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Lets talk about Shaft


......'s picture

By ...... - Posted on 23 October 2011

NB: Originally posted elsewhere on the Global Riders Network and appears via syndication.

So, Shaft is looking pretty flogged. Pretty significant braking ruts at the entry of a few of the corners at various places. Needing some pretty substantial maintenance, although i'm not convinced that maintenance is all that it needs.

What say you good glenrockians

Macr's picture

But you know that as we spoke about it, this morning. I also think, there may have been a little influenced, by a motorbike. <- May be wrong on this one, but it sure does look like it.

......'s picture

probably right Macr. I heard a few around last weekend, still i think that the texture of the soil, and the speed that can be carried through there is a recipe for ruts anyway

Macr's picture

It is definitely quick. I am going to launch myself into oblivion, one of these days, buy overcooking it. I have already had a few close calls.

......'s picture

nah,, those big wheels will keep you upright, just hold on tight

Hop fiend's picture

soil & trails I reckon!-we need to rock armour heaps of sections up at Glenrock as we are a victim of our sucsess

richo's picture

While we are talking about rutting has it got worse since last weekend? It seems to be every where there is a down hill or tight corner.This is just an observation i dont mind what ever makes the trail more technical is fine by me .....not a big fan of rock armouring seems to sap the speed out of the trail.... but i spouse rutting does the same thing.I'm shore there are some trail building guru's out there with a solution

T's picture

In my opinion which may not be a good one, this is what we can look forward to with the intoduction of directional trails. Nearly every person I know used to love mixing the trails in different directions to avoid riding the same trails all the time( I,m still guilty of it). Now with the trails signposted and everyone riding in the same direction, braking and skidding in the same places the trails are definetly going to suffer. I may be wrong but thats what I think.

pharmaboy's picture

Hi guys, FWIW, there was definately a moto on shaft (3 weeks ago) - he went the opposite of normal direction and also climbed snakes and ladders as well last week- the marks were all 4 inches wide, and in places where a moto would be accelerating up a hill. On shaft the obvious proof of it, is right at the top at the left hand turn - if that huge rut were mtbers it would start well before it does - its been made by a moto who stopped on the corner going up, then lit it up, spitting dirt back into the bush no doubt.

Macr's picture

That sounds like the corner, which was being referred to.

Hop fiend's picture

that for about 6 months there may have been a Moto riding Shaft the opposite way with the way the trail has been looking

......'s picture

so, how do we fix the damage????

Macr's picture

A bigger berm?
Seen the hew Olympic track in England? Stone berms. You would have to get some nice smooth slabs.

......'s picture

Shaft look much better after some rain. maybe all it needs is some dirt, and a couple of go's with the whacker packer. If it was the moto, that should do it. However, if it is actually something else, I think some of the lines need to be re routed. I think for a good rider, it is fine. A solid rider will carry speed through there and be able to feather the brakes, however i think that most riders will be going through there grabbing fistfull of brakes.

Macr's picture

THat nice big mound after you come out of the switch backs, catches people all the time, as it turns right, just after you crest it. Everyone including myself, want to jump it. That could do with either a re-route or make a hip to berm corner.

Hop fiend's picture

has chunked the crap out of the mounds & berms on the top part of 'Shaft?

fairy1's picture

I wanted to re shape the top berm but I think it really needs some rocks or a tecchy entry so riders can't gain too much speed through the first corner as excessive speed and rubbish over inflated XC tyres are really chewing the trail up.
People panic and lock the brakes and either go straight or straight off, last week I hit the trail blind on my DH bike and I was honestly quite scared as I went to hit my normal line and found myself sliding along the edge of a braking/moto rut.
If I was on an XC bike with skinny tyres and a seat up my bum I would have no doubt crashed, is there any planned work in this area soon? I am pretty useless at the moment as I can't swing a mattock but I can use a shovel, it really needs work as it is quite dangerous.

......'s picture

i'd like to see the entry point re routed. I reckon the entry should moved down the hill about 10 feed, and make it an uphill entry that goes straight into a right hand burm.

Fast riders will be up to speed in 4 pedals, while newbies can roll in at a speed that doesn't catch them of guard. line wouldn't change a great deal, it would just be an up hill entry point.

Empy's picture

Planned immediately, people can just slow down of their own accord.

What is it with people going as fast as they can until they fly off the track or crash?

How about they just ride within their limits?

We are under no obligation to design trails that regulate riders speed so they don't have to think about braking themselves!
What sort of trails would we have if that were the case?

We can have really lame trails that you cannot possibly get into trouble on or we can have exciting trails that require you to think.

I know what I would rather.

fairy1's picture

I agree Empy, but when I was in there last week there was a wheel width rut running down the trail that didn't point you in a great direction, find me a novice rider that can get out of a rut while trying to brake down a fairy steep decline.

Harry's picture

if you know a certain section of the trail is beyond your current ability - leave it out or walk it until you are more confident. Dumbing down trails to cater for the lowest common denominator will make for very boring trails. There are easier loops sign posted to follow until they are not challenging enough.

Hop fiend's picture

after seeing it on the tellie or in the paper & they want to ride the whole darn thing!-hey who did not try every track they could roll your wheels onto when the MTB drug hit?

fairy1's picture

It's not that the section was too difficult it has had 100's of wheels and loads of rain hammer it to it's current state, I am all for riders getting off and walking difficult sections but this section was fine and just needs to be returned to it's former glory.

A big part of the problem was that when the trail was cut it wasn't benched 100% as the ground was so bloody hard, I got in there maybe a year ago and cut it a bit deeper but it also needs to go towards the bank a bit.
I had a bit of a set back with my shoulder but I should be able to do some work in four weeks.

......'s picture

hold your horses Empy. No one wants sanitized trails. . Take it easy. I am talking about sustainability primarily, and then safety.

If it keeps going the way it is going, it will be rut city, it will take a little while but it will get there, then with the speed that the section can muster, it will be wreck city.

T's picture

I,m with you on that one refresh. I think the trouble comes from rolling straight off the tar into the trail like you said, it doesn,t seem like your goin that fast until you try to slow a bit going down over the first roller. Personally I was disappointed to see that little kicker taken out on the first right hander I thought it scubbed a bit of speed off and had no dramas with the next corner.

As for the big roller into the long downhill straight, it is one of my fav sections a bit of a hip into the slight right. Yeah it sort of trys to kick the other way but do it right and it flows so good.

fairy1's picture

Sorry ladies and gents, I have been taliking about the wrong piece of trail, I haven't seen Shaft for a fair while so anything I have said is all rubbish, will look at the map before I blast peoples hanywork, sorry.

Hop fiend's picture

have ya been talkin about?

fairy1's picture

Yeah sorry I was talking about Highroller into BJ's, might have a look at Shaft tomorrow, it looked amazing last time I saw it.

......'s picture

the rain has smoothed it out a little, doesn't look as bad as it did when thread was originally posted.

Hop fiend's picture

big ruts & chunks out all the way down to the creek crossing-can we work on this next Sat. Mick?

Empy's picture

I looked at the area with the NPWS last week and we have plans to get the excavator back in there. But that probably won't be for a month or so.

We have work to do on It Happens this Sat. that is probably more achievable by hand tools.

fairy1's picture

I have been riding Shaft for the last month and I haven't noticed any problems with the trail, I was having a blast.

Also I don't see a problem with the entry fromt the poo works road, it's not exactly difficult to slow down on tar, great section of trail, nice job to the folk that have worked on it,

......'s picture

agree, it's not hard to slow down on, and it looks ok at the moment, it's not the at the moment that i am commenting on though, and it isn't the skilled rider that i am worried about. Also, re the comments that refer to sanitizing the trails, personally i like the ruts formed on BJ's they are quite hard to ride at speed. The difference between the 2 is that BJ's has a technical entry that will ward of many novice riders reducing the chance of serious injury to a newbie, while shaft is flat out fast. I like shaft how it is, however i still think we need to reconsider the entry.

fairy1's picture

As strange as it sounds I very rarely see a full blown novice rider over that way, sure there are plenty of all the gear no idea people like me over there but still the Huffy sightings are few and far between.

We need a bike skills day in Glenrock, I'd go.

Hop fiend's picture

do not look at me to do it-unless you want lessons form Mr Magoo

Hop fiend's picture

rode down there today & it is fuc$%d up big time-fresh big ruts being dug up by riders braking too hard in the wrong spots-just slow down & learn to modulate ya brakes!!!!!!

pharmaboy's picture

still not convinced its caused by braking. Try riding it and deliberately skidding through most of those ruts and i think you'll end up in the bush -after briefly impersonating superman no doubt. The braking areas are before all those humps . I suspect the cause is simply that the ground on those humps is built up and hasnt been able to be compacted enough - it only takes one soon to be stacking rider to take off the top 1/2" of ground and it seems to just break down after that.

maybe dig em up, ad a bag of cement, and lower them 30%? At least though they arent dangerous - BJ's though is getting to the point where its widening, dangerous AND unenjoyable! (especially the log over - sketchy as)

Hop fiend's picture

story altogether

fairy1's picture

Had a good ride through BJ's and Shaft on slicks with 40psi in them, bit scary but a whole load of fun.

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