Where CAN I ride in the rain?

[b00stingsx]

Sometimes it is more fun to ride in the rain and get muddy! Any ideas?!

[Pain Cave Spelunker]

None of the MORC or Blast trails allow riding until the trail is dry. The damage done from skidding in the mud is really bad. People spend countless hours repairing and building new single track for us to use. Dont make their job any harder. Stay off the trails till they've had a chance to dry.

[bigwheel]

We usually hit the pavement. It's an opportunity to get in a better/different workout than you would get riding dirt. But if you really want to get your bike dirty, there are a bunch of gravel ski trails like along the MN river bottoms (southwest of Sibley House), both sides of the river.

There are also people's secret "don't ask, don't tell" trails. You will likely damage them also, but you won't get as bad of a beating on the forums from the people that maintain them.

[PHRANQUY]

As mentioned, there is a section of trail between the Sibley House and Cedar Avenue Bridge, it's actualy a Park Service maintenance road. You can then cross the river at Cedar and ride up to the National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, follow 494 back across the river, and then ride back up to the Sibley House. It's a pretty good loop with a nice sustained climb up to the visitor center. Keep in mind that there is a trail or two that has a "No Bike" marker at the entrance and you should be fine. I used to ride this loop several times a week, and may start again just so I can get miles on.

[dave t]

Head out of town and ask some farmers if you can ride their field roads. There's good hilly farm country pretty much all the way around the metro. I would bank on the west to find the slickest, blackest, messyest mud but you might find some good slick clay above the river bluffs to the east too.

[silence]

you got your answer there- any trail that isn't

[zefuldar]

I ride Rice Creek Trail to the 694 bridge, or turn north and ride up to
Coon Rapids Dam. It's mostly paved, but there are a lot of deer path
and walking path shortcuts and offshoots to take.

It's not the same as singletrack, but it's a ride....

Z

[RichZilla]

Luce Line?

[Pain Cave Spelunker]

You could also ride the offroad single track near the Coon Rapids dam.

[guest_s]

I wonder how many people like to ride in the mud? I personally hate it. No traction, you can't rail corners, you get all dirty, the bike needs to be cleaned.....I could go on and on about why I hate it.

But seriously, if there are enough people who do like it, maybe it's up to you guys to figure out how to advocate for a trail somewhere that is legit, but also doesn't have the stricter guidelines about keeping the trail in good condition when it's dry. Not sure where this would be or what land manager would allow it, but it's certainly something you mud lovers should look into. I am starting to think about this like I think about BMX jumps..........you just have to find a place that will allow you to make a trail for it and then have at it.

[bigwheel]

Okay, Now that we've seen some good replies (Dave T's is the best), I'm still wondering if the OP was just trolling.

b00stingsx, are you really looking for mud to ride in? Or is this just a chance to giggle at people like me who spend way too much time on the forums.

[bigpeddler]

I personally hate it. No traction, you can't rail corners, you get all dirty, the bike needs to be cleaned.....I could go on and on about why I hate it.


..sounds like someone needs a "skills" session :D

[BP73]

I wonder how many people like to ride in the mud?

Being that I am an east coast transplant, there was a time that riding in the rain and mud was sort of a normal occurrence for me, and one that was very much so allowed and even encouraged by local riders and shops. Don't get me wrong, nice weather is best of course, but I can remember many a Saturday morning trail ride back in New England that started and ended in drizzle...not pouring rain, but a light drizzle and lots of mud. It made for a completely different experience, with slick baby head size rock gardens and many slick as ice tree ruts, the rain added an extra degree of difficulty to the trails. The speeds were slower, and your concentration on technical sections could not waver, not for a second, or else you would find yourself sliding and falling on the moss covered rocks that liter the New England trails. As a bonus, for me anyways, it seemed like I could rider longer and harder, since you didn't realise you were sweating in the same fashion as you do when its sunny and 80 out...and always having to wipe your Oakley's off every few minutes, with rain dripping off your nose.... those were some of the best memories I have of riding mountain bikes.

I guess my point is, I can understand why someone would want to ride when its muddy out, but you have to do it where its allowed, and you wont find that here in the Metro...also, to the original poster, just think of the money you will save from not having to replace your entire drive train like 2 or 3 times a year.

[guest_s]

..sounds like someone needs a "skills" session :D

Oh.....I have the skill to do it, but that doesn't mean I like to do it.

[stoneage]

..sounds like someone needs a "skills" session :D
I wonder if the old Anoka trails are still there. Cross the foot bridge on the N side of the high school parking lot and head to the woods. Six miles of super fast, fairly flat singletrack that we would slide around on when it rained. It was a lot of fun. Team Miyata and Bridgestone MB 0's and 1's. They were the first trails in the metro that we actually tried to develop as a legit group (pre MORC and Gary Sjoquist). Scott Birklid, me and a few guys from BJ's Bike and Ski proposed a trail system to the P&R department in 1991. They were all for it but the City manager was taking money under the table and effectively tabled it. We would poach the N side of Elm Creek in those days. Nobody cared back then, because we kept the kids from partying in the woods.

[guest_s]

because we kept the kids from partying in the woods.

How would we reword this for Theo? Would rewording it even be MORC safe?......:laugh::laugh::laugh:

[zefuldar]

How would we reword this for Theo? Would rewording it even be MORC safe?......:laugh::laugh::laugh:

OMG. That brings back some memories. Almost got struck blind one
time blasting out of the woods.... :scream:

[Ol Dirty Biker]

blasting out of the woods....

It seemed like EVERYone was back then.

[stoneage]

Jitterjepp and I were two of the early riders/builders in the 'old' Theo. There were many sights to behold in those days. Once there was a motorcycle photo shoot in the prairie area with, you guessed it, naked women.

[widespot]

Frankly, if it is a worn trail chances are your going to piss someone off by putting deep bike tire ruts in it whether it is used for mountain biking, hiking, farming or whatever.

My advice is to save your money, buy some land and do whatever you please with it.

[lugged]

Buy land? That's some answer, man. I wish I could.

Back in reality: There are trails in the Louisville Swamp area. Beautiful land and the trails are like two-track. Don't think any mud rules apply out there. You'll see wildlife for sure. Neat place and not much traffic. There are maps too.

Check it.

[soupboy]

Here

http://fineartamerica.com/images-medium/two-lane-blacktop-peter-decamp.jpg

[Brendan]

Go racing! So far Maplelag, Buck, and Freewheel have all bee really muddy and really fun. Buck still has the ruts to prove it.

[duggus]

http://www.morcmtb.org/forums/showthread.php?p=399274#post399274

[Buck]

I grew up riding the Snake Creek trail system...its multi use...Moto, Horse, bike, hike. Great riding, miles of trail any condition its a go.

weRd
Buck

[mfx007]

Many times you can ride State Forest ATV or multiuse trails.

As some mentioned, trails that allow bikes, horses and ATV's won't get any more beat up by bikes. Must be multi-use. Some are horse and hiking only trails. Of course bikes would be a nusisance on heavily used ATV trails.

I rode the St Croix State Forest ATV trails just north of St. Croix State Park once in the rain. Rain firms up the sand - not too much mud there. Trashed my BB and hubs in the puddles. You probably can ride the Munger trail outside and into the State Park (ATV's not allowed in the Park - bikes are). I have not rode the munger trail too far from the horse camp - flat as far as I can tell, but might get more hills as you get closer to the river.

[silence]

all over the ironwood area up here- went on a group ride with some of the trailbuilders in a thunderstorm.

[fasterfoster]

Go racing! So far Maplelag, Buck, and Freewheel have all bee really muddy and really fun. Buck still has the ruts to prove it.
Now you can add Mont du Lac and Mt Kato to that list!

[jonesdb]

Down by Kato the multi-use trails at 7 mile creek park. Slick clay, Sand pits...the mud luge, a couple creek crossings in there too.