[urbaindk]

If you were riding a loop trail that was unfamiliar to you and you were about halfway through the loop when you encountered a fairly long muddy section where riding would be sure to cause trail damage. Would you walk the muddy section and continue riding the loop hoping that the mud was locallized (but not knowing if more nasty mud lies ahead) or turn around knowing that the trail was clear?

 

[MudGrrl]

Mud definitely

-Mudgrrl


edit: I didn't read the entire thing, thought it was about me..........

no trail damage!

 

[Westy]

Walk around and see if it is a localized problem. I already go through too many brake pads, chains, cassettes and rings thank you. If it was muddy because of a bad trail desing no biggie but I get pissed having to fix good trails because people ride them when they shoudn't. .

 

[Wumpus]

If the rest of the trail was fine to that point, I would walk around and continue riding.

 

[shocktower]

Buck up and ride on

 

[urbaindk]

Well this happened to me this weekend. About the first half of the trail was nice and dry. Then the second half was very muddy and of course I only found this out by riding it. I kept saying to myself. surely it will be dry soon. But it wasn't.

I used to not really care about mud. I always thought of it as a part of mountain biking. But now with more and more people riding, you can really see the effects.

 

[Tenchiro]

In the NW if you want to ride in the winter, you can't avoid the mud. Just ,ake sure you ride through the middle and don't widen the puddle by going around.

 

[SkaredShtles]

It's definitely a local call. Here generally the choice with the least impact is to ride slowly through the mud. Otherwise, the trail gets either braided from people walking around or really, really wide.

 

[Skookum]

Sounds like trail work is in order. There is a section of trail that someone did some work on by armoring the trail up in a boggy section. Leaving a minature ditch alonside the newly elevated trail. Buried along the way are pvc pipes acting as mini culverts if the trail is in the way of the drainage. A few little bridges here and there, and a nice berm of concrete pavers. i just am amazed by the work everytime i ride thru it.

The area of course was only boggy during rainy spells.

 

[Angus]

It's definitely a local call. Here generally the choice with the least impact is to ride slowly through the mud. Otherwise, the trail gets either braided from people walking around or really, really wide.

Wow, everbody stop the what your doing and call the media! I am forced to agree with SS on this one.

When Living in Chicagoland if you didn't ride when it was Muddy you would only ride half the year, so up there the concern was when is it to muddy to ride. I believe in being active in doing trail work so I guess its a way to do a pennance for leaving ruts in the past.

If I know a trail is going to be soupy I don't ride it, but if its just muddy abit then its all good, and besides thats why I went SingleSpeed to eliminate dirty derailers.

 

[SkaredShtles]

Wow, everbody stop the what your doing and call the media! I am forced to agree with SS on this one.

Don't worry - you'll find yourself agreeing with me more and more as you age.

 

[Angus]

Don't worry, its just that I am becoming more mature and I have seen the enlightenment of your ways, I am eager to learn more oh wise Munkee

........okayden........

 

[hooples3]

yea.. i'd continue.. but if it didnt get better soon id head back

 

[urbaindk]

yea.. i'd continue.. but if it didnt get better soon id head back

Then the question becomes "what is the point of return / no return?" 50 feet, 100 feet, 1/2 mile, 1 mile?

 

[SkaredShtles]

........okayden........

Lame.

 

[bluebug32]

The best thing is the post-ride grocery shopping in muddy spandex and shoes that have globs of mud and chunks of sod falling off.

We hit Starbucks this weekend after a chilly ride, covered in thick, wet mud. The chick behind the counter just gave us a funny look and inquired about our strange hobby.

 

[robdamanii]

The best thing is the post-ride grocery shopping in muddy spandex and shoes that have globs of mud and chunks of sod falling off.

We hit Starbucks this weekend after a chilly ride, covered in thick, wet mud. The chick behind the counter just gave us a funny look and inquired about our strange hobby.

I believe it was more like "You guys were out riding bikes? You're CRAZY!"