I am curious about something

[Fett]

I read these threads and people are constantly asking if BCSP is going to be rideable, which I understand. They are fantastic trails.  BUT, there are 3 other places close by that area also fantastic, but in a different way. I am speaking about Gnaw Bone Camp, Valley Branch Retreat and Nebo Ridge.  The people who know this area the best are imploring people to give it a try as the conditions there are perfect, but whenever I go out there and look at the signin sheets, they are always the same familiar riders. It looks like people are staying home rather than going out and having a little adventure.
 
Now, don't get me wrong. There is a certain appeal to having these gems of trails to myself and not overridden, so they stay in great shape, but I truly want people to get out and experience some of the coolest trails in the state.
 
The freeze/thaw cycles are not going away for at least the next week. Go out and give one of these a try. You might get lost for a little while, but I guarantee, that you will get back before you have to resort to cannibalism and you will a great story for your friends.

[Shark]

X2!
And no worries about getting lost if you ride nebo! Out and back.It is great fun out there.

[Indiana Dave]

I need to get out to these other trails. I've ridden Gnaw Bone, although it was over ten years ago. With the holidays, our vacation, and all of our other winter activities, I haven't even ridden my bike but maybe twice since the breakdown!

[Dan71]

Fett I have debated many times tagging along with your rides at these locations.  I guess I just need to get motivated.  Since moving to Columbus 3 years ago the longest imhave not been on trails is this last month or so.  Riding the road is boring.

[gnawbonelefty]

I think there are several factors.

IMBA spec trails have brought many new riders to the sport,  Trails build to these specifications lead to a slot car type of flow.  long downhills, little use for brakes, no steep uphills,  turns that aren't too tight or sudden. It's addictive.  If it's all you know, it is what you will think mountain biking is.  If you all ride are hmba built trails,  you'll never really learn to cross a log, ford a deep ditch, ride a stream bed ,climb a fall line, read map, even god forbid, put a foot down, or get off and hike a bike.  When you ride somewhere with these features, you could think this isn't mountain biking.

Experienced mountain bikers all know,  there is a world full of trails that weren't built by mountain bikers that are an absolute hoot to ride,  and some that are just tough.

To me, Gnawbone camp is the best trail system in the state,  mainly because there is nothing else like it. the AHT is probably right up there, but for the same reasons, it takes strength and skills to ride it. experiencel that will help you on any trail system anywhere.

Brown county park trails except schooner can be ridden at a constant level,  there are no surprises, the turns are designed to be easily makable,  the uphills to give you rests and the downhills to keep you on line.

[Otter]

There's something else that factors into it as well.  You mentioned that you keep seeing the same people on the sign-in sheets, locals I'm guessing.  I use to be local and rode all three of the trails quite a bit along with BCSP.  Always loved GBC and to a lesser extent VB.  Not a huge fan of Nebo, but I like it none the less.  I love BCSP though and it became my favorite trail while I was living in the area and even more so once Schooner opened.
 
So now that I live 2 hours away, whenever I can make it back down, the first thing I want to do is ride my favorite trail if possible.  I think for some people it's the fact that they're coming from pretty far distances to ride great trails.  When you're doing so you want to hit the favorites if at all possible, as we don't get to ride these trails every week like some do .  I know this weekend we hit Nebo first (knowing BCSP wouldn't be good Saturday evening) and while I enjoyed it, I was sure glad BCSP was frozen Sunday morning.
 
With all of that being said, I do agree that more people need to try these other great trails.  I'm really excited to get back out to GBC in particular and the next time I'm down and have multiple days, I plan on getting the fattie out there.

[Traci]

Ok, so for someone like me not knowing much about Gnawbone...fill me in.
Where is the trail head?
Is there a map, or is it marked?
What will I be getting myself into out there?
This would be a great thing for us to try this coming long weekend that we are going to have(even with the cold weather), but I want to be prepared. Since this is now my 2 year of riding, I am up for some different trails.
Any info would be great...
 

[indytriple]

I personally know someone that was going to ride Gnaw Bone last week when everyone on here said it was dry.  They made the mistake of calling Alice first (which is what you're technically supposed to do), and she said, "No way.  Too wet to ride."


Rob, you may want to get Alice on the same page with you and the locals.  I'm not sure she has a good idea of the conditions on her own property.


Also, a *GOOD* map of Gnaw Bone would be worth it's wait in gold.  That alone is probably stopping some people.  It's confusing as hell out there if you've never been there.  Not everyone thinks getting lost is fun.

[Shark]

Try here:
 http://www.browncountymountainbiking.com/gnawbone.html

Ok, so for someone like me not knowing much about Gnawbone...fill me in.
Where is the trail head?
Is there a map, or is it marked?
What will I be getting myself into out there?
This would be a great thing for us to try this coming long weekend that we are going to have(even with the cold weather), but I want to be prepared. Since this is now my 2 year of riding, I am up for some different trails.
Any info would be great...

[gnawbonelefty]

I personally know someone that was going to ride Gnaw Bone last week when everyone on here said it was dry.  They made the mistake of calling Alice first (which is what you're technically supposed to do), and she said, "No way.  Too wet to ride."


Rob, you may want to get Alice on the same page with you and the locals.  I'm not sure she has a good idea of the conditions on her own property.


Also, a *GOOD* map of Gnaw Bone would be worth it's wait in gold.  That alone is probably stopping some people.  It's confusing as hell out there if you've never been there.  Not everyone thinks getting lost is fun.

Alice provides a decent map at checkin.

I've wanted to for a long time now lay out on a topo the trails at gnawbone and valley branch, and then abstract that into a readable map one can take with them.  In the mean the key to riding there,, is to know where you are in relation to Lake Road, and lake ridge/raspberry ridge.

If it's you first time,  ride out lake road from the camp, go up cemetery ridge to to raspberry ridge.  Once on raspberry take it back to lake ridge past the lookout cabin to  pine ridge.

Once you know this big loop, you'll know everything in between these two  pretty much connect the 2  double tracks,  in general  the  further outside of this loop the more strenuous the trail systems becomes, but almost every trail will take you back to this loop.  also you can have a great day of riding just exploring the trails on the inside of this loop.  On your first time, or first time in a long while this is what I recommend.  as long as you follow blue ribbons, you will eventually come out to somewhere on the loop described above and then from there getting back to the camp is easy.  In short head south to lake road and then follow it downstream.  this will get you back from anywhere out there.

[gmcttr]

We have been hiking the GBC trails this winter to get familiar with them. Alice's dog, Cookie, has gone with us most of the time and has been great at keeping us on trail when the leaf cover made them hard to find. Nothing better then a using a guide service.

[pigfarm]

I personally know someone that was going to ride Gnaw Bone last week when everyone on here said it was dry.  They made the mistake of calling Alice first (which is what you're technically supposed to do), and she said, "No way.  Too wet to ride."


Rob, you may want to get Alice on the same page with you and the locals.  I'm not sure she has a good idea of the conditions on her own property.


Also, a *GOOD* map of Gnaw Bone would be worth it's wait in gold.  That alone is probably stopping some people.  It's confusing as hell out there if you've never been there.  Not everyone thinks getting lost is fun.

Alice provides a decent map at checkin.

I've wanted to for a long time now lay out on a topo the trails at gnawbone and valley branch, and then abstract that into a readable map one can take with them.  In the mean the key to riding there,, is to know where you are in relation to Lake Road, and lake ridge/raspberry ridge.

If it's you first time,  ride out lake road from the camp, go up cemetery ridge to to raspberry ridge.  Once on raspberry take it back to lake ridge past the lookout cabin to  pine ridge.

Once you know this big loop, you'll know everything in between these two  pretty much connect the 2  double tracks,  in general  the  further outside of this loop the more strenuous the trail systems becomes, but almost every trail will take you back to this loop.  also you can have a great day of riding just exploring the trails on the inside of this loop.  On your first time, or first time in a long while this is what I recommend.  as long as you follow blue ribbons, you will eventually come out to somewhere on the loop described above and then from there getting back to the camp is easy.  In short head south to lake road and then follow it downstream.  this will get you back from anywhere out there.

Thanks for the tips GBL.  Somebody ought to sticky that.  It's being printed out and put in my saddle bag along with the map.
 
PF

[tony]

I've wanted to for a long time now lay out on a topo the trails at gnawbone and valley branch, and then abstract that into a readable map one can take with them.  In the mean the key to riding there,, is to know where you are in relation to Lake Road, and lake ridge/raspberry ridge.

I've got a Garmin 305 that I'm not using.  Let me know if you want it for that project.

[Butts]

As someone who has asked this question recently, I don't feel comfortable trying a new location during my normal ride time (3:30-6) for fear that I may end up lost and in the dark (I have no lights either).


I would like to try these other locations, but I would feel better learning my way around on a Saturday morning when I have a lot of daylight to work with.


Until I have a chance to do that, I am forced to ask if BCSP is rideable, but trust me, it's not because that is the only trail I want to ride, it's just the trail I know right now.

[gnawbonelefty]

I've wanted to for a long time now lay out on a topo the trails at gnawbone and valley branch, and then abstract that into a readable map one can take with them.  In the mean the key to riding there,, is to know where you are in relation to Lake Road, and lake ridge/raspberry ridge.

I've got a Garmin 305 that I'm not using.  Let me know if you want it for that project.

I would take you up on that project,  a couple more months and I'll be back in good enough shape to ride it all in a day.