Lynn Woods - Dreams Of Riding Technical Singletrack

I have a reoccurring dream.

I'm blasting down a super-tech trail, faster than my brain can process the input that my eyes are forwarding. I can see the data on an infrared view like the Terminator: rock-rock root-drop boulder-drop rock HUGE-rock; it’s information-overload. My pitiful processor isn't sleek and speedy like the T1000. Eventually I hit a slab of granite the wrong way, my suspension bottoms out, and I'm over my bars and diving into the Boston Harbor.

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The Boston Skyline and beyond from the top of Burill Hill.

Some twisty singletrack, courtesy of the Boulder Trail.

On the Northern side of Lynn Woods, everything seems...bigger.

If dreams have some basis in reality, then this dream's base is in Lynn Woods. The rocky terrain is sometimes unforgiving, and at other times, strangely accommodating. It can be an obstacle, constantly slowing you down and giving your upper body a harsh workout. Then sometimes some boulders, steps, and entire slabs of granite might actually help you into the flow, allowing you to cruise at a comfortable alertness. You never know what to expect around the next turn, but no matter what the terrain, many of the trails here require that you really pay attention, even on subsequent rides of trails you’ve already been down.

If you ask nicely, and you take your time to get to know her, Lynn will show you the right way to ride everything she has, and all will be one with the universe. That's because most of the great singletrack downhills can be accessed by slightly challenging uphill firetrails. I know a few guys, ok- one guy that likes a challenging singletrack climb. All right, I don't actually know him, but a friend told me that his friend knows about him. For the rest of us, it's a blessing to not have to ride up some of the most technical terrain in the northeast.

For example, there's a sweet piece of singletrack called the Boulder Trail, easily accessible from Cooke Road, and so much fun when coming down from the Stone Tower that I cream my shorts every time. Or maybe I pee my shorts. Well, whatever… all I know is it’s wet when I get to the bottom. If I want to hit it again, I just make a right at the bottom, back up Cooke, and drop in again. If I wanted to do the Boulder Trail backwards (up the slope), I don’t think I could, because they don't let you mountain bike in the mental ward of the hospital.

Serving a generous portion of almost 30 miles of trail, Lynn Woods has a ton of things going for it. It’s one of the few places in the east where there's plenty of slickrock. It's got technical singletrack to die for. There are tons of waterside views. In fact, the whole Reservation is a huge watershed for the surrounding area, so there are a couple huge ponds that you'll cruise by. And there are views from some hilltops that stretch to Boston and beyond. The view from Steel Tower is wicked sweet.

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