Mountain biking 101: Fall trail maintenance

September 18, 12:45 AMMichigan Mountain Biking ExaminerDiane Ursu

Trail maintenance often goes to the wayside come fall.  Since racing is, for the most part, over, many riders see no point in keeping trail corridors open.  Many riders, however, continue to ride through the fall and winter.  Since most of the Michigan mountain bike trails are maintained by volunteers, the fall is an excellent opportunity for you to contribute your share of trail work.

• Always consult with the trail coordinator before doing any work.  
• Prune any branches that are potential "face slappers," branches that can basically poke an eye out.
• Rake the trails.  There is no shortage of leaves on Michigan trails, in the fall.  They create quite a challenge in finding the trail and can create a slick surface.  Raking the trail can maintain safer, faster singletrack while lessening the work that will need to be done in the spring.