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Post by chaosx44 on Aug 25, 2009 14:10:47 GMT -5
I rode FATS this weekend for the first time and loved it. New to mountain biking but I adore it already. My question is about the safety of going alone on a weekday after work hours. Are there usually a good number of people out on weekday afternoons as I will be riding alone and I am concerned for safety reasons. I want to ride as often as possible but dont want to risk being in the woods basically alone. Thanks in advance.
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Post by imnav8r on Aug 25, 2009 15:31:46 GMT -5
I was out there yesterday afternoon around 4:00pm. When I got to the parking lot, there were no cars at all. I had to hike down the Great Wall to retrieve an abandoned bike. When I drove past the main parking lot about an hour later, there must have been a dozen cars in the parking lot.
Quite a few people are riding in the evenings now that the weather has begun to cool slightly.
Welcome to the sport and our Forum! I'm pleased to see you live by my motto...Be safe!
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Post by seenvic on Aug 25, 2009 16:11:21 GMT -5
You should be fine. Wear a helmet. Wear orange when it's hunting season.
I rode there last night. About 8 cars there when I left. And about 12 when I finished.
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Post by brianW on Aug 25, 2009 19:07:56 GMT -5
If riding alone, tell someone where you are riding and what time you should be back.
FATS and Bartram seem to be the trails that get the most riders.
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Post by dgaddis1 on Aug 25, 2009 20:26:47 GMT -5
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Post by wooglin on Aug 26, 2009 8:35:29 GMT -5
If riding alone, tell someone where you are riding and what time you should be back. Also, don't crash. ;D |
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Post by chaosx44 on Aug 26, 2009 10:35:30 GMT -5
Right on! Thanx guys. All good advice. As for not crashing....I ate it the first .3 miles I was out there. Welcome to the world of mountain biking huh? I'm bruised up like a crackwhore.  So can somebody give me a quick rundown or a link to the difference b/t the FATS trails as far as difficulty, terrain, etc. Havent been able to find anything about them other than their distance. |
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Post by seenvic on Aug 26, 2009 10:45:32 GMT -5
Easiest loop. Skinny. Less climbing per mile than any other loop except Brown Wave. About 7 miles from the parking lot, around the loop and back to the lot.
Easiest two loops to ride: Skinny and Brown Wave. Almost 13 miles.
Easiest way to ride BW from the parking lot is to ride the Upper Skinny as an out/back to the BW. This is about 10.5 miles.
GW isn't much harder than Skinny/BW, just a little longer. About 8 miles.
Deep Step is the hardest, I think. Although it is only about 5.5 miles round trip from the parking lot. Followed by Tower than Big Rock which are about 4 miles each. The climbing is what makes them more challenging.
Hardest three loop ride is DS, BR, Tower - no doubt. This is about 18.3 miles if you ride the Connector Trail both ways.
I like all the loops best CCW, except Tower. I go both ways on Tower.
There are many other trails in the area besides FATS that offer a completely different experience than the un-technical trails at FATS. If all you ever ride is FATS, you are going to be in for a surprise the first time you ride anywhere else (locally or out of the area). I'd recommend exploring all the trails in the area and you will become a very well rounded rider.
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Post by chaosx44 on Aug 26, 2009 10:52:22 GMT -5
Thanks for the info. My first time out on a trail I rode Bartram from Petersburg to West Dam and back. That was what sucked me in. Before I was just riding the towpath and greenway for exercise. Havent been on the canal trail yet but hoping to do that ASAP. On a weekend I will hit up the other trails out in SC. Thanks again for all yalls info! Im really looking forward to improving my skills and kicking arse out there.
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Post by jtaylor on Aug 26, 2009 11:09:59 GMT -5
safety suggestions- carry your cell phone, good service on most trails. Study the map for FATS- you are never very far from the forest service / stone roads for a bailout. Buy a light so you don't get stuck in the dark because you had a flat tire, or some delay. Know how to fix a flat tire
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Post by moto922 on Aug 26, 2009 12:59:09 GMT -5
Havent been on the canal trail yet but hoping to do that ASAP. chaosx44, I sent you a private messages concerning riding alone at the Canal trail. |
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Post by imnav8r on Aug 26, 2009 13:28:08 GMT -5
Get yourself a good hydration pack like a Camelback. Try to get one that holds at least 70 ounces of water and also one that has some storage so you can carry an extra innertube and/or patch kit. The storage pocket is also a good place to carry your cell phone and your car keys.
You might one to get one of those small air pumps to carry on your bike. They usually mount where your water bottle mounts and won't take up too much room. If you don't already know how to fix a flat bike tire, stop by any of the local bike shops and they will be happy to show you.
Try to join the ladies for their monthly ladies ride too. They sometimes have skills clinics that will help you avoid some crashes, and it's a great way to meet some other female riders who are quite familiar with our trails. They usually have those around the middle of the month, so keep an eye out in the Chapter News or Ride Posts section for the latest news about it. If you want, you can contact yetichick. She is the one who organizes the ladies rides which are open to all ladies and all skill levels.
Be safe!
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Post by brianW on Aug 26, 2009 17:09:25 GMT -5
What are the concerns riding the Canal trail by yourself?
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Post by cornercarver on Aug 26, 2009 20:12:42 GMT -5
What are the concerns riding the Canal trail by yourself? I'm not to crazy about any female riding ALONE on any trail except the Greenway since it has so many people. Unless they are Gina Carano. She can definetly hold her own. ;D |
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Post by moto922 on Aug 26, 2009 20:48:26 GMT -5
What are the concerns riding the Canal trail by yourself? I warned her about Swamp Thing...he lurks down by the river. You have never seen him?  |
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Post by chaosx44 on Aug 27, 2009 9:23:49 GMT -5
Like cornercarver said, being a chic out riding in semi secluded areas alone I want to avoid a chance meeting with Swamp Thing or say a sexual predator or woman hater and I am no Gina Carrano (although I am probably a little overconfident that I can handle myself). I just dont wanna end up on the news.
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Post by Mark Y on Aug 29, 2009 23:02:59 GMT -5
Like cornercarver said, being a chic out riding in semi secluded areas alone I want to avoid a chance meeting with Swamp Thing or say a sexual predator or woman hater and I am no Gina Carrano (although I am probably a little overconfident that I can handle myself). I just dont wanna end up on the news. You are wise. I would like to think that folks you may encounter while mtb'ing will be nothing less than helpful and respectful; but in this day and time you can't trust that. Sad, but true; just look at that young woman who was abducted and murdered last year on a hiking trail. |
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