Trail Rider Magazine

Flashback! Anticipation... By Kurt Flachbart January 2017 5 The 2016 riding season is now well behind us, and for those living in the northeast, winter is now upon us. But, from what we've seen so far, it's sure got the makings of another tough one. Actually, we've got no complaints. Spending quality me in the shop, catching up on much-needed maintenance is a great way to wither away the me while wai ng for spring. Social media bike sites are abuzz with new builds, modern and vintage, and from what we hear, the suspension shops are busy freshening up well-used forks and shocks at a brisk rate. The excitement is high, guys! With such an incredible roster of scheduled events in store for 2017, it's sure to be a tough pick. Looking back at last season's most fun and challenging events, the 37th Annual New England Classic Charity Trail Ride for Cys c Fibrosis will take priority, for sure. For those who've thought that this event was a cow-trail ride and have passed on it, you owe it to yourself to make the scene. The Merrimack Valley Trail Riders really pull out all the stops on the Classic. The terrain is tough and challenging. The dog and pony show held in the camping area during the event is something to be seen — lots of an cs, many cool vintage pit bikes — beyond words, actually. Another epic event that should not be missed is the Ammonoosuc River Ride, held on the New Hampshire/Vermont border. Last year's two-day event fl at-out rocked. Trail Rider's Contribu ng Editor Bill Pa erson even fl ew up from Cha anooga to join the HMS Viking gang's shenanigans. (Sorry, no pics. Ha-ha.) The Ammo's day one consisted of 122 miles of seemingly endless Vermont single track. That par cular day was something many had grooved on for many weeks a er. Jim Myrick's Trailriding Maine's incredible adventures across northern Maine cover some of the best riding and scenic vistas you'll ever experience. Myrick puts on a serious ride for those who enjoy longer treks. Trailriding Maine's two-day Rip to Rangeley with the HMS Vikings crew was at the top of the list for most fun, challenging and enjoyable events of the season. If you've been itching for some new terrain and like high mileage rides, Myrick puts on one hell of an event. Being older dudes here at Trail Rider, there's no doubt we've got big love for the vintage bikes too. Thanks to vintage bike friends Nate and Angela Hubbard and all their eff orts in hos ng the NETRA vintage scene for the last three seasons, we've got 12 events scheduled for the popular NETRA Vintage Scramble Series to look forward to. For those who've yet to enter or a end a NETRA vintage event, all it takes is once and you're hooked. The camaraderie is very ght and the compe on is tough. These guys would give you their le arm, but when the green fl ag drops, it's all business. Huge fun. Present off -road ac vi es here in Maine consist of prepping bikes for snow biking. We're in the process of se ng up a new KTM 500EXC with a track system and ski — Timbersled to be specifi c. With the snow pack approaching three feet as I'm typing this column, riding a wheeled dirt bike is out of the ques on, studded res or not. This should be incredibly fun for one who's spent decades aboard sleds during the winter months but has zero experience with snow bikes. The learning curve will be steep but I'm really looking forward to the challenge. Our readers can look forward to a full review of this machine in an upcoming issue. In closing, the 2017 season will be here before we know it so order up those parts, freshen your ride and plan your events. We've got a lot to look forward to! Kurt

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