Rideable? Parking?

[[defective]]

Not sure if I should ask this in the Trail Conditions thread, but...

Is Theo rideable yet? Anyone checked? Frozen?

If so, are both the Par3 lot and the Chalet lot discouraged for use by bikers even over Winter when no one is golfing? I'd obviously rather not ride studs over from the beach. Has this been brought up with the Parks Board?

[manual63]

I would think Theo is not currently rideable. If anyone has a trail update, please post it.

Parking at the Theo lot is the closest option right now. As far as studs and winter riding.....well, that's going to be a hard issue or reason to explain on why the par 3 lot should be open. It's a valid point to us, but yeah.....it's a tough one to get across to non-mtbers. Winter riding is kind of an elite thing and probably not viewed as normal recreation right now.....but we have been asked if people ride in the winter and we have said yes, when the trails are icy hard and won't be damaged.

[[defective]]

Parking at the Theo lot is the closest option right now.

Just confirming...Theo beach lot, or Theo Chalet lot?

[manual63]

']Just confirming...Theo beach lot, or Theo Chalet lot?

Oh, beach lot....sorry.

[manual63]

If you walk a short distance from the lot to the trail entrance, where the big cement roof is, you won't have to ride you studs on much concrete at all.

I think you would have to walk about 1 block at most.

[rideharder]

do you know how long the beach lot will be open till? i know that the par 3 lot is closed in the winter to contorl the access to the ski trails and tubing hill. but doesnt the wirtht beach lot close for the winter and for the loppet?

[flombe]

do you know how long the beach lot will be open till? i know that the par 3 lot is closed in the winter to contorl the access to the ski trails and tubing hill. but doesnt the wirtht beach lot close for the winter and for the loppet?

Good questions, but I think the beach lot is open year-round. During the Loppet I think riding would be shut down for saftey reasons, but that is only a day or so.

As far as parking at the beach lot and accessing the trails, there is only a 1/4 block or so of shoulder riding until you get to the paved path that runs between the west side of the lake and Theo Wirth Parkway and I do not think this is plowed during the winter and should be a good route to head over to the trailhead at 55 and Theo Wirth Parkway. This path has been "closed" for several months due to the stream crossing that washed out. Although it is marked as a walking path, I assume you can ride on it if you use good judgement. When it reopens to walkers, I would avoid it.

The paved path along the west side of Theo Wirth Parkway is marked for cycling and is plowed in the winter months but it should be fine to ride on too without worrying about wearing down your studs.

[rideharder]

As far as parking at the beach lot and accessing the trails, there is only a 1/4 block or so of shoulder riding until you get to the paved path that runs between the west side of the lake and Theo Wirth Parkway and I do not think this is plowed during the winter and should be a good route to head over to the trailhead at 55 and Theo Wirth Parkway. This path has been "closed" for several months due to the stream crossing that washed out. Although it is marked as a walking path, I assume you can ride on it if you use good judgement. When it reopens to walkers, I would avoid it.



last time i rode over there a week ago i seem to remember that they had replaces the culvert over the stream and the trail was open, can anyone comfirm that.

[flombe]

[QUOTE=flombe]
As far as parking at the beach lot and accessing the trails, there is only a 1/4 block or so of shoulder riding until you get to the paved path that runs between the west side of the lake and Theo Wirth Parkway and I do not think this is plowed during the winter and should be a good route to head over to the trailhead at 55 and Theo Wirth Parkway. This path has been "closed" for several months due to the stream crossing that washed out. Although it is marked as a walking path, I assume you can ride on it if you use good judgement. When it reopens to walkers, I would avoid it.

QUOTE]

last time i rode over there a week ago i seem to remember that they had replaces the culvert over the stream and the trail was open, can anyone comfirm that.


I believe that is correct. I have not ridden that stretch for some time but from the west side of Theo Parkway it looks like the crossing has been reconstructed. I guess I am not sure if it has been officially reopened to pedestrians is what I am saying. ;)

Considering this, I would say ride the cycling path on the west side of Theo Wirth Parkway. I have not had problems with excessive wear or other problemos on my Nokians riding on pavement other than the clickety clickety sound!

[jitterjepp]

The beach lot is always open. They plow it too. I've been riding in Wirth during the winter for years. I don't think the studs will affect it at all as long as there is a snow pack or the ground is frozen. I used studs for the first time last year so I cant really say anything about how they work on the trail because I didn't use them there. I always just use my regular tires and they worked fine because there were only a couple of people riding there and there was always a bit of fresh powder left that gives a bit more traction than hard packed snow or ice. I never saw anyone but you could tell by the tread in snow that it was always the same three or four people. (probably just Bill riding a different bike each time he went out)

Anyway it is fun and one heck of a work out. Doing one lap will be like doing about four when the snow gets to be over two inches. It's also kind of cool to go out and break the trail after a snowfall and come back a few days later and see who's been there.

[manual63]

The walking path is repaired and we no longer have to hike over the big hole. Not long after the culvert is the entrance to a nice trail on the left...where the tree line starts. This is not officail Trail, but I don't think it's off limits either. That trail will exit right at 55 and Wirth Pkwy. The official entrance will be kitty-corner.