Please post conditions

[Mr_Cheeze]

Just a reminder for anyone who might be able to let us know conditions in popular areas of riding after storms such as yesterdays. My friends and I were hoping to ride Arcadia in RI this Sunday but we have no way of knowing how badly that area got hit, as we live in SE Mass. Please post in the Trail Conditions forum.

Hope everyone had a nice X-mas.

[hogboy]

Acton Mass. Trails condition=Zero

Same for Concord...Zero
---------------
I freaking waited all day for the snow, finally it kicks
in late. so I go riding. Man it was tough. as it piled
up (only 3 inches) it became unpossible (my fav word)
to even ride a straigfht line. I needed my cross bike.

anyhow, the bike, me and everything else became totally
packed with snow, I did 6 miles, and it sucked, becuz I
could only crawl along.


Trails=soft under the snow still, the next week is predicted to be avg 39 degrees. winter riding this year kinda blows, except maybe near the coast.

ponds are not safe. damn we need some COLD. I got all this gear so I can ride at
zero deg F while I am an unemployed bum, and we have been in the twilight zone for too long.

how many edscuses is that ?

[Z]

Forget the bike, get out the skis! I went for a really nice backcountry ski in Lexington, MA this morning, and it was beautiful.

When you got lemons, make lemonade...

(I only wish I didn't have to be at work today, or I'd be up in NH doing a lot MORE skiing...!) >:(

If what hogboy says is right, the conditions will only get a lot sloppier over the next week... unless the ground's frozen, it's a real bad idea to be out there in the snow and mud on two wheels (or feet)... let's hope for a nice deep freeze soon!

[SloMoJo]

Today, I visited family in RI. The got much less snow down there, and I would expect the riding to be nice. I was in Warwick area, so I'm not positive on Arcadia.

Agent Grape is from RI and could comment better. I would like to ride Saturday. Is anyway else interested and know an area ridable?
Cheers

[Sci Teach]

I rode at Fort Rock on Christmas Day during the storm. Great ride, about 2" of snow fell until I fell too much! the ground was pretty well frozen, not much ice. Now, however, about 1 foot of snow has covered the trails! with the warmer weather coming in the next 10 days (according to NWS) this could be melting quickly. But for now....unless you have tires the size of snowshoes...no riding.

Here's a thought! All riders should head out with snowshoes and pack out the trails so we can go back and ride it!

Please let everyone know the conditions in your local area so we can get out and ride! How about Trail of Tears....the reports are that not much snow fell there. I also heard a second hand report that claims that Cape Ann only got 6" or so....HELP!

Till then, guess I'll be skiing!

[MTBSteve]

Well in Dracut mass we only have about 10 to 12 inches of snow and the ground is frozen. bUt when it satered snowing it was a wet snow so that all froze up under the powder so when u ride u only ride threw about 6 inches of snow.

[NEMBA_bkr-dude]

Newton, MA too much snow for riding unless you have studs. Lot's of ice too. Probably the same in Weston, Waltham, Watertown, and Belmont.

[SloMoJo]

http://www.weather.gov is a great site for weather. They also have snow totals for the storm. Just enter your zipcode at the homepage. Here's an example
http://www.erh.noaa.gov/er/box/fcsts/BOSPNSBOX.html

Snowshoes is a good idea. Splat has a couple pair, and we'll walk the lunchtime routes. Snowmobile tracks might do it too. I like to crosscountry ski, but I don't have the equipment anymore. I got to do something to work off the cheesecake, pie, and cookies. :)

[Jisch]

I've only ridden around the yard today, but conditions are likely to be the same out at the Snip. An inch or two of solid stuff on the bottom, 2 - 3 inches of fluff on top. Practically impossible to make headway except down hills.

I'm hoping the fluff melts during the day tomorrow, night ride at Case tomorrow night? Ground is definitely frozen as is the pond near my house. Last weekend was goooooood riding..

John

[MMcG]

I've only ridden around the yard today, but conditions are likely to be the same out at the Snip. An inch or two of solid stuff on the bottom, 2 - 3 inches of fluff on top. Practically impossible to make headway except down hills.

I'm hoping the fluff melts during the day tomorrow, night ride at Case tomorrow night? Ground is definitely frozen as is the pond near my house. Last weekend was goooooood riding..

John


Welcome to the Forum John! I suspect the Thursday night ride at Case got snowed out eh?

Please do keep me posted about future rides....day or night.

Cheers,

MMcG (aka CTRider over at MTBR.com)

[SloMoJo]

Upton State Forest....Near Vietnam.
Ridable.... sort of.

I had a 3 hours free this afternoon and drove over to Lake Whitehall (Hopkinton,MA) where there ussually snowmobile trails, but no dice. So I biked the road over to Upton State forest, where there was snowmobile tracks.

I found even with snowmobile tracks it's tough work both up and down the hills. The flats are a breeze. I made it out to the power lines, which was ATV country. Their tracks are wicked because you only have a 10" gulley to work with. Slight turn either way and you're stopped in powder.

One trail in Upton was a muddy frozen stream. The X-country skiers scorned it, but it was paradise to me. Icy trails never look so good.

I did 12 miles in 2 1/2 hours. 5 of that was road, so it took me 2 hours to cover 7 miles in the woods. Brutal!

Did I have fun and a great workout?...Ya betcha!
Am I going back for more of that soon? No thanks! :)

Any interest in heading to the Cape for a ride on Tuesday or New Years day? I don't know **** about the trails down there, but they must be good now.

[AGENTGRAPE]

sorry i didnt reply we didnt get more than an inch in north kingstown. i would think arcadia got a bit more, i rode locally today. snow was not an issue the ground is firm where dry and soft if soaked. arcadia has great drainage and i think it will ok. there will be some soft muddy areas.since i will be at the game tomorrow i cant meet anyone to ride.but next sunday..........................lets do it.

[Dawgee]

Rode the south side of arcadia today. (near browning mill pond) most of the snow is packed down on the trail not very slippery. Some real wet spots esp. near the low log ride and just before it (riding in from the road)

[AA]

I was planning on riding Otis today but ended up going to Wompatuck (Hingham MA). There is about 2" of snow on the ground and it is packed pretty well on the singletrack. Wompi is a pretty good place for winter riding due to the fact that it isnt too hilly. There were plenty of wet spots in all the usual places.

AA

[MMcG]

Well....lemme see.....my drive way was super icy and my front and back yard have a few inches of snow on top of some crusty ice crap.....that was the extent of my riding for the day since I was home with the kids while my soon to be ex-wife was "at work".... But actually she was with her lover lookin at apartments! Nice of her to tell me that wasn't it! >:(

[SloMoJo]

Dude...tell me you're joking?!
That's tragic. :(

[johnbryanpeters]

35 degrees, about a foot of snow, had a nice time pushing the bike through the woods Saturday...

J

[steve_b]

Well....lemme see.....my drive way was super icy and my front and back yard have a few inches of snow on top of some crusty ice crap.....that was the extent of my riding for the day since I was home with the kids while my soon to be ex-wife was "at work".... But actually she was with her lover lookin at apartments! Nice of her to tell me that wasn't it!

Mark, haven't you booted her cheatin' ass out yet? ???