Turkey Trails

I went for a ride today and started mapping the duathlon course. The weather is fantastic and the trails are in excellent condition. I expected mud, since it's been rainy lately (including last night), but there was no mud to speak of. The trails at Turkey are constantly changing. For a while it seemed like they would erode and rides would slow down, then dirt would wash back in and it would speed back up. But now it seems like they are eroding in a different way and I doubt they'll ever return to the way they were a couple years ago. Especially with the tree damage out there. Ride Low Chi and and I think you'll see what I'm talking about. But mountain bikers are nothing if not creative, so riders take these natural obstacles and make them part of the trail. I love it. Riding today was a lot of fun.

This year's bike course will start just like it did last year- up LipBuster and over to the west side, stay south on the trail along 61st Street. But this year just before you get to the open field with the ponds, double back on the hard right. Then, before you get back to the main trail that takes you to the Snake, double back again to the left. Follow that trail until it joins the Snake Trail, take a left and follow the snake around to the main entry/exit. Back up the road the way you came... then I'm going to cut a trail through the woods just before you get to 61st Street. On your left. It will join up with a trail down the hill and you'll mess around on that trail to the south (pretty technical) until you get back into the motorcycle trails. That's all I'll tell you for now. But it will be a fun course. Very fast sections alternating with the technical stuff Turkey is known for.

Pretty soon I'll get out there and make some preliminary markings.

If you're wondering about the 5k run course, it's going up the hill too. And straight out the Powerline trail this year. At some point, it will swing back to your right through the woods and back to the parking lot.

If you have no idea what I'm talking about or don't live close enough to ride Turkey, just get out and ride. You can't beat this weather.