How do I know if I can ride after rain?

This is a common question and here are the expectations.

Rain causes the track to soften.  When riding on the trail, if you notice you are leaving ruts, stop and head back.  Ruts can harden and create an unfriendly surface which could cause injury.  We ask that riders pay attention to the trail and protect it.

If you happen to be riding after rain, and notice the conditions are not good, please let the MTB community know by posting on the Facebook Group page. 

We rely on volunteers and ambassadors to post trail updates and that person could be you.  Help the community to stay informed by letting us know the conditions.
 
Know Our Trails
Trails dry at different speeds. It all depends on the design and the dirt. Home Loop and Demo are designed to drain and dry quickly.  The rockier the soil is, the less damage from wet conditions (like Pete’s and Ridge) however the trails with a lot of organic soil, that has been wet for a long time, will require more time and sun to dry out (like Route 66).  Rocks and roots become greasy and will change the dynamic and skill required for the trail.  A wet Pete’s is VERY different than a dry one.  Be prepared.

Judge for Yourself
Sometimes, after loading all your gear, prepping your bike, and driving to The Farm, the trail just looks iffy. You may not be able to tell from the trailhead whether it’s too wet to shred. 

Tread Lightly
Once you venture onto the trail, conditions can change dramatically around the next switchback. If you’re leaving a visible rut, or you’re slipping and losing traction when you lay down the watts, then bail.  At this point, it is likely that you are harming the trail surface and are moving too much soil around.
If trail conditions worsen a few KMs into a ride, it’s OK to go ahead, but be cautious. Walking causes as much damage to wet trail as riding a bike, according to IMBA, so stay on the bike and continue slowly through the middle of the trail without sliding your tires.  Don’t try to ride around wet spots because you’re going to end up widening the singletrack.

Love Your Trails
Even the most carefully-built trails need maintenance. Do not always assume that the Trail Crew will follow you on shovel duty and knock down all the ruts you just created. It’s usually a volunteer, another mountain biker who wakes up early on a Saturday to repair and rebuild the singletrack.
Trail ruts are a no-no!