2025 - Our Rides in Words, Photos, Maps and Videos

[Chazmo]

I had a black bear sighting on my 20mi rail trail ride yesterday. I didn’t get a picture, but he/she was about 20 feet from me as I rode by, about 10 feet below me on a steep grade that leads from the trail to the water/stream. I wish I’d gotten a picture for you to share. Oh well.

Yeah, bears are a reality now here in central MA. I haven’t heard of any actual problems due to this, and I’m a firm believer in the fact that we have to share the woods with the bears, but this is the first time I’ve actually had a sighting from my bike.

I had this guy lumber through my back yard in July. My property borders on a huge forest acreage that protects the reservoir (which, incidentally, the rail trail is on) where I’m sure this black beauty is living. That was a first too. I don’t think this is the same bear I saw yesterday, though. Yesterday’s was full grown.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Yeah, bears are a reality now here in central MA. I haven’t heard of any actual problems due to this, and I’m a firm believer in the fact that we have to share the woods with the bears, but this is the first time I’ve actually had a sighting from my bike.

I had this guy lumber through my back yard in July. My property borders on a huge forest acreage that protects the reservoir (which, incidentally, the rail trail is on) where I’m sure this black beauty is living. That was a first too. I don’t think this is the same bear I saw yesterday, though. Yesterday’s was full grown.


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Fun fact from my mandatory Bear School class in Katmai National Park, Alaska: Black bears are less likely than grizzlies to kill or maim humans, but they're the only ones known to hunt and eat humans.

 

[McApple]

This time of year I carry bear-spray in my bike bag, and a bear-banger in my pocket when I'm riding the trails. If I'm out walking, I have the bear-spray on my belt. We have seen a couple of black bears this year.

 

[Art Deco]

I'm sure you would love the quiet roads, the hills not so much Dave...and then there's the winds...

the wind that drives the horizontal rain and snow ...

 

[Chargeride]

Blows the midges away though.