Winter riding conditions

[ostertoaster85]

I'm thinking about riding the river bottoms this thursday but I have no idea how to judge winter riding conditions. (I do mostly road riding in the winter.)

Will it be rideable? It's supposed to be cold so I don't think that it will be slushy or muddy.

[noise_is_life]

I rode on Sunday and it was probably a little warm so that the trail started to soften up a bit by the time I was on the return leg.

Things should be fine now that there is more snow on the trail, and the temp is going to be cold, so it should stay frozen.

[Don Youngdahl]

I rode it late Tuesday afternoon, and there was a little bit of slush in a few places, so it certainly should be ridable the next several days unless it warms up to the high 30's.

Don Youngdahl

[Bigring_King]

Ok, we have now had some real snow, has anyone been out for a ride yet? (After 12/08) I was wondering if the trails had been ridden on yet. I was planning on going out this evening...

[zerpy]

Originally posted by Bigring_King
Ok, we have now had some real snow, has anyone been out for a ride yet? (After 12/08) I was wondering if the trails had been ridden on yet. I was planning on going out this evening...


No, I haven't since the weather got chilly. But, I think that any trails that utilize ski trails are closed now, if not officially people should stay off them for P/R reasons. Lebanon would be one of them. Guess riverbottoms is open all year so it doesn't matter there, I don't know about other trails.

[SickBoy]

The River bottoms trail is a good ride all year so long as the temps are below freezing in the winter, and then after it's dried out in the spring. I actually like riding there during the fall and winter more than in the summer.

[Bigring_King]

I was speaking specifically of the River Bottoms. I ride there all year too, but I was looking to hear if anyone had ridden the river bottoms yet since the snowfall. If it get walked on before it gets ridden on you get those horrible bumpy trails, so I was wondering if anyone is riding down there since the snow fell. But thanks for the responses, at least there are people active on this forum.

[Ish]

Steve- if you get down there, lets us know how the conditions are. I'd like to make it over there this weekend.
I agree with comments about the bumps hikers create. It is good to have the snow packed down, but it is best if it is done by bikers!