XX extension

[VicRattlehead]

To everyone who helped build XX...  OUTSTANDING JOB!!!!!   

Man, what a workout!  I rode it earlier this week, and it was so fun.  I like the amount on concentration it takes to pick lines on each of the rocky hills.

Somebody mentioned the need for good spoke tension on this trail.  I agree.  And a strong rear hub/freewheel!

[dixie626]

How do you get to the XX? I can't find it on the map

[Seanbikes]

Take Dynamite Rd down to 107th, cross the street and it'll be the 1st trail running east-west, if you go past it the next east-west trail and last option before a swim is the Canal Trail. 

[fat-tyr]

A buddy and me checked out the extension yesterday, first off nice work to all the people that put there hard work into it.  My question is for the safety of riders please tell me this is going to be a one way only trail.  The reason I mention it I just see it being very dangerous if you have riders meeting coming it opposite directions, there really is no place to move over to let another rider pass, and with all the old rocks/ cement or whatever it is, I can easily see it becoming dangerous.  This maybe in the works as I have not read every post on the xx extension but it came to mind as I rode a short bit of it yesterday

No. It will have a couple of loops at the end and head back. Its a trail that will challenge your concentration and hopefully people wont be riding it with their head down.... way too much of that in Palos.

[undercover]

XX has the highly coveted tight corridor, In some spots expectation is that riders will need to move to the side to pass each other. There is plenty of room to step outside the path to share the trail with fellow bikers while catching your breath and admiring each others mad skillz :-).
Open sight lines combined with the lower speeds allow for easy spotting of any on coming traffic.

I'm more scared of spots where one thinks there is enough room for 2 way traffic, as one assumes everyone is comfortable on a bike as themselves.

[CrAsHaNdBuRn]

Thanks and while I understand the whole riding with your head down and such, but the trail is narrow and so hilly I just wonder where you are planing to make accomodations for people to allow others to pass if your running it both directions. I understand that the chance is small for 2 people to meet in opposite directions at the same point, but it is very possible.  it could be dangerous for riders, and by no means take my post or question as stirring the pot or trying to cause trouble its just a valid concern with no room for passing or 2 riders on the trail, and was just wondering if this was thought of during the design of the trail.

Correct trail etiquette in this circumstance is for the rider that is descending to STOP, move to the side of the trail, and allow the climbing rider(s) to pass.

Believe me, there are trails all over the world that are MUCH tighter, much harder, much scarier, and consequences are far more dangerous. The entrance alone to the XX extension is constructed purposefully, in order to keep less experienced riders from taking risks they are not ready for. This is a matter of rider consideration and trail etiquette, not trail construction, in my opinion. A rider that would barrel into a climbing rider on the eXXtention would most likely do so on any other trail in Palos.

[longhairmike]

This is the wilderness, not a mall parking lot.

only until the first soccer-mom pulls a gun over a parking spot...

[rz79]

^ not sure what that means... but, a big hand goes to those who have worked on that trail as that landscape can't be easy to work. Even though that style of trail is not my cup of tea the work that went ( and is going) into it deserves a hand.

The question raised was IMO valid, one way traffic would be nice but I understand that it isn't going to happen.


 
 

[fat-tyr]

 With all this rain PLEASE stay off the XX extension it is not as compacted as the rest of Palos. Thanks.

[Ron]

Checked out the extension after not having been out there for a couple/few weeks.

The armoring and rock work is absolute artwork. Absolutely fricking awesome work!

[jmnicebike]

Ron, you're alive and riding!!

[adhd-tv]

Checked out the extension yesterday after not having been out there for a couple months... wow.  Once the tread gets ridden in and compacted, I think it will be very fast and flowy and all fun.

[Jewalicious]

yes the trail is coming along nicely - some things to keep in mind:
The trail is pre-new, the natural surface and precious clay-pack is fragile, never never ever ride this area when its wet or your leaving tire squish or shoe squish STOP and get the heck out.

No matter how good it looks today, its still got a lot of work in a lot of areas.  tons.  please help at a workday,or 10....
If you want to explore the XX extension,consider hiking it vs riding it.  there are about 1,000,000,007 places along the trail that are visually striking.    

If you must ride it  - PLEASE give extra consideration for trail work crews or workers who may be on the trail and turn around if there is work going on (better yet, stop and help a crew) - this is not a complete, open, official trail.  Its very easy to screw up a section thats not prepared for action.  Please, if you check it out be very light and observant and don't make a day of riding it - plenty of awesomeness elsewhere in the canal and triangle sections.  

[fat-tyr]

Let me make this clear. The XX extension is still under construction and not an open or legal trail. Please DO NOT ride it until its completed and approved by the CCFPD.

[aramid]

Thanks for clarification Stan.