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Post by Angela on Sept 5, 2007 22:09:58 GMT -5
Absolutely - once I fell in love with mountain biking I felt like Modoc was our intermediate level trail and offered some great natural challenges all along it. Creek crossings (Jaws always gives pause depending on the water flowing over the rocks), great terrain variances, a few transitions that cause you to at least think before you ride them, a real diamond in the rough. But on occasion it has benefited from some work - bridge repair, tree removal, armoring of gushy spots, brush removal -----all in the spirit of leaving a really good trail good not overgroomed!!
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Post by shortlineskier on Sept 23, 2007 21:18:02 GMT -5
Rode trail Saturday. All creek beds are dry and rideable, well they are dry ! Approx. 7 trees down, all are rideable except one at 2.5m , 2 feet in diameter on ground and 2 hangers ( 1 ft diameter ) about the same height as the one on the backside of Deep Step. Bridges need some work one is twisted badly and very slippery. Other than that, litter on the trail and lots of spiders. Forgot how fun this trail is..
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Post by Angela on Sept 23, 2007 22:18:30 GMT -5
There is an access point to the trail at about 2 miles. So it would be fairly easy to get in to cut a tree out at the 2.5 mile mark. Where are the two hangers in relation to that one?? This is just a primo time of the year for the spiders. It is kind of cool to ride down a trail and get to the end and start to ride back and realize that those ambitious spiders have already built spider webs back in just that short period of time!! I love to watch their glowing emerald green eyes on the trails this time of the year when we nightride. Like little gems along the trail! Just remember these aren't black widow or brown recluse spiders - if you nab them in your handlebars or with your helmet, they will quickly try to rappel down and escape if they are given the chance - if they totally freak you out just make sure for the next few months that you aren't the fastest rider in your group or you will be the "webmaster"!
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Post by shortlineskier on Sept 26, 2007 20:50:15 GMT -5
Actually I came up with a pretty good idea. I found a stick shaped like a big Y. I strapped it to me head tude at a slight forward angle ....picture deer antlers. It seem to snag 80 - 90 % of the webs and spiders. The ends of the stick was silky white and I had managed to catch 9 spiders by the time we made the turn for home. Didn't need it coming back. If I thought there was a market, I would develop plastic clip-on version, probably wouldn't sell too many though.
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Post by JIMMYC on Sept 27, 2007 7:01:02 GMT -5
Shortline, Try using the plastic tubes they put in golf bags, reusable zip ties and electrical or duct tape. The only draw back is you will always be the ride leader.
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Post by Angela on Sept 27, 2007 19:45:53 GMT -5
Now I hope I encounter the two of you out on a nightride one night, I am getting a great visual of you all decked out in your "spider-catching" garb.
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Post by JIMMYC on Sept 28, 2007 8:57:48 GMT -5
HA HA HA...that was a long time ago, I don't use it any more, the spiders would get caught on it and would rapel back to my face and chest. It worked but the ribbing was brutal.
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Post by shortlineskier on Sept 28, 2007 19:05:33 GMT -5
Got a new guy visiting from Texas. He wants to ride Stevens Creek saturday, we're putting him in front. We wouldn't be good hosts unless we let our visitors go first.
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Post by driftwood on Sept 28, 2007 19:15:04 GMT -5
hope he likes eating spiders
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Post by Angela on Sept 28, 2007 20:25:33 GMT -5
It really helps to let the tallest riders be in front as well to clear everything out! MD did a great job tonight in his starring role as "Spiderman" out on the Bartram Lake Trail. Thanks Michael
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Post by jtaylor on Sept 29, 2007 21:48:04 GMT -5
I rode Modoc today, Saturday, 9/29, about noon. There was only one non-rider tree at about 2.6 mile and I cut that out with my handsaw. The bridge at 4 miles is a little tricky going out. There is a low-hanging tree right at .5 mile that I can just get under. There is a big leaning tree at 5+ mile that I cannot get by. Everything else is in good shape.
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Post by brianW on Sept 30, 2007 6:33:35 GMT -5
I have to agree with seenvic about cutting logs to prevent the widening of trails. I am from New Hampshire and have seen many trails I used to ride placed off limits to mt bikes because of this.
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Post by wooglin on Oct 1, 2007 19:03:54 GMT -5
I'm with seenvic. If people are riding around it enough to make an noticeable trail, it needs to get cut out. Soon enough another tree will fall that will make a technical challenge, and I'll happily ride that one (or clamber over) until a ride around starts developing there as well. Then its time for the sawyers.
I don't think the CSRA sees enough traffic for ride arounds to be necessary. Maybe if they developed in a day or two, but I don't think there's enough people out there for that. I could be wrong thouhg.
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Post by Angela on Oct 1, 2007 19:44:05 GMT -5
Our trails seldom seem "full" and that is a great thing - even when the FATS parking lot is full we rarely run into other riders on the trails.
That said folks are definitely out there riding and at times when we have had to wait a little bit to removed a tree that is not a rider off the trail........ it is amazing just how fast those ride arounds develop. More folks out there riding than we realize!
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Post by flyingbison on Apr 25, 2008 13:33:11 GMT -5
Rode the first two miles today, then gave up - there are many trees down in the first two miles, most non-riders. Also, the first really short bridge (the one with about 5 planks) has broken and fallen into the trench creating a wheel-trap. It is surreal out there post burn. Also should note that depending on whether the rains come this weekend or not, a couple of the non-riders maybe self-correcting:
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Post by jtaylor on May 9, 2008 11:35:46 GMT -5
I rode Modoc May 7th. Non rider trees at 0.1, 0.3, 1.0, 1.5, 2.1, 3.4, 3.8, and 5.1 miles. The tree below the parking lot is the biggest mess, the rest can be stepped over or only minor detour. Limbo tree at 0.7 miles may fall some more and become a non-rider. Also another 4-6 trees sticking into the trail that need the chainsaw. The controlled burn reached the trail almost everywhere, and to the end. I saw some very cool wildflowers; the deer are easy to spot now. The guys that raked leaves away from the bridges and sign posts before the burn did a good job. I think we can clear the trail in 5 hours some weekend morning; let me know if you're interested.
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