You are hereManly Dam update for 22 Mar
Manly Dam update for 22 Mar
Officially closed:
Dear Mountain Bike Riders,
Sorry folks, but due to the excessive amount of rain over the last few days, we need to CLOSE the track again due to wet conditions. Please note we will notify you when we re-open it. Until then we appreciate your cooperation in staying off the track. Please let all your riding associates know.
Thanks and kind regards,
Manly Dam Rangers
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Was walking my dog yesterday and saw not one, not two, not even three but FOUR mountain bikers riding the Manly Dam trail and this was just within 20 minutes of me being at Rowland Reserve. They all rode past 2 new HUGE signs saying the track was closed to mountain bikers (uphill section by school/golf course entrance). I was pissed and had the chance to stop two of them, even took their picture which they were not happy with as they knew they were doing something illegal (would post it but don't know how).
Anyways, I asked them if they knew how to read as the sign clearly states it was closed. We argued for a few minutes, basically their main point was me taking picture of them which they say was illegal of me to do. My main point was that it was closed for a reason (rain=erosion) and to please not ride when it's closed. They also didn't think it was my right to stop them and tell them what I thought. But I think it's my civil duty to help spread the word as if they continue to do so then eventually the trail could be closed permanently to ALL mountain bikers even the considerate ones that follow the rules. I told them about the email notification and hope to god that they think twice about it next time. I'm still in shock that people can be so ignorant and selfish, especially mountain bikers. PLEASE don't ride the trail when it is closed.
Just start a new forum topic and attach the pictures of these bozos. Name and shame I say!
It's legal to take pics, so long as you don't record sound without their permission, which is an offence under the NSW Listening Devices Act (1984).
BTW, good on you, uni.
My previously stated view is that Council needs to get some rangers out there and start issuing fines.
Just a quick query - I agree no means no - and I would imagine that the rain the last few days will definitely have the track too wet. But it's certain parts in particular right? A lot of the ride is on fire road or rocks - riding these can't cause erosion surely? Is there a route that you can ride Manly if you take some detours around the road? Would be sad to see moutain biking in NSW turn into a fine weather sport. If we had had closures like this in NZ all the time mountain biking would be a non sport. As would Britain I'd guess.
most of the great NZ mtb tracks seem to be in state or private forest areas where the sort of erosion caused by mtb's on wet days is not a huge problem. You can go and ride all the wet fire trail you like in a NP here as well. Manly Dam is a shared recreation facility run by Manly Council, and it is not, in many places, a track that has been designed to minimise erosion issues. Hence the need for caution and some conservatism when it comes to riding in the wet.
You could ride Manly Dam 24x7 come rain or shine if there were resources available (eg: volunteer labour) and allowed (eg: council change their policy on utilising volunteer labour) to maintain the track whenever it fell into disrepair.
Sadly this is not the case.
Warringah Council will not let volunteers work on the track. They have very limited resources to maintain the track themselves.
Due to this situation the level of wear and tear the track can stand is lower than it should be.
As such, people should not ride the dam when it is wet as travelling on a trail (on foot or by bike) causes more movement of the trail surface (erosion) than in the dry.
Bottom line is that if you want to be able to ride Manly Dam in all conditions the only solution is to campaign for regular volunteer maintenance days to return. Feel free to write to Warringah Council about this. Their details are here:
http://www.warringah.nsw.gov.au/council_now/elec...
I'd in favour of shaming them by publishing the photos. But it may be advisable to remove your contact details from the NoBMob profile. However, it would also be good if there were a few fines issued - that would really get the word out that Closed means Closed!
@donkerr, the track closure does not distinguish between trail sections. It says the mtb trail is closed. That means the whole loop.
As to your question about the fire trail and rocky bits:
The rocky bits are often steep descents ending in a clay pan landing zone. The treacherous condition of the landing zone at the bottom of the last 19th Hole roll-off is just one example of why riding in the wet under the current (no-)maintenance regime is less than ideal. There is a deepening depression with a lip that has formed, which is a real wheel-catcher over-the-bars experience for the newby and unwary. The puddles that form at the bottom of the two tech descents on the Golf Course singletrack section are less of a problem now, but continued abuse will worsen them. And there are others.
The braking bumps on the approach into the berm on the fire trail descent to the creek would not be improved by riding when it's muddy.
Does that help?
Somewhat in jest, as this could get out of control, but the point about posting the pics without your details is appealing.
The number of times I've politely tried to point out erroneous ways to fellow riders, but been met with a hail of abuse is disappointing.
It would be nice to have the facility to post pics without the risk of retribution.
i.e 'Gallery of manly dam riders riding when track was closed and refused to stop when brought to their attention'
It's really about those very few damaging delicate relationships for the supportive and respectful majority.
W.
Any update on the trail status? Was hoping to go for a ride tonight, but haven't gotten an email from the Rangers saying it's open yet. We've had a few days of dry warm weather, so I was hoping it'd dry out by now!
After the amount of rain we had here in Manly Vale last weekend, I doubt the trail would be rideable for at least another week I'm afraid.
The Rangers will send an 'open' email at some point. Let's hope that's sooner rather than later. You could always ride other trails that fair better. LT, P, CT, DH will probably be ok, and maybe Cascades too.
Who would have thought Manly Dam is so good at retaining water.