Today was an great day for riding and building. Mike and I had a very product ride and build session today. We picked up where Brian left off and we cut, tread, rock-worked the trail. We finish the other side of Grotto and continue passed Cradle and almost reached the section below Snot Rock. We added another 1/3rd mile and 100% rideable trail! There are a couple of low crossings and a turn that I spent extra time armoring. Mike even managed a bit of maintenance (replacing BirdStone) on the way out. We also managed to get the 2nd place spot behind a pro racer on the 3 miles from Satellite to Trailhead.
There is still a considerable amount of trail flagged, but next time I make it out I will probably make sure we get flagged back passed Grotto and below Waterbreak for another turn-around. We are going to milk this section shamelessly because we can and the elevation profile is perfect for it!
Where Mike and I left off (conveniently and coincidentally) is where the serious benching will need to begin. We do have a game trail to mooch off of, it will make the benching slightly easier.
All the tools are at the end of the trail, there is nothing prior to the tool stash that needs attention.
Weather is PERFECT, NOW is the time to get out there to ride and work! See you guys on the trail.
How stable is the bird stone now?
ReplyDeleteI can't believe went through the considerable effort to move it in the first place.
I moved it the first time because I crashed right into it in the early stages. If you youtube "brushy crick"...the video I made back in May, my video ends with my moving it because I bit it.
DeleteYesterday, that rock feature was discovered to be made WAY too easy.
I'm getting very tired of people rolling through there and making the features too easy. The shit isn't that hard, and if it's too hard to clear, then people need to practice hitting it...it will only make them better riders in the end.
Word.
DeleteAnd just to clarify, the way that rock feature sets up, there was literally no way to ride it without hitting birdstone. Thus, it had to be moved. Anyways, it's back in a different capacity now. It forces the rider to *GASP!* ride over a rock and manage it.
DeleteOne of our admirers has YouTubed the trail.
ReplyDeletehttp://youtu.be/uHyBfjyGbDY
Couldn't help but chuckle at 20:28. I know that feeling on different parts of the trail, especially at night. Wonder why he cut it off just before that step up. That step requires perfect timing.
DeletePretty cool to see someone else ride it, and it reminds us of how difficult the trail can be in terms of holding your line when tired.
And yes, the weather is PERFECT right now for building. We worked hard and rode pretty hard yesterday and I never felt like I was about to faint. With those 100+ degree days, there were times I had to sit down due to being dizzy. I know my plan is to continue hammering the building as hard as I can while the weather is awesome. I hope everyone will do the same!
The part of the trail we got done yesterday is freaking awesome. Sweet flow into a techy rock area ("The Cradle") and just beginning "The Bonus". I can hardly wait for The Bonus to be cut and benched and ready to ride. I envision myself blowing to the moon in this area for years to come.
I might be able to get out there today (Tuesday) but if not, then for sure on Thursday for a couple of hours. My main focus will be cutting corridor.
Yep, that climb hasn't quite killed me, but that next little one is a final kick in the teeth that almost does me in.
DeleteSo, video guy, Ray, ran into George working and George mentioned the blog. Ray wants to help us build. BUT, he is out of commission for a few days - he crashed badly on that hard right hand step down that heads back towards the ravine. He's not complaining though.
I checked the calendar (wife) and Saturday morning is clear for me to work! Should be nice all week, with Wed high of 88. Saturday high is expected to be 84 - perfect.
Haaa It's been You Tubed! Trail is lighting up n Strava also. I'm going to try to make some signage here soon. Definitely need a two-way trail caution sort of sign.
DeleteMike is working on cutting trail today, I expect he'll have a line cut down to below Snot Rock - it will level off before working slightly up (then undulating) and then making a hairpin left-hand downhill turn.
ReplyDeleteWhoever gets out there please make sure the area you work stays tight and benched/cribbed where needed. The trail in this wooded area should stay tight, with the exception of the climbing turn. The next big turn is off-camber and will need to be pretty wide and benched. Tight trail on these slopes makes for a smaller tread to be maintained, easier to bench/crib and upkeep, with a bonus of making it feel faster and more tech. The part from Ravine Drop all through The Hollows is a complete blast.
There is a slight chance Mike and I will be out early tomorrow for an hour or 2 around 7am.
I'm off all next week, me and my McLeod will get freindly.
ReplyDeleteI got corridor cut to the point of heading back up the hill toward the Grotto. I got the parts closest to the Regional Trail done in pure sniper style. Next, though, is the labor-intensive part...benching all of it.
ReplyDeleteI'll be out there tomorrow (Thursday) from 2:30-4:30pm benching the shit out of all that as far as I can get. If anyone gets out there today (Wednesday), then you can just cut corridor where I left off if you don't mind.
If I can get out Sunday, I'm going to literally walk the trail from the Trunk to the end with a pair of loppers. I'm going to trim the CRAP out of the limbs that piss me off every time I ride through there.
**PLEASE** - I'm begging anyone that might read this and rides the trail and loves it....BUY SOME PRUNING SHEARS....and please trim limbs that hit you when you're riding the trail. I know it sucks to stop while you're riding and do it, but we need help keeping the trees at bay. It makes for a more fun trail for all involved, and the next time you ride through, you won't have that crap hitting you in the face/arm/torso,etc. Again, BEGGING. Just put them in your jersey pocket and whip them out when something hits you. Thanks.