Huntsville State Park Trail Notice (Cross Post)

[Schroeder]

PLEASE ADVISE ALL RIDERS AND RUNNERS TO AVOID THE HUNTSVILLE STATE PARK TRAILS AT THIS TIME. THE TRAILS ARE SOAKED! ALL RIDING UP THERE IS DESTROYING OUR TRAIL SYSTEM. THIS IS COMPOUNDING THE WATER RETENTION PROBLEM AND CREATING EROSION. BIKERS AND RUNNERS ALIKE ARE DIVERTING AROUND LOW WATER AREAS CREATING A WIDER PATH AND CONTRIBUTING TO EROSION.

PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD.

All of the cross ruts from cyclists riding since the heavy rains from last month have left water still standing and deepening already low lying areas. The park rangers are going to begin to implement a stronger policy for notifications and restrictions for trail use when conditions such as this exist.

For pending group rides in the dirt on the North side: Recommend Double Lake. I know it is smoother with less hills and roots but as of two weeks ago, it is very rideable and shed its water much faster.

[Del Q]

Anybody been out there lately? How are the trails now? Are they ridable?

My family lives near Hville and I will be there for 3 or 4 days around Christmas. Assuming that the trails are dry, I'm thinking about riding there either 12/24 (morning or early afternoon), 12/26 (morning), or both.

If anyone wants to join me, post up or PM me.

[Weeg]

Perhaps Trail markers like these would keep folks off till it's dry?

http://www.netspace.net.au/~harrison/claymore.jpg

[Schroeder]

As of a week ago (the day of the marathon), there was still running water and very muddy conditions. I plan to visit it tomorrow and hike it. I can post sometime before 5 one way or the other. Look here. I'll PM you my cell number.

[Del Q]

Thanks. If it is ridable, I'll probably wait until the 26th (a.m.) to ride. I forgot that I have to do my Christmas shopping on the 24th.

[flbikerman]

Alright, someone else waits until the last minute. That way it's a suprise even to you.

[Schroeder]

Light rain in South Conroe
Water on ground
Sloshy trail conditions Huntsville prevails

That's my Huntsville 5-3-5.

It will be great in another month or so after we rebuild/install bridges, one more reroute being surveyed, and fix ruts there now. Double lake is fast and twisty though it will depend if they get any water today.

[Del Q]

It rained really heavily in Bryan. I don't think I'll take the bike after all. Boo hoo.

[Schroeder]

Come to the dark side. Ride a road bike.

EBay auction for a 54cm Cannondale (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1983442626)

I have been watching this bike for a spare for me to bang around on training. Maybe set up for crits. You are about my size and this may be a good deal for you. I think every MTB cyclist should own a road bike for times just like this and overall training.

[Del Q]

Actually I have a road bike that I got when I was in college. I rode it off and on for a while, but I was too nervous about sharing the highways with drivers who aren't always cyclist-friendly, so I gave it up. It's a '93 Trek 1000, aluminum, low-end parts. It only has a few hundred miles on it. Sometimes I wonder if the frame is worth putting better parts on it and trying the road thing again. But finances are very limiting and I have two other bike projects/dreams that are higher priority (building my "dream date" and replacing my trusty but rusty Trek 830 commuter bike that I've been riding for 10 years).

An anonymous Canadian recently donated a used set of slicks for my mt bike, so I've started using it for road riding. I got some amused looks from the road bikers that I saw yesterday afternoon on the inaugural road ride.