but it just wasn't for me. Every single thing I did, "I want the rear end to be stiffer" (giggity), no matter how stiff it was. Basically only wanted it to articulate if I was coming down a 20 ft drop, otherwise wanted it to be rock solid, so, I guess I know HT is my thing!

I'm going to start keeping an eye on Craigslist and the facebook. See what I can find. I'd LIKE to be up on thru axle but I see my "point of diminishing returns" especially on a hardtail is about a grand. Beyond that it's all fluff and gravy, I'm not gentle on bikes so I like to keep it in that 1k-1200 range max for an MTB. Same with the gravel bikes, for me that 1k ish range is the make or break point for bikes, beyond that I'm conservative in thinking "I have no need for that".

 

Throwing this out there:
https://www.bikesonline.com/2021-polygon-xtrada-7-hardtail-mountain-bike
Hard tail, boost spacing, deore 1x12, under a grand shipped to your door

 

I just put one of my gravel bikes up for sale …pivot vault

 

I wouldn't be opposed. I am 5'10 so typically ride a large or ML frame. I'll be honest, that is one thing I don't quite follow much in the MTB world. I know BMX. I fit a 20.5" - 21" TT. I have a 21" but I liked having the longer TT, but 21" was still within my size anyway so it wasn't that bad. 20.5 is the tighter frame I could play with more easily, but the 21 was better for DJ and more flowy stuff.

But yeah I could take a look. I'll see if I can find one to give a spin and see if I think medium will work for me. I don't know the cm sizes to equate to M or L etc in MTB anymore.

tell me more. But don't waste too much time, I hit the goog and that looks outside my price range unfortunately.

 

3,750 with your choice of either wheels. Those or some i9 235s.
Rest of specs....
Frame/Fork: Pivot Vault (Medium)
Headset: Pivot Precision Sealed Cartridge 1-1/8 - 1.5in tapered
Shifters: SRAM Red 22 Shifter & Hydraulic Disc Brake Set - Flat Mount
Cassette: Shimano CS-M9001 XTR 11sp 11-40t
Chain: SRAM PC-Red 22
BB: Kogel Bearings BB386EVO (SRAM DUB)
Crankset: SRAM Red AXS 1x 12-Speed (172.5, 46t)
R. Derailleur: SRAM Rival Type 1 3.0 (Long Cage)
Seatpost: Zipp Service Course 27.2, 350, -20mm Offset
Saddle: Selle Italia FLITE Boost TM - 145x248
Bar Tape: Silca Nastro Cuscino (Black/Blue)
Stem: 3T ARX II Team Stealth
Handlebar: Ritchey WCS EvoCurve 42cm
Wheels: Industry9 Ultralite 235 CX - Tubeless - Black, 12x100/12x142mm, Shimano HG
Front Rotor: SRAM CenterLine X - Centerlock (160mm)
Rear Rotor: SRAM CenterLine X - Centerlock (160mm)
Tires: Pirelli Gravel H (Front) 700x38, Vittoria Terrino Zero (Rear) 700x40

 

Oof. So, I'll low ball and offer a grand. I do NOT expect you to take that offer, but that's what I'm willing to pay. It's just outside my price range, thanks though!

Question for you though, did you see a benefit to tubeless on a gravel/road bike?

 

lol, Can't blame you for trying!

Honestly, I'm almost over the tubeless thing. I'm giving it one last ditch effort and going to run race sealant at the expense of clogging up the valves. But all the punctures I get are large enough that sealant isn't sealing them and they're honestly not even large holes.

I guess what I can't take into consideration is all the real small stuff that may or may not have punctured a tube but sealed w/ the regular stans.

That said, I have run tubes in the 55-60psi range and not having any flats. I obviously don't run tubeless pressure on gravel/road bikes below 40. Some of the tires I use even require high (60+) psi.

So. with all that being said. I have a feeling I'll be back on full out tubed tires again by years end.