Originally Posted by FJsnoozer

Devils advocate, If you rang your bell at me instead of saying something, I might tell you where to stick your bell if I was having a bad day. I expect that many people feel this way.


Its just not walkers either. I've had extremely slow MTB racers cuss me out and come up after races to do so after friendly encouragement to let off the brakes or make a final push. That's a page straight out of Ned's book and usually works well.

Fair enough, but if innocent interactions with others are gonna set you off maybe you should stay in the house. After all, there is a slight chance you could get punched if you pick the wrong person to snap at, or wind up in jail if you let yourself get out of control.

Everyone of us would prefer to have the trails to ourselves and our friends. This includes the hikers. Unfortunately, the reality is that we need to play nice. I have an Incredibell and I use it if the situation warrants. Generally, I prefer to do the vocal thing and let them know I'm back there with a friendly "Good morning" or something. In cases that doesn't work, I hit the bell and they usually either jump off the trail like I'm going to mow them over or they ignore it because they have on headphones. I do feel like I'm pressuring them when I hit the bell but it's more of an "...I'm back here..." type vibe instead of a "...get the f' out of my way...".

I suppose bells are like internet message board posts.
It's very difficult for the receiver to interpret the intent of the sender sometimes.

I honestly can't remember a negative encounter with a walker/hiker/climber/dog on a trail. Sometimes a neutral reaction, but 95% of the time people say hello/thanks/have a good day, or apologize if their dog does something (which I don't give a shit about, I love dogs). I just slow down and don't care if I have to stop.

I don't use a bell. I like to whistle a tune as I approach from behind and they haven't heard my bike noises. Dogs are attentive to whistling as well.

Anyway, great to ride some SATN yesterday. Moved back to Australia at the start of the year, but back for a few months with my job. Great to get out on some old (and new) trails. Top stuff on the south side of Circle C, always thought there was potential in there.

Thanks Obama.

Slaughter Creek at Brodie as of ~4:30pm today. Looking East. This is just upstream of Baurele Ranch. It looked to be 2-3 feet deep in places.

Any status on the trails? I'm working from home today and was thinking about trying a ride this afternoon. If the trails are still too wet I can hit the Veloway, but that certainly wouldn't be my preference.

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You can put together over 10 miles easily if you stick to Arbor Trails, Latta Greenbelt, Circle C gravel, etc. I would expect sticky trails for a few more days.

Originally Posted by SCWells72

Any status on the trails? I'm working from home today and was thinking about trying a ride this afternoon. If the trails are still too wet I can hit the Veloway, but that certainly wouldn't be my preference.

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I walked parts of Mary Moore this morning. Much of the trail was in decent shape, but there were enough muddy spots that would still advise against it. Possibly solid after all the sun we are getting today.

Same with Circle C. Still to wet in spots to ride today, should be prime tomorrow. Strange how the rain seems to make the face slappers vanish though.

Originally Posted by big_papa_nuts

. Strange how the rain seems to make the face slappers vanish though.

I was thinking the opposite. A couple of days ago I walked around CC Metro behind ATX and there were lots of new hanging branches. I was thinking at the time that is just not fair, the dry conditions made the face slappers explode, and now the rain made a bunch more hang down. They are not there now of course!

I'm thinking that Thursday night might be good to go...with care. Care about soft spots of course, but also care for all the stuff that has fallen on the trails. For example, I walked the Canterbury loop on Monday. It would have been a very slow going ride. Good to go now, IF the water has gone done on the rocky crossings on the east end that is.

I just got back from a ride. I almost turned back when I was in Dick Nichols. I was picking up a little bit of mud. Usually Dick Nichols recovers faster than most of the SATN so I thought that does not bode well for further riding. But I rode on and discovered that Dick Nichols had just about the worst trail conditions I rode.

North bank CC Metro, No Walk in the Park, Walk in the Park, South Bank CC Metro, most of the Veloway trails including the South Veloway Loop (Coyote/ Mack Turtle), Bambi, Mopac. All good. Not perfect, but very rideable. Side note; Stonewall got harder! I would like to see someone attempt it northbound.

The most amazing thing was that all the creek crossings were totally dry. From Escarpment Spillway, all the way down to Wolftrap West, all bone dry.

Everything I rode is now cleared. But I would still take a folding saw if you have one.

Looks like someone has been riding dripdrop on an atv. Lots of deep ruts from eager beavers too.

Originally Posted by big_papa_nuts

Looks like someone has been riding dripdrop on an atv. Lots of deep ruts from eager beavers too.

Interesting that the deepest ruts are on the north side. It's the south side closest to the houses that is usually the slowest to recover.
I don't understand how anyone could ride through mud that is 3" deep. Why wouldn't they stop and step out of it?

The biggest in diameter tree trunk, that I have ever seen fallen over, is straddling the trail in the Latta Greenbelt. It is close to the south Escarpment bridge. It totally blocks the new-ish trail that was following the creek bed. Fortunately the original trail in there was easy to reopen to create a bypass to go around that huge thing.

The trails are in good shape. Pretty good weather today too.

Originally Posted by The Tip

I just got back from a ride. I almost turned back when I was in Dick Nichols. I was picking up a little bit of mud. Usually Dick Nichols recovers faster than most of the SATN so I thought that does not bode well for further riding. But I rode on and discovered that Dick Nichols had just about the worst trail conditions I rode.

North bank CC Metro, No Walk in the Park, Walk in the Park, South Bank CC Metro, most of the Veloway trails including the South Veloway Loop (Coyote/ Mack Turtle), Bambi, Mopac. All good. Not perfect, but very rideable. Side note; Stonewall got harder! I would like to see someone attempt it northbound.

The most amazing thing was that all the creek crossings were totally dry. From Escarpment Spillway, all the way down to Wolftrap West, all bone dry.

Everything I rode is now cleared. But I would still take a folding saw if you have one.

Buerle /Coyote Run as it goes under Manchaca is super Soft and has had a ton of tires through there. I began some armoring with what rocks I could find. It is still wet enough that it would easily take some flat rock and would go a long way for the future. I am not sure if anyone is down to ride bye and drop a few big rocks in. Also, It looks as if the trail needs 2-3 small drains cut on the side. It is extremely wet for a trail that sees nothing but full sun. Maybe this is from something else that I am not aware? I have never ridden there before.

Originally Posted by FJsnoozer

Buerle /Coyote Run as it goes under Manchaca is super Soft and has had a ton of tires through there. I began some armoring with what rocks I could find. It is still wet enough that it would easily take some flat rock and would go a long way for the future. I am not sure if anyone is down to ride bye and drop a few big rocks in. Also, It looks as if the trail needs 2-3 small drains cut on the side. It is extremely wet for a trail that sees nothing but full sun. Maybe this is from something else that I am not aware? I have never ridden there before.

I live in Bauerle and that low lying area (think I know where you were) stays pretty moist, especially after 7" of rain. Armoring is a great idea for it but they may have to be pretty large (or deep) rocks to stay put. Did you see many available in the vicinity? It gets to be a gully washer through there due to the drainage.

Originally Posted by unclemeat

I live in Bauerle and that low lying area (think I know where you were) stays pretty moist, especially after 7" of rain. Armoring is a great idea for it but they may have to be pretty large (or deep) rocks to stay put. Did you see many available in the vicinity? It gets to be a gully washer through there due to the drainage.

There are 4 more big chunks of limestone down by the bank, but I will warn you it is extremely soft at the bank. I think there were plenty across the creek if you have rainboots or something. and I believe there was a really big rock pile a bit east on the trail that would have been a great source.

Its primetime right now because the area is so soft you can just drop the rocks from waist high and they will bed in.

Originally Posted by FJsnoozer

Also, It looks as if the trail needs 2-3 small drains cut on the side. It is extremely wet for a trail that sees nothing but full sun. Maybe this is from something else that I am not aware? I have never ridden there before.

Where is this that you are referring to?

The first part of your post was talking about how soft it is right under the bridge though, correct? I rode all around there yesterday and yes, it was still soft under the bridge, but I didn't pick anything up with my tires. Maybe an easy solution there would be to armor a little spur to get to the sloping concrete abutment. Ride it across, then exit on more armoring, instead of trying to lay rock from one side to the other.

The other soft/wet spot I found yesterday in the Bauerle/Canterbury area was just west of the Lynnbrook Drive bridge. I don't know what the solution is for that. Sun, wind, and time, I guess.

This is the spot that is mushy under the bridge with Giant ruts.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/10...1!4d-97.832052


This is the general vicinity that would benefit from a few waterbreak/drains.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/10...1!4d-97.832052