Isaias.. you son of a. . . !

[Gionnirocket]

I packed a nice breakfast and headed out to the South County Trail here in Westchester, NY for a nice morning ride with the anticipation of going 20 - 25 miles and breaking 1000 miles on my BBS02B install.
Isaias wasn't having it. Got in about 6 miles trying different entry points but each time I soon had to backtrack and try another because of large fallen trees across the path. Finally I took the hint and went home thinking... a flat today won't be much fun.
The good news is... the sound of chainsaws is everywhere.

 

[Citycrosser]

Lots of downed trees up here in Putnam county and along the Putnam trailway as well. If history is any lesson, the trailways will be cleared last so it may take a few days...

 

[Gionnirocket]

The local streets around me are fine with only a few downed branches here and there.. that's why ass_umed the trail would be passable.
Anywho.. who am I to be upset with mother nature.

 

[Cowlitz]

Grab a pair of gloves and go help pull the brush out of the trail that the saws cut up.

 

[Gionnirocket]

Grab a pair of gloves and go help pull the brush out of the trail that the saws cut up.

Yeah... the county workers say they can't let you if they are there.

 

[FlatSix911]

I packed a nice breakfast and headed out to the South County Trail here in Westchester, NY for a nice morning ride with the anticipation of going 20 - 25 miles and breaking 1000 miles on my BBS02B install.
Isaias wasn't having it. Got in about 6 miles trying different entry points but each time I soon had to backtrack and try another because of large fallen trees across the path. Finally I took the hint and went home thinking... a flat today won't be much fun.
The good news is... the sound of chainsaws is everywhere.


View attachment 61372View attachment 61373View attachment 61374View attachment 61375

Wow, that's a lot of uprooted trees... stay safe out there!

 

[Gionnirocket]

I should have taken a panoramic shot... there were two more huge craters right behind me but the trees fell parallel to the path.

 

[Gionnirocket]

The South County Trail was clear today and I was able to get 20 miles in and break the 1k mark.
I couldn't believe how many trees had to be cleared.... I lost count around 25 and that was before I hit the 3 mile mark.
On one part of the trail that is particularly bumpy I usually bounce off and take the parallel service road for a few hundred yards. Today when doing so I had to turn around as there was a huge oak down blocking the entire street but the rail trail was clear.. Go figure.
Anywho... Anyone know if the North County trail or Putnam area is clear?

 

[6zfshdb]

Over the years, I've learned to carry my folding hand saw when riding certain trails after a storm.

Amazon.com : Folding Saw, Heavy Duty Extra Long 11 Inch Blade Hand Saw for Wood Camping, Dry Wood Pruning Saw With Hard Teeth By REXBETI, Quality SK-5 Steel : Garden & Outdoor

Amazon.com : Folding Saw, Heavy Duty Extra Long 11 Inch Blade Hand Saw for Wood Camping, Dry Wood Pruning Saw With Hard Teeth By REXBETI, Quality SK-5 Steel : Garden & Outdoor

www.amazon.com

No, it won't help you remove a 12" or bigger tree trunk but I've used it many times to cut off enough 6" or smaller branches to get past the obstruction.

I learned this tip from a fellow rider when riding the GAP trail back in 2003. I had taken my Trek MTB via the bike shuttle from Cumberland, MD. up to the Deal Trailhead. I planned to make the one way, 24 mile, 1800' descent back into Cumberland. There had been a severe thunderstorm the night before and 15 miles into the trip, I came across an 18" diameter tree blocking the trail. I was contemplating the misery of making the long uphill ride back when another rider appeared. He got out a saw, similar to the one above, and the two of us cut off enough branches to be able to lift our bikes over the fallen tree trunk.

Sometimes, turning around and going home isn't an easy option.

 

[Gionnirocket]

Over the years, I've learned to carry my folding hand saw when riding certain trails after a storm.

View attachment 61709

Amazon.com : Folding Saw, Heavy Duty Extra Long 11 Inch Blade Hand Saw for Wood Camping, Dry Wood Pruning Saw With Hard Teeth By REXBETI, Quality SK-5 Steel : Garden & Outdoor

Amazon.com : Folding Saw, Heavy Duty Extra Long 11 Inch Blade Hand Saw for Wood Camping, Dry Wood Pruning Saw With Hard Teeth By REXBETI, Quality SK-5 Steel : Garden & Outdoor

www.amazon.com

No, it won't help you remove a 12" or bigger tree trunk but I've used it many times to cut off enough 6" or smaller branches to get past the obstruction.

I learned this tip from a fellow rider when riding the GAP trail back in 2003. I had taken my Trek MTB via the bike shuttle from Cumberland, MD. up to the Deal Trailhead. I planned to make the one way, 24 mile, 1800' descent back into Cumberland. There had been a severe thunderstorm the night before and 15 miles into the trip, I came across an 18" diameter tree blocking the trail. I was contemplating the misery of making the long uphill ride back when another rider appeared. He got out a saw, similar to the one above, and the two of us cut off enough branches to be able to lift our bikes over the fallen tree trunk.

Sometimes, turning around and going home isn't an easy option.

My take_away from all this. . . don't ride trails immediately after a storm

 

[FlatSix911]

Over the years, I've learned to carry my folding hand saw when riding certain trails after a storm.

View attachment 61709
No, it won't help you remove a 12" or bigger tree trunk but I've used it many times to cut off enough 6" or smaller branches to get past the obstruction.

I learned this tip from a fellow rider when riding the GAP trail back in 2003. I had taken my Trek MTB via the bike shuttle from Cumberland, MD. up to the Deal Trailhead. I planned to make the one way, 24 mile, 1800' descent back into Cumberland. There had been a severe thunderstorm the night before and 15 miles into the trip, I came across an 18" diameter tree blocking the trail. I was contemplating the misery of making the long uphill ride back when another rider appeared. He got out a saw, similar to the one above, and the two of us cut off enough branches to be able to lift our bikes over the fallen tree trunk.

Sometimes, turning around and going home isn't an easy option.

Great idea. I have come across many downed trees while off-road... this was passable

 

[6zfshdb]

As long as you can lift your bike, it's usually easy to get by tree trunks. On the other hand, a fully leafed out tree across the trail that completely obscures your view looks worse than it actually is. A few cuts with a small saw is usually all it takes to clear a path.

 

[Citycrosser]

The South County Trail was clear today and I was able to get 20 miles in and break the 1k mark.
I couldn't believe how many trees had to be cleared.... I lost count around 25 and that was before I hit the 3 mile mark.
On one part of the trail that is particularly bumpy I usually bounce off and take the parallel service road for a few hundred yards. Today when doing so I had to turn around as there was a huge oak down blocking the entire street but the rail trail was clear.. Go figure.
Anywho... Anyone know if the North County trail or Putnam area is clear?

As of yesterday, the Putnam Trail is clear from Brewster to Mahopac (and probably to where the North County Trail starts but I didn't go that far through Mahopac). The new Maybrook trail is clear from where it starts in Brewster to where it connects to the Dutchess Rail Trail in Hopewell.

 

[Gionnirocket]

As of yesterday, the Putnam Trail is clear from Brewster to Mahopac (and probably to where the North County Trail starts but I didn't go that far through Mahopac). The new Maybrook trail is clear from where it starts in Brewster to where it connects to the Dutchess Rail Trail in Hopewell.

Thanks... Rode a part of the North County Trail yesterday starting in Hawthorne. But it was a late start and it was really hot out.
Good thing was I did 20 miles without using my battery