I don’t know the area [i:1wao5u6q]extremely[/i:1wao5u6q] well, but I have lived in Watertown, about 3 hours southwest, for the past three years and have made a number of jaunts into the area. Last summer, I did the Black Fly Challenge, a 40 miler dirt road race through the woods out that way. First time racing on my little 26" Cannondale Trail 5, and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Look it up; I think at least part of the course would qualify as a fire road.
I was hoping to race it this year, but work and stuff. I’m confident I can at least make podium in the MTB sport class after the past year of work.