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Post by JIMMYC on Feb 5, 2009 8:27:34 GMT -5
The packing is taking place in the middle of the tread creating a low spot, then the water can't drain.....
don't forget- BRICK PARTY-- Saturday Feb. 21, meet in the parking 8:30am. it will be F - U - N
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Post by ted on Feb 5, 2009 8:33:10 GMT -5
In my opinion they (hikers and runners, one of which I am) are less likely to go through the puddles/soft sections. Instead choosing to go around them thus widening the trail creating further problems. I could be wrong, but I feel confident that most would opt to not get their feet wet and muddy. Only the hardest of the hard core maybe. Even then they should know it to can cause damage. Besides it's not like there aren't any other trails to run and ride on. Here's some reading for ya: www.imba.com/resources/science/trail_shock.htmlAnd a whole list of others: www.imba.com/resources/science/
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Post by Ross D on Feb 5, 2009 12:49:09 GMT -5
Got it, I was just thinking a wider platform (foot vs. bike tire) would be better.. You wouldn't have the dip in the middle, or valley.. I've never run out there.. probably never will, but have thought of hiking out there on a day I couldn't ride..
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Post by seenvic on Feb 5, 2009 14:22:12 GMT -5
The hiking at the Stevens Creek Heritage Preserve would be far better than at FATS.
Better views, better (rare) plants to see, fewer people. NO BIKES!
SCHP is simply beautiful. A stellar location to hike.
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Post by Ross D on Feb 5, 2009 23:02:30 GMT -5
Lately, I've just been going down and walking the canal trail and taking my cutters with me to clean up anything that needs to be cleaned up.. Kinda kills two birds with one stone.. Trail work and a good walk.. ;D
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Post by upstart on Mar 22, 2009 14:02:15 GMT -5
"When I took Bill from Jacksonville to ride the Connector last weekend"
I'm sure you know you're poaching private property when you do this. unless you have some different way you go. I'm not sure what that could be but maybe it's there.
I've been escorted out of that private property twice over the years. I had no room to argue with the guys. They were nice about it but refused to let me go any further. I don't do the connector anymore because of that.
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Post by seenvic on Mar 22, 2009 21:39:32 GMT -5
"When I took Bill from Jacksonville to ride the Connector last weekend" I'm sure you know you're poaching private property when you do this. unless you have some different way you go. I'm not sure what that could be but maybe it's there. I've been escorted out of that private property twice over the years. I had no room to argue with the guys. They were nice about it but refused to let me go any further. I don't do the connector anymore because of that. Yes, I know when I am on private property and when I am not. There is a 100% public property "Connector" route. It's a little longer than the other Connector routes, but it doesn't get on private property. The Sumter Metric Century will take this route.
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Post by Mark Y on May 18, 2009 9:16:21 GMT -5
On the way back from the SMC Saturday I drove past FATS. Clearly, it had been raining for some time at that point (after 5 pm), and there were several cars in the parking lot. I don't know anywhere in that network they could have been that they couldn't have been off the trails AFTER it started raining hard.
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Post by seenvic on May 18, 2009 9:44:26 GMT -5
Probably were on the trails. That said, there are alot of gravel roads in the area. Many times when FATS is closed, riders park in the lot and ride gravel roads. Would rather they not park in the FATS lot, but they do. But I'd say this past Saturday, they were on the trails.
Mark Y....were you the guy at a couple rest stops Saturday? I think I heard you say you a vegetarian and perhaps gluten intolerant. Curly hair and glasses. That you? Just trying to put a face with a name.
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Post by brianW on May 18, 2009 10:10:40 GMT -5
Curley hair with his son riding? If so that kid can ride.
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Post by Mark Y on May 18, 2009 11:13:15 GMT -5
Probably were on the trails. That said, there are alot of gravel roads in the area. Many times when FATS is closed, riders park in the lot and ride gravel roads. Would rather they not park in the FATS lot, but they do. But I'd say this past Saturday, they were on the trails. Mark Y....were you the guy at a couple rest stops Saturday? I think I heard you say you a vegetarian and perhaps gluten intolerant. Curly hair and glasses. That you? Just trying to put a face with a name. No, I was working the second SAG with Jon and Dale.
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Post by seenvic on May 18, 2009 11:44:30 GMT -5
[/quote]
No, I was working the second SAG with Jon and Dale. [/quote]
I think I know who you are now. If I see you soon enough, I'll recognize you as Mark Y.
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Post by Mark Y on May 18, 2009 13:07:56 GMT -5
No, I was working the second SAG with Jon and Dale. [/quote] I think I know who you are now. If I see you soon enough, I'll recognize you as Mark Y. [/quote] Yea, you know me by face. An interesting tidbit for you; you were the first/second face of SORBA I knew. The story: I bought a Giant Rincon from Andy just to start having a little exercise and recreation on the likes of the towpath and light off road. A friend used to ride a lot and he told me there was this place called FATS he had heard about and talked me into going out there one day. Well, my car was in the shop and my helmet was in the car. When we got there, a trailer with a banner and a table was set up and these two guys were there handing out info. We asked about the trails, got directions, bought some raffle tiks, so on. This one guy, the smaller of the two, commented that the trails weren't marked, but if we went left, etc., etc, we would be alright; but if we just kept going downhill we were in for a long ride. Well, because the purpose of the raffle was to raise funds for signage, I was more than happy to donate more than the value of the raffle tiks, because I was very intimidated about going off down in the woods not knowing where I was going (still am to some extent), and especially not knowing if I had te physical endurance to get out of there if we took a wrong turn. (this was shortly after Edgefield Co had to rescue a lost person that got stuck after dark) So, after much hesitation on my part, my buddy convinced me that he was comfortable with the directions and we started to head out. The smaller guy noted I didn't have a helmet and asked me where it was. I told him and assured him that I was a novice and as such rode s-l-o-w and carefully. He insisted that it would make him feel better if I didn't ride without a helmet, so I told my buddy that it was OK, we would ride it another day (especially since I was very worried about getting lost with the interconnectng trails). Well, the other guy with him chimed in and said, "look, take my helmet; I have an extra". I was shocked that someone would offer that to a total stranger, but he joked that "not to worry, you have to come right back by me to get out of here". So off we went, immediately getting lost. We left the parking lot and went straight ahead, the two guys had to yell at us to get us on the right track. I'm thinking Crap! We can't get it right in the first 100 yards, what is going to happen 3 miles down the trail? Well, we made it around Skinny uneventfully, and I enjoyed my first "trail" ride immensely. On the way out we met a group that included the guy whose helmet I borrowed, ( he REALLY wasn't worried about me returning it!) so I handed it to a lady at the table with my thanks. (BTW, even with my casual jaunt around Skinny, it became obvious very quickly the need for a helmet, riding hard or not) I was so grateful for the care and concern shown by those two guys; the work done to provide such a wonderful venue for mountain bikers, and the fact that SORBA was putting up the signs, I joined IMBA/SORBA not too long after that just to support them financially if nothing else. After going to an explore the trails event several months later (FATS grand opening after the signs were up?) I found out the name of the guy who loaned me his helmet was Daniel Allen. At the past April meeting at Nacho Mama's, I recognized the man who really twisted my arm about wearing that helmet. His name was Bill Victor. Thanks guys. If not for you two I may have been one of the "I'd rather be destroying FATS crowd", wandering in the widerness without an understanding or appreciation of what it takes.
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Post by seenvic on May 18, 2009 14:09:43 GMT -5
Wow, I remember that day. Not as well and detailed as you do, but I remember enough to vouch for that story.
Thanks for the reminder of a good outcome.
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Post by dparrott on May 18, 2009 21:06:05 GMT -5
After SMC I drove past FATS at about 6:45 and there were still 2 vehicles in the parking lot. Man, I was bummed by that.
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Post by seenvic on May 19, 2009 11:24:05 GMT -5
When I put the closed signs out on Sunday morning there was a car already there!
Big GIANT sticker on the truck.
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