Amazing

[Benflow]

I hit up Saw Wee Kee tonight for a couple hour ride, part of which was with a buddy.  I have to say, I've ridden SWK maybe 8 times in the past.  Every time I hit it I'm amazed at how much fun that place is.  I love the tech.  I usually ride it just below race pace and I have to say, at that speed, there are so many sections that you can feel like you're on a pump track.  At high speeds that place is all about flowing on the bike. Props to the trail crew as well. Place is in great condition.  Every rider I've brought out there is shocked that we have stuff like this around here.

Also, we came across a guy that had blown through the sand section and into the trees. He was with a bunch of other riders but wanted to make sure he was OK??  I think he was bloodied up.    

[sommerfliesby]

Yesterday was my second time there...I agree...REALLY fun...can't wait to go back with my singlespeed next time!

As for the sand pit...that was Stan, aka Fat-Tyr...doing a little off-trail exploration after a high speed directional change in the deep sand.  He was cut up a bit, but rode on w/o problem.

[IllinoisRider]

Stan also managed to lose his cell phone later on (which he got back).  He had a rough day at SWK.   

[Benflow]

Good to hear he's OK. He was way down in there.  Hopefully he's not allergic to poison ivy.
Which, by the way is in full bloom again. 
I know I've seen messages on here about this before, but what is the situation with bringing weed wackers back there and walking the trails and cutting back the bush that's encroaching... and destroying the PIvy along side the trails?

[Seanbikes]

Good to hear he's OK. He was way down in there.  Hopefully he's not allergic to poison ivy.
Which, by the way is in full bloom again. 
I know I've seen messages on here about this before, but what is the situation with bringing weed wackers back there and walking the trails and cutting back the bush that's encroaching... and destroying the PIvy along side the trails?

Any trailwork needs to be done either by the Park District or by CAMBr during a workday.  The Park District has some interns that will be helping with trimming back the vegatation this summer and it is also something that will be addressed in the upcoming workdays like the one this Sunday, hope you can make it!

[AerixJ]

Any trailwork needs to be done either by the Park District or by CAMBr during a workday.  The Park District has some interns that will be helping with trimming back the vegatation this summer and it is also something that will be addressed in the upcoming workdays like the one this Sunday, hope you can make it!

Not to mention that a weed-wacker would be a great way to get the most insane poison ivy rash you've ever heard of:

[Moto Rider]

Not to mention that a weed-wacker would be a great way to get the most insane poison ivy rash you've ever heard of:

WOW!

[Seanbikes]

That's nasty nasty stuff there.

I'm very happy to hear more praise for the trails at Saw Wee Kee and the work done by our volunteers.  Dominic does a great job inspiring us to work with that bullwhip

[Benflow]

WHAA?! You got that rash from SWK? Did you come off the bike and walk around in it?? Wow.

[IllinoisRider]

WHAA?! You got that rash from SWK? Did you come off the bike and walk around in it?? Wow.

Uhh, have you been there?  It is everywhere!  I am very sensitive to it and know exactly what it looks like.  SWK has lots of it and it's very easy to get there.

[Sharkbait1687]

Im glad He got his phone back. I found one Wed and put it one the trail head post and called the last number dialed and left a voicemail I hope it was his phone and everythings ok.

[TheNormsk]

Yep if anyone cuts back poison ivy (thereby releasing all the plant oil all over the place...) don't pick it up and move it with your arms.

Courtesy of the www.poison-ivy.org:



and a week later...


Luckily for me I have been whipping my legs with the brush but not one itch (well apart from a couple of mozy bites...)

[AnandK]

You now owe me a bowl of cereal, Kerry.

[Benflow]

@Illinoisrider  Oh yea, I know it's there, see it all over...  I was surprised that if AerixJ how he would get it 'all over' like that from riding.  I get it at least once a season and it's usually little streaks on the outside of my calves (rubbing as I go past) or sometimes inside the crease behind the knee (pedals touching if I stop).  But I've never seen a rider get it like that.  Wow.

I would think the park district should be totally for weed wacking that stuff way down/destroying it in some manner.  It could really be viewed as an easily avoidable safety concern like having exposed rusty nails on a playground for kids.  I ride with a friend who is extremely allergic to it and has wound up in the hospital getting steroid shots in the past because of it.  They wouldn't allow that stuff to grow around any of their other parks.   

As I know has been discussed her before... I bring a massive bottle of rubbing alcohol to SWK that I apply liberally to my arms and legs post ride to hopefully 'break up' some of the surface oil. 

[Principal (Snake) Skinner]

I'm not sure that's AerixJ. He's a lot thinner than that, but if he swelled up from it that could explain it.

The poison ivy is something that we need to address—the issue comes up every year! I can't say we'll really make a dent in it by ourselves though. Every year we chop everything along the trail down and every year it all comes back! Part of the problem is that it's a vine—you cut one part and the vine sends more out to replace it. You'd need to spray to kill it and that would require closing the trails off for days. It's certainly possible, but getting land manager approval for that and using chemicals is the hurdle. Personally, I wonder if the park district interns will get rash problems when they trim back the trails, and spur the park district to look into the matter.