New Trail at Theo Wirth!!!

[noise_is_life]

We finished and opened a new section of singletrack at our last trail work session. This section is the first part of the Phase 1 reroute.

Just ride west along the trail that follows the railroad tracks and you will pop into the new section.

Stay tuned to http://www.mocatrails.org for more details.

[homebrewbiker]

I just rode the new section of trail that was built. If I do say so, what a great piece of trail! I especially liked the piece I helped work on. Seriously, it has a great flow, and I really like the little mini jump/bump. You can really tell the difference between it and the rest of the trail, no abrupt turns and a really nice flow. You can get some pretty good speed. I am looking forward to see what happens in the upcoming phases of building/improving the trail system.

:crazy2:

[noise_is_life]

I just rode the new section of trail that was built. If I do say so, what a great piece of trail! I especially liked the piece I helped work on. Seriously, it has a great flow, and I really like the little mini jump/bump. You can really tell the difference between it and the rest of the trail, no abrupt turns and a really nice flow. You can get some pretty good speed. I am looking forward to see what happens in the upcoming phases of building/improving the trail system.

:crazy2:
Sweet! Thanks for coming out last Wednesday.

[manual63]

Is there a marked direction now?

Last time I was on the Theo trail......I got yelled at by the Kenwood guys for going the wrong way......:cryin:.

[noise_is_life]

Is there a marked direction now?

Last time I was on the Theo trail......I got yelled at by the Kenwood guys for going the wrong way......:cryin:.
That's lame...

No it's not marked yet but the general direction is clockwise starting at the dump area.

[homebrewbiker]

That's lame...

No it's not marked yet but the general direction is clockwise starting at the dump area.
I ended up picking it up from a trail off of the cross country ski trail. I think I rode portions the wrong direction though, I reached a dead end somehow.

[noise_is_life]

I ended up picking it up from a trail off of the cross country ski trail. I think I rode portions the wrong direction though, I reached a dead end somehow.
I know Shawn mentioned this briefly, but I will bring it up again.

We left things in a somewhat confused state after last week, the latest section of trail does in fact come to a dead end.

We are only about an hour away from finishing the Phase-1 reroute which will resolve this, but until then just know that it gets a little goofy in there.

[homebrewbiker]

I know Shawn mentioned this briefly, but I will bring it up again.

We left things in a somewhat confused state after last week, the latest section of trail does in fact come to a dead end.

We are only about an hour away from finishing the Phase-1 reroute which will resolve this, but until then just know that it gets a little goofy in there.
Wirth Park Goofy? That's unusual. I ended up on a trail that wasn't a trail earlier in my ride. I guess it was just a deer trail. :crazy:

[Trevize1138]

Hey, Pat, that new trail dead-ends. Just FYI. :crazy:

Yeah, I love the new trail. It's a nice preview of things to come at Theo, namely faster, more flowy trail.

Are the plans to keep the existing super-twisty, tight trails in some of the northern sections? As much as I happily welcome more open, faster singletrack, I'd hate to see all that classic Theo, shimmy your bike side-to-side to fit the bars through the trees, skinny-as-hell, knarly uphill switchback climbs-with-roots stuff go away. :)

[noise_is_life]

Hey, Pat, that new trail dead-ends. Just FYI. :crazy:

Yeah, I love the new trail. It's a nice preview of things to come at Theo, namely faster, more flowy trail.

Are the plans to keep the existing super-twisty, tight trails in some of the northern sections? As much as I happily welcome more open, faster singletrack, I'd hate to see all that classic Theo, shimmy your bike side-to-side to fit the bars through the trees, skinny-as-hell, knarly uphill switchback climbs-with-roots stuff go away. :)
The trail will stay, possibly with some modifications, and if the cleanup work we have done so far is any indication we will probably widen the trail somewhat, but I personally hope we don't mess with it too much.

[homebrewbiker]

The trail will stay, possibly with some modifications, and if the cleanup work we have done so far is any indication we will probably widen the trail somewhat, but I personally hope we don't mess with it too much.
I would like to see it widened up a tiny tiny bit. Just enough to keep some of the branches from slapping you in the face and/or scratching your legs. It is a little bit of a concern to me because that trail is not even close to the 18" minimum width that the new trail adheres to. I think if that were done you would have to eliminate some of the switchbacks, it is that tight.

It may be good to have some signage to assist with directions as well. I think it could be ugly if 2 riders going opposite directions ran into each other. There is also a section where the trail is covered with pine needles that could be cleaned up a bit.

But there is plenty of time to figure out what to do with that.

[Trevize1138]

Now, I'm unfamiliar with what the "usual" traffic flow is at Theo in terms of volume, but has it been getting heavier use this year because of all the press about it, or is it pretty on-par with previous years?

I guess I ask this because of Will's worries of bikers hitting head-on. That becomes more of a concern as the volume of riders increases, therefore the signage issue might be more urgent.

There have been a couple of times when I've gotten surprised by bikers coming the opposite direction toward me, but nothing close to a crash.

[Hollok]

Hello All:

New to mountain biking and not quite how to find the trails at Theodore Wirth. Can someone provide me with directions from the north? Either hwy 94 East or 100 south.

Thanks,

[noise_is_life]

Now, I'm unfamiliar with what the "usual" traffic flow is at Theo in terms of volume, but has it been getting heavier use this year because of all the press about it, or is it pretty on-par with previous years?

I guess I ask this because of Will's worries of bikers hitting head-on. That becomes more of a concern as the volume of riders increases, therefore the signage issue might be more urgent.

There have been a couple of times when I've gotten surprised by bikers coming the opposite direction toward me, but nothing close to a crash.
I'm sure traffic is increasing somewhat, signs are being worked on.

[noise_is_life]

Hello All:

New to mountain biking and not quite how to find the trails at Theodore Wirth. Can someone provide me with directions from the north? Either hwy 94 East or 100 south.

Thanks,
South on 100, take the 55 exit, go east to Theodore Wirth Parkway, turn left, drive until you see a parking lot on the left, park there. Now to get in the park ride back south a little way until you see the iron gate across the access road, from there explore...

[Trevize1138]

Rode Theo last night and it looks like someone got machette/chainsaw happy in a few places that desperately needed it in those northern sections. :banana:

[noise_is_life]

Rode Theo last night and it looks like someone got machette/chainsaw happy in a few places that desperately needed it in those northern sections. :banana:
Hmmmmmm...

[Trevize1138]

Oh ... is that the "hmmmmm" of unauthorized trail work? :confused:

Hmmmmmm...

[noise_is_life]

Oh ... is that the "hmmmmm" of unauthorized trail work? :confused:
I just know we didn't do it on the Wed. night sessions, maybe it one of our group. I know Pete M. was out there this weekend doing GPS mapping, he may have done it.

[noise_is_life]

I just know we didn't do it on the Wed. night sessions, maybe it one of our group. I know Pete M. was out there this weekend doing GPS mapping, he may have done it.
Turns out it was Bill O., so no worries.

[thebionicman]

Way to go Bill!!! I don't mind riding through those area's that are really tight with trees and brush. I am just worried about what type of creatures get on me when I ride through there.

[noise_is_life]

Way to go Bill!!! I don't mind riding through those area's that are really tight with trees and brush. I am just worried about what type of creatures get on me when I ride through there.
Just a little tug and they come right off. You would be crazy to be back there without mosquito repellant anyway and that works for ticks too.

[homebrewbiker]

Just a little tug and they come right off. You would be crazy to be back there without mosquito repellant anyway and that works for ticks too.I guess I'm crazy. I usually don't put deet on when I ride. Just keep moving and they usually stay off of you. It's when you're standing still that they getcha! I fugure anything that causes neural chaos in bugs probably ain't so good for people. :crazy2: Trailwork is another story though. I don't how you guys could have a meeting in there last week. Now that is dedication!

[noise_is_life]

I guess I'm crazy. I usually don't put deet on when I ride. Just keep moving and they usually stay off of you. It's when you're standing still that they getcha! I fugure anything that causes neural chaos in bugs probably ain't so good for people. :crazy2: Trailwork is another story though. I don't how you guys could have a meeting in there last week. Now that is dedication!I always wear deet, I'm not that happy about the toxicity myself, but the bugs just love me too much. It is also really miserable if you ever have to stop for a mechanical or whatever, it makes a bad situation all that much worse.

We actually moved out to the parking lot for the meeting, but even out there the bugs definitely cut down on the long discussions, which is a good thing.

[stoneage]

Is there a marked direction now?

Last time I was on the Theo trail......I got yelled at by the Kenwood guys for going the wrong way......:cryin:.
I think they were just pointing in the right direction. Getting everyone moving the right way will take awhile, as you can probably understand. I'm sure it was good natured. Now that we have a route in mind we will try to move as quickly as possible to fill in the gaps and dead ends. It's harder than it looks, what with the weather, but the work is worth it. Come on out and help.

[stoneage]

"someone got machette/chainsaw happy"

Sounds like a "B" movie.

We're going to get a crew on maintenance soon.