Wakefield is a Smoking!

[Snot-Rocket]

I snuck out this Sunday morning for a quick ride- I also rode Saturday and with the light rain and the new trails I figured Wakefield would be holding up fine and that is the truth...

I'm just totally stoked with the new lines at Wakefield- totally different trail experience, feels more like MTBing- just totally awesome work!

Rah,

Snot

[martin]

I'm just totally stoked with the new lines at Wakefield- totally different trail experience, feels more like MTBing- just totally awesome work!

Ditto. Rode last week and the new trail has made Wakefield much, much better. Buttery smooth...

[MyOtherBrotherL]

I slapped a brand new bike computer on the multi today and stole a quick ride out at Wakefield.

If we were to race tomorrow the course would be 3.7 miles long (give or take a tenth). (Last years course came in at around 2.9 to 3.1) That's starting at the Power Station Gravel Pile and ending there. My tired legs did it in just under 24 minutes. I'd guestimate at race pace (Again - for me) at 21 minutes. Given that the course will undoubtedly get faster as it wears in, I'm thinking winning EXPERT lap times between 15 and 17 minutes. Average Sport lap times may go between 22 and 26 minutes (Not including the first 5 Sandbagging Times).

Now here's my problem. How many laps should the individual classes be at this summers races? (I need to get people started and finished in under an hour).

Experts - 3 laps? (11 miles) or 4 (14.8 miles)
Sport - 3 laps? (11 miles)
Masters, Single Speeders, Clydesdales (2 laps or 3??)
Beginners and Juniors - 1 lap?

Remember daylight and Start times are going to be a factor.

Need Comments and suggestions.

L

[camp]

I need to get people started and finished in under an hour.
Sport - 3 laps? (11 miles)
Masters, Single Speeders, Clydesdales (2 laps or 3??)L
Under an hour may be tough, unless the course is shortened somehow, slightly.
Single Speeders should not do fewer laps than Sports.

It's only the last 2 races where daylight would be a real issue, and really only if there's rainouts that push them back into another week or two. So, you could start with the 3.7 course and adjust accordingly in the later races. Yes, it was nice to have 4 races last year on exactly the same course for comparisons sake, but that's not that important I think.

[kipig]

I'd agree with LCamp that the SS race should be same distance as the Sport race. Three laps should be enough to wear us down. I need one lap just to catch my breath, one to un-jam my chain and curse my bike, and a third to put on chase of LC, Nick, Evan and Judd.

What ever you come up with L, I'm sure it will be fun.

[joep]

I think 3 laps for singlespeeders is fine. Make it 4 and people will start lapping me. I also think it would be good to incorporate a lot of the powerline escape routes to give people more passing lanes.

JoeP

[Snot-Rocket]

Hey, how fat do you have to be to be a clydesdale?

[jks9199]

I don't know...but I don't think there's any doubt that I qualify! My guess... If you have to ask, but are afraid to, you probably are. :eek: :D

Jim
(Who is a sight to see in his bright yellow bike shirt at work! And is NOT responsible for any blindness incurred as a result of said experience!)

[esfand]

Hey, how fat do you have to be to be a clydesdale?

Good question. I'm 6'2 165. Does that count? If not, I'm ready to hit some buffets.

[camp]

Good question. I'm 6'2 165. Does that count?
not even close,
i doubt you could even eat enough between now and June to make weight for Clydes

[Dirt]

not even close,
i doubt you could even eat enough between now and June to make weight for Clydes

You're probably right, but it is important to have goals in life. Esfand, did you see the movie "Supersize Me"? I suggest a diet similar to his with a whole lot of beer added. It would help to eliminate all unnecessary physical activity. Be one with your couch.

We'll get you big enough to fill out a mumu in no time at all. It'll be a good look for you.

Pete

[Dirt]

Yeah, like I'm going to be serious????

Well actually, I am... sort-of.

What really impressed me about the trails were how well they held up after the rain. The new trails were FABULOUS last night. I'm not saying they were ridable, they were PERFECT! Even after 5" of rain and three days of decent weather after, the new trails were dry.

The hard part was getting to them. Any riding on the dirt road that goes from the power station north was absolutely covered in frogs.

The new armored trail at the base of the power lines is similarly infested, plus the part that leads through the woods to the creek crossing is muddy (I didn't ride it, but it used to be muddy and hasn't changed much lately).

The trail along the fence next to the beltway is a bit mucky and after the rain, the one problem dip is now a gaping casm. It went from a 3' deep wheel sucker to a 5' deep bike sucker. This is a spot where we need a bridge... one that starts back pretty far since that gully is still growing.

The creek trail is basically gone at this point. As is often true with a storm similar to what we had last week, it was under 3' of water that was moving pretty fast. It'll take a week or two to really dry out and have the trail re-established.

The best way to get up there is the trail closest to the beltway. Just watch out for that gully. Hopefully the frog infestation season won't last too long. I haven't seen that many out in a long time.

Please accept my most sincere apoloties for saying something halfway sensical. I at least included a few typos and spelling errors to avoid being taken seriously.

;)

Pete

[bigbadbrad]

Pete:

While I couldn't make the night ride last night, I did my own sunrise ride today. I wholeheartedly agree w/you; the new trail is great. Truly amazing, after all the rain. As for anything leading to it, however, (to quote the line that made Ed McMahon a millionaire), "you are correct, sir!"

I parked at the north end, Accotink Pkwy, just off 236 near the Americana Park ballfield. Riding in from there is often muddy, but today it was like marshland. Gingerly I went...There's a veritable lake on the main road coming in, had to cross deep ruts to get to the little bit of a creek trail there to bypass the pond.

Once I got on the main gravel trail (to the bridge), it was fine. Rode the north section of creek trail, it's already dried out pretty well, albeit w/some sandbars. Had to remove some flood debris here & there. North end of powerlines: bad. Avoid.

New trail in woods: SWEET! Ride it! I gotta say, the powerline rock-girdered & boardwalked area is a mixed bag. Those sections that are done are great, but getting onto & off of said sections is still problematic. Any idea the work schedule to finish the N. & S. ends of that area?

And finally, I see what you mean about "Endo Barranco" (ask Squirrel Girl). Good spot for a bridge, or perhaps a reroute to the downhill side, to get around the steep ditch?

Ride on! :p
--Brad

[Dirt]

And finally, I see what you mean about "Endo Barranco" (ask Squirrel Girl). Good spot for a bridge, or perhaps a reroute to the downhill side, to get around the steep ditch?

Bridges and boardwalks are so borring. I'm thinking of some kind of catapult to launch people across. Either that or a zip line. Maybe a rope bridge as long as it swings a lot.

Pete

[Squirrel Girl]

Bridges and boardwalks are so borring. I'm thinking of some kind of catapult to launch people across.Wooo hooooo! Great idea.

Either that or a zip line.My group at work just moved into our new building across the parking lot from the old one. I plan to install a zip line from the roof of the one building to the other. Only thing is that it'll be really easy to go from the old, 6 story building to the new 3 story one. It'll be a lot harder going the other way........ :rolleyes:

[themonkeyman]

We can't have a zipline, that wil never do.
What we need is a 25-foot high skinny 'bout 4inches wide!! ;) But seriously, that would be awesome, no joke.

At that ditch, farther toward the beltway side of the trail are pink flags that look as if they're demarking a bridge spot. Dunno, but that's probably what they are.

Either way, the skinny or the bridge, something needs to be done about it--Graham

[drewdane]

We can't have a zipline, that wil never do.
What we need is a 25-foot high skinny 'bout 4inches wide!! ;) But seriously, that would be awesome, no joke.

At that ditch, farther toward the beltway side of the trail are pink flags that look as if they're demarking a bridge spot. Dunno, but that's probably what they are.

Either way, the skinny or the bridge, something needs to be done about it--Graham
Why not build some sort of North Shore/Ray's Indoor MTB Park kinda thing? Nothing spectacular, but something more interesting than a plank bridge? Seriously, why not?

[Dirt]

Why not build some sort of North Shore/Ray's Indoor MTB Park kinda thing? Nothing spectacular, but something more interesting than a plank bridge? Seriously, why not?

I'm kinda partial to a teeter totter, but I think since it is a multi-use trail and we're lucky to be riding there at all, a bridge would be the best that Fairfax County Regional Park Authority would let us do.

I can still hope and dream for a catapult though. ;)

Pete

[drewdane]

I'm kinda partial to a teeter totter, but I think since it is a multi-use trail and we're lucky to be riding there at all, a bridge would be the best that Fairfax County Regional Park Authority would let us do.

I can still hope and dream for a catapult though. ;)

Pete
There are bridges, and then there are Bridges. An s-shaped span built like a North Shore stunt (you know, the "ladder" design made out of 2x4s), for example :D .

Of course that would involve being able to commit to trailwork days, which I have trouble doing, so maybe I'll just keep my mouth shut. :rolleyes:

[AVee]

Nice job over at Wakefield. Skipped out of work early Friday to ride them before it rained all weekend and liked the new trails out there. Couple of areas still mucky but the new switchbacks were an improvement over the thrashed trails they are replacing. Some skinnies and teeters would be a blast but with this trail being used by all levels of riders it may be a problem unless marked well and with some clearly marked ride-a-rounds available.