Hey Guys,

I am from northern Illinois and I will be heading down to the Carbondale area on Feb 19th. I would love to bring my bike and hit some of the local trails. Are they typically rideable this time of year? Up here the freeze-thaw cycles typically keep us off the trails until late March-early April.

Thanks!

sure thing, as long as the trails are frozen.  otherwise, it's a muck fest.  

post up as the date gets closer.

Sometimes in the latter part of Feb. it actually starts to warm up, and dry up around here. Of course every year is different, but if I lived up north,and were headed to Carbondale around Feb the 19th, I would bring my bike. The weather may not play out in your favor that weekend, but there is also the possibility that it will. Post up as the date gets closer, maybe some of us will take a ride with you.

Sounds good guys. Thanks for the heads-up. I will definitely bring the bike and even if the off-road conditions aren't good maybe we can do something on-road.

Do you guys have any updates on how things are shaping up? I talked with a buddy down there and he said that things would probably be pretty muddy...

Places are plenty muddy around here, but my comrades and I are still  trying to get in a ride or two a week. Right now I would suggest you try Lake Glendale. I really don't think you can do any damage to it, and if you do, don't worry about it, the horses and the ATV's will come in behind you and cover your damage up with thier destruction. I would like to join you, but I will probably have to work the next two weekends.

Like Ed says, Glendale is probably one of the best places to ride when wet.  It looks like there is a real turd of a weekend for riding coming up, so no matter what trail you are on, the conditions will likely be poopy .  I think the only place in the US that has good riding right now is probably at Kenny's house - in the desert...

there is always the pine bluff roads right?

i've never beeeeeeen...but heard lots of back roads to choose from.

Grant, you hit the head on the nail.  (That's my wife's phrase, I like it)  We havebeen over to Pine Bluff's Road two times in the past two weeks, it is my new favorite ride.  S Hutchins Road or 490 E traveling East to West just might be the largest hill around here.  The bridge is washed out on 490 E and a landowner told us it was trespassing to use the road that has been created around the bridge that is on private property.  We just jumped across the creak where the bridge used to be, if that isn't OK I will plead ignorance.  

Pine Bluff Road was still covered in snow and ice too!

Matt