Exciting future Theo plans!

Recently discussed plans for the future of Theo. We need the mountain bike communities support.

- Section 6a (advanced loop) is almost complete. We need volunteer trailworkers to help us finish it this spring.

- Section 6b (advanced loop) will be started after 6a is complete and we need volunteers to help us with that project.

- The Glenwood Loop is approved and will be worked on in 2011 also. This is the section between Glenwood Ave and Hwy 55 just east of Theodore Wirth Pkwy.

We will be posting trailwork volunteer opportunities on the MOCA Facebook page, on MORC's web forums, and her in our blog. If you would like to help us get these project done, the best way to do that is help us build them by volunteering for trailwork when we have it.

Thank you for your support!

With temps getting into the 70s this week, trails could open soon!

If we are able to open the trails soon, this could be our earliest opening yet! That is exciting news. Please check back often to see when the trails are open. We know the weather is nice, but that doesn't always mean the trails are good to ride. So before you hop on that bike or get in the car to head to Theo, check out the homepage at http://www.mocatrails.org/ and make sure the trails are stated as open.

It would be a total bummer to get all the way to the trail head and see that gates closed. So please use the tools we provide to keep you informed of the trail status.

All this being said, we need volunteers for trailwork this year. Trailwork will be on every Wednesday starting at 5pm. Our first session is planned for April 7th at 5pm. Meet in the par 3 parking lot (remember that you can't park there without a parking permit).

Hope to see you on the trails soon!

Trails are closed during spring thaw.

There are a few areas with exposed dirt and others that will be exposed rather soon. Due to a lot of sun and temps over 40 this week, we lost a lot of the snow cover we had.

The new gates are closed and will be enforced. Once the spring thaw period is over and the trail harden up, we will be reopening them for summer. This typically happens sometime in late April or early May......depending on weather.

Theo is in excellent shape right now and gates are installed!

Here is a picture of the new gates. Currently the trail is open. When the trail closes for any reason, usually during wet periods, the gates will be closed with a sign stating the trails are closed. The MOCA website will always be updated with the current trail conditions, so if you ever want to know whether you should head out to the trail or not, just go to http://www.mocatrails.org/ and the trail conditions will show in the upper left corner.

Right now the conditions are excellent for riding. The trails are well packed and good to go for any tire size. There are no icy sections, so studs are not needed at this time.

While I was out riding tonight, I saw these guys (4 of them) having a blast riding the trail. They all had normal sized tires and they seemed to get by quite well with them.

Trail entrance gates being installed at Theodore Wirth

Over the next day or so, gates will be installed at all the main entrances of Theo and at the two Luce Line crossings.

These gates will be open when installed, so no worries, keep on riding and enjoy one of the best winter riding seasons we have had in a long time.

MOCA has worked very hard over the last few years in conjunction with the MPRB to put in a more official way to close the trails. No more orange fencing and laminated Kinko signs, we will have actual metal swinging gates with proper trail closing signs. The MPRB has decided to back us and they are going a step further to help provide enforcement. This means that when the gates are closed, riders can be ticketed by Minneapolis Park Police while on the mountain bike single track trail.

So when will the gates be closed?

- During the wet season in the spring. Usually anywhere from late February to late April. This varies depending on weather and spring temps.

- During the wet season in the fall before snowfall and the ground freezes.

- If the MPRB or Park Police request us to do so for any reason (likely an event or construction in the park somewhere).

- Any time the trail is too wet to ride for a long period of time. From time to time in the summer we have multiple days of wet weather and may close the trail until it is dry enough to ride again.

If the gates are open, all guidelines still apply. Please don't ride them when they are wet, yield to other trail users (runners, hikers, dog walkers, users of the Luce Line, and so on), and yield to trail workers if you see them on the trail.

If the gates are closed, this means the entire Theodore Wirth mountain bike trail system is closed. Please do not ride or walk around them. Also, do not go to another entrance into the woods to find a way onto the trail.

This is for the good of the trail and will hopefully help keep our trail maintenance much lower so we can work on projects that improve the trail riding experience and expand into new areas.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Trails are currently in great shape for riding!

I took my new 1x1 Rat Ride with 3.0 Knobbies on it out on the trails. The north loop is fabulous right now. The south loop needs more packing. We could use some snowshoers out there and some big tired bikes too.

Enjoy the winter riding season!

Snow is here!

The trails tend to stay open all winter long. It's best if they are packed using snowshoes and a bit of Pugsley (Surly fat tired bike) traffic. This will get and keep the trails packed well.

Studs do okay, but are not really needed unless we have a wetter and more icy winter. But a wider tire does tend to work best and 29ers really do well too.

A few things to keep in mind while enjoying Theo in the winter. Please stop and all trail crossings. It's XC Ski season and skiers have the right of way at all crossings. So be aware that a skier can be crossing at any moment and they don't have the same control a cyclist does. Also, cross all XC Ski trails at a 90 degree angle.....and please do not ride on any XC Ski trails at any time. Not even to leave the singletrack to get out of the woods.

Enjoy a great winter season of biking at Theo!