Topic: Wet trail etiquette

[Garry]

Indian did had a couple of puddles yesterday, but if you go around the outside of them you should be OK.
If the trails get too bad they will close them.

IMBA discovered that if you ride "around" wet muddy sections of trail it makes for a more rutted out, wider trail that is no longer single track.  It is best to ride through the center if the base of the trail can sustain the traffic, or if it is so bad just ride a dryer trail until it drains and can be ridden without causing long term damage.

[catman]

Just asking, but why would you come all the way down here from Gainesville to ride WTA? Have you been to the other trails that are not that much further south?
 
Or Croom?

My buddy is picking up a new bike today (in Tampa) and we're both out of shape, so wanted to start with something familiar.  I moved up to G'ville in August of last year, and I'm ashamed to say just last week I got my bike back together to ride.  I really miss Alafia, I've asked around up here and there's apparently not much that compares.  I would definitely like to hear some suggestions if you know of any decent trails close to me.  From what I understand, Ocala Nat'l Forest is mainly flat track, but Santos is supposed to be fun...I've not seen either in person though.

Croom is way better than WTA from what I've heard. Santos is the best in Florida in my opinion and most other people I've talked to.

[Garry]

I was thinking of driving up from Ft Lauderdale today for a late afternoon ride at Boyette and again tomorrow morning.  Would any of those trails be a problem to ride today after the rain you got yesterday?

They should be okay to ride as Croom and Boyette fare the best after rains from all of our trails that we maintain.  With that said, a couple sections may be less than ideal for riding because of wet sloppy clay conditions.  It's pretty easy to tell which ones they are as you enter them. 

Boyette has 25 miles of trails.  No big deal to skip 3 or 4 miles of slop.
Alafia has 15 miles of trail.  No big deal to skip 3 or 4 miles of the worst wet stuff.
Wilderness Trails has 25 miles of trails.  Skipping the 2 or 3 miles of the muddiest isn't hard to do either.
Croom has 55 miles of trail.  Skipping a couple bad spots is pretty easy if you follow the map.

[ClintonRH]

Got an impromptu day off today (no work so I just used a sick day rather than dick around all day then get sent home early) so I went for a quick ride around this morning at Hole in the Fence to try and work my legs loose from yesterday. Indian has one soft wet muddy spot that could probably use a board as it's too big to hop at speed and there's no good way around it that wont just make the spot bigger. Other than that it's mostly dry and very rideable. A few soft damp spots and puddles but nothing that looks like it should become a problem but I don't consider myself an expert by any means so I'll defer to the experts on that verdict. Gatorbait also has a rather large puddle but it had solid trail under it so I wouldn't worry too much about it. A few small puddle that were already rutted down to firm stuff or had a route around.
Overall the ground has a great balance between tacky grip with just a little bit of shiftiness. Found myself carrying more speed through the corners than I usually do but the straights felt like there was a bit more drag than I usually feel. Neither of my tires packed up at any point but I've never had a problem with that.
Hogwild had one section on the edge of the trail where the sand was really wet. Had a soupy consistency that almost reminded me of quicksand but only a inch or so deep. Don't think I would have even noticed it if I hadn't been trying to straighten out the liner of my shorts in a straight section and let the bike coast off the edge of the trail. Stopped and played with it a while because it was neat how the deep tire tracks would very slowly fill in til there was just a small depression where the tire track had been. It was like mud but it looked relatively solid. I'm going to guess that moisture content of the soil has to be just absolutely perfect to cause that.

[cryptiq]

Croom is way better than WTA from what I've heard. Santos is the best in Florida in my opinion and most other people I've talked to.

Cool thanks, I'm eager to check them out now   I loved the technicality of Alafia, but I also enjoy a good fast paced trail that doesn't have much stopping/starting or drastic elevation changes.  I mainly ride to lose weight, the fun is just an added bonus.

[Slowy]

..............means better trails for all and less work for the few who actually do the maintenance.

leave it to garry to throw in the subliminal messages...

[slowfatguy]

..............means better trails for all and less work for the few who actually do the maintenance.

leave it to garry to throw in the subliminal messages...

subliminal message or god's honest truth?

[MBruns]

We rode Boyette on friday morning most was very nice with some rain, however canyon was a bit greasey and we spoke to a group that came out of ridgeline and said alot of it was the same way so we decided not to ride it. It should be good later in the weekend. Great Job Swamp !
Mike Bruns

[Daniel]

We did boyette this morning. Removed much rain debris from trais. Most of the trails were GREAT! Well packed, and moist but not muddy. There are sections of ridgeline we walked through becuase they were pretty soft.

[Rockhopper]

Hey Cryptic -- If you now live in Gainesville, you should check out San Felasco, which is just north of the city. It's not Alafia. It's more cross country, but much hillier than, say, WTA. If you hit all the loops, it's a solid work out. I'd say at least 20 miles of trails. Probably a bit more. Here's the map:http://www.sanfelasco.net/docs/San%20Felasco%20Bike%20Trail%20map%2005%202009.pdf

[Dave In Odessa]

Yeah, if you make San Felasco your home trail, you WILL become a badass rider.  Its not overly technical, but naturally hilly (rolling hills though).  Its the system I love to go up to ride on, but half way through I'm cursing the place and swearing I'll never be back HAHA.

[Skinman]

Hey guys I just joined and have some questions about the trails this week. I took off the whole week to ride, (I've got total work burn out). I rode Boyette Friday, Flatwood/WT/MB Saturday, my private trail Sunday,  and Santos today. Santos handled the rain very well. I was going for Alafia, Boyette, Carter and croom next in that order.
Can you help me with what trails to avoid? I am determined to ride but dont want to trash the trails. I could just keep going back to santos....but want to change it up.
BTW....Krunch Saturday is my last baseball game so count on me and my son helping at least one Saturday a month.....I got the OK from the wife. (you know me as skinner29er)
I know nothing about real trail building but want to learn. I come from the school of "Run over it 1000 times until its a trail!"

[slowfatguy]

Skinman, if it has just rained the trails to avoid at Alafia are Moonscape, Rabbit Ears, and parts of Gatorback, Rollercoaster, and the whoops on Bridges. They are all clay and tend to stay really greasy and slick. At Boyette Canyon and Ridgeline are the only ones I know of that get slick. There are a few other places, but not entire trails.
 
I'm sure someone else will add more.

[catman]

Hey guys I just joined and have some questions about the trails this week. I took off the whole week to ride, (I've got total work burn out). I rode Boyette Friday, Flatwood/WT/MB Saturday, my private trail Sunday,  and Santos today. Santos handled the rain very well. I was going for Alafia, Boyette, Carter and croom next in that order.
Can you help me with what trails to avoid? I am determined to ride but dont want to trash the trails. I could just keep going back to santos....but want to change it up.
BTW....Krunch Saturday is my last baseball game so count on me and my son helping at least one Saturday a month.....I got the OK from the wife. (you know me as skinner29er)
I know nothing about real trail building but want to learn. I come from the school of "Run over it 1000 times until its a trail!"

 
 
Private trail? Thought there was only one private trail "jimmy cotton"
 
If this rain keeps up I'd just shoot for Boyette (give it some dry time though) and Croom. Can't comment of how Carter will ride when soggy.

[Skinman]

OOps...should have known that would raise a question! I have a preserve behind my development. The fire crews burn there once a year or so and create some paths through the woods and open fields. I ride a short 8 mile (2 paved) loop from my house. I have only seen 1 or 2 bikers ever back there. Lots of dog walkers....
Its nice for getting in a quick sprint before dinner. The grass is so overgrown except for my tracks its almost like a singletrack. I have gotten familiar with the people I see walking their dogs so there isnt any angst. I also used to run my dog "Bubba the Mountain Bike Dog" back there but he is retired ....Ithink he's about 12.