[OHPV-list] Vernonia Banks trail

[tha_capt]

Hey there Mike ~

Todd Marley and I rode the complete trail system  "on our MTB's" from Banks 
to Vernonia and back on a winter Sunday last year. As I remember there 
really is not that much "really" rough technical riding on the trail system. 
It's a darn nice Rails to Trails system that is 90% easy and less than 10% 
"just use your head" riding. Depending on current conditions, you may have a 
little bit of walking through a small slide area (approx. 100 yards).

There are two hills that require walking a heavy tourer. This would be along 
side of the railway trestles that are not open for bridge crossing. A detour 
trail leads down the ravines and back up the other side to return to the 
rail grade of the trail system.

First hazard -  will be a pretty good grade to walk up (8-9 %) on rough 
coarse gravel for about 1/4 of a mile. This is just north of crossing the 
Vernonia hyway "don't remember the highway #". This is alone side of the 
"first " railway trestle.

The second hazard - is the Slide Area. It could be cleared or in may have 
large rocks and deep pot holes in the trail bed. Just use good judgment to 
ride or walk through this approx. hundred yard area.

The third hazard - and probable "walk the bike" area is the up-hill side 
when crossing next to the "second" railway trestle. It is a grunt of a small 
climb. Note: - there is a picnic table in the ravine bottom. This picnic 
table area is a good place to take a break and absorb the ambiance of where 
you are.

All-n-all Todd and I were both in agreement that we would ride our bents on 
the trial system next time. We were really "beat-up" on our MTB's by the 
time we got back to Banks that evening. Bents would have been much better 
"even" if we had to walk them through the technical stuff.

As you suspected Mike, a rider needs to be respectful of the tire size. 
Particularly the rear tire when used for the rough trail riding. I recommend 
just get off the bike and walk it safely through these questionable areas 
anyway. When in the back country always use conservative safety as a guide 
to completion.

If I may - allow me to address "lightly" the tire topic of heavy touring on 
trails.

Note: I'm going to assume everyone is using underseat panniers for good load 
balance.

The front tire? It can be most any preferred brand or size. It does not 
carry much of the total weight and can take a lot of punishment even down to 
a small narrow 1 1/8 roadie tire.  As you can see, there is a lot of 
latitude for the front. Use what ever you are confident with, use it.

The rear tire? I would recommend a 28c or bigger on the rear. The TE's, 
GRR's, TI's and Folders weigh balance is approx. 30% front and 70% at the 
rear. A real danger comes when these bikes do not use underseat panniers. 
They become over loaded on the rear which can cause handling issues with 
more frequent rear wheel and tire to failure.

As always, the rider weight, plus touring gear determines rear tire sizing.

Rule of Thumb:  -  The more weight the larger the tire size. The larger the 
tire size the wider the rim.

As for tires - any brand of advertised tough touring tire will be fine. The 
Warriors http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/journal/?o=lt&doc_id=820&v=29l used 
several different brands of tires on their TransAm last season and received 
good use from all. Yes - Thorn and pinch flats happen "more frequently" on 
trails - it comes with the territory of biking however I do not recall any 
one tire brand being more prone to flats than others.

My suggestions are based upon riding almost three hundred miles of similar 
Vernonia/Banks terrain last year on the Chesapeake/Ohio Tow Path then 
connecting to the Allegheny Highland Rails to Trails system. I was amazed 
how much rough trail punishment the GRR, Ti-Rush, or Fold Rush could take as 
loaded heavy cruisers.  It was a real test for everything - bikes, tires, 
wheels and riders. Rider skills improved tremendously as we rode through 
loose surface rock dodging large rocks, pot holes and thorny branches on the 
trail bed. It was unforgettable ;-))

Have confidence my friends. Enjoy the awesome scenery on the Banks/Vernonia 
trail system. I'm confident it will be the highlight of your trip in transit 
to the Recumbent Retreat.

later ~

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>   1. Banks-Vernonia Trail (Mike Porter)
>   >
> Folks,
> Taking a survey for the Porter-Van Gundy Tour that's biking to the 
> Recumbent
> Retreat next week.
>
> Have any of you biked the entire Banks-Vernonia trail?  By that I mean all
> the unpaved sections.  How would a loaded Gold Rush do on the unpaved
> sections?  I'm thinking very slow going in places and maybe a greater
> likelihood of getting flats?  I surmise this from looking at the photos on
> the website.
>
> I've done the last 7 miles into Vernonia as many of you have and that's
> fine.  Gets a biker off the highway and away from the log trucks. From
> looking at the map of the entire trail, once a cyclist commits to the 
> trail
> at Banks there is limited access to get back on Hwy 47 going to Vernonia 
> if
> the going gets too rough.
>
> Rational, erudite, entertaining and biased responses are welcome.  No 
> crank
> calls please.  See y'all in Ft. Stevens.
>
> By the way, anyone else want to start with us on Wednesday?  We're leaving
> from my house in SW Beaverton/Aloha.
>
> Also, I'll be riding back from Ft. Stevens on Sunday, heading south to
> BarView Jetty Campground, then east up the Nestucca at Beaver to Dovre
> Campground, then through Yamhill to home, arriving on Tuesday.   Civil,
> cooperative, and congenial company welcome.  Only those who ride in the 
> Team
> Dink spirit need apply.
>
>
> Best Regards,
> Mike Porter
>
>