Greenbrier 11-26-2008

[redclayrambler]

11-26-2008 Rode Greenbrier today and the trails were in great shape, I think I saw one mud puddle not far from the creek crossing on the red loop. It also started doing a little snow kinda thing.......fun.
Clay

[Dirt]

Greenbrier is one of the most durable trails in MORE's arsenal for winter riding. There are a few keys to keeping it that way.

1) If it has rained or snowed recently, stay off the grassy area near the boat ramp. It is tempting to want to ride down the steep, grassy hill and then across the grassy flat area to head back in the woods. Go around. There's the boat ramp access road that is paved and then a dirt maintenance road that bypasses the grassy area and keeps things from getting muddy.

2) There are some trails that look sort of like their dirt before you get to the bottom of the red climb. It is tempting to want to skirt that in an attempt to get firm ground. That will do exactly the opposite. The best and most firm trail is right in the middle. Under the muddy looking top is rock. It isn't far down either. If you skirt to the side, you make a huge muddy mess.

I love/hate that red climb. :D

Thanks for the update Clay. Sorry that I couldn't join you today. Just too much going on here at home.

Pete

[philvw]

The other wet-problem area is on a not-much-used part of the red trail at the north end of the park near the Greenbrier/Swope Road parking area. It goes down and across a stream valley which is the run-off for the dam, and gets pretty sloppy in the wet season. Most people dont even know about it as it is not part of the race course. If you take off along the red from the boat ramp, cross the ridge, when you go down the steep extermely rocky technical area and come onto the rock road, this wet area is to the right, the race course and the area Pete mentions is to the left. Stick with that direction for the wet times. It is almost the same distance to the bottom of the red climb either way you go, you just cross the stream in a better place heading into the center of the park.

[ridethewomble]

Is Greenbrier the kind of place you could ride solo, without ever having seen it before, and do OK? If you do a map recon beforehand, are you going to be OK?

[tuba_transport]

Is Greenbrier the kind of place you could ride solo, without ever having seen it before, and do OK? If you do a map recon beforehand, are you going to be OK?

It ain't that bad and maps are posted all over the place. Greenbrier isn't really all that big.

[crashmore]

Is Greenbrier the kind of place you could ride solo, without ever having seen it before, and do OK? If you do a map recon beforehand, are you going to be OK?

It is pretty easy but if you want someone to show you around drop me a line. I live fairly close by and do a good bit of riding there. I'd be happy to show you the loop I do.

[redclayrambler]

2) There are some trails that look sort of like their dirt before you get to the bottom of the red climb. It is tempting to want to skirt that in an attempt to get firm ground. That will do exactly the opposite. The best and most firm trail is right in the middle. Under the muddy looking top is rock. It isn't far down either. If you skirt to the side, you make a huge muddy mess.

I love/hate that red climb.
Yeah, I remember you mentioning that before so I rode straight through (which is what we are supposed to do anyway right?:rolleyes:)
The climbs made me realize how out of shape I have become, I haven't been able to ride as much as usual this year and it really shows.............either that or I'm just a wimp!!
Have a great Thanksgiving all!!