Mid-State: Anderson Park

[F7Cannon]

Now that the temps are down and we've got some snow, what's the story on winter riding at Anderson? If I can find some studded tires and swap my clips for flats, is that a recipe for good times . . . or disaster?

Thanks for any tips,

--Matt

Ride away my friend! Anderson is a fun place to ride when frozen and a little snow on the ground. Studded tires are not really needed if you have tires that already have a little bite to them. As for flats that is totally up to you. I ride clipless year round with no major problems. If your are skilled at clipping in and out you will be fine. Worst case you don't clip out fast enough when needed and you fall over into the white fluffy stuff. I have done it a few times and the snow makes for a much softer landing.

Rose Lake is another local option for riding this time of year as well. No need to really even worry about snow cover or colder temps to ride out there this time of year. We have been riding out there for the past few months and the ground has stayed nice and firm the whole time. You would never even know any one was out
there riding, place drains very well year round.

[rvd]

There's pics a few pages back in this thread of some Anderson snow riding last year...

here (27 pages back - lots of Anderson board activity in 2011)

[mwnovak]

Thanks for the feedback, guys. Looks like I've been showing my California again with this studs vs. knobs thing.

Winter wonderland, here we go . . .

--Matt

[rvd]

Anderson was gorgeous this morning. Riding was fun but slow going with the amount of snow. If a few more bikes get to pack it down, the trail should be fantastic riding. Conditions on red were 'worst' with numerous heavy branches requiring ducks and an occasional dismount. We cleared the trail in areas, so it should be a bit better for the next people coming through (green and red).

[bikejoe]

Indeed, the park was a winter wonderland this weekend! I wish we could have ridden more at Anderson but my buddy ran out of gas from riding to the park. We rode the Blue loop until the low hanging limbs got the best of Mike’s enthusiasm. I wanted to shoot some photos at the park but never got a chance, so these are from the ride home. I hope there will be more good snow conditions before winter is over.

[F7Cannon]

Nice pics Joe, looks like you got a new ride!

[qt314159]

Anyone ride Anderson the last few days? How many inches of the white stuff is down on the trail?

[rvd]

Anyone ride Anderson the last few days? How many inches of the white stuff is down on the trail?

Before the snow from last night, the trail was rideable with a good set of tires, but going was slow. Snow was a couple of inches in most places; not nearly as deep as in the second of two pictures above.

[centralRH]

Just returned from the park. Several of us did 2 laps of the green and 1 lap of the red. No land speed records set, but it wasn't bad. Actually it was one of the better snow rides I have done with more than a dusting.

No studs or fat tires needed.

[mwnovak]

Just back from my first-ever snow ride at Anderson. Managed a loop of green and a loop of red, both of which were clear and easy to follow thanks to the tracks left by centralRH & co. earlier in the day.

Glad to meet Joe and Mike at the end of my ride. I was pretty winded from the effort (out of shape, under-dressed) and surprised that my face seemed frozen when I tried to talk (seriously, that happens?!): sorry if I seemed rude or crazed or both . . . I'm normally happy to talk bikes.

I did end up getting a set of studded tires used off craigslist: after this ride, I completely agree that they're not needed (though I'm not too upset, since I was gonna need something with more bite than the little knobs I had).

Okay, enough rambling.

--Matt

[rvd]

Current conditions are good. A bit squishy in a few places on blue and red, but nothing major. It should be excellent riding tomorrow morning before the expo.

[bikejoe]

Nice pics Joe, looks like you got a new ride!

Thanks... and no, not a new bike. My photos are of my riding buddy, Mike. He likes his Scott Scale very much though. I wish he liked taking pictures as much as he likes that bike. Then maybe I could be in some.

You may have seen in the bike-photos topic that I am riding a different bike. I switched to a slower bike so Mike and I would have similar speeds and I wait less. Its working out well. The 24" rear tire is fat and hooks up well at low pressure.

I just got back from Anderson Park a few hours ago. We rode twice around all three loops. There are a few soft spots. I walked the first hundred feet of Blue as this area seems to get more sun than anywhere else in the park. Other than that, the trails were mostly snow-covered. Average depth was about 1.5" but the trail bed has a packed-in line. I agree with rvd that Sunday morning will be a good opportunity to ride. I'm afraid the trails will thaw and be at risk for more rutting next week.

Saturday Jan 28th, Red Loop, looking upstream toward Lansing.



Last Saturday, Green Loop, Mike again...

[rvd]

TC believes we can ride in the AM (edit: assuming temps drop into the 20's), but with nighttime temps forecast at only 30 and 29 tonight and tomorrow night, shouldn't we do the smart thing and stay away from Anderson this weekend?

[centralRH]

2 laps at mid-day. Completely thawed and dry in many places. Still some frost in others...soft but not bad...
Brown Pow

[bockrona]

frozen solid this morning and colder temps coming.
I know what I'm doing this weekend.