Freeze/Thaw Cycle and MTB Trails

[indysteel]

Someone posted this on our local mtb association forum. I thought I'd share it here as well for those who may ride in similar conditions and on similar trails as we have here in Indiana. I found it instructive.

Freeze/Thaw....Freeze/Thaw........Freeze/Thaw

Well, it's that time of year again. When the temperature dips below freezing at night, and goes above it during the day. Try to ride early in the morning while the ground is still frozen. Once it thaws out, the trail will be very slick, (greasy), on top from the moisture that has been forced upward during the night. As the day warms up, the trail can become soft down several inches. Which is when riders can do some serious damage, leaving ruts that stick around for a long time. Sometimes late in the evening also works for a ride after a freeze/thaw cycle, especially if it has been a sunny, warm day. Late morning, when most bikers are used to rolling into the trailhead parking lot, can be the WORST time to start a ride in the winter. Midday doesn't work during freeze/thaw!

Some other winter riding tips;
Try to find out beforehand if the day is going to be sunny or not before riding. Cloudy days can increase your riding time by an hour or so, even if the temp goes above freezing.

If it is going to be a sunny day, try to ride the sunny side trails early in the day while they are still frozen. South facing trails can turn soupy even at below freezing temps, once the sun hits them full-on.

Leaf cover can also make a difference. Well covered trails might not freeze at all, and if they do, they thaw out slower.

Try to be closer to the trailhead as the temps warm up. Conditions can change rapidly, and pushing a bike with two inches of peanut butter mud on the tires back four miles to the truck is pretty frustrating...... Been there, done that!

[Giulianna23]

Hey Indy thanks for the info... I am seriously considering mountain biking in the winter. I found a female rider at my local trail that does it and I we been talking about it. We ride the Avon trails at least once a week together she is way more experienced than me and wayyy faster too...but I like to ride with her (that makes me stronger) and the good thing is that she encourages and pushes me just enough to the point that I have been able to do some serious drops and more complicated trails than the easy ones... + I really get a work out when I ride with her and I appreciate that..

I will keep this info handy when the time comes...

[indysteel]

It sounds like you're having a blast on the trails and meeting lots of great people! I'm happy to hear it!

[TrekDianna]

I need to look for info like that for my area...sand, sand, sand in the high desert. It freezes and thaws, but it does not get muddy. I don't know what it does since I've just gotten the house here and have not yet been on winter trails. I did do a 14 mile road ride as the snow melted this morning.

[Irulan]

Your local club can be a great source of info on trail conditions. Every area varies.
Sand drains quickly so it doesn't hold much moisture to freeze. Clays however are a different story. Even in my county, we have great variation in the soils depending on where you are. What's important in one are may not matter somewhere else.

[Catrin]

Hey Indy thanks for the info... I am seriously considering mountain biking in the winter. I found a female rider at my local trail that does it and I we been talking about it. We ride the Avon trails at least once a week together she is way more experienced than me and wayyy faster too...but I like to ride with her (that makes me stronger) and the good thing is that she encourages and pushes me just enough to the point that I have been able to do some serious drops and more complicated trails than the easy ones... + I really get a work out when I ride with her and I appreciate that..

I will keep this info handy when the time comes...

You might already know this, but HMBA website has a notification system to let riders know when any of the trails are closed - check it out at www.hmba.org. They do have a forum just for the Avon trails, and it is included in the trail-specific condition alert. Glad to hear you are having so much fun It is awesome that you are so close to the Avon trails, for sure.

[Irulan]

That's nice the local rider support the education effort. Around here, any educational about freeze/thaw usually gets you the finger, figuratively. Those of us that understand theses things pay attention, but there's a good many folks who don't want anyone to harsh their mellow by telling them when they can and can't ride.