Wet Leaf Season

[Dirt]

What do ya know…. I wrote a post about this last year. Though not the actual beginning of wet leaf season, this morning was a great example of slick, damp conditions.

The sound walls along the local Multi Use trails tend to accumulate piles of leaves. Some stay there all winter and when they’re wet, they are slick as snot.

Rock on! Be safe!

Love,

Pete

[Mikey]

+1 for the sound barriers and gutters. I also saw a Heineken bottle hiding under a pile of leaves along one of the sound barriers, waiting for an unsuspecting bike to roll over it.

That and the squirrel that darted in front of my front wheel as I was starting down the first hill of the custis double dip (just east of Glebe), enough to scare the Ef out of me.

[Greenbelt]

@essigmw 34018 wrote:

+1 for the sound barriers and gutters. I also saw a Heineken bottle hiding under a pile of leaves along one of the sound barriers, waiting for an unsuspecting bike to roll over it.

That and the squirrel that darted in front of my front wheel as I was starting down the first hill of the custis double dip (just east of Glebe), enough to scare the Ef out of me.

I swiped a squirrel on the Met Branch this morning. Didn’t run over him, though. Just gave him a bit of spoke burn at 20mph. Hope (or she) is OK…

[consularrider]

@Dirt 8658 wrote:

We all know ice is hard to ride on. Some people forget that wet leaves are just as slippery. Please be careful. I saw get pretty squidgy on the “S” of eternal peril this morning. They recovered nicely, but it was dang close.

Hugs and kisses,

Pete

Today was 100 miles of up and down the hills of Southern Indiana where the leaves have turned and are falling. Add to that day long rain yesterday and off and on drizzle today. The ride organizers had lots of signs out warning of danger on the descents. Takes some of the fun out of climbing when you down’t get a fast downhill in compensation (also plays havoc with average speed).

[Dirt]

The other danger that we get is the piles of leaves that people put on the edge of the road. Riding down west street this morning I had to do a course correction to miss a pile of leaves that went 12 feet from the curb. I may ride with a rake later tonight and tame that bad boy pile.

[Certifried]

I saw quite a few piles of leaves on the side of the road/trails as well. Even more dangerous are the various items hidden in those piles of leaves, I saw some glass bottles in one.

[sjclaeys]

I imagine that hidden bottles are worse, but yesterday I twice almost went down due to hidden acorns under the leaves. I am sure I heard some squirrels trying to not laugh too loud.

[off2ride]

Oh yeah…the dreaded “S” bend. Be careful out there folks.

[Author]

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