Winter Trails Need Special Care

Did you know our mountain trails need special care in the winter months? A freeze-thaw cycle can change the terrain, creating thick mud that makes a mess of your bike and damages paths.

Here’s what you need to do about it (thanks go to Roanoke IMBA for the great reminder):

• Ride when the ground is still frozen.
• Check out some new trails. Unfortunately, some of our favorite local trails (Carvins Cove and Explore Park) are the most prone to freeze-thaw damage. National Forest trails hold up better and don’t get nearly as affected by the freeze-thaw cycle. Other alternatives include Mill Mountain or Smith Mountain Lake State Park for beginners, Pine Ridge Trail or Douthat State Park for intermediate riders, or North Mountain (Dragon’s Back) or Arcadia for more advanced cyclists.
• Try gravel riding. Pull that road bike off the trainer and check out some of the amazing backcountry gravel roads. Many of the fire road climbs you do on a mountain bike are doable on a road bike, plus it adds a new element of challenge! (Check out the VES Gravelocity event on Jan. 15.)
• Do some trail work. Not into winter riding? Come on out and help build and maintain the trails.

• Jan. 8: North Mountain Trail, 9 a.m. to noon
• Jan. 10 and Feb. 28: Carvins Cove, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Rock N’ Roll Trail, email volunteers@greenways.org