New year winter digging session 1

Brad and I had a digging session last Saturday afternoon in the back yard on a beautiful snowy day. If you know where it is at, you will probably be riding there in the spring. If not, you probably don't need to know, because it will be invite only. This was the first non-solo digging session and we made some good progress. I had been out 3 to 4 times before and only made good progress on the dig before. Enough done to get Brad pumped on digging new trails again. The plan for right now is one line that starts small and gets bigger as we snakes back and forth down the hill. Not a lot of room, but enough for a couple of berms and a variety of kickers once we are out of the woods. The goal is to have the woods digging done before spring, so once that is riding in, equipment can arrive for the bigger stuff. Some hardcore trail builders would look down on using equipment, but I'm 39 going on 40 and need to get shit done. There is still plenty of shovel work to do once the mass dirt moving is done anyways. Probably weekend digging here and there for now.

I added the "Can You Dig It" link, because it is a daily go to that should have been added months ago.

The last riding photos ever

 Dinger Style on 4th in Main Line

 Classic P'Simer with Dinger in the lead

 Brad ripping the 5th set in Main Line

 Can't beat a good T-Bog

 Lee getting whipped on the 5th set in the dark

 Will ripping in the dark

Aaaahhg. You never know what is going to be on the camera after Dinger uses it. Scared me for a second.

 

The final Tuesday night session on Sept 25 was ripping. The trails were blue grooved from the jam and in perfect condition. Wednesday night was rained out and Thursday night was the final official session with everyone. Trails were dialed again and people were riding like they were on a mission. Never been done transfers were done. Final trail tricks were done. All of the tarps were packed up and donated to Mike's trails. The fire was raging and stuff that should not be burnt was burnt. Everyone left the woods way past the dark curfew.

 

Anyone know who stole the Farmboy tractor sign? I'm pretty sure it was taken the week before that jam. We think an O.G. Farmboy has it and deserves it, but we don't know.

 

Potoz Jam pics coming one of these days. No hurry.

Tuesday Night Train & 100th Post

Trains a coming.

Trails were dialed Tuesday night from the blue groove left over from Saturday's jam. A lot of filming and photos after it was too dark for me to ride. The Buffalo guys made down for a final session and they were ripping Main Line along with the locals. Tonight got rained out, but Thursday is billed as the final ever session. Half of the locals are heading to Pittsburgh Friday night and will be there all weekend. Planning on getting out of work early again and riding until dark. Tools and tarps to be removed tomorrow. Potozny's Jam on Saturday. Always a good time.

Jam run down & future of the new trails

The jam somehow went of on Saturday. It rained all Friday night until 7am Saturday morning, then still rained a couple of more times before noon. The crew was out early using every bit of dry dirt under the roll-in trying to salvage the day. The trails were slower then normal, but running somehow. It was awesome to have the huge turn-out considering the shitty weather. If it was any other day, I know there would have not been a sole in the woods. I barely rode and somehow did not take a single picture or video anything. Check out the Heathens blog for some pics or maybe Bob from Buffalo will come thru with some in the next couple of days.

 

The jam came to a quick close in the mid-afternoon with Tommy T. wrecking on the 3rd set in Main Line and Bobby D. using him as a roller and the skys opening up with another quick rain. The woods emptied out pretty quickly and the downpour put an end to the riding. The Farmboy crew, Cleveland crew and a couple of new friends hung out around the cranked fire for a couple of more hours. Story telling and shit talking kept things interesting until the woods darkened again and the rain could be heard. Good times on and off of the bike.

 

Today was complete crap. I ventured to the trails to pack up the grill and the rest of my crap from yesterday. Almost died 3 times walking down the mud slickened path. I started gathering all of the tools and watering cans so we can get them out of the woods by next Friday. This up coming week is looking decent for weather. The shop might have to work a couple of half days this week to get last sessions in.

 

What does the future hold for the next set of trails in the area? Who knows? Considering Brad and I are in our mid to late 30's we need young blood to take over and show commitment. We are more then willing to help, but our days of 80% dig and 20% ride are over. We need to ride. If 2 or 3 riders are not interested in stepping up and doing the work required to have awesome trails with multiple lines, then there will probably just be a small back yard set up for the week and more traveling to other trails on the weekends. It will be locked up and not relatively open to the public like the old trails. If anyone is willing to step up, let us know, because we might have a couple of options for new spots.

Thursday Night Jam Update

Trails are ready if the rain hold off for the weekend. 50% chance of scattered showers on Saturday and Sunday is looking better. Cross our fingers. If you are not familar with our trails they do handle the rain pretty well and all of the bigger stuff is tarped. Smaller stuff is normally not an issue. Might have to get the blow torch out just in case. 

There should be a grill going along with the normal fire for hot dogs and drinks for a nominal cost. Bring your own grilling food if you want. Need directions to get here? Google map to Russell, PA 16345 and follow the green "Farmboy BMX Jam" signs as soon as you turn off Route 62 towards Russell. Parking might get tight, so don't block anyone in.

I have not heard anything about an official after party yet, but we will see what happens. I will let the party people handle it.

Official Jam Flyer

The official jam flyer from the resident crazy graphics guy. Judging from the squirrell's forearms he digs alot at the trails, but I have never seen him there. Saturday Sept 22 is the official jam date if you couldn't find the hidden fine print in the flyer. Sunday if it rains or both days if you want. Come have a good time during the final days of the trails. We will see what kind of prizes and contests happen. Talks about an after party with axe throwing competition on Saturday night, but details are still sketchy. Hide the wife and kids.

19 days left to ride. Get to the trails if it ever stops raining.

Wednesday Evening Session Pics

 

Not much going on at the trails lately with all of the rain. Hoping to ride trails, but I can hear the rain start up again. The woods have been getting dark early and my old man eyes are not working too good. Working on my camera skills once it is too dark for me to ride. Still lacking, but I get a pic here and there that I'm happy with. 2 of Brad with a couple more for a later time.

 

Brad and Dan C. had a great Labor Day weekend in Eastern PA at 2 of the best trails in the world. Catty has already announced their Halloween Jam, so hopefully we can get a crew together for the weekend.

 

Brad and Dan C. started their Mid-West road trip Friday night and will hopefully find and hit up some trails along the way with the awesome concrete parks on the schedule. Keep it between the ditches and see them in about a week.

 

If anyone is interested in any of the wood from the roll-in, please let me know. The 3/4" plywood is probably the only thing worth taking, while the rest is recycled wood. It is free for the taking after the Jam and before the end of the month. Whatever remains will stay, because we are not planning on burning it down. All of the tarps have been spoken for.

 

21 days left to get your shred on.

*** Jams & Trail Death Update ***

The Embrace the Squirrell Jam II has been changed to Saturday Sept 22nd with Sunday the rain date. Check www.vinylbmx.com for info on the Welcome Jam at Protoczny's in Pittsburgh on Sept 29. Getting a crew ready to go to it. Always a good time.

 

The last day for the trails has been moved up from when snow flies to October 1st. At least that is what the sign at the trails says. Not sure exactly what is going on, but we have some hunches. If you are counting, you have 33 days left to ride the trails before they are gated up and shut down. Time to take the skirt off and hit the jumps you have not hit yet. (That last comment includes myself) Make your plans to get here and ride before they are gone. Sounds like we will be taking a lot of half days in September and traveling in October for trails.

 

Fun Saturday session with Will, Will's friend and Bob from Buffalo and the normal locals. No pics from me, but waiting on Bob to send me some. Brad and Dan are planning on hitting the Eastern PA trail area this weekend along with the Buffalo guys. I suppose I can go, if I file for divorce before Friday. Wednesday evening session tonight.

Embrace the Squirrell Jam II

Moss and ferns, gonna miss you 

 Dan transferring

Brad doing his thing

 

The Embrace the Squirrell Jam II has been set for Saturday, September 29th with Sunday being the rain date or come and ride both days. The word has been being spread for the last week. Not sure how to get here, leave a comment so I get back to you. The trails have been sort of quiet lately. Not sure where all of the visitors have gone or who left the tarps off of everything after I was there last Saturday afternoon. Sunday nights rain was not to kind to a couple of things. Don't be a retard and assume someone else is coming later in the day, unless you know and re-tarp them.

 

It has been really weird to go to the trails lately and not have to dig. I'm almost lost because digging is my normal warm-up before riding and clears my head of work and the real world. I keep looking at my backyard and wonder if I should start digging or not. It has a nice downhill slope, but it is in the wide open and not in the wood. I know there are a lot of trails in the wide open, but it would be a drastic change compared to the current location. It would be nice to be able to see or have another 1/2 hour of riding time with the extra sunlight. I need to meet up with a couple of relatives and see if we can find a new spot soon.

Will's Jam 2012

 Jordan 3ing, Brad capturing

 Nate 3ing and on way to best trick

 Johny Cash flip-off shirt nac-nac, hell yeah

 Will nosing in

 Jordan nosing in and kicking out

Tommy 1-handed no-fotted can-can

Will nosing in

4 of us made the trip to Will's house in the outskirts of Buffalo for his jam. Lucked out on the rain while it rained at home most of the day. Will has boosted up his back yard since our last visit a year ago. I'm still amazed at how much he fit into such a small area. I didn't get any pics that I was realy happy with, but here were the best or my favorites. I thought it was a real good turn out with riders going off all day. There were a couple of scares thru the day and hopefully Paul Rad is doing better today. Nate won the best trick hands down with a double whip and 720 over the trick set. I can't remember who won high air although I sat there and watched it. It was good seeing old friends again along with meeting some new ones. Thanks to Will and his family for a good time.