You are hereManly Dam update for 21 Apr

Manly Dam update for 21 Apr


noddman's picture

By noddman - Posted on 21 April 2013

Area: 
Manly Dam
Status: 
Red/Closed

"Manly Dam is officially closed until further notice due to wet weather" according to the official sign at the Wakehurst Parkway entrance and probably all other entrances, which explains why there are a few muppets still riding it. I hope the Rangers are in a booking mood today.

Do you have more information?

If you've ridden here lately please add a more recent report. This will be useful even if the condition is the same as updates expire after 30 days.
Please do not post comments with such information - post a new update with the link above.
Please do not update this post with such information - post a new update with the link above.

Rob's picture

Go on over to Strava, pick a segment at Manly Dam and look who rode it today. At least one of them said he was kicked off the track by a ranger. Doh!

obmal's picture

name and shame?

hawkeye's picture

Aiden Roach and Mathieu Dauner.

I've invited them to help out at the next volunteer maintenance day. Eye-wink

GAZZA's picture

And said there were about six cars parked there today!

obmal's picture

ha! the ingnoramuses are probably still cleaning their bikes and complaining about the ranger... bet they don't turn up.

ido09s's picture

Please correct me if i am wrong, but part of the problem is the tiny signage and lack of gates that lock the trail closed. Signs have never been posted at EVERY entrance to the trail and there are no chains to put across entrances to show people its closed. Not everyone has facebook either and they have stopped sending emails now.

I think if i was able to gain access to one entrance of the trail i would consider it open. Once your on the trail generally the last thing you would do is read every sign you ride past.

Having said that, would i have ridden any trail this past weekend, no definitely not, but not everyone has the same hate for getting filthy dirty or ruining their drivetrain as i do.

If they want to get serious about locking the trail down when it rains then they need to get serious about making it VERY obvious and erect gates and/or large red closed signs or some sort of obstruction at EVERY entrance to the trail. Over board, hell yeah, but you cant entirely blame someone for riding it when there is nothing that really stops them. Some people simply enjy riding in the mud.......

Ray R's picture

A gate/sign at every entrance is clearly impossible to install, maintain, and operate.

So, shouldn't the procedure be: If it's been recently raining, then riders check the official website for notices.

Then we just have to make certain:
- there is an official website (?)
- up to date notices are posted there by the Rangers
- it is publicised and looked at

BT's picture

There are 4 closed signs up and that's just between the Hydro lab and the Parkway entrance. If you miss any of those then you probably shouldn't be on a mountain bike dodging rocks, tree roots and branches as your eyesight is obviously rubbish.

I too saw at least 4 people riding yesterday on the road connections in Nth Balgowlah, with bikes covered in mud.

Pete B's picture

I think a lot of this wet weather riding is done because people aren't educated on the damage they cause by riding. Of the people I talk to at the trail heads, only half of them are aware of NobMob. Most MTBers aren't as 'Into' the sport as we are and therefore don't know/care about the amount of work that goes into, firstly, getting councils on side and secondly, maintaining the trail.
Would it be possible to put a sign highlighting a few of these issues and a web address for this site, as a simple 'closed' sign doesn't seem to work with everyone.

ar's picture

(I sent this message to hawkeye, but he hasn't replied - so I'll post here too.)

We went to Manly on Sunday as the trail status on Nobmob was green. When we got there we decided to take it easy and check out the trail condition, (ironically thinking I would update the status here). We ended up walking a lot of it, as you can tell from our blistering times.

Half-way round we bumped into a ranger who was putting up Track Closed signs, we had a chat and took the nearest fire road out. No dramas.

I haven't received any messages about helping out on a trail-day but would be interested in it regardless, as it's something I have wanted to get into.

Cheers,
Aidan

hawkeye's picture

Hi Aiden, thanks for messaging me.

It needs to be understood that nobmob is a community authored site, and while we do our best to keep the board up to date it it depends on someone doing a voluntary update, so it isn't always current. Your comment seems to acknowledge you are aware of this.

So this means when there has been a lot of heavy recent rain like Saturday's you need to look at when it was last updated and take into account any weather since the status was posted. Most users here would regard doing so as common sense.

Further, a cursory look at nature strips on the way would have told you (as it did me) that the soil in the area was still saturated and weeping runoff. No need to ride the Dam to find that out.

I'm not sure what to make of your claim to want to update the status here, since you joined only after the issue blew up and you were named.

However, I'm prepared to give you the benefit of the doubt: join Trail Care so you're insured and mark yourself as attending the next trail day, and then turn up and I'll know your serious.

Unfortunately, since my post has been replied to, I can't remove your name myself as the post is no longer editable. However, if you do these things I'll have solid grounds to ask the guy who runs the site to do so. If I do so now, he'll just laugh.

Ball's in your court:
www.trailcare.com.au
http://nobmob.com/node/41558

Cheers,

J

ido09s's picture

Ray, as has been said by Pete B not everyone knows of the damage that occurs to trails and the name it gives mountain bikers, let alone the sites to check to see if a trail is open for riding. I know some people who actually enjoy riding their bikes when its pouring with rain and love getting filthy dirty, not my cup of tea

Ben, i stand corrected. Cant say i have ever seen them but i dont ride trails when its been raining, especially Manly Dam as i know how ridiculously long it takes for that trail to dry out. I dare say that the time left for riding Manly Dam is extremely short now. Winter is almost here and the hot days needed to dry it out are all but gone Sad

GBH's picture

Facebook as a form of communication and update is very inefficient. I am unable to regularly check facebook for updates, whereas emails hit my inbox instantly. Last week, if I had known in time, I could have had a ride on Thursday. What is preventing Warringah Council from sending out emails as well - it's a cost-free process.

ar's picture

No, I didn't have an account - but I check this site regularly for trail statuses.

I had to sign up to reply to the messages as they were getting silly. When names are being thrown around and pitchforks start getting sharpened... that's just blowing things out of proportion.

I'd ridden Manly twice before, both during high summer so I was unaware of how well it drains or dries. We rented a GoGet specifically to go for a quick spin and Manly was the nearest spot that was green. On arriving, the initial track to the trail seemed a bit muddy (comparatively speaking that is - we get a lot worse where I'm from), but since we were there we decided to push on to see if it got better higher up (which it did).

Giving me the "benefit of the doubt" is all very kind, however the attitude and responses on this thread don't exactly instill any sense of a welcoming community. Good thing nobody saw me spread those thumbtacks on the trail!

Will be sure to check Nobmob, Facebook, Twitter and give you all a call before planning any future rides.

(I've signed up to the TrailCare site, will keep an eye open for future trail days.)

Cheers,
A

ido09s's picture

ar, if you understood the story of Manly Dam i think you may be a little bit more understanding of the reactions that have been posted on here.

The members on here have been extremely proactive and passionate about keeping Manly Dam as a mountain bike trail open for all to enjoy. If not for their efforts there would be no access to this particular trail. They have spent countless hours with local council, the rangers and i am sure many others, to keep the trail open. It has been quite a long and painful process and due to this it does become a touchy subject at times.

Could the replies have been a little nicer, well i think they could, but at least you now know a llittle more than before and you are somewhat understanding that there are some trail rules for wet weather riding. You will find a lot of updates on this site are from personal opinion and your best bet would be to check out the local council websites or the respective facebook pages for updates as they would be much more reliable.

Ray R's picture

this track status page had a permanent link to Warringah Councils page:

http://www.warringah.nsw.gov.au/community/mounta...

(As well as having reccomendations from NobMobbers not to ride the Dam based on their experience and observation)

This may help to get the official message out to riders before they drive there.

hawkeye's picture

The comments on the demise of the email notifications are entirely fair. Why WSC can't use a mail list manager like Constant Contact beats me. We've raised concerns about the "pull" model... "push" comms work much more effectively in this setting. Response was shrugged shoulders.

Looking forward to having you along on the next trail day, ar.

The diffetrnce here compared to ehere youre from is the sandy and easily eroded nature of the soils. They also destroy your drivetrain and brakes many times faster. Other trails that are lrss sensitive to wet weather riding are Duck Holes and Centre Tracks st Terrey Hills

ar's picture

Cheers guys - and thanks for the wet weather riding suggestions - good to know!

Cheers,
A

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