{"id":10716,"date":"2017-05-24T10:00:44","date_gmt":"2017-05-24T17:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"\/\/livetoplaysports.com\/news-press\/?p=10716"},"modified":"2017-05-24T09:44:39","modified_gmt":"2017-05-24T16:44:39","slug":"riding-trails-in-the-wet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/livetoplaysports.com\/news-press\/2017\/05\/riding-trails-in-the-wet\/","title":{"rendered":"Respecting Trails in the Rain"},"content":{"rendered":"

In most of Canada, the snow is melting, and the mountain bike trails are becoming rideable again. It’s a good idea to check trail conditions before heading out- riding wet trails can damage them. Trails not designed for use during periods of heavy rain can be rutted and eroded\u00a0by use when standing water is present on the trail, meaning that when the weather does finally get warm and sunny, the trails will be in less than optimal shape.<\/p>\n

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TORCA<\/a>, the Tri-cities Off Road Cycling Association, are on the front line of the battle with soggy-trails. Based in the mountains around\u00a0Vancouver, they deal with saturated trails all winter and well into the late spring. TORCA have written an article<\/a> on identifying trails that are best for riding in the rain, and suggest the following guidelines for choosing trails to ride in shoulder seasons, to limit damage to fragile trail networks.<\/p>\n

Soil Type:
\n<\/strong>The type of soil on the trail bed contributes to how well the trail will drain. In it\u2019s natural state, the forest floor is made up of sticks, pine needles, leaves and other organic debris that is in various stages of decomposition. This material is known as duff, and if you pick it up, it\u2019s loose, doesn\u2019t pack, can hold a lot of water like a sponge, and when worked will break down into a black, sloppy muck that takes a long time to dry out.<\/p>\n

The gold soil that has become ubiquitous with modern trail building is the local mineral soil. It\u2019s a mixture of fine gravel, sand, silt and a small amount of clay with minimal organic matter. It is technically called loam (which is often confused with duff as mentioned above). When it\u2019s worked, it will compact down, and the clay and silt will bond everything together forming a hardened layer that can shed water and is very resistant to wear from foot and wheel traffic.<\/p>\n

Trail Grade:<\/strong>
\nWater on a trail is generally bad, but it becomes an erosive force when it\u2019s moving, and as it’s speed picks up, so does its potential for damage. A well-built, well maintained trail will have out-slopes on the trail bed to sheet water off to the side without it picking up much momentum.<\/p>\n

Special Restrictions:<\/strong>
\nSometimes, because of conditions, fresh work that needs to bed in and set, or a variety of other reasons, a trail may be temporarily closed.
\nIf it\u2019s really wet, consider going for a hike (although the same problems still exist<\/a>), or contact your local organization or builders to see if they need help, digging in the rain is really satisfying.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n