Originally Posted by Tree magnet

Of all the trail users, I would expect mountain bikers and trail runners to be the ones least impacted by rocks on the trail. I mean...they're rocks and it's not like we don't ride over a million every ride. If they were placing logs across the trail or barbed wire strung between trees, it's another story.

They placed various rocks and wood debris to the point where the trail wasn't ridable and did so in 3 separate 75-100 yrd sections... I moved all that sh!t so far away they'd have too work really hard to get it back. Each time I've done so they've been less ambitious in putting it back, ha!

Originally Posted by The Tip

Did you ask them their motive? I understand why they hate mountain bikers, everyone does it seems. But trail runners? There goes the blind corner theory.

They were a little apprehensive when we I started the conversation w/ them but were friendly enough, not combative at all. I mentioned that I wanted to understand what I could do to help ease the animosity towards mtbrs and was shocked they also mentioned train runners... I got the impression they've had ugly conversations w/ both. They mentioned the land was owned by the apartment complex, so I politely informed them that 2/3’s is owned by CoA and 1/3 is owned by Wal-Mart.

How to get little old ladies to stop searching for rocks:

Originally Posted by J2LS

Nope, not at all. 'Tis why I chill around the blind turns and keep the pace down as it's not just a mtb trail.

I just yell, "HOT PIZZA!!!!" around every corner.....can't have trail dummies gettin' in the way of my KOMs!

(for any non-MTB lurkers, the above is sarasm)

Looking at the evening of 12/4 for an ARR Whirlpool Cave visit. What time would work for those interested? We could meet as late as 7:30.

We will be on a "cave trip" with experienced cavers in Austin's beginner cave. The preparation, safety protocols and attention to detail are same at this cave as they are at a thousand foot deep monster in southern Mexico. The only difference is scale.

This trip will produce copious sore muscles, very dirty clothes and many ooohs and aaahs.

To new folks it will be an incredible experience of self confidence building and learning in a new and stimulating environment.

Whirlpool is relatively flat with a few climb-downs. I believe the max depth is around 60 feet. The trip will go to the Travis County Room (the largest in the county by floor area), on to a mild squeeze called the birth canal and into the Ant Lion room where we will turn around. Gear: bring elbow pads, knee pads (soft volleyball type...no hard plastic) and a headlamp.

Trip length is generally determined by the physical fitness of the group. A group of 10 folks would spend probably 3-4 hours in the cave.

Originally Posted by Tree magnet

Took a night ride this evening and the cool air delivered the perfect solution to this problem. If you see these ladies putting rocks on the trail again, stop your bike and start helping them. When they ask you can say "...bikers love the rocks. What we really hate is knee high berms on all the corners. That really slows us down." Just like that, you've created a new trail building crew!

I love this person.

Originally Posted by Tree magnet

Of all the trail users, I would expect mountain bikers and trail runners to be the ones least impacted by rocks on the trail. I mean...they're rocks and it's not like we don't ride over a million every ride. If they were placing logs across the trail or barbed wire strung between trees, it's another story.

Things have a way of escalating if not attended to.

We encountered a newly fallen trail-blocking tree in Circle C Metro last night.
There's a new reroute around it as of today. It's become a short S turn now. That same north bank trail has been trimmed up too. We can take full advantage of that sweet berm there.

There are plans for a bonus Crank and Drank this Thursday to make up for tonight. The rain possibilities and Halloween plans made a low turnout for tonight a given. But ride while you can!

ride while you can. Right on!

Looks like I will be spending my day off tomorrow walking the trails. If anybody knows of spots with downed trees or excessive vegetation let me know.

Originally Posted by big_papa_nuts

Looks like I will be spending my day off tomorrow walking the trails. If anybody knows of spots with downed trees or excessive vegetation let me know.

If you want to weed eat, Indian Grass Preserve was getting pretty shaggy I think.
If you want to kick rocks off a trail you could walk Bambi. Probably.
That's all I got.

Just walked the south Veloway Loop (Coyote, Mack Turtle)
Lots of tree trimming possibilities in there. Maybe they are sagging because of the rain, but it would have been a slow ride: riding, ducking, and dodging going on in there.

The trail was mostly sticky, not muddy. Thursday night riding will most likely be a go, but with caution. Depends on sun and wind today and tomorrow.

Any updates on trail conditions today?

^^^ Wondering the same...we've got a 6pm Southie ride coming up. Anyone know how things are out yonder?

MMS was still slippery so I gave up on it early. It probably needs another day. I also decided to call it when the stick between my two wheels slithered away while I was walking a muddy section.

The rocky parts of SATN behind Southpark Meadows didn’t rut but it was damp.


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That's about how it was in CC Metro last night too. Not sinking in and messing up the trail, but just a tad too slippery. Cornering and rocks were not lots of fun. I gave up. I didn't have to hose off my bike though. Interesting conditions. The humidity is so high that it's taking a little bit longer than normal. Should be fine this afternoon and just about perfect Saturday. Really perfect around 3 pm.

Our 6pm Thursday night ride at Texas Cycle Werks headed out to Longview, Stephenson and Nichols run last night was somewhat slippery, tires filled up, but no trail damage. Muggy as hell and little dicey on rock gardens, but it was good. This weekend should be A-OK.

Greenbelt is GTG.

Bambi was rock free as of 5 pm Saturday. I laughed a little looking at what I perceived to be fewer rocks along the sides too. Pretty soon all the rocks will be have been thrown deep in to the woods.

We theorized that the rock placers were probably the same people that kept knocking over the wooden jump too.

Also know that some more Violet Crown construction is happening on Exit to Walgreens, the trail out of the Veloway up to Slaughter. It wasn't fenced off or anything, but there has been some equipment in there that obscured the trail. We were able to ride through it with little problem.