Chimney Rock Conditions
- Thread starter jimmysnukastyle
- Start date
CNJRider
Joker
Curious about whether you can clear the icy sections of blue on two wheels. I walked/shuffled over the worse parts last weekend. Gonna pay a visit later today so wondering how others are taking these parts.
thegock
Well-Known Member
Hold my 🍺
thegock
Well-Known Member
Don't Look Up
eastbloc
Active Member
Went back out on the ice this morning, but this time I was prepared. Before heading out, I raided the parts bin and built this zombie ice rig, featuring Nokian 296 Extreme tires that I bought new around 2001!
Unsurprisingly, it’s shedding studs a bit out there, but with 296 per tire to start with, she can afford to lose some teeth and still work okay. It makes clearing the ice a breeze, although the 90’s geometry and 26” tires add plenty of uncertainty and excitement to make up for it 😂
Unsurprisingly, it’s shedding studs a bit out there, but with 296 per tire to start with, she can afford to lose some teeth and still work okay. It makes clearing the ice a breeze, although the 90’s geometry and 26” tires add plenty of uncertainty and excitement to make up for it 😂
CNJRider
Joker
OK, just got back. Hit every thing but yellow. Actually, I tried yellow but turned around before reaching the little bridge. The short descent was like a glacier. Thought better of it and decided to skip this one today.
Red: Was marginally better today than last weekend. More of it was rideable.
Here is the off camber turn near the Newman lot. Today versus 6 days ago.
Blue: Upper was not bad. Lower was like riding on a narrow ice rink. Wiped out once too.
White: By 3ish, it was softening up in alot of places. Less ice but much more mud than the other trails.
Orange: Holy moly the climb up from Gilbride was like a river of ice. All hike-a-bike for me and it did not get much better until near the top. The other side of orange descending toward guard rail was way better.
This is the view up from Gilbride. Spiked tires anyone?
Further up near the top.
It was cold, icy and unrideable in many places. Heading back tomorrow anyway! LOL.
Red: Was marginally better today than last weekend. More of it was rideable.
Here is the off camber turn near the Newman lot. Today versus 6 days ago.
Blue: Upper was not bad. Lower was like riding on a narrow ice rink. Wiped out once too.
White: By 3ish, it was softening up in alot of places. Less ice but much more mud than the other trails.
Orange: Holy moly the climb up from Gilbride was like a river of ice. All hike-a-bike for me and it did not get much better until near the top. The other side of orange descending toward guard rail was way better.
This is the view up from Gilbride. Spiked tires anyone?
Further up near the top.
It was cold, icy and unrideable in many places. Heading back tomorrow anyway! LOL.
CNJRider
Joker
If these conditions persist, might have to pull the trigger on these for my hardtail.
www.bikeinn.com
Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pro HS379 DH 27.5´´ x 2.25 rigid MTB tyre, Black | Bikeinn
Get Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pro HS379 DH 27.5´´ x 2.25 in Black for 0 $. Ideal for bike with fast delivery. Buy Tires at Bikeinn!
eastbloc
Active Member
Yep I’m considering my options. I have a set of Dillinger 26x4.6” studded tires. I bought these for my Pugsley years ago but they won’t fit in the back, only in the front.If these conditions persist, might have to pull the trigger on these for my hardtail.
Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pro HS379 DH 27.5´´ x 2.25 rigid MTB tyre, Black | Bikeinn
Get Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pro HS379 DH 27.5´´ x 2.25 in Black for 0 $. Ideal for bike with fast delivery. Buy Tires at Bikeinn!
- Get a fatter fattie and put the 4.8” studded tires on it. I’ve always wanted an Ice Cream Truck, but a Farley would work just fine.
- Get some Ice Spikers and put them on my 29” SS hardtail. I’d like to get tubeless ones. Tubes suck.
- Get an extra front wheel for the Pug and throw the 4.8” studded tire on it. Won’t help with climbing but great for descending or rolling over stuff.
eastbloc
Active Member
Yeah, I bought those Nokians 20 years ago and I’m not sure I’ve gotten my money’s worth 😆 but to be fair, 17 of those years I lived in NYC and wasn’t getting much use out of any mountain bikes.
It is a damn enjoyable experience though to ride over ice and not 😬 I’m on these trails every day, so anything that changes up the experience is worth it for me.
johnbryanpeters
Well-Known Member
A little slippery on rock, no problem on hardpack.
CNJRider
Joker
Took a hike into yellow to check things out this aftrnoon. Other than the first descent toward the little plank bridge, it was in decent shape and more ice free than blue or red.
But first, if you like broken clavicles, have I got the trail for you!
Seriously, this patch was hard to even hike. On two wheels, you better have good health insurance.
That berm at the bottom has become a mini frozen pond.
The climb by the dam was treacherous too. Maybe fatbikeable. I hiked off trail to find better footing.
Rest of the perimeter trail was relatively good. Just patches here and there.
Last, an obligatory hawk watch shot.
But first, if you like broken clavicles, have I got the trail for you!
Seriously, this patch was hard to even hike. On two wheels, you better have good health insurance.
That berm at the bottom has become a mini frozen pond.
The climb by the dam was treacherous too. Maybe fatbikeable. I hiked off trail to find better footing.
Rest of the perimeter trail was relatively good. Just patches here and there.
Last, an obligatory hawk watch shot.
TommyF
Well-Known Member
Agreed!! Got there a little before 1pm today and rode Blue, Red and White. It was nice and solid when I started, by the time I left it was getting muddy. A few ice patches, nothing you couldn't ride through slowly or go around. Was nice to finally be out again, last time I had the bike out was NYE.
hls811
Well-Known Member
I'm going to try and ride tomorrow, I put some studs on my fat tires today. Last time it snowed a few weeks back, within a day someone was out there and had flattened out a nice path throughout the system - I'm wondering if that magical elf made his way out there today and did the same..
eastbloc
Active Member
It would have had to have been a magical elf indeed. I tried riding my 4.6” studs around my property this afternoon and even as low as 5 PSI it was almost impossible to ascend anything but the gentlest grade. The snow was simply too slippery and soft, no float and no base to dig in to.
I’ve got an excuse to be near Six Mile tomorrow and I think that’s going to be a much better bet.
I’ve got an excuse to be near Six Mile tomorrow and I think that’s going to be a much better bet.
hls811
Well-Known Member
Aren’t all Six Mile references banned between October and April?