Riding in rain poor form?

**PaSucks** · 08-20-2007, 02:28 PM

Is it bad etiquette to ride in rainy/muddy conditions? Do you ride in the mud? What say you? I really want to ride but apparently tropical storms like Pittsburgh and the rain won't stop until at least Thursday, meaning no dry riding until at least Saturday. I don't want to destroy the local trial system, especially since they have taken a lot of storm abuse this summer, but damn I don't want to wait!

**bagtagley** · 08-20-2007, 02:37 PM

In the West where it gets crazy dry and early season ruts never go away...yes. Where you are, if you don't ride in the rain you're going to have a very boring season, generally speaking.

**TuaDog** · 08-20-2007, 02:55 PM

I guess it's poor form to ride in Seattle. Damn, I better sell my bikes.

**rideit** · 08-20-2007, 03:01 PM

Completely, absolutely depends on the soil type.

**PaSucks** · 08-20-2007, 03:12 PM

Originally Posted by rideit

Completely, absolutely depends on the soil type.

Ok. So how do I determine this? Rocky/rooty areas are less suceptable to erosion, bare topsoil/loam/sand/clay/silt type soils are more suceptable. The areas I'm riding tend to have a little of everything, and there is definately evidence of erosion and washouts on several of the trails, including some real rocky areas.

**tromano** · 08-20-2007, 03:14 PM

If a trail drains well it can be ridable as soon as 24 hours after it stops raining. It really depends. In SWPA it rains all the time. Try to find trails that drain well for use during storms. Stay out of mud as much as possible. Might want to consider volunteering for trail maintenance if you do ride in the mud alot, and are worried about keeping the trail ridable for years to come. At least that way your making amends.

One thing to add is that the more you ride a trail before it dries out the worse it will drain in the future as the trail gets more rutted. Just something to think about.

**fondigley** · 08-20-2007, 04:06 PM

You should be good in PA. You don't even want to know how many races I rode back in the day in West Virginia in the rain/mud. I mean most of my rides or training rides had some muddy sections. Out here in Colorado, I wouldn't dare do it, but as nice as the soil is in the Appalachia region you should be fine.

Although I did just have three nice rides F,S & S, all with rain or right after rain, but not enough to even really matter. Just enough to make the trail tacky.

**grskier** · 08-20-2007, 04:11 PM

Originally Posted by tromano

If a trail drains well it can be ridable as soon as 24 hours after it stops raining.

So we shouldn't have rode yesterday after the rain....

It really depends on the trail, if there is puddle after puddle and you're creating a mud bog, don't ride it.....

**Ripzalot** · 08-21-2007, 01:01 AM

mud = ok.

cowpoop <> ok. (just keep your mouth closed)

**gravitylover** · 08-21-2007, 08:35 AM

Boring season, yup. Every day off I've had since mid July has been raining or just after a good rain so I haven't been on my bike since, except for a few rides last week in CO. Today is cold, windy and rainy so there goes another one. I don't know but, I think my attitude toward proper trail etiquette is going to go out the window if it rains again next Tuesday. Pa, just remember that everything around here gets "greasy" when it's wet so you will have some potentially spectacular and unexpected wrecks.

**schuss** · 08-21-2007, 08:56 AM

If it just rained I just try to stay off the looser, soupier trails. If there's vegetation and firm soil, I usually just go for it, as it doesn't damage it.

**Shredhead** · 08-21-2007, 09:07 AM

I ride everyday regardless. I just try to minimize my impact as much as possible.

**tromano** · 08-21-2007, 09:37 AM

Jeff, If you are going to ride in the rain anyway, you should ask people who are local and know the trails which are best to ride in the rain. I know your area has a lot of MTB groups who build trials ask them for advice.

**Particle** · 08-21-2007, 09:42 AM

Originally Posted by tromano

Jeff, If you are going to ride in the rain anyway, you should ask people who are local and know the trails which are best to ride in the rain. I know your area has a lot of MTB groups who build trials ask them for advice.

Exactly. There are trails in Ohio I'd never ride in the rain, and there are a couple that drain great with good soil to hold up to the wet that I'll ride even when it's pouring, and not worry about it. If you're leaving huge ruts through mud bogs, don't ride it. If the trail is holding up well under your tires and not gumming onto your bike, you're generally OK.

**BushwackerinPA** · 08-21-2007, 03:00 PM

In pa you cant wait for everything to dry out. The best places to ride are in Pine forest. North Park has some of the best pine tree riding local to you with more up in the Laurel Highlands.

Bavington State Game Lands is the best XC trails almost entirely in pine forest, you can ride here in a total downpour IMO. Also you will see tons of deer, elk, and even bears there on some really fun flowly singletrack.

South Park, Boyce Park should be avoided at all cost.

Hartwood Acres and Frick Park can be a toss up

DisArray · 08-21-2007, 03:44 PM

The "riding in the rain damages trails myth" is just that... a myth. So while you may piss off some self righteous, uninformed people for sure, be assured that you are not causing any permanent damage. If it is a well used trail, any 'ruts' you make will iron themselves out in a matter of days... In fact riding while the trails are still wet is important to pack down and stabilize the trail surface in some places (like Utah). So ride when you want, really.

**rideit** · 08-21-2007, 03:47 PM

Disarray or his alter-ego obviously has not spent over 4000 hours building and repairing trails.
Or seen the damage at Bookcliffs in Fruita.

DisArray · 08-21-2007, 04:14 PM

You are right, you are so much better and more experienced than me. But I have had enough experience to know that some people (like you) like to tell others what they 'should' or 'shouldn't' do for no other reason than a feeling of power and superiority they get by doing so. So, I trust my own observation, and my own observation tells me that it is no big deal.

**rideit** · 08-21-2007, 04:16 PM

OK, you be 'that guy', and we will continue to clean up the mess for free.

Jackass.
Thanks for making us do that.

DisArray · 08-21-2007, 04:20 PM

My pleasure.

**Particle** · 08-21-2007, 04:34 PM

DisA, just stop. Stop right there. We DON'T need another of these threads in here. BAD DisArray. BAD.

**Van_skier** · 08-21-2007, 04:44 PM

Originally Posted by DisArray

The "riding in the rain damages trails myth" is just that... a myth. So while you may piss off some self righteous, uninformed people for sure, be assured that you are not causing any permanent damage. If it is a well used trail, any 'ruts' you make will iron themselves out in a matter of days... In fact riding while the trails are still wet is important to pack down and stabilize the trail surface in some places (like Utah). So ride when you want, really.

Although there are trails that don't get completely destroyed in the rain, many trails suffer a lot with just a few riders when it rains...

I don't know where you ride, so I can't judge whether or not you are destroying the trails in the rain (maybe it's not an issue where you ride) but I can say that your blanket statement about it being a myth is wrong

It's thanks to people like you that:
*anti-trail advocates actually have examples of the negative impact of mtbiking on the environment and examples of uncaring trail users in the mtb community
*there aren't enough trail days or volunteers to maintain all the trails in good shape. As an example, one of the most used trails on the Shore (CBC) is destroyed come spring despite the fact it looked OK in late summer and it's closed during the rainy season. Hmmm, I wonder why the trail association gets it closed? I bet they must be uninformed...

So thanks,

**Rontele** · 08-21-2007, 04:48 PM

This is a good thread as I have been guilty in the past of riding trails after and during rainstorms that shouldn't have been ridden. That being said, there are many trails--sandy ones--that drain well and can be ridden in and shortly after heavy rains.

If you are leaving a deep imprint in the soil then it is too wet to ride it.

**TuaDog** · 08-21-2007, 04:54 PM

Originally Posted by DisArray

The "riding in the rain damages trails myth" is just that... a myth. So while you may piss off some self righteous, uninformed people for sure, be assured that you are not causing any permanent damage. If it is a well used trail, any 'ruts' you make will iron themselves out in a matter of days... In fact riding while the trails are still wet is important to pack down and stabilize the trail surface in some places (like Utah). So ride when you want, really.

I'm pretty sure this is a troll, but please don't joke around like that. There are people who are dumb enough to agree with you.....

.......and most of them own horses.

DisArray · 08-21-2007, 05:55 PM

I am not joking. Riding in the rain/mud doesn't hurt trails, and is a big myth IMO. This is from my own observation. Of course you have a right to disagree with me ... but I have seen severly rutted trail, 'heal' itself in a few days just from regular riding and without anyone working on it. Maybe it is different in other places, soil types etc... I don't know, but mother nature has her ways...