You heard it earlier this season, RIDE DIRT - NOT MUD. It’s been a wet intro to summer, so why is it now OK to keep riding, even though it keeps raining?
The spring thaw lifts the dirt as it thaws out leaving the ground unstable and perfect conditions for bike tracks to dig deep into the singletrack. This is why we were advocating for not riding the trails earlier in the season.
The trails are now hard packed and the rain should be beading off these surfaces instead of sitting, penetrating and ultimately creating ruts and mud bogs. The daily freeze/thaw cycling is also over (at most elevations) which is what contributes to the extra soft, mucky conditions earlier in the spring. There is still a chance for these conditions at Silver Star Provincial Park (Sovereign) so we need to be observant.
Having said that, let’s keep in mind…
What is wet and what is muddy? Do you sink into it? It’s mud.
Ride Dirt. Not Mud.
What is wet and what is muddy? Do you sink into it? It’s mud.
When hitting our local trails, if it looks like it’s super slimy mud, you may well leave deep ruts that harden while drying, making many trail sections seriously damaged. Every trail and network manage water differently, be observant and watch your ruts.
For example, riding up Upper Stone Free this past weekend, there was a muddy section deep enough for the bottom of the bike tire to disappear. When this dries out, these tracks may remain. So what do you do when you come across this?
There’s a few things you can do:
Ride slow and in the center to lessen your impact
Walk your bike, your feet don’t leave trenches
Take 1 min to use your foot, a rock or stick to improve the drainage and dig an exit for the water
Report major issues on Trailforks
Mud on your bike looks cool, until it dries.
After riding in mud, wash your bike with care before it dries. Use your garden hose with a soft setting. Use soft brushes on the body, and tougher ones on the greasy chain. Our local shops have cleaners that will help with this job.