You are hereGlenrock State Conservation Area update for 29 May

Glenrock State Conservation Area update for 29 May


browny's picture

By browny - Posted on 29 May 2011

NB: Originally posted elsewhere on the Global Riders Network and appears via syndication.
Status: 
Red/Closed

Got back late from a weekend away and didn't realise how much rain we've had. Super keen to try out my new lights so I headed out.

Basically it was a slop fest on the new work and there was also a fair bit of standing water and mud on the mgmt trails. Shaft was the worst, chopped up and unrideable in parts.

I called it a day as soon as I could get out of there and can only apologise for helping to chop it up a bit more.

Do you have more information?

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Please do not update this post with such information - post a new update with the link above.

Empy's picture

Yeah I think we've become victims of our own success. Glenrock has been standing up so well to moderate amounts of rain, especially the re-worked sections, that riders have just begun to take for granted that it will be OK.

Unfortunately that's not always the case and the amount of rain we've had this week will certainly create problems. All the new work still has a lot of 'raw' clay on the surface, it will take time for that stuff to get a 'skin' on it that will resist absorbing water. It will get better.

We are at the moment trying to promote use of this website as the 'go-to' place for all things Glenrock, for people to respect and take heed of the trail status indication we need to keep it fresh - very fresh.

For instance I was working one weekday arv. a few months back, it was only light rain but a group of riders turned up at the gate as I was leaving. I mentioned to them that it was probably a bit too wet to ride the singletrack, they answered that one of them had checked the GTA status and it was Red, "but that status update was 3 days old". Fair call - except that it had been raining every day for that last 3 days!!

We all love to ride, and when someone makes the effort to get to the trailhead it's unlikely they will want to turn around and go home. The only thing I can suggest at that stage is to ride the fireroads, Glenrock has heaps and you can get out a fair loop using that only and you will suffer far less drivetrain damage.

Anyway the point here is please update the status whenever you have fresh info - as often as you like, except for me that is - unless we want rain Shocked

Lenny_GTA's picture

carpark looked pretty packed when I drove past at 4pm.

I just assumed it had been dry up here since I went to sydney on friday.

......'s picture

yep, trails are killer, people will want to ride em, shame really. I think that the GTA website is a great starting point, however I also think that we need some support from the media to get the message across.

I have seen a few small snippets in magazines talking about the ills of wet weather riding, however i think that the racing and media portion of the mtb world does not really support the idea of riding abstinence after rain. Not really a surprise though, the punters are generally weekend warriors who are simply unaware of the problems it riding wet trails causes. I would guess that they see a pic of a wet muddy rider with a big grin and naturally think that getting dirty is what it is all about, the muddier the better maybe. Not really the best message to be projecting.

Maybe we should be sending an email to MBA telling them that we have built a sweet network of trails that are the start of something much bigger, however members of our own community are damaging the good work through irresponsible use.

I have been riding a long time and i feel that this is a crucial time in MTB's life-cycle. It could go wither way here, we could be banned, or we could be welcomed. It truly is up to us.

I won't "rant" on... I'm sure you get the point,

Hop fiend's picture

pisspoor to hear about those riding up there on Sun. arvo as rain had been falling on/off all day-can we promote Jesmond Park/JH hosp area as a wet weather alternative-it is going to be Freeway one day?-thats where I went yesterday!

Johnn's picture

Only way to find out how the new trails handle rain is to try them out.
I have a good idea and have decided to stay away.

Awaba is riding sweet and there are plenty of other trails in Jesmond and Whitebridge. (portage may be required) If you still want to wreck your equipememt there is always Killingworth. I've heard Wallarah State Forrest North of Raymond Terrace is good if you prefer hills and gnarly moto tracks and fire roads. The guys at Singleton are very proud of their track and wouldn't mind if a few out of towners gave it a go.

There is always the road. Starts right outside the door. No stuffing around with transporting dirty bikes. Good for endurance training. Find your rythme and enter zen space. Find a group and appreciate coffee, lycra and cafe's.

Want an easy off road ride, there is the fernleigh track, Speers Point,foreshore or Glendale/Wallsend. Add few fire/maintenance roads for that off road fix.

Maybe a bit of urban assault. Plenty of stairs, ramps and drops around the city. Not my thing but I've noticed some interesting features which would make rideing less boring.

Theres plenty of work to be done on the trails and weeding while it's wet and cold in the meantime.

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