There seems much less snow in southern ct. but everything loos soaked...

I rode at Middlesex (Middletown, CT) on Sunday AM. I was skeptical of conditions since my solo Saturday PM ride on dirt roads was largely a muddy disaster. On Sunday we found about 10% of the trails were covered in 3" or more of loose corn snow, impossible to ride any kind of incline, but the down hillls were like skiing. Overall it was a ton of fun and quite a workout. Definitely a top winter ride! I was glad we decided to go.

Most of the technical areas (rocks) were completely clear of snow. The mud was all frozen, though by the time we were done (1:00 or so) it was starting to soften. Even at 1:00, the trails were not so soft as to be a problem riding on them. Once it melts down we will have to stay off for a couple of weeks until they dry.

Pics are here: http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=87170

John

There seems much less snow in southern ct. but everything loos soaked...

I got out pretty early and rode at a state park in MA (just over the border) on Saturday, and the trails were 90-95% covered still. The colder spots in the woods were okay but the areas in the sun really turned to mush quickly. It was tough to keep the cranks turning in a lot of places. I got home and took my studded tires off, and proclaimed it to be the end of ice biking season.

I'd be interested to here how the Southern part of CT is looking these days.

some of those spots looked like you could have fun, the others are the reason i havent been out around here. I hate pushing through that granular so to get wet shoes and a packed rear triangle.

some of those spots looked like you could have fun, the others are the reason i havent been out around here. I hate pushing through that granular so to get wet shoes and a packed rear triangle.

There was some pushing, but the large majority (like 75% or better) of the trails were really nice.

John

I live in Seymour and it's very spotty around here. My guess is ,by the end of this weekend (Easter) with the rain and temps we're supposed to be getting, the snow will be mostly gone.
The areas that get the AM sun still have a lot of snow whereas the areas that get the PM sun are clearing up nicely.

beach memorial park and twin brooks park in Trumbull yesterday and it looked very rideable, not much snow at all. But anything with a trail (like pequonnock valley) will be immediately rutted. Riding trails that become overgrown in summer and almost unused trails, or no trails like droppin off random rocks is the way through the impending mud season.

I was surprised at the amount of snow on the trails still. Some of the upper trails were clear, but the lower ones (with the exception of the shovelled river trail) were completely covered with loose granular (very slick).

for you freeriders....some of the drops and logs were perfectly clean (like the ones closest to the commuter lot).

This coming Easter weekend will be 100% better considering we had some rain, and it's going to be in the 50's today.

I was surprised at the amount of snow on the trails still. Some of the upper trails were clear, but the lower ones (with the exception of the shovelled river trail) were completely covered with loose granular (very slick).

for you freeriders....some of the drops and logs were perfectly clean (like the ones closest to the commuter lot).

This coming Easter weekend will be 100% better considering we had some rain, and it's going to be in the 50's today.

How is totally trashing muddy trails 100% better?

How's is totally trashing muddy trails 100% better?

Based on the amount of snow on the ground (lotsa water) and the fact that temps will not be below freezing all week (mud thawing), this weekend is going to be a mud fest. STAY OFF THE TRAILS!

John

Based on the amount of snow on the ground (lotsa water) and the fact that temps will not be below freezing all week (mud thawing), this weekend is going to be a mud fest. STAY OFF THE TRAILS!

John

Thank you John!

rode cockaponset saturday, at that point only a couple trails were clear, sunny side of the lake....everything else was and still probably is covered.

also hit bluff point yesterday....sweeeeeeeeeeeet. completley clear. i've never been there before, so my friends and i had no idea where we were going, but it still felt great to get out riding fast trails again (not to mention my new bike)

it was about 80% clear with some trails actually dry abd nice. That will probably change tonight though. found and hit up a 4' to 7' double drop near the red trailhead entrance, too bad theres a stonewall 8-10' after the landing. There's actually lots of freeride possibilities in that little park and others in the rocky valley,

I know Trumbull (and have been riding there for 10+ years). What I did'nt know is that I needed YOUR permission to ride/hike. You should know that the upper ridge trails dry extremely fast as the snow/water rolls down into the valley. There is very little mud on these sections. The main trail and the lower river trails DO tend to get muddy...and I avoid these 95% of the time.

...and don't assume that everyone riding in the Spring intentionally destroys trails. In fact, I frequently hike through and perform trail maintenance by removing downed branches and trees, fixing stone paths over wetlands...and so forth.

I'm all for preserving the environment in which I ride. I don't litter, don't cut new trails, yield the right of way to hikers, and appreciate the opportunity for using the area.

You should really focus your negativity on the teenage punks that leave their garbage and beer cans all over the place (not to mention the punks on their dirt bikes). I never see any of them doing anything constructive.


Based on the amount of snow on the ground (lotsa water) and the fact that temps will not be below freezing all week (mud thawing), this weekend is going to be a mud fest. STAY OFF THE TRAILS!

John

The main trail and the lower river trails DO tend to get muddy...and I avoid these 95% of the time.

.

Getting kind of defensive there, sounds like you've got it figured out, apologies for assuming otherwise... As I said, there's good parts and bad parts, as long as you know which is which and how to avoid, all is good.

John