CasualBikerJay

As I live in Orleans, I jumped on the chance to do a little bit of riding on the CCRT today:

From Orleans (Shaw's plaza) to just before the Eastham underpass (Arnold's) and back. Fun!
Only other biker was a local grocery-shopper.

The trail conditions are OK, some light debris, easily avoidable sporadic pine needle/oak leaf patches, but no snow or ice.
Wind picked on the way back, I squeezed by right before some rain.

This will be my "home track" this year, as I really need the drop 15 lbs or so.

BTW, if anybody absolutely needs to know the general CCRT conditions on a given day/weekend, I can hop on the truck and go take a look in 5 minutes.
Chime in as needed..!


I

Ghazmh

'Know that stretch as well as the rest very well. Formed my love for cycling there as well as more awesome memories than I can remember. Assuming the Cape doesn't see much snow I'm probably heading down in a few weeks for an off season ride of the CCRT.

rumrunn6

following, thanks CasualBikerJay. need someplace to ride Saturday but not sure I'll get that much free time to make the drive. tempting tho to rack up 40+ miles w/ temps in the high 30s or better

CasualBikerJay

RR6, I jumped on the trail by Nickerson Park on Saturday. The mid-week snow had partially melted here and there, and footprints and fat tire tracks created icy lumps.
I did not stay long, figuring I could do some more today Sunday, with more melting, but for some reason, I was feeling off, and didn't.
Sill refining my winter riding clothing.

rumrunn6

changeable weather doesn't make that any easier

Ghazmh

Hey CasualBikerJay, I'm really hoping to bring my cross bike with me this weekend to the Cape. I'm heading down Saturday afternoon to visit relatives in Mashpee and planning to head to the CCRT Sunday morning. How's the path looking? I figure I'll drive to and park at the parking lot in Dennis as I'm not sure where the new trailhead is after the extension.

rumrunn6

in September it was just a short extension south from south Dennis over an impressive new bridge. ride the trail north first then when you get back you can go explore the extension. there's more parking on the other side of the new big bridge. how many miles do you think you want to ride?

CasualBikerJay

I will take a look tomorrow, by Nickerson and Orleans, and report. If it is any indication, the Tuesday morning snow, untouched, just melted on my driveway, today, and that included a few iced up packed tracks.

Ghazmh

Depends on the conditions. I just mounted my Schwalbe Winter 30's this afternoon. I'm hoping it's clear enough to ride 30+ miles. I'm thinking of starting at 7:00 AM to give me enough time to drive home for the game.

Ghazmh

Thank you sir!

rumrunn6

oh great! FYI I was poking around last night & discovered an old thread I started where I kept track of my rides on that trail. you might find it amusing or helpful or neither! I think I let it laps but there are several accounts

https://www.bikeforums.net/northeast...nal-stats.html

CasualBikerJay

@Ghazmh, I am about to go take a look! Light big, light, beautiful snow this morning. Didn't stick to driveway. Reporting back in an hour, say, 1ish.

Rollfast

I was out last night and found the one little mound of ice left in Ontario, Oregon, it will be gone before Monday. Surprised it was even there when we've had so little snow and mostly rain this year.


The only reason it might have been there is that the location had storage trailers all fall into a couple weeks ago from when a water line on that property burst and the hospital's physical rehab center finally reopened (but the restaurant next door re-opened three months earlier).

CasualBikerJay

CCRT by Nickerson Park was fine: black asphalt, small patches of thin snow in the shady parts It should remain dry this afternoon, but whatever may melt could freeze?

Ghazmh

thank you friend! Sundays forecast is looking rather rainy. I'm still planning to ride it. I guess id better pack my rain gear.

If I make it as far as Orleans I may just have to warm up at the Sparrow and reminisce of warmer days.

rumrunn6

sounds miserable ... ENJOY! :-)

Ghazmh

Thanks Rumrun. It'll be a memorable start to February for sure. Ill report back although I may to too wet and shivering to stop for pics, we'll see.

jsilvia

How far does the new extension go? I was on it in September and it looked like they were still building it.

rumrunn6

w/o looking it up I feel like it's less than a mile. this is what it looked like on 9-9-17. I did see at least 1 person riding on the other side of the fence but I didn't venture in to check the conditions, sorry

jsilvia

I've had great times on the CCRT. from Dennis to Chatham to the Nauset Rail trail to the Beachcomber and back, great Summer time memories. Great times on a Bike!!!

Ghazmh

That's exactly how I saw it last! It was mid to late September when I did my 3 day ride from home to home via the Provincetown to Boston ferry.

Ghazmh

No rain to be seen all morning. I got the the Dennis parking lot shortly before 7:00am and headed East. The chain link fence is in the same exact spot as it was in September. Just as I recall and Rumrunner6's picture shows. I executed an about face and rode the whole trail to Wellfleet. It was mostly clear dry pavement with plenty of small patches of ice and almost as many really large patches of ice. The studded 30mm Schwalbe Winters were oh so clackety. So much more than my 2" 2 row Winter Marathons. I think it's because they are so much more narrow that the studs make continual contact. I have them at 80 psi which resulted in a bumpier ride. They were admittedly heavy and made for a slower than expected ride. I didn't see another cyclist the whole time, just a few joggers and dog walkers. When I wasn't focused on staying upright while passing over ice I was lost in a daydream of past summer rides in all their scenic sun drenched glory.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Av...ePFq76thZNAu6R

rumrunn6

impressive! yeah summer rides are pretty sweet. but these other rides this time of year, help us appreciate the better days, right?

Ghazmh

Absolutely, it was my first ride there in a February. Now that I have a free place to stay down there I have a launchpad for many off season rides as well as the quintessential in season rides. I think I'll try dropping the pressure down to 65 psi try it out.

rumrunn6

FWIW: was getting a camera ready for my Daughter's trip to New Zealand & took out my card & loaded a new card for her. started poking around the old card at some old stuff & found these two clips showing the new parking lot in So. Dennis & the new bridge over route 134