Potter's Pasture MTB

Nebraska Life mag visits for the day !!

2011-12-01T19:17:00.014-06:00

We recently had the pleasure of spending the day with Chris Amundson editor and publisher of the magazine Nebraska Life. Chris brought along Dan Spray who is an avid MTB racer/rider to check out Potter's Pasture and do a ton of photo's for a future article in the mag. It was kinda nice to hook up with these guy's who happen to be from my hometown of Norfolk Ne. !! I will hopefully be riding with Dan on the trails they have built when I go back to visit family!! Chris has extended an offer for new subscriptions that are done either on line or via phone !! Just mention “Potter’s Pasture—Free Calendar with subscription” in the order form comment box at www.NebraskaLife.com. Or, you can call them and order directly 800-777-6159 .

The climb out of "New Camp" CQ & Dan Spray
Jeff Caldwell droppin' in on Nugget
Dan Spray enjoying what Potter's has to offer
CQ on Ceder Ridge above "Old Camp"
The man himself Steve Potter !!!!!

Photo DUMP !!!!

2011-11-07T19:06:00.000-06:00

I really didn't have a direction to go with the blog at the moment and just thought a few pictures to look at would be cool. Enjoy the pixels and maybe there will be a REAL post in the near future about some new techy trail layouts that haven't surfaced yet !! Get your dirt on before too much of the white stuff piles up my friends !!!

Kyle Vincent rollin' up Trail Ridge

Matt Bergan

He's awful cute !! Just don't pet him.

CQ droppin in !!

Lane Bergan heading into the canyon.

CQ chasing Lane Bergan down .

Campout info for the fall

2011-09-18T19:05:00.009-05:00

Here is the official info on the organized gatherings at Potter's. Of course you are always welcome to camp and ride at your convenience !! Just PACK OUT ALL YOUR TRASH,CLOSE THE GATES and of course have FUN!!

Sept 30th

Pot luck dinner at 4:30pm on Saturday. Some of the best mountain biking in western Nebraska. Nebraska Land Magazine will be there doing a story! Potters Pasture is located 10 mi S of I-80 Exit 199, 3 mi W on Moorefield Rd, Brady, Nebraska 69123

Oct. 15th Camp Fire Run

A sun set 5k Race and Fun Walk. It will be held Oct. 15th @ 6pm. Awards, S'mores, Chili feed and more. Proceeds will go to The Lincoln Connection and Potters Pasture trail maintenance.

1st camp out sept 30th - oct 2nd NLMag will be here Sat oct 1st. The 2nd camp out is oct 14-16th with the 5k on the 15th

Pasture Update

2011-08-21T19:20:00.003-05:00

The pasture is in great shape and it seems that the hottest of our summer days may be behind us. I have to confess, that I haven't been out at the pasture much this year, but will be out there quite a bit this fall. The camp outs for this fall are scheduled for a couple of weekends; September 30th - October 2nd and October 14th - 16th. Once the weather cools a bit, I'll most likely be camping every weekend, but that's just me . . .

In other news: Congratulations to our own Dos Coyotes for lining up at the Gravel Worlds in Lincoln this weekend. Full results can be found over at the home of the PCL.

And now for a few pics . . . the riding was so good and my camera so crappy that the pics leave something to be desired.

CQ coming down Potter's Perfection.

CQ still coming down Potter's Perfection.

Something was happening here, don't remember what.

Get out there, folks and have some good pasteurizing.

Pack out what YOU bring in !!!!

2011-06-07T21:58:00.006-05:00

This was discovered in old camp after the Memorial weekend. There were some folks camping there that weekend while most of the locals were at new camp. It was mentioned that they hailed from points east near Lincoln or Lincoln proper. PACK OUT ALL OF YOUR TRASH !!! This is not a state park with people that clean up after people that can't seem to put there refuse in a proper place. There are quite a few people who cherish this place and put a huge amount of time into it. It is private land that can be closed because of crap like this. We have had people from a ton of states visit Potter's and loved it like it was their local haunt. It's sad to have to say that this may have been done by someone from our own state. I hope a couple of the riders got pics of the suv with plate so we can let these loser's know what we think of this. You had a great weekend and didn't have to finish the drive to the Black Hill's as stated by the female in the group. Maybe you should keep going next time. PACK IT OUT !!!!!!

Rant Over
CQ

Memorial Weekend

2011-06-06T20:42:00.006-05:00

The holiday weekend held true to form as the weather goes. Misty with passing sprinkle and a t-boomer thrown in for good measure. The light show on Saturday night was awesome!!! I was pretty surprised at the folks that showed up even with the weather issues. I believe we ended up with fifteen riders and around 20 or total. We had some very nice entertainment courtesy of Paul Siebert who played a huge array of music that was enjoyed by all !! A huge Thank You to Paul for the free performance. The moisture just enough to make the dirt sticky and a little slimy in a few spots. Over all it was a great time with some new folks and the usual suspects also !! We also discovered a group from Lincoln in old camp. Here are some pics !!
CQ

Spring . . . Maybe?

2011-04-24T22:42:00.008-05:00

The pasture is looking to have weathered winter fairly well. Sorry the pics are not that great, forgot the good camera and had to make due with the phone camera. The only other souls on the trail this weekend that I saw were a few turkeys. No cows, no deer to be seen, nothing. Just quiet and serene. The weather was cool and cloudy. Spring is on the way, but it's hiding its advance very well.

Green is everywhere just waiting to pop and engulf everything.

Still a lot of mud in the low lying spots. Old Camp is still very wet. I parked at Festival Camp and had mud-free parking and access without having to slog through the muck.

The "new valley" on the Desert has really crept up on the trail. A few more rains and we'll be rerouting along the shoulder of the canyon . . . probably should just go ahead and do it now.

Like many of the "roads", Drunken Karen is washed out in fantastic fashion.

Typical of the bottom of the bulldozer roads. Most of them have a "delta" at the bottom.

I really have no idea what happened here . . .

April Showers

2011-04-17T18:33:00.007-05:00

Went to Potter's today to see how the trails held up to the snow and rain we had. I knew it would be a crap shoot at best to even find a decent route. I hit the new Reaper's Ridge climb and some fun in tree's!! It turned out to be a tad bit muddy with snow in areas still. I did a loop around the perimeter that had around 10 miles of some of my favorites. I ended up cranking out two loops for a total of 17 miles. I ended up riding in complete solitude!! It is a totally different experience all alone, but I like it sometimes!! The weather closed in and it started to rain as I was leaving.

CQ

Coming down crack-a-lak was interesting in the snow.

The roots on Reaper's Ridge were fun to say the least!!!!

A nice pic at the top of Pump Hill.

Spring Gathering

2011-04-17T09:04:00.004-05:00

It is that time of year again!! Time to get outside, enjoy the trails and have a little campfire time in the evening with some friends. The date for the get together is May 5th - 8th. It was hard to get a date that functioned well for anyone this year. Hope this works for more than a few of the MTB crowd out there. If you have a Mother that rides this could work out well for you!! You could go to your local shop and pick up some Mothers Day goodies and give them to her at the trails!! Potters is in very good shape this spring so come join in the fun!! The location will be at "Festival Camp" . It is located at the southern entrance to the trails and can be found on the trail map you can download and print.
CQ

Reaper's Ridge Phase 1 Completed

2011-04-10T09:58:00.006-05:00

The Reaper's Ridge phase 1 redesign is complete to the top now. This has been in the design/exploratory phase for about five years now.I knew what I wanted out of this area and now it is half done. I finished the route layout and then with the help of T Laub we hit it and hit it hard!! I had paused to take a breather and noticed where we had made it too, when I let out a holler. We were at the top !! So we finished up what needed to be finished and then we rolled that sucker!! I must say it roll's very well folks !! The sign for the upper entrance will have to be placed and a link will be made to reconnect to the original lower section of Reaper's. There will be some work done on the original entrance as the time allows. It is time to ride people!! Get out and enjoy the trails!!
CQ

Looking downhill near the middle of the upper section

CQ rollin' the upper section downhill

Looking uphill near the middle of the upper section

Breaking in a new ride

2011-04-03T19:49:00.007-05:00

I received a call from T Laub that his friend TJ had pulled the trigger on a new ride!! They were heading to Potter's to get a quick break-in ride for TJ's new Rock Hopper. Heck he didn't even let the smell of the shop clear before they picked me up. We did a nice loop to get him familiarized with a few key routes and landmarks. It was a very nice 84 F while we were riding. I was not prepared for what the trails had in store for my legs at all. I was on the SS and it didn't dawn on me till the first climb that I was running a 32x17 which was a bit steep for me at Potter's!! On the way back to "Old Camp" heard T Laub talkin' up the Big Hill descent into camp. Well I cut off onto the single track down and they bombed the two track . I watched as TJ made it and stopped to watch T Laub launch off the nice jump at the bottom. He landed the first one and then dropped into the road cut near the windmill . Not such a good landing here !! Lots of dust and debris flying everywhere!!! He was in one piece and had some very nice raspberries to show off. We discovered that blood had been let so all in all it was a great day at the pasture !!
CQ

TJ all smiles after a great ride !!
T Laub all smiles cause nothing was broke !!!

Trail Work

2011-03-26T20:38:00.004-05:00

I headed out to Potter's to get in some trail work on the extension to Reaper's Ridge with T Laub aka "Jack Cleveland" last Saturday. We made a huge dent in the second phase. I have crawled and bushwacked around this canyon for a long time and the trail that I knew could be laid out will soon be a reality. There will be two lines at the original entrance, one is the original with the drop and roots, and the other will be a line that will allow more people to access this awesome trail. Here are a couple pics of the progress.
CQ

Time to Ride

2011-03-14T18:59:00.003-05:00

I know there haven't been a ton of updates here lately !! Heck not one all winter!! I have a sneeky suspicion that is gonna be changing. I have been hitting some sweet rides elsewhere in the canyons on some very sweet gravel since Potters tends to stay a little mushy longer. Here is a pic from one of the rides , it ain't Potters but it is still what it's all about !!

Fall campout, version 2

2010-10-12T22:28:00.003-05:00

with some of us missing the first early fall campout it was time to pack up & head to Potter's pasture to do "Version II"

remnants from one year ago, MINUS the foot of white, fluffy stuff!

after watching the sun set from Highline it was time to turn on the lights

and do an excellent night ride

the breakfast club after a drizzly night of camping

there was no lack of good food or,

FRESH water!

this windmill is a welcome landmark after a long week in the "real world" what a great way to spend a weekend with friends, bikes & everything else that goes with it.

Late Summer

2010-09-12T19:57:00.004-05:00

A number of folks participated in the camp out this weekend. I'm sure we'll have stories and pics show up in the next few days. I had "life" to attend to, so I managed to sneak in a night ride on Friday with CQ and Todd the "Owl Whisperer", along with a solo sunrise ride on Sunday.

CQ on Highline

Bob doing an evening flyover

The Bob's Eye View

The top of Horseshoe on Sunday A.M.

Looking up the single track cut below Drunken Karen

End of Summer Camp Out

2010-09-04T22:15:00.005-05:00

The end of summer camp out is coming this weekend (9/10-9/12). I don't recall a lot of the details, but there will be night riding on Friday and Saturday night, potluck on Saturday evening, and the usual camp out stuff.

Some of the guys are heading over to Wellfleet to race on Saturday, while others will hold down the fort back at the pasture.

On Sunday Paul is challenging folks to a "Bike/Run/Bike" race at 1:00. Although it sounds like fun, I'll be doing a personal "Bike/Bike/Bike". Others had talked about doing a"Bike/Drink/Bike". A small contingent will no doubt be doing the "Drink/Drink/Sleep". Mix and match any three . . . the key is just to have fun.

Oh yeah, meet at the "new" camp unless you're a hermit, then feel free to hide out at the "old" camp.

Update: Paul just posted all the details over on the Cycle Sport Facebook Page. Here's what's up;

Potter's Pasture fall camp out is this weekend Sept.10-12 at new camp. It's a good time for the whole family. Great mtb trails for all levels, night rides, music around the camp fire, kiddy trail, games for the kids, numerous camp sites and a just for fun bike run bike dualathalon on Sun. 12th at 1pm. Each segment is 3 miles long. Single and 2 person teams are welcomed. No fee or prizes just a friendly competition with like minded people. Wellfleet has brought back there mtb race, Sat. 11th at 9am for check in at the Fire House. A 10-12 mile race it sounds. The cost is $20.00. Some of us are going to car pool from Potters to the race and should be back by 1230.

Looks to be a load of fun. The weather should be great and the trails are in excellent shape.

Last Gasp Triathlon 8/21/10

2010-08-14T09:32:00.004-05:00

This note copied from Paul's Facebook posting; Ron Snell and I are putting on a last Gasp, just for fun triathlon at Potter's Pasture. Aug. 21st at 8am. No fee, medals or time. We will meet at the new campground. Bring your mtb or cycle cross bike. Course layout has a twist to it. We will leave as a group and ride 10 miles of gravel and paved roads to Jeffery Lake, then do a open water swim in a cove near the dam, then ride our bikes 9 miles back to camp on paved and gravel roads. Then run or walk a 5k on the trails at Potters. At the start of each event we will wait for everybody to catch up before heading out again. There will be a Pot Luck dinner afterwards, so bring your favorite dish. Paul Siebert from Aurora may join us and if so he will bring his trusty Guitar. Should be a lot of fun hope to see u there.

Better Late

2010-07-27T12:43:00.001-05:00

Just a few pics from a couple of weeks ago.

The water in the pond has reached the edge of the "high" route on Freeway.

The Desert canyon continues to grow.

One should definitely take the high road around this point. Even the fence used to mark the edge of the drop off has fallen into the hole.

The Bozeman Connection

2010-07-06T19:25:00.002-05:00

Tuesday May 18th started off like every other Tuesday , up at 5 and off to the office to irradiated by the computer screen for eight hours. I was well into the morning when I spoke with Llama only to find out he was not able to hit the TNR at the "South 40 " location . Bob "The Man " was also out . While toiling away I decided a look at MTBR was in order. Maybe that would spark some renewed passion in me. I cruised a couple of boards and then noticed I had a private message !!! Sweet !! It was from a contact I had made that was from Bozeman MT. and they were going to camp and do a layover ride at Potters on the return trip home. I suppose my TNR conundrum is now solved . Now if you've ever been to Potters you know cell phones only function in the "phone booth" so after several missed calls I received a text that they were at Potters. I shut down and hit the road for the thirty mile commute home to load up for the twenty mile drive to the trail head at old camp. The Bozeman crew had went out for a quick ride before I arrived so I took off to find them. I had a darn near full loop in when I ran into Paul B and Jeff. We headed back to camp to regroup . Tyson and Matt were back from the adventure they had on a few of the not so well traveled trails they found. We chatted awhile and the hit the real goods that Potters has to offer . The loop took us on the classic route that includes Church Grove,Upper Hornitos, 6 Man climb " Lower Hornitos , The Desert , and Ceder Ridge. Paul B and his crew bailed when we arrived back at camp. The Bozeman crew and I chatted it up and had some beer that they brought with them . I had a decision to make on the way out between BEER or good FIREWOOD as an offering to the visitors. I chose firewood because it was suppose to cool off and we were between rains . I had a great time riding with you guys and hope to see you again . Maybe next time in Big Sky Country !!!
CQ in exile

Slingbladin' at Potters

2010-07-05T20:17:00.005-05:00

Drove out to the pasture today for some maintenance & soon found out I was all alone & not wanting to get the van stuck or having a lot of extra time to hike back to trails that need trimming I spent a couple hours opening up the new camp area.

East camp before

East camp after, should be plenty of parking for several vehicles to base a ride out of or a mowing session on the east end of the pasture

Billy Bob Thornton's "slingblade" has nothing on mine!

Trail Work Monday 7-5-2010

2010-07-02T20:37:00.001-05:00

It sounds like a lot of the crew will be out at Potter's on Monday to do some trail work. Paul is camping out, the Coyote may make an appearance, and numerous others will be out. Come if you can, bring your trimmers, push mowers (some trails can't be accessed with the brush hog), and weed whackers.

Paul made some notes from his last trip to the pasture about what needs to be done;

"Need to hit the access trails and the local favorites first.

Trails to chain saw; Church Grove and cut off, South end of Trail Ridge by the pew, Sweetness, Tripple By-Pass, Potters Perfection the down hill single trk (which was the old way up it), and theres 200 ft left to trim in the middle of Zipper. That would be a good start.

Trails to weed eat; Horse Shoe Canyon (push mower), Rip-Off Ridge, there's three flat sections by the barbed wire fence on First Way by the dirt road, if we dont get to them soon we'll lose them till spring, the middle section of Tunnel vission in the woods, there's a grassy section about 300 ft long."

I would add that Cedar Ridge needs chainsaw and dirt work and 6 Guy needs some trimming near the drop off at the bottom.

Hope to see everyone trimming AND riding this week.

Paul Hates Grass

2010-06-29T11:09:00.007-05:00

Paul had a mechanical with the mower yesterday, but I learned this morning that he got if fixed in typical MacGyver/Paul fashion and kept mowing until 10:00 last night. That's right, he mowed until 10:00. Keep that one in your mind when you think it takes too much work to trim the cedar that just smacked your face when you're bombing down a trail. Paul either loves mowing or has some sort of unresolved personal issues with vegetation. The dude is a mowing animal!

Paul says that most of the open areas are rideable and ready for your holiday weekend. We all owe Paul for his attack on grass. Now it's our turn to finish the job and tidy up what's left.

Paul's trusty mowing steed.

Mowing off into the sunset . . . seriously.

Progress

2010-06-28T23:43:00.003-05:00

Paul has been on the move with the trail work. He found the mower, arranged the purchase, got to work, broke the mower, and shelled out more cash to fix it. The good news is that we will soon have our trails back. The bad news is that we still have a lot of hand work to do.

If you ride Potter's, think about donating a few bucks to finish paying for the mower. Paul has paid more than his fair share.

If you don't swing the pulaski out there, you should be overwhelmed with guilt and chip in. If you have never held a mcleod, think about coming out and seeing one in person (you can even use one of mine). If you want to know what a "fall line" is and why we've been rerouting some old trails, come on over. If you like beer, help with some water bars and we'll share.

The new rig ready for work.

Reclaiming "Pump Hill"

P.S. If you said to yourself; "What's a mcleod?", or "Pulaski who?". Slap yourself with a tapered head tube (I guess the cool kids are in to it) and get to Googling.

Ante Up and Kick In

2010-06-20T00:51:00.000-05:00

It's time for pasture riders to come together to help make Potter's rideable again. Currently the grass and trees have grown to a degree that riding is almost impossible. If we can get a number folks together, I'll rent the brush hog and help out as well. Over the past year, there have been only a few who have helped with the mowing, trimming, and dirt work. With all the rain (and subsequent vegetative growth), it's just too much for the few of us to tackle with hope of success.

Post a reply in the comments section with your availability if you are able to help out. If there are no takers, then I'll be heading for Wyoming this weekend to get a helping of singletrack.

The pictures below were taken before another 4+ inches of rain fell on the area.

"Camp Trail" . . . good luck finding this one.

The first climb on "Rip Off" is dangerously green.

The entrance to "Brian's Way"

The CQ/Llama secondary fire pit at new camp.

This is what some trails should look like if we get it mowed soon.

For now, the wildlife have their run of the place.

Green Alert

2010-06-04T11:20:00.005-05:00

Summer is taking hold of the pasture and a few friendly reminders are necessary.

Start looking at your calendars, because we're going to need to get a group together to mow some of the taller grass and trim back the cedar growth (Church Grove is getting dangerous).

The cows are in. This means that closing gates behind you is critical. Additionally, cows are docile animals, but are very large and powerful. If spooked, they can be dangerous. When approaching the herd, slow down, talk to them in calm voice, and try to pass on the outskirts of the group. Never go barreling at full speed through the center of a mass of cows, they will freak out and endanger themselves and you.

With cows comes dung, so keep your mouth closed, wipe off your water bottles, and call out the "freshies" so your buddies behind you can take appropriate action.

The snakes are out in full force. We've seen far more in the past month that all of last season.

Many snakes are harmless, but beware, the rattlers are out. Be careful in the tall grass, keep the tires rolling, and use the buddy system. You don't want to be alone if you get bit by one of these nasties. Even if you have a cell phone, the valleys offer no reception.

I have more video to edit that includes a cool run down Hornitos, and an old post from "CQ in Electronic Exile" that needs to get done, but for now, the trails are calling.

Last Video for a While

2010-05-16T16:47:00.003-05:00

Here's a video from "Two Dogs".

Paul says that he's got the shakiness solved on the camera and I've got the compressed video quality issues almost solved. Look for some really cool stuff to come.

By Request

2010-05-16T14:18:00.002-05:00

This was omitted in one of the videos below, but a few of the guys really wanted to see it . . . let the jeering continue. (Update: now with decent quality video.)

One More

2010-05-15T22:53:00.009-05:00

Here's an update to this post from earlier. Now using better quality video. The video uploader directly through blogger stinks, Vimeo is really slick.

Video Sampler

2010-05-15T22:46:00.009-05:00

There are several stories to be told, but the short version is this . . .

Paul was trying out his new Hero cam. Count on more video to come. The video quality is a mess in this clip. I've got it sorted out, but I'm over my weekly Vimeo allotment . . . will reload it later in the week.

Trail Work

2010-05-10T13:05:00.002-05:00

Dear Riders,

Right now the trails are in great shape, but soon there will be grass to mow, trees to trim (there are actually plenty now that need it), and new trails to build. Potters has some great stuff, but there are also a host of trails that erode quickly and have no real thought to the design. When much of the trail building is done by a walking steak (cows), we really can't expect too much thoughtful design.

The unique situation we have at the pasture makes new trail construction incredibly easy. There are no boards to ask approval, no bureaucracy to woo, just you and a shovel. If designing the next Hornitos is not your style, grab a saw and walk down your favorite trail and clean it up. It's time to "do work, son".

Sincerely,

Llama

Trail Etiquette, or An Open Letter to Two Unknown Riders

2010-04-25T19:13:00.017-05:00

Normally, we keep things bland and factual on this blog, but a trip to the pasture today requires that the normal riding recount be suspended for a note on trail etiquette at Potter's pasture.

Today I headed out to the pasture with "The Man" - not to be confused with the man who's trying to keep us down, or a guy over at Goldman Sachs, but Bob The Man - maker of fine kayaks and other creations . . . I digress already . . . so Bob and I are riding along on our way from the top of "Church Grove" over to "Horseshoe Canyon" via "Bulldozer" road, when we see a couple of riders in the distance.

We bombed down "Bulldozer" and I caught up to a couple of strangers at the water tank near the entrance to "Horseshoe Canyon". Before I was upon them, they mounted their bikes and headed off. As I approached the riders, I realized that I had no idea who they were. I said: "Good afternoon" . . . no response. I rode a few more feet behind them and said; "Nice afternoon, huh?" . . . still no response. I said; "Nice dog, I don't think I've seen you out here before" . . . still no direct response from the bikers. I now am assuming that they still didn't hear me. At this point, biker one says to biker two; "I think we have a tailgater back there". Biker two responds with something unintelligible. At this point I was well past the entrance to "Horseshoe Canyon" where Bob would no doubt be looking for me, so I gave up on being cordial to these turkeys and turned around.

So . . . who were you? Why do you bring the big city attitude to this humble little place? Maybe you were a West Coaster who is use to ignoring your fellow man. No? Maybe you were a high profile public figure who didn't want to get busted enjoying such a pedestrian activity as riding a bike on dirt. No? Maybe you saw me riding toward you in my knickers and thought I might be a little "off". . .

I assure you that knickers are an acceptable form of cycling apparel, and are much more manly than lycra shorts.

We've had a few more new comers and non-locals at the trails since we've been doing a bit of sharing with this blog and on MTBR.

Hopefully we wont regret letting more folks know about the riding here.

If you come to Potter's, there are many things you should know. I guess we'll have cover all of them in future posts, since we can no longer assume that visitors have any shred of common sense. The most important rule, the one that guides all others, is to be friendly.

If you're new to the trails, most likely the guys you find riding are locals who know where to find the good trails.

We're the guys who do the trail work and know where the cool new trails are . . . before we're done building them and listing them on the map.

Maybe you just didn't want to talk to Bob. We all felt like that in the beginning, but we promise you won't have play the game demonstrated below to ride the trails.

In all seriousness, You never know when the rider you blow off might be Mr. Potter himself.

You don't have to ride with us, just acknowledge other riders with a kind greeting. Phrases like; "Hello", "Good Morning/Afternoon/Evening", or "Hey, Nice Knickers" are excellent choices.

If you're new to the area, drop us a line and apologize for behaving like a diva. If you are a local, hang your head in shame and bring the post ride beer next time. Newcastle is good, Guinness works as well, if you bring Odells Bourbon Barrel Stout, you can be a jerk any time you want.

2010 Spring Camp Out Summary

2010-04-20T23:25:00.005-05:00

As the sun set on Friday night, the anticipation of tacky dirt and perfect temperatures fill out minds.

CQ and PB headed out in 22* temps for a sunrise loop to kick of the Saturday riding.

CQ at the church pew on Church Grove praying to the MTB gods for good riding.

Prayers were answered as Georgie and Lady Bug head up Potter's Perfection.

Alex on the approach to PP.

Todd rockin' the SS on the first chute of Horsehoe Canyon.

Lil' Llama getting a fix of dirt on the Test Loop (probably time to rename that trail). She calls it the "Bean Stalk" since it heads to the sky.

The only casualty.

Lots of folks camped with a huge variety of gear choices.

The rarely viewed dirt pace line.

Alex cleaning the bottom section of Rhem's Way.

A religious experience?

2010-04-20T22:41:00.001-05:00

You decide!

Potter's Pasture Spring Camp-out 2010

Camp Out Reminder

2010-04-14T13:12:00.003-05:00

All sorts of folks have been out on the trails in the last week, and most agree, that they are in excellent condition. Don't miss out this weekend. There is the usual night ride on Friday, riding all day on Saturday with a potluck cook out in the evening. Meet at the "new" camp and take in the great outdoors.

Everyone is riding, don't be left out.

Six Guy climb is now Eight Guy climb as a handful of intrepid riders from Wisconsin can attest.

NQ on the climb past the waterfall at The Desert.

Two of the Wisconsin visitors on Rip Off just outside of "old" camp.

Spring Camp Out - April 16th-18th

2010-03-29T06:27:00.002-05:00

The Potter's Pasture Spring Camp Out is right around the corner. Although trails are drying out, there is more work to do to clean up from the effects of all the snow from the winter. We'll use the new "festival camp" for this spring's gathering. I'll try to get some pictures up of the new trail work that CQ has been killing it to complete. His new Reaper's Ridge section will rock.

Not Yet Spring

2010-03-11T12:41:00.005-06:00

Much of the pasture is clear, but the ground is soft and muddy. It's trail building season. CQ and I headed out on Sunday to get a jump on a new addition to Reaper's Ridge.

This is just above the "waterfall"on Reaper's. The trail turns up the valley and works it's way back toward the Trail Ridge.

CQ working the chainsaw on an extremely dense section.

Still plenty of ice in the shade.

Some sections of cow trail are like bobsled runs . . . literally.

Water is flowing, with plenty more on the way. The riding will still be a while off.

The only way to get a vehicle into the pasture is to take the high road and enter early in the day before the ground softens.

Quiet Days

2010-02-20T08:43:00.004-06:00

On Friday the wife and I headed out to the pasture for some hiking and snooping to see how Potters was handling the long, lonely winter. It looks unlikely that the pasture will be ready for the dirt starved to gorge themselves anytime soon.

Camp is cold and quiet.

Looking to the West, the silence and snow continue as far as one can see.

The pasture shuttle barely made the scramble up slick slopes, but came through as usual.

Looking Southwest at the top of Church Grove.

At the intersection of Upper Church Grove and Church Grove Cutoff.

Under the snow was a solid, thick layer of ice.

The trails in winter are stunning.

We were not alone.

Smallish bobcat tracks crossed the middle section of Church Grove.

The trees have drooped over many sections of trail.

Some limbs have snapped, making hiking . . . and spring trail maintenance interesting.

The quiet solitude of a hike through the snow recharges the spirit.

Summer Flashback - Hornitos

2010-02-13T14:52:00.006-06:00

I wanted to post up some pics that were taken from beginning to end along the trail know as Hornitos. CQ and I built most of this trail back at the beginning of spring 2009. It connects several cow trails and some purpose built MTB trails to make a varied and challenging addition to Potters. These pictures were taken before a couple of new re-routes were constructed. It gives one a good idea of a classic Potters trail in the spring. I intend to take video of many of the trails and post up guides later in the year, once the snow has melted.

January Thaw

2010-01-17T18:55:00.003-06:00

With winter and the January thaw keeping the pasture mucky, CQ and I put in some time on the extra-wide singletrack.

This is a shot into the canal. It looks like the critters have been working on the trees along the bank. We saw a couple of kids upstream playing in the snow and then heard "mom" stop by and lay into them for breaking something and not wearing any shoes. I guess 50* feels like spring to more than just the mtb riders.

A shot of the gravel weapons for the day. CQ went simple with a SS, I brought an embarrassing level of bling - seriously, it embarrasses me.

The lakes are still frozen solid even though its been warmer lately.

The ice was thick enough that it made a decent rideable surface. CQ can be seen riding the slalom between ice fishing holes.

Winter

2009-12-13T19:28:00.005-06:00

Winter came early (during the festival in October), let up for a bit, and now . . .

Winter has grabbed ahold of us and doesn't look like it's going to let go anytime soon.

The ground is rock hard and open water is frozen solid. Back in November, I was hoping that we would be riding well into the new year. High temperatures in the teens and a recent blast of snow have ended those hopes for now.

Tis the season for bike maintenance. The Turner is in pieces and getting a thorough cleaning and lube job. Something special is happening with the rear shock and front fork, but I can't spill the beans on that one yet.

The workbench shows the effect of dirt withdrawal. OK, so the Sultan is not the only bike in pieces. Everything but the single speed is in pieces, but the old SS will get its turn in good time.

Another 29er Believer

2009-11-30T22:24:00.008-06:00

I recently received a note that Kelly Klein is has complete the build on his 29er. He was rewarded for his trek to the Big Wheeled Ballyhoo through road conditions not seen in ages. He braved the snow joined the crew for pancakes.

Kelly's journey was rewarded with him being the recipient of the generously donated (by Price Point) Sette Razzo 29er Frame. He and Patty of Cyclesport in North Platte spent some time getting the frame built up into a stunning bike.

I don't know the exact specs, but the pictures show it to be one smart looking ride. Looks like an amazing rig just sitting still.

Kelly Klein writes; "I just wanted to thank Price Point and Matt G for sponsoring Ballyhoo. I’m very appreciative for winning the frame and had a great time building it up. Big thanks to Patty at Cycle Sport for some great help putting it all together. I really ended up with a great ride. We made it a 1x9 with mostly race components. Its super light, fast and a blast to ride."

Late Fall Trail Report: Saturday

2009-11-22T08:36:00.008-06:00

Met up with Paul on his new Fuji 29er. The Fuji Tahoe is a really sweet rig. The price is reasonable and the parts spec is great. Even though we ran into a number of trail issues due to downed trees, Paul was loving life on his new 29er.

Church Grove is buried under a number of downed trees. Both the cut off and upper sections were hike-a-bike adventures.

We have no idea what makes mounds like this. Paul dug down into some of the deposits and couldn't find a hole of any kind.

Paul rolling the big wheels.

The new Fuji up close.

Return of Fall . . . Again

2009-11-07T23:21:00.002-06:00

The 14" of snow in the Brady area from a week ago has almost fully melted. The riding is great if you are selective with your trail choice. There are a lot of downed and uprooted trees, so a hike-a-bike becomes necessary in some areas until we get them cleared.

The ridge trails and those with good exposure and drainage are perfect (minus a few deep hoof marks).

Shaded trails like Rhems Way are sloppy, sloppy, sloppy.

Evidence of the major snow storm is still present, but should be gone in another week if the forecast holds.

If you take the correct line, the valley is dry enough to ride.

New Trails

2009-10-18T17:47:00.003-05:00

A beautiful day for riding. Highs in the 70s and the trails are now mostly dry. Hard to believe that a week ago we were digging out from the snow. We've been using a few new/rediscovered trails lately. The Mormon Trail to Crack-a-Lack to First Way to Reaper's Ridge is an awesome route to include. I've been doing more riding than picture taking . . . sorry folks. I'm hoping to take some time on Friday and take some better pics of the previously mentioned sections.

Buck and George herding cattle on the way to the new "Damn Climb".

One section of Crack-a-Lack.

Fall is Back!

2009-10-17T18:57:00.002-05:00

After the snowfall last weekend, thoughts of an unfortunate early end to the riding season were everywhere. Fortunately, everything has thawed and the fall riding is back in force. Not a whole lot else to say. Ride while you can.

Ballyhoo Report

2009-10-10T19:07:00.002-05:00

The weather forecast called for 1-2 inches of snow for Ballyhoo Weekend. Although some folks bailed at the thought of the white stuff, a number of intrepid souls continued on. The weather on Friday was beautiful and the night ride was epic as snow started to fall about a third of the way into the ride. Eight riders, lights blazing into the snow as we dropped down chutes and climbed over ridges . . . amazing. The 1-2 inches turned out to be 10-14 inches and we were all caught off guard . . . except for the Minnesota dudes who were walking around in their snowmobile suits.

Here are a few before and after pics of the event. Chad should have a few to post as well. If others have pics, send them to Chad or myself and we'll get them posted.

The pancake breakfast was one to remember.

The guys from Cycle Works in Lincoln were great guys and troopers to make it out and join in the festivities. If you are in Lincoln stop by and drop a few bucks at the shop. These guys "get it".

Pay Off

2009-09-27T16:59:00.004-05:00

The summer months have been spent whipping all the trails into shape at the pasture. Never have things looked as good as they do right now. There are still issues to address, but the trails are ready for all who will make their way out to the Big Wheeled Ballyhoo.

Paul pushing the mower to create access to the test loop from the festival camp.

Taking tree trimming to new heights.

The pay off - beautiful trails and endless riding possibilities.

Trench Warfare

2009-09-12T10:19:00.004-05:00

It's always interesting to get the opinion of newcomers when they visit the trails at Potter's Pasture. The trails are so different from anything else that comments are sometimes comical. A few weeks ago, during a visit from Guitar Ted, he said something to the effect of; "This isn't a rut, this is trench warfare!" I went through the archives and found a collection of trench art, enjoy.

Chad Quigley climbing (and cleaning) the entrance to "Sweetness".

CQ on the bone yard section of "Hornitos"

Kyle Vincent on a cut near the end of "Hornitos"

CQ climbing near the middle of "Hornitos"

Looking down "Harris Hazard"

Looking up "Team Trail"

CQ climbing the bottom of "The Desert"

Somewhere along "Susan's Singletrack"

Holiday Weekend

2009-09-07T22:54:00.002-05:00

CQ and I spent most of Saturday working on trail maintenance. The Ballyhoo "Test Loop" is now open with a short option and an longer expert option. CQ worked the lawn mower most of the day and Horse Shoe Canyon is now 100% done. Hornito's still needs some tree work, but is in fine shape as well. First Way needs a lot of help . . . if you are looking for a project, head on over there and get to bushwhacking.

The morning fog held on for most of the day.

The test loop follows the contour of the land West of the corral and works back up to the ridge at the junction of Team Trail and Highline.

Monday brought out Claire on her 09er for a ride through camp with CQ and Llama (Dad) on their 29ers.

For the rest of the day, she didn't stop talking about how she "rides bikes on dirt with Chad".

She didn't want to stop with the easy trails, Claire kept on climbing out of camp. She'll make a great riding companion until she turns 13 and I'm no longer cool.

Visitors

2009-08-30T19:31:00.007-05:00

Late Saturday night, Matt Gersib and Mark Stevenson aka Guitar Ted rolled in to the pasture. They were fresh off of races in Eastern Nebraska and eager to get some rest before hitting the trails Sunday morning.

That's an odd place to leave a sleeping bag.

It's Matt Gersib . . . sleeping on a table.

Here's Matt again, a little more awake, on the first chute up "Sweetness".

The Salsa Big Mamas were out in force. Chad, Matt, and Mark were all piloting orange Salsas. There was a bit of confusion before the rollout as the guys momentarily lost track of which bike belonged to whom. The Big Mama is the perfect bike for trails like Potter's. It takes the hoof marks and root steps and simply makes them disappear . . . or so I'm told. I've never ridden one myself, but the three mamas boys seemed to have a blast.

Chad Quigley, followed by Matt Gersib on "Horseshoe Canyon".

Mark Stevenson chasing down MG and CQ from the pic above.

This weekend's ride was mostly a scouting trip in preparation for the Big Wheeled Ballyhoo, a 29er festival like no other for all (26ers are welcome, but prepare to be converted). It looks like things are shaping up for a great time at some truly special trails.

Trail Work

2009-07-12T21:19:00.003-05:00

With the rains this year, the trees are growing as fast as the grass. A number of folks have requested information on which trails they should trim when they ride.

Here's the easy answer. Buy one of these little guys (less than $20) and stuff it in your pack. If a tree smacks you in the face, stop and trim it. If a tree catches you in the arm or leg, stop and trim it. If a tree hits you in the ass, stop and have a drink with it . . . then trim it back. Don't just prune, trim with authority to make sure you won't get smacked again (unless you like that kind of thing, sicko).

FYI - 3/4 of Horse Shoe is now cleared from face smacking trees.

2009-07-11T19:07:00.005-05:00

After a rain soaked drive to Potter's, the pasture was surprisingly bone dry. CQ and I met up with Mitch Kline and around 7 a.m. We had a leisurely morning ride and hopefully Mitch captured some good images.

The road climb out of camp with Mitch in the distance.

After the morning ride, we headed over to the south portion of the pasture to work on a new addition to Hornitos. The new section bypasses the frequently flooded and heavily overgrown lower section by the road.

Li'l Blue, the Potter's shuttle parked above the section to be cleared.

Hidden behind this overgrown rut is the new section of Hornitos.

Partially cleared.

Done. You can see a "ramp" on the left side of the rut. With a little dirt work and a bridge back across to the right, the trail will come out just above the old swamp. The benefit is a more interesting trail, no regular mowing, and no constant mud.

Ride time for tomorrow is 10:00 a.m., more trail work is on the agenda, this time we'll be working over on Horseshoe Canyon if anybody wants to join us.

Variety

2009-07-05T17:15:00.006-05:00

In playing with the new camera on the trails today, I came to the realization that there is a significant variety in the terrain at Potters. There are rolling grass covered hills, rooty chutes, dry, dusty plateaus, swampy lowlands, cedar enclosed benches, and much more. CQ and I spent some time scouting an extension to Hornitos that bypasses the swamp at the lowest point along the road. There will be a lot of tree cutting, but the higher bypass will keep us out of the heavy vegetation and muck of the old route.

Near the drop in at the top of Hornitos

Near the middle section of Church Grove.

At the highest point along Hornitos.

Just before the final descent on Hornitos.

The last switchback on Cedar Ridge.

I'm not yet as familiar with the new Panasonic Lumix LX3 as I'd like to be. The last shot on Cedar Ridge just doesn't look quite right, it's so much greener that pictured. The LX3 is a great quality trail camera, but it may not go on every ride, because I'm afraid of smashing repeatedly like the old Nikon.

P.S. All photos above feature CQ on his Salsa Big Mama.

Old news, but you must check this out.

2009-06-23T20:31:00.007-05:00

Head on over to Mitch Kline's site to check out the rest of the 12 photo set of pics from one of his visits to the pasture last year.

Last Week in Review

2009-06-22T11:41:00.002-05:00

Last week there was a bit of action at the pasture. Too much riding, not enough time for blogging.

On Tuesday, Paul borrowed a Grasshopper mower and cleared a swath through the jungle in the valley. I hit some areas with a weed whacker, but Paul did most of the work. If you see Paul say thanks. Also, we need to take up a collection to help pay for fixing the mower.

On Thursday, Chad worked the pit crew for the "pasture shuttle"after I hit the upturned cattle guard on the north side of the gate. We met up with Kristy Holland (thanks again for the use of the vice grips) who was passing through on the way to an adventure race in Fairbury. Kristy rode a couple of loops and did some GPS mapping for a national magazine.

OK, so this pic is about 60% of what I was going for . . . ah the life of an amateur photographer.

More Grass

2009-06-13T21:21:00.001-05:00

The rains keep coming and the grass keeps growing.

Can you see the stock tank directly in front of the vehicle?

We ended up moving to higher ground away from the saturated valleys and did some trail work on "Horsehoe Canyon" The cordless sawzall made tree work much faster.

The newly cleared section on "Horseshoe Canyon". This new route extends the trail by following the edge of the canyon and flowing more with the contour of the land.

Eastern Nebraska

2009-06-08T23:13:00.005-05:00

Last Friday, I had the opportunity to hit Platte River State Park with distance rider extraordinaire, Matt Gersib, and the 26th most popular cyclist on the web, Guitar Ted. Guitar Ted has an excellent write up on his blog, just follow the link above.

My perspective is from someone who rides in the dry, open, West. It's amazing how much of a difference there is between, Eastern Nebraska and Western Nebraska trails. Platte is a tight, foliage enclosed roller coaster. It's a blast, but was I ever slow. No spring training will do that, I suppose. At Platte, you have to remain focussed since the trail is always changing directions. They really made use of a tight space - very efficient trail design. I think we could take some cues from Platte in the new extension of Cedar Ridge and the new festival camp loop.

Sorry for the lack of pics, nothing from the camera turned out . . . it's time to ditch the little P&S, blow the dust of what I learned in college photojournalism, and take some real pics . . . right after I finish these summer classes, mow the lawn, bleed a pesky rear brake, paint the living room, housebreak the monkey . . . you know, the usual stuff.

I the rain holds off today, a fast loop at Potter's may be on order.

Grass

2009-06-08T17:49:00.003-05:00

A few weeks of wet weather + sunshine and warm days in between = GRASS!

The green stuff has been growing like the Federal Budget Deficit. The cows are not yet in the pasture, so their consumption has not had the usual mitigating effect. The mower will be coming out soon. If you are riding at the pasture, be prepared for some overgrowth.

If you look closely, you can see CQ disappearing into the sea of green.

He's still there . . .

Perfect Again

2009-05-16T23:43:00.003-05:00

Temps were in the 60s, wind was light, and the trails were in great shape. We worked on photographing most of Church Grove and Hornitos (pics in a future post). It appears that word is getting out since there were a couple of travelers hanging out and riding when we rolled into camp around noon.

CQ on the entrance to Hornitos, it's trickier than it looks in this photo.

TV approaching the middle of Hornitos.

Llama navigating the last rut near the end of Hornitos (yes, again) .

Potters Pasture - Updates to Come

2009-05-14T06:53:00.003-05:00

Just a FYI to left the folks checking in from Guitar Ted's site and looking for Ballyhoo information . . . a couple of updates are in the works over here that will highlight various trail features and give a broader look at the history of the area.

Thursday Night Dirt

2009-05-07T08:30:00.002-05:00

An old schoolmate was in town, so we broke from the normal schedule and fit in a weekday night ride out at the pasture.

The skies looked a bit threatening, but the rain held off until we were off the trail.

Jason Kline finishing the big descent on Hornitos.

Paul's new trail signs look great. The spring trail work is really starting to make things much easier to navigate for the uninitiated.

The regular summer trail builders are getting ready to start their work. Just a few cows in the pen, but I'm sure the rest are on the way.

Oh yea, watch out for tics. They are the thickest I have seen in recent memory. Keep moving, don't stop or they will get you.

Another Spring Camp Out Recap

2009-05-03T21:19:00.005-05:00

For a couple of intrepid individuals, the Spring Camp Out began with a cold, rainy ride on Friday night.

We put in a few miles in daylight and finished off the ride with a blast down "Hornitos" with headlamps blazing. It's amazing how much deeper the valleys appear in the dark. The ride was relatively uneventful, no one had any near collisions with cows (as in years past).

Saturday began with a morning ride followed by some hiking to stretch the legs before the rest of the crew arrived.

The main ride of the day was a great loop featuring "Sweetness", the newly improved "Two Dogs", "First Way", "Church Grove", and "Hornitos". You can see Kelly and Jesse negotiating the last cut on "Two Dogs' in the picture above.

The new "Festival Camp" has plenty of room (especially before the crew arrived).

On the Saturday morning ride, Kelly, Chad, and I stumbled upon "Jim from Aspen" loading up in the regular camp (we were all over at the new festival campsite). It was great to see someone from out of the area enjoying the place. Sorry we didn't get to ride with you, Jim. Maybe we'll get a loop in on your return trip.

A Day Well Spent!

2009-05-02T22:17:00.003-05:00

What better way to spend a day than hammering some trails at Potter's Pasture with like-minded friends. Not a large group for the annual spring gathering, but the trails were in great shape. There was just a little rain sprinkle towards the end of the ride. The guys who spend every weekend there have got the place in fine shape for riding and camping as well as new signage going up. A fellow from Aspen, CO was even riding there this a.m. what the. . .

Lane on the left & Dennis "Deadhead" in the middle proved they're a couple of singlespeed, billy goat climbin' freaks. New guy Jesse on the right may become a "regular" after today, good to have another new face at the pasture!

Secret Stash

2009-04-21T23:07:00.003-05:00

We headed out the the "Secret Stash", another area much closer to town with limited access. It's not nearly as great as Potter's, but it's a lot closer for an evening ride. Bob lead the way with CQ and myself close behind.Bob is truly the tamer of wild beasts. I've seen him crawl on all fours and infiltrate a herd of cattle, carry on a conversation with a flock of turkeys . . .

. . . and almost father wild porcupine offspring.

At the end of the day, no animals or Bobs were injured and the sun set on a great Tuesday in the Secret Stash.

Trails are Dry Again

2009-04-19T22:12:00.003-05:00

The skies cleared and the sun did its thing at the pasture on Sunday afternoon.
Larry and Paul took a couple of days and re-opened a few old favorite trails with the use of some new features.

The new bridges on Horse Shoe Canyon and on Two Dogs open these trails back up. I had forgotten what a blast Two Dogs can be.

A Break in the Weather

2009-04-18T19:58:00.003-05:00

With a momentary break in the weather, CQ and I hit some extra-wide single track.

Since Potter's was most likely sopping wet from the 2 inches of rain in the last day, we were forced to do the "Dirty-Roadie" thing to get some base miles. The gravel was compacted and rolled pretty well and the views got better as we got further into the canyons.
At the top of the climb for the day, the weather instantly changed. The temperature dropped 10˚ and the wind started blasting out of the north west. Rain clouds were ahead and we were planning to get wet.
We got a surprise bail out from Bob THE Man who pulled up in his little truck with reports of torrential rain and hail just down the road. I didn't get a picture since there was no room to pull out the camera; Imagine three adult-size guys and one springer spaniel inside a regular cab ford ranger.

Spring Camp Out - Postponed

2009-04-15T22:08:00.004-05:00

The forecasted multiple days of heavy rain for this weekend has convinced the organizers from North Platte that the spring camp out should be postponed. A new date has yet to be determined.
Yes, the forecast looks grim for camping and riding, but if for some unlikely reason it's only slightly damp instead of a load up the ark style down pour, lets ride anyway.

The weekend of the 25th & 26th is shaping out to be perfect if the long term forecast holds up. I know that some riders will be at the triathlon, but I'll be pitching the old tent and camping anyway. It may be dangerous for me to drink all this beer by myself, so I hope some other folks feel like showing up too.

Spring Camp Out - April 17th-19th

2009-04-12T08:53:00.007-05:00

It's time again for the annual Potter's Pasture Spring Camp Out.

The ruts are deep as usual, but the riding will be awesome.

Bring your "good" bike.

In case of unforeseen mechanical issue . . .

. . . bring a backup bike (single speeds encouraged).

No back up bike? There are always plenty of helping hands . . .

. . . to get you back on the trail.

Enjoy good food at the Saturday evening potluck.

Remember the good beer.

If you're lucky, you may even get to ride with Potter himself.

All ages welcome.

April Snow

2009-04-11T20:19:00.009-05:00

It was over month ago that winter had lost its grip on central Nebraska. Since that time, we've experienced two April snow storms. The Pasture is a bit muddy in spots and some snow remains. The ground has that "spongy" feeling that sucks the energy from your tires. Even with the less than perfect conditions, many were out on the trails today.

Tiffany came along for the ride. This was the maiden voyage on her new Soul Cycles Dillinger, a 100mm forked, geared 29er hardtail.

She loved it! It was much more controllable and a better climber than the Pugsley.

Other folks were out despite the cool, windy, and wet conditions. Mike and his crew from Kearney, Luke (I think that's right, I'm awful with names) from Gothenburg, and Mitch (now linked in the sidebar) from the front range. There may have been more people out as well. With newer folks out riding Potter's, it enhances the need to get the signage figured out. Sorry the signage is in a state of disarray, folks. It's difficult to keep signs in good order when the cows are so destructive. We've got a few ideas, we just need to pick one and run with it.

Perfect Riding

2009-03-22T21:56:00.004-05:00

Perfect spring conditions; cool weather, cloud cover, minimal wind. Only two riders on the trail all day long? Come on folks, ride your mountain bikes!

Game On

2009-03-21T21:38:00.001-05:00

The trails at Potters are in remarkable shape for this time of year. Winter has been kind to the singletrack. There are still a few soft spots in shaded areas, but most of the pasture is dry. There a areas where downed branches and at times whole trees need to be cleared, but this is the exception rather than the rule. The cows wont arrive until early May, so now is the perfect time to ride without having to share the trail.

There has been some erosion at the more vulnerable locations. The drop off at The Desert has grown to the point where the lower line needs to be closed. There are two or three upper lines that can be connected with some very minimal dirt work. The "Prairie Restoration" (clear cutting) only really affects the valley below Church Grove and the entrance to Harris Hazard/Tunnel Vision/Zipper. The silver lining is that there is a new trail that is now exposed that opens a whole new set of options in this area. Yes, it's ugly, but so little of the good riding has been affected.

A word on the Ballyhoo . . .

The Big Wheeled Ballyhoo is coming to Potters in October, why here? Over the past two years, more and more local riders have switched over to the big wheels. The types of obstacles created by Cows just happen to have the habit of perfectly swallowing a 26" wheel. Since I've been on the 29er, crashes have gone down and overall riding quality has gone up dramatically. On nice manicured trails, the difference between the two wheel sizes is minimal. On water, wind, and cow groomed trails where there are more miles than any trail crew could hope to cover regularly, the 29er makes a difference.

February in Nebraska ??

2009-02-08T20:04:00.004-06:00

I hope the weather is as good where you are as it has been at Potters !! We have been blessed with the upper 60's and even some lower 70's to ride in !! All I can say is SSWWEEEEEEEET!!! Here are a few pics from this weekend.

Negotiating "Hornitos"

Resting in the Sun !!!!

Winter is not the off season at Potters

2008-12-14T19:17:00.020-06:00

Winter in most areas is often considered down time or the "off season". I and a few other riders in the area don't believe that there should be an "off season". As the days get shorter it is time to start rooting through the backs of closets for the "off season" layers of gear that were long forgotten on the first warm day last spring. It is somewhat of a conundrum as to which bike to hit the trails at Potters with this time of year. Do you take the single, gears , or in the case of Llama is it deep enough for the Pugs ? We have been in snow,ice and wind and have even had to hide in a calm sunny portion of canyon just to warm in the winter sun so we could continue on the "frozen toes tour", anticipating the homemade hot chocolate Llama had waiting back in camp. Sometimes its hard to even go because you just know its cold!! But at the end of the day while you let the hot shower warm your bones you realize it was a great day as are all days on the trails !!
Ready to roll !!!!

Llama on Ceder Ridge
The Pugs !!!!
Q rollin on Brians Way
Q on Ceder Ridge

Turkey burn ride!

2008-11-29T18:43:00.009-06:00

With all the turkey being consumed at our house the last couple days what better way to burn it off than an outing to the pasture. Was just Lane & I but over on the east side we met up with the Llama & J. R. from Kearney. Beautiful when we arrived but halfway through it got overcast, blustery & the temp dropped considerably, had to increase the intensity to stay warm & finished off with around a 10 mile loop, rode up to Highline, down Zipper to Church Grove then up, down to the Arch then up to the top to bomb down Joe's (niiice!!!) then around the eastend back to the valley, back up Church Grove then over to Susan's Singletrack back to camp. Was a GREAT ride with some GREAT father/son memories made, dusting of snow today, sure sign of things to come.

Young goat going up!

Old goat going down!

Double log hop on Church Grove, dig the retro North Face fleece, circa 1989!

No room for error here kids, this trail NOT for the faint of heart!

A lot of Monkey play at the pasture today!

This lonely porcupine as well as around a hundred turkeys were spotted today along with some bobcat tracks following some turkey tracks in the snow. More pics over at www.paxtonpeleton.blogspot.com GREAT day of riding out at the pasture, get out there & turn some wheels folks, it's GREEEAT!

Any Day Now

2008-11-16T18:11:00.007-06:00

Any day now the trails will be covered in snow and ice. Today was a beautiful day. Almost 60 degrees and sunny made today feel like a gift from mother nature. We were on one of the usual loops when a strange sound could be heard in the distance. Steve Potter (yes, that Potter, the caretaker of the pasture) was calling to us from across a canyon. We held up and rode Hornito's and Sweetness before parting ways. It's always nice to get an opportunity to ride with Steve and Callie (the best trail dog I've ever seen).

Although the weather and riding were great, there were hints of the season to come. Many of the shaded ponds were starting to show that winter is trying to grab ahold of the land around us. As I turned another year older this week (happy b-day to you too, Steve), I am reminded that every day on the trail is a gift. If last year is any indicator, we have about 3-4 more weeks of riding before the snow makes the single track inaccessible until spring.

P.S. For those of you from out of town with family in the area. The annual Thanksgiving day morning ride is still on. If you're stuck at the in-laws wishing you were riding, wish no more. Forget that darn televised parade and earn your turkey dinner this year.

Trail Scouting and Signage Ideas

2008-11-02T10:58:00.006-06:00

The "Grand Loop" at Potters continues to develop. We've almost finished the first section on the south end of the property and are now laying out the northern section. The difficulty was finding a way up to the ridge that didn't involve substantial hiking. We stumbled upon another older cow path that has been out of use for some time. It should be easily climbable by a rider of average fitness. Once on the ridge, the trail will follow the contour of the land and drop in and out many "finger canyons". We expect this section of trail to add another 5-6 miles to the perimeter loop.

Signage has always been a problem at the pasture. The trails are numerous, plus the critters and elements are always a factor. Wooden signs always get knocked down when cows rub against them. In short, it has been almost impossible to maintain adequate signage. We brainstormed a number of different options and then it hit us - cow ear tags on metal posts! (thanks to Paul and Larry for the idea) If we cut the posts off at about 4' in height, they will be too low for the cows to scratch on them. If we used a new numbering and color system identified by ear tags attached to the posts, they will be durable and will easily correspond to a map and difficulty level.

Life's obstacles

2008-10-25T16:34:00.002-05:00

In life we have obstacles, just like we do at Potter's Pasture, but we adapt to overcome obstacles in life as well as at Potter's. Steep climbs, fast, rooty descents, fresh cow pies, heat, cold, wind, rain, an occasional rattlesnake, a broken bone or bike part, it's part of our hobby & part of our "slice of heaven" out here in western NE.

Much like the elk that are moving back to these parts after more than 100 years of absence we've adapted to our "riding range" & in my opinion are "thriving", just as the elk are once again! I'm grateful for a place like this to ride, take my family, camp, hang out with like-minded friends that I've met there over the years & just LIVE! The memories I've made out there will be with me forever as will the friends I've made, RIDE your BIKE, SMILE & LIVE, it's all good people!

Big Wheeled Ballyhoo

2008-10-22T09:00:00.002-05:00

It's official the Big Wheeled Ballyhoo is coming to Potter's Pasture in fall of 2009. The exact dates are in flux, but will most likely be the second week in October (in conjunction with the normal fall camp out). This blog is in its infancy, but expect there to be future updates and additional features added in the future. The Big Wheeled Ballyhoo is an event created by 29er advocate, "Guitar Ted". It was originally a big camp out and demo weekend for those who love or are interested in bigger wheels. The Ballyhoo at Potter's will retain the original mission to be a place for 29er lovers to meet and ride. Potters is the perfect place for 29ers. I'll expand on the terrain and the benefit of the 29er out here in future posts. Additionally, I've planned a series of posts dealing with trail features that are unique to cow-created trails and how to navigate them. Also, if you're a interested in more information about Potter's, Cow Trails, or anything 29er related, drop us a line over here at the blog.

Fall Camp Out

2008-10-21T13:10:00.004-05:00

The annual fall camp out is in the books. A lot of folks riding in the damp haze through out Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. It's always nice to enjoy the riding with like-minded folks. Most of the old crew was there and rode their brains out over the weekend. Many people came and went through the day, but we kept the fire going and the hot cocoa steaming. Here are a few pics I pulled from the camera. Sorry I didn't take more pictures, but the riding was just too good to fuss with the camera that much. Stay posted for a hint at next year's festivities . . . big changes in the works.

Potters Pasture - Cows as Trail Builders

2008-10-19T11:19:00.008-05:00

Potter's pasture teaches a rider many things, one of which is that Cows are crazy trail builders. When they decide upon a route, they stick to it regardless of how illogical. They typically take the shortest distance between watering holes or open pasture. Which is usually straight up or down an impossibly steep hill. Trails that have been guided by human builders are easy to spot, they follow the contour of the land, make use of natural features, and are erosion resistant.

I've been riding Potter's Pasture for about three years. Every time I arrive at the top of the first climb, I'm simply in awe of the wide open space and the sheer magnitude of trail options.

When I first moved to the area, I heard rumors about crazy mountain-starved bikers riding cow trails to get their fix. I asked around and learned nothing. I began using a snow bike to ride the sandy canal near my home for lack of a better option. An unlikely post on a MTB forum let to a contact with someone that had been riding the trails for quite a while. A few phone calls and emails later, I was on my way to learning more about cows and their trail building tendencies.

Here's the thing about Potter's; These trails are narrow, rutted, rooty, wide open, surprisingly tight, and anything else you can imagine. They are raw and constantly changing. The elements contribute, but the cows walk where they choose. This place is pure MTB heaven. Don't expect manicured race trails, be prepared for trails that will test your equipment and ability to steer precisely. Thousands of acres of pure MTB bliss just a handful miles away from I-80, hidden in the center of Nebraska. If you think Nebraska is flat, this place will change your perspective.

Potters Pasture a slice of MTB heaven

2008-10-18T21:53:00.006-05:00

We decided that Potters Pasture is such a special area to ride that it deserves a blog!!!! I have been riding and working on trails at the area for 6 1/2 yrs. now. It just keeps getting better !! I was lucky enough to be pointed towards Potters by a gal by the name of Patty Evans who has a shop in North Platte called CycleSport. I asked about singletrack and she gave me directions to this place called Potters Pasture. The original crew has been riding the area off and on for around 16 years from what I've heard. We have a spring and fall gathering every year with atendence from 10 to 50 people. Its always a good time at Potters . The trails have evrything for all abilities from beginer to expert. We just had our fall gathering last weekend which will be another entry later!! I thought this would be a good way to get this blog rollin' !! Heres a recent pic taken by Mitch Kline on his last vist back from Colorado.