RUTS

[seenvic]

Please stay off the FATS. They can not handle use at this time of year. The very fresh tread combined with rain and no leaves on the trees to remove the water means the water sits in the tread. It is very soft.

Someone has already ridden the mile or so of the newest loop. And left us a nice rut to show for it....brilliant!

Please stay off the FATS. They are too wet to ride and do not recover from a rain at the same pace the older, more established trails do.

In the future the tread will become compacted and will shed water. But we are at least a year from that point.

[azdrawdy]

Any of the other local trails are rideable within 48 hours after a rain. Even after the healthy rains we had Sunday (18 December), the better half and I have ridden Wine Creek, Turkey Creek and Horn Creek on Tuesday/Wednesday and don't have a single mud spot on the bikes to show. The Lake Trail (or Bartram if you prefer) is usually bone dry within 24 hours of a rain.

Bottom line: Bill is right. We need to stay off FATS. The other trails in the area that have been around a while are much more suited to riding during the damp winter season. That, plus we all know FATS isn't truly "open" yet!

Michael