Well, it's getting to be that time of year again.....

[manual63]

Yep, this is when we go into warmer temps and possibly wet and muddy trails. We have a few weeks, maybe, so I am just getting word out in advance.

I know most of you know this, but there are always newer riders that don't.

Please stay off of the trails during the wet spring season until reports say they are ready to ride. Depending on temps and snowfall, that could be anywhere from a week away to 1 month or so away. Check trail conditions on the home page and please save us trailworkers from having to spend countless hours in the spring fixing ruts and cupped trail.

Sometimes you need to use your own judgment. Here are two easy ways to decide if a trail is ready to ride. One, if your tires are collecting mud, even if it is slight, you are taking the surface off of the main riding section of trail and that causes cupping and future water damage. Two, if you are doing this....

http://www.morcmtb.org/images/currentnews/DSC00002.JPG

.....the trails are too wet to ride.

Thanks in advance!!!

[Slimpee]

Thanks for bringing this up, Shad. You do know it was -9 on my way to work...

When will we start doing trail maintenance again?

[manual63]

When will we start doing trail maintenance again?

Once it's slightly above -9??

[HardRocker]

This thread should stay up top for a few weeks...

[jjrsds]

Nice reminder Shad. Susannah and I were off to ride Leb yesterday and noticed the temp was in the thirties. A couple of bike swaps and we had an adventures worth riding Cedar lake to Hopkins with the Greenway for the route back. A great day to ride. Pavement rides now pay off greatly and help protect the hard work of the trail workers.

[bigwheel]

Nice reminder Shad. Susannah and I were off to ride Leb yesterday and noticed the temp was in the thirties. A couple of bike swaps and we had an adventures worth riding Cedar lake to Hopkins with the Greenway for the route back. A great day to ride. Pavement rides now pay off greatly and help protect the hard work of the trail workers.

Thanks, JJ. It's supposed to cool off again starting tonight. So, Team Zamboni will be grooming the trail again tomorrow night.

Meanwhile, everyone get your urban bikes working. It won't be long before the trails are closed for the spring thaw. When this happens, we encourage Dakota County to hand out tickies to poachers.

[Danimal]

If anyone wants a good pavement ride to hit vs riding a wet trail. Park off of Hwy 13 & Mendota Heights Road (in Eagan) at the overlook and ride all the way to St Paul (get a cup of chino at Starbucks) and ride back. 16 miles and relatively flat, and its a great scenic ride along the river.

My fam be doing that until the trails dry up.

[gopherhockey]

We noticed some fairly wet snow on Sunday morning at Leb, and some dirt showing up in places. Once this happens its only a matter of time, even when the temps are below freezing... the sun has enough energy to melt fairly quickly.

We will be monitoring things. Once we get even close this year the orange fences are going up and in a big way.

Last year we waited too long and took on damage as a result. Its just not worth extending the snow riding season a few more days/weeks.

To everyone who stays off when its warm out - thanks a bunch!!!

Stay tuned for Leb spring closing information - its coming soon... :cryin:

[bigwheel]

If anyone wants a good pavement ride to hit vs riding a wet trail. Park off of Hwy 13 & Mendota Heights Road (in Eagan) at the overlook and ride all the way to St Paul (get a cup of chino at Starbucks) and ride back. 16 miles and relatively flat, and its a great scenic ride along the river.

My fam be doing that until the trails dry up.

Sounds like fun. That's one of my early season after-work routes. However, I'm not sure if the trail is clear below the bluffs yet. (haven't been there this year)

Also, consider crossing one of the bridges to St. Paul, and coming back on the northwest side of the river. There's a bike trail that goes along the river all the way up to 35E. Then there's a tunnel underneath of 35e. To find it, act as if you were crossing the river. Once you cross 35E, there's a small parking lot and road that turns into wooded bike trail and heads into Crosby Park. You can ride paved bike trails through Crosby, then up the hill to Shepherd Road. The trail crosses W. 7th street, then follows on the north side up to Ft. Snelling. From there, you can cross the Mendota Bridge and finish the loop. All this on paved bike trails, and it will only add a mile or two..

[gopherhockey]

Also, consider crossing one of the bridges to St. Paul, and coming back on the northwest side of the river. There's a bike trail that goes along the river all the way up to 35E. Then there's a tunnel underneath of 35e.

Oddly enough I actually look forward to beater bike rides this spring. Its kinda fun looping down to St. Paul and back. Bob always has a good route to take.

I'm not sure if I'll sign on to mara's death march ride this spring tho ;)

[trompete]

Bob/Dan: Can you guys post maps for those of us who don't know those landmarks?

I live on the creek in Minneapolis and will be doing 17-mile loops around the lakes, Greenway, and river road until the trails dry up. It's a great ride. Hopefully, they'll smooth out the river road one of these years.

[Nita]

Thanks Dan and Bob for those tips. I'm really wanting to do that one starting at Highway 13. I suppose there is a place to park the car since I have to drive in? Bob, is there some way you can shoot me a map of what you added to that? Thanks a bunch.

[Danimal]

Nita you can park at the overlook at the intersection of 13 & Mendota Heights Road. Just look out towards the river and you'll see the lot. Easy to find. The bike path extends out to the East of the lot.

[bigwheel]

I'll dig around to see if I ever kept a map. (If anyone else has one, please post up.)

Maybe if it warms up this weekend, we can just do a group ride around the loop. I'll be in town this weekend. Just need to do a tire and gearing swap on the single speed.

From my house (about a half-mile from you, Dan) the entire loop is about 23 miles. Starting at the overlook knocks off about 3 miles each way.

[Nita]

Nita you can park at the overlook at the intersection of 13 & Mendota Heights Road. Just look out towards the river and you'll see the lot. Easy to find. The bike path extends out to the East of the lot.

I'll dig around to see if I ever kept a map. (If anyone else has one, please post up.)


Thank you both!

[Lezgo Cycling]

Gateway is always a nice trail to ride in the spring also. Park in St Paul or on Edgerton ave in Little Canada and ride the whole thing. A few of us rode Theo last sat and it was great, but you can already see where it is going to start warming up soon. Its almost time to urban ride. Lets do it. :banana:

[Slimpee]

If you check out www.mplsbikelove.com there are rides and races fairly often if yer itchin' to get out.

In fact, I believe there will be Coldsprint races this Friday. Race indoors! On rollers! Challenge your friends to a race!

[Trevize1138]

What do people think would be some good strategies for cutting down on trail poachers this season during the spring thaw?

My rant: trail poaching can certainly get my blood boiling. What's been just as discouraging in recent years, however, is the hateful talk I've seen on these forums aimed at trail poachers. I know it's often in jest when people talk about putting up trip wires and posting pictures of Claymores but it represents a very counter-productive attitude toward the problem.

I'll say the same thing I always say on this subject: you attract more flies with honey than vinegar. I'm sure some trail poachers really are total jerks who know better and won't listen. I'm also sure some honestly don't know better and will stop if they were educated.

If you treat all trail poachers as though they're jerks, then none will change. The true jerks won't change no matter what but the honest, innocently ignorant riders will develop their first impression of MORC as "those a-holes who yell at me when I ride."

Think about it: who here has never ridden their bike in the mud? When you rode your bike in the mud, did you think to yourself "This is fun 'cause I know it'll piss people off"? Or, did you just think it was fun for its own sake? Then, once you learned about the work involved in trails/joined MORC or whatever else you stopped riding in the mud, right?

I know so many people (myself included) who used to ride in the mud and immediately stopped when they became educated. I see no reason to believe the majority of those still riding in the mud are any different.

One idea I have: get volunteers to man tents at local trails on nice days to educate riders.

[Lezgo Cycling]

Or, did you just think it was fun for its own sake? Then, once you learned about the work involved in trails/joined MORC or whatever else you stopped riding in the mud, right?

I know so many people (myself included) who used to ride in the mud and immediately stopped when they became educated. I see no reason to believe the majority of those still riding in the mud are any different.

One idea I have: get volunteers to man tents at local trails on nice days to educate riders.

+1 This was me, I rode in the mud cause it was fun gettin dirty....then was edumacated by a friend who runs a kids program and was involved in MORC many moons ago. Then I signed up and now only ride mud where at the cabin on the service roads...:cool: Please dont poach. Trip wires and claymores are funny, but like it has been said it sends a message that I dont think MORC wants. Just like the forums, there are a few that tend to ruin for others. Not all poachers know better. maybe pictures and a message along with closed signs at the trailhead's explaing why you shouldnt ride. Just a thought

[Trevize1138]

+1 This was me, I rode in the mud cause it was fun gettin dirty....then was edumacated by a friend who runs a kids program and was involved in MORC many moons ago. Then I signed up and now only ride mud where at the cabin on the service roads...:cool: Please dont poach. Trip wires and claymores are funny, but like it has been said it sends a message that I dont think MORC wants. Just like the forums, there are a few that tend to ruin for others. Not all poachers know better. maybe pictures and a message along with closed signs at the trailhead's explaing why you shouldnt ride. Just a thought

We do actually put signs up and even orange fencing across entrances but people go around them.

Now, here's a source of controversy and a reason why some believe all trail poachers know better: they ignore signs and go around fences.

I still say that doesn't mean they "know better." I was once approached by a park official at Terrrace Oaks who informed me that the trail wasn't open until May 1 (it was April 30!). I copped an attitude and didn't care. Why? I thought "I pay my taxes ... stupid government!"

I'm willing to bet it's that same attitude that ignores signs and goes around (even takes down!) fences. It can be very different if people realize that $0 of their taxes made the trail and a real, live person is there being very friendly and asking them nicely not to destroy what they volunteered many hours to build. It no longer becomes an issuse of "me vs. Big Brother."

[Slimpee]

I know so many people (myself included) who used to ride in the mud and immediately stopped when they became educated. I see no reason to believe the majority of those still riding in the mud are any different.

One idea I have: get volunteers to man tents at local trails on nice days to educate riders.

I agree with this. I haven't ridden much in the mud because I hate cleaning it up but I didn't realize the impact it has on trails. Before I did some trail work I didn't even know that there was such a thing. "It's just some dirt in between trees!!!" was my attitude.

I would sit at a table and talk to riders if given the opportunity...

Perhaps we should open this into a new thread before getting too far off track.

[bigwheel]

I did a few searches for combinations of the words "trip wire(s)" and came up empty in the context of poaching trails. Not to say that it hasn't been mentioned, but I don't remember it happening. Certainly not the people in charge.

There is a difference between riding muddy trails due to ignorance, and tearing down orange fences and blatantly going around (or tearing down) prominently displayed trail closed signs, that include explanations.

I will give the benefit of the doubt to ignorant people who ride after a rainfall when the trail appears to be open. But I have no patience for the selfish jerks who know perfectly well what they are doing, but think that they are too special to adhere to the decisions of the people that are responsible for maintaining the trails.

We have given the blessing to Dakota county to ticket people that are clearly poaching closed trails. The county can use the revenue. We are also considering placing some hidden cameras out there and posting a "hall of shame". We'll see...

[batjerk]

When you rode your bike in the mud, did you think to yourself "This is fun 'cause I know it'll piss people off"? Or, did you just think it was fun for its own sake?
Neither one. I always thought it sucked to ride in the mud: it gets all over you, the bike, and into the moving parts necessitating a lot of maintenance that wouldn't otherwise be needed. Not only that, it's more work to ride through mud. I always thought it more fun to avoid mud. Man, I hate mud. Which is why we are approaching the least fun time of year: sloppiness abounds!

But, I was unaware that mucking about in the slop did damage to trails. Now, I know better and have a better excuse not to ruin my equipment with mud!

I'm not sure trail entrance patrols'll do much, but it probably won't hurt. I think some people enjoy getting all slimy, but others just do it because they drove so far to get there and don't want to "waste" the trip and will get gloppy to avoid feeling the trip was "wasted".

[Danimal]

What do people think would be some good strategies for cutting down on trail poachers this season during the spring thaw?

Place a photo of Chris D up at all of the trailheads. That'll keep people from going in :)

[Slimpee]

I started a new thread...