What are the conditions this weekend?
Ft CusterDarthdingo said:Where is kettle or Ft. custer ?
I am looking forward to heading out to Bull Frog lake area if the wider multitrack will be ready to ride soon ?
Were you just at Swallow or did you do more of the Palos single tracks? The single tracks right now are mud and slop please do not ride. Also the multi tracks are way too muddy to ride :madmax: The paved is the only rideable tracks that I know of right now.Darthdingo said:I live in the western burbs of Chicago. looking for a place to ride on a weekly basis that is just half hour away. only good single track I know close is swallow cliff. anything else nearby ? How is near des plaine river in northwest side of chicago ?
I haven't rode my Mountain Bike in the woods since the mid 90's, like 15yrs ago. Just getting back into it again :thumbsup:Jlodato said:Were you just at Swallow or did you do more of the Palos single tracks? The single tracks right now are mud and slop please do not ride. Also the multi tracks are way too muddy to ride :madmax: The paved is the only rideable tracks that I know of right now.
Yeah Swallow cliff single tracks are all closed and illegal. If you go around 95th and Wolf there is the Moutain Bike Staging Area and a few different groves that lead to The Gravity Cavity and 3 Ravines. Palos has some great singletracks.Darthdingo said:I haven't rode my Mountain Bike in the woods since the mid 90's, like 15yrs ago. Just getting back into it again :thumbsup:
But when I did ride, the popular spot was near the stairs for Swallow Cliff slides, up on top there was some killer single track that went downhill, and had some great twisty runs. I only rode up and around near that area.
Is that still the best spot to ride when it warms up ? I have heard that Maple and Bull Frog Lake area is good too, but never rode those trails, just Swallow Cliffs.
Oh, so the best stuff around the top of the stairs to Swallow Cliff slides is closed now ? That was so much fun and very popular when I rode out there. I always called that place Palos, because it is located in Palos Park forest preserve. But will check out this new place at 95th and Wolf.Jlodato said:Yeah Swallow cliff single tracks are all closed and illegal. If you go around 95th and Wolf there is the Moutain Bike Staging Area and a few different groves that lead to The Gravity Cavity and 3 Ravines. Palos has some great singletracks.
Thanks for the info. So on average when can we start to plan to ride out there ? A few weeks ?Jlodato said:They are open around the Maple and Bullfrog area. Those trails are pretty good and some are pretty technical. I have only been riding for a few years now but it is only improving. Those parking lots get a little crowded in the am with a lot of riders. Hopefully the trails will be dry soon.
Honestly depends. Hopefully its dry the end of March beginning of April. Im sure the Multi tracks probably a couple weeks. But as for singletracks last year end of March beginning of April were ok but then it was slop until June:sad:Darthdingo said:Thanks for the info. So on average when can we start to plan to ride out there ? A few weeks ?
It was my first time at saw wee kee this past weekend. Great trails and a good ride. I hope it holds up for this weekend. These storms will passSeanbike said:Until the rain Saw Wee Kee in Oswego was in great shape and 1/2 of the singletrack at Palos was good to ride also. For condition updates check www.cambr.org
Just an FYI, that is one man's FB page. Not the CCFPD nor Cambr....https://www.facebook.com/pages/Palos-Forest-Preserve-Mountain-Bike-Trail-Conditions/215079398521127
If you are on Facebook, and you are curious about the trail conditions @ Palos, w/o making the trip out there just to find them not suitable to ride, check this out. Conditions are updated often and accurately.