March Mud (Semass)

[C.P.]

Hit a lot of mud from bright sunshine thawing trail surfaces in Borderland, and it occurred to me that it's time to get back out on the road...with the spring like forecast this coming weekend, I'll be on the road bike...
(http://www.nemba.org/Articles/SoftRiding.html)

[wannabee]

Watch out for them 'pot'holes!

[bdee]

Yeah, I ran into the same conditions at Foxboro on Saturday afternoon. I'll be on the road as well - just more of the same as I've been on the road all Winter.

If you need to ride in the woods choose a place that drains well - like Lincoln Woods in RI. Or cruise some powerlines/fire roads or something to that effect.

[TrailBate]

pretty muddy today in Middleboro/Massassoit, too. But there's no good singletrack in that place, so I don't feel too bad for riding in it.

I imagine the Cape will be rather muddy this weekend as well.

[Mr_Cheeze]

I don't see what people like about massassoit. Boring trails and too short a ride.

Otis should be fine for riding on the trails away from the highway. Those seem to be the only ones to take damage, and that's mostly due to the mx'ers.

[Mr_Cheeze]

Rode Otis this morning and it was as I figured. We stayed on trails away from the highway and encountered almost no mud or soft trails. Actually, we pretty much stuck to a very new trail that was cut sometime this winter. Unfortunately, chain problems cut my ride shorter than I wanted it to be. Man, I go through chains like a civ. Wish I knew why.

Anyhoot, Not sure how the trails will be if we get as much rain as is being forecast over the next several days. If any place will be rideable, it'll be Otis or TOT.

[Jisch]

Unfortunately, chain problems cut my ride shorter than I wanted it to be. Man, I go through chains like a civ. Wish I knew why.


Not sure what chain you are using but if its a SRAM PC99, that may be your problem. I was running one up until 2 months ago. I broke the stupid things 5 or 6 times, once on a steep incline, it pitched me over the bars - not fun. I also bent links more times than I can count. I switched to a PC59 (one level down) and have not broken it yet. Also take a look at your rear derrailler and cassette, if there's something that's causing the chain to follow around it can cause problems.

John

[DVRider]

Rode Otis this morning and it was as I figured. We stayed on trails away from the highway and encountered almost no mud or soft trails. Actually, we pretty much stuck to a very new trail that was cut sometime this winter. Unfortunately, chain problems cut my ride shorter than I wanted it to be. Man, I go through chains like a civ. Wish I knew why.

Anyhoot, Not sure how the trails will be if we get as much rain as is being forecast over the next several days. If any place will be rideable, it'll be Otis or TOT.


Ditto!

Otis was near perfect Sunday morning save for the trails along 28. Wish I had read your earlier post.