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MTB4U
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How do you know when you can't ride after rain?
09/27/18 at 10:32am
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Sorry to be asking almost the same question a second time, but I'm still not clear.  

What's the drill for knowing when it's cool to ride after rain?  I see on the TT homepage it still shows Beatty as open after last nights rain, but I imagine there has got to be a delay in updating the page.  That's only reasonable.  How quick does the admin update it?  In California, where I'm from, any rain at all messes up the trails for a number of days.  

I packed up all my gear and was going to do a couple of quick laps around Beatty this morning, but it poured for about 15 minutes last night in Indian Trail.  I'm not going to ride because I want to be respectful of our trails.  Does a quick rain like that close everything down?  How do I know for sure if it's cool to ride Beatty, or other parks?  Is the TT homepage the definitive answer?
« Last Edit: 09/27/18 at 10:54am by MTB4U »  
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Zakaraia Hermes
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Re: How do you know when you can't ride after rain?
Reply #1 - 09/27/18 at 10:58am
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No one will arrest you it’s not against the law . Make your own judgement when you get there. If it’s sloppy it would suck anyway
  
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Re: How do you know when you can't ride after rain?
Reply #2 - 09/27/18 at 10:58am
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Check on the website or what I do I check how is the mud situation in my yard under trees planters etc. If I do check for mud and in that case I am not going out but if I see that the ground is moist but not muddy I go. Normally trails in a forest are a little bit better than home. Just do not be afraid to go back home if you asses bad trail conditions.
  
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SirNotAppearing
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Re: How do you know when you can't ride after rain?
Reply #3 - 09/27/18 at 12:41pm
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I initially had it open because .1" typically isn't enough to make Beatty a mess, but someone in the neighborhood let me know it was pretty sloppy. So I closed it a little later than usual. 

Going with the front page is typically fine, just know that we are all volunteers doing other things, and it's never going to be perfect. If it shows open and you're still questioning conditions, you can always look at the local rain gauge. 
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Re: How do you know when you can't ride after rain?
Reply #4 - 09/27/18 at 8:51pm
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SirNotAppearing wrote on 09/27/18 at 12:41pm:
I initially had it open because .1" typically isn't enough to make Beatty a mess, but someone in the neighborhood let me know it was pretty sloppy. So I closed it a little later than usual. 

Going with the front page is typically fine, just know that we are all volunteers doing other things, and it's never going to be perfect. If it shows open and you're still questioning conditions, you can always look at the local rain gauge. 
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Yeah, that's what I expected.  It's not like this is a full time, or even a paying job.  You do what you can, when you can; I totally understand and appreciate all you and the other TT guys do. 
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Impaler 58
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Re: How do you know when you can't ride after rain?
Reply #5 - 09/27/18 at 9:22pm
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I believe they will arrest you at LNSP or the WWC.
« Last Edit: 09/27/18 at 9:23pm by Impaler 58 »  
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Re: How do you know when you can't ride after rain?
Reply #6 - 09/29/18 at 10:48am
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MTB4U wrote on 09/27/18 at 10:32am:


What's the drill for knowing when it's cool to ride after rain? 


It depends upon recent weather history and the trail itself.

Generally speaking if it's August and has generally been dry, a short shower barely wets the surface and dries almost immediately.
If it's not summertime expect mud.

Mud isn't my thing and this is my drill. If there is significant rain, I usually give it 24 hours to dry. If it's cooler weather and the rain is intense or long lasting, sometimes it can take 48 hours or more. Recently when we had Florence and dry weather afterwards, it took 4 days to dry out.

A good rule of thumb is, if you see puddles in low lying areas near the trail or on the way, you can almost be sure the trail will be wet/muddy. Whether that's an issue depends upon the trail.

Get a good weather app that tracks rainfall amounts in different areas. I use weather underground and other online apps to check rainfall amounts. Around here with so many passing showers, it can be raining heavily at your house, but the trail area may not get anything.
  
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Re: How do you know when you can't ride after rain?
Reply #7 - 09/29/18 at 1:22pm
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Impaler 58 wrote on 09/27/18 at 9:22pm:
I believe they will arrest you at LNSP or the WWC.


WWC center will just kick you out.  LNSP will write you a $250 ticket for trespassing.  Plus it's pretty hard not to know the LNSP is closed when it is. Smiley
« Last Edit: 09/29/18 at 1:22pm by The Cycle Path »  
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Re: How do you know when you can't ride after rain?
Reply #8 - 09/29/18 at 2:20pm
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IntheBush wrote on 09/29/18 at 10:48am:


Around here with so many passing showers, it can be raining heavily at your house, but the trail area may not get anything.


Yes, thanks, this is what is confusing me.
  
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Re: How do you know when you can't ride after rain?
Reply #9 - 09/30/18 at 1:45am
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MTB4U wrote on 09/29/18 at 2:20pm:


Yes, thanks, this is what is confusing me. 


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Pick the time period, zoom the map, pick the gauge closest to the trail and look at the rainfall amount.

Also consider the accumulated amount over the past week. Small amounts of rain will not affect a generally dry trail and will dry quickly, especially in the summer.

If the weather has been rainy without a couple of days to dry, especially in the cooler and less sunny months, then you should expect wet or damp conditions.

Weather underground also has a handy feature on the radar map tab called 'total precipitation'. This will give you a general idea of where and how much rain has fallen in a given area as storms pass. Be aware it only gives the amount for the last 1 day period.

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This is a reliable way to assess rainfall amounts near trails, but it does not guarantee a trail that normally closes during wet conditions will be open (ex. Beatty, Sherman Branch, Whitewater center, Springs, etc..). It's a subjective science and trail management makes those decisions. In such cases, most experienced riders have a backup, in case of questionable conditions. For example, Rocky River trail, Uwharrie, etc.. Such trails have good drainage, its on the honor system and almost never close. However, if its obviously wet or has rained significantly, better to take a rest day. Experience is the best teacher.
« Last Edit: 09/30/18 at 1:57am by IntheBush »  
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Re: How do you know when you can't ride after rain?
Reply #10 - 09/30/18 at 1:02pm
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Those rain gage and Wunderground links and are great, thanks so much for the help.
« Last Edit: 09/30/18 at 1:04pm by MTB4U »  
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