CRAMBA: Pontiac Lake

[KLydesdale]

Does anyone know how much rain PLRA got last night? I'm hoping to rip out a lap before the rain starts again tonight...

The PLRA only got about 0.02" rain last night. That's not enough to even be concerned about.

For future reference, here are some good websites showing total precipitation for the area:

http://www.weather.gov/data/obhistory/KPTK.html
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/ridge2/RFC_Precip/?site=dtx&lat=43.5&lon=-83.5&zoom=3


I was out there riding when the thunderstorms went through around 7pm and the rain was enough to dampen the trail but not enough to make it sloppy. It doesn't look like signifcantly more rain fell since then.

[Archangel6]

Rode @ 7:30 this am, trail was great big hill in the back was greasy other than that it was fast and consistent.

[compacted_graphite]

To MediumRB on your question regarding trail day: we will get the CRAMBA trailer to our April 21 trail day, but it is difficult for me to gage how many people will attend ahead of time.

So, if you bring pruners/loppers and maybe a shovel, that would help, in case we get a large turnout.

We want to to some trail brush trimming (cut back vines and rasberry pricker bushes), some repair to some of the drops and climbs that are washing out; and hopefully some repair to the last climbs and drops.

If anyone is a part of the massive Thanksgiving day ride and may have a e-mail distribution to that gathering of riders, could they please forward details of the trail day to the group of riders? April 21 - 9 am - meet at the beach trail head, bring safety glasses - sturdy shoes - water to drink, work gloves.

Thanks, CRAMBA Pontiac Lake TCs (Dave and Gary)

[smartblast.org]

Trail is in great shape as of today 3/25 but the horses have already started using the trail. I back tracked them today as they went through just before I started running the trail. They came in off Cross road from one of the private houses. Road was too hard to track to the house so it is someone living in the area that should know better. Looks like they might have also broke the bridge again. Stop by the office on Gale Road or call at (248) 666-1020 to complain about the horses so we get this stopped early in the year.

[Xdmxer]

I saw the damage to the bridge as well. BTW I FOUND SOME KEYS ON THE TRAIL TODAY, MAYBE FOR A RACK FOR SOMETHING AROUND 7 MILES MAYBE 2 PM-ISH I THINK. PM IF THEY ARE YOURS. Didnt see them on the first lap, but i didnt hit that tree on the first lap by the keys either so they may have been there longer.

[Critter7r]

When we rebuild bridges for our trails, instead of making them solid and practically up to DOT standards, we should make them in a ladder style with 2x4s placed vertically between some 4x6s (also placed vertically) with 4-6 inches between each 'rung'. That way the horses won't walk on them. Or at least, that's what they use in cow pastures when a road goes thru the land so that a gate isn't necessary. The cows see that grated area and they don't walk on it, I'm assuming horses wouldn't either.

[amadkins]

When we rebuild bridges for our trails, instead of making them solid and practically up to DOT standards, we should make them in a ladder style with 2x4s placed vertically between some 4x6s (also placed vertically) with 4-6 inches between each 'rung'. That way the horses won't walk on them. Or at least, that's what they use in cow pastures when a road goes thru the land so that a gate isn't necessary. The cows see that grated area and they don't walk on it, I'm assuming horses wouldn't either.

I've always thought that this would be a good idea for all the trail entrances. My grampa uses steel pipes spaced about a hoof width apart. His cattle never traverse them.

[Archangel6]

Not sure if this is the best place for it, but I'm trying to gauge my progress since I began riding PLRA, can anyone tell me what would be considered a good time to complete 1 PLRA lap when conditions are prime?

[MediumRB]

^ I consider 50 minutes a good ride for me (fixed gear). I have done better, then tried a second lap and done worse.

[irishpitbull]

Best I could do was 47 mins on my HT. Looking at the Strava times that's not to bad. On the FSR I'm almost 10 mins slower.

[Archangel6]

Ok - Considering I started @ 1:45 last fall and have only ridden it maybe 5 times since my 1:09 isn't *that* bad and I'm pushing 40 in May!

[mtbfree]

Qualifier: Are the posted times from the parking lot back to the parking lot or from the trail-head back to the trail-head?

[irishpitbull]

Mine says" from lot" 10 miles on the dot. There is also some that say " from trailhead" those are 9.1 miles and few mins faster. Didn't count those.

[irishpitbull]

Ok - Considering I started @ 1:45 last fall and have only ridden it maybe 5 times since my 1:09 isn't *that* bad and I'm pushing 40 in May!

Nice progress for sure.

[irishpitbull]

Best I could do was 47 mins on my HT. Looking at the Strava times that's not to bad. On the FSR I'm over 10 mins slower.