You are hereManly Dam update for 19 Jun
Manly Dam update for 19 Jun
Area:
Manly Dam
Status:
Green/Open open with a few puddles still some water running across in various places on the high side. but was a nice morning for it... had it to myself 
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much changes after the trackwork ??
Most of the work so far seems to have has gone into armouring the single track just before "golf course rock". Much has already been said about the dumbing down of the rock ledges just before that... I will remain optimistic.... clearly lots more work to be done.
Rode this morning and there is now a signposted B line around the rock ledges, the ledges themselves (now signed "advanced" are dumbed down from what they were before. Watch out on the first rock roll off, the 'obvious' line to take will snare a chainring or two!
Agree with you there, I think they need to rework the start of the A-line. It has taken bits off my chainrings a couple of days ago. I'll say something to the trail builders if I see them again when I go for my lunch time ride.
Really??
If you are loosing bits of your chaining then your not riding it correctly and should either try again or ride the B Line!
Manly Dam has always been a techy XC track. There is no need to dumb it down!
I don't see anything wrong with that section before. It's only after they've changed the entry and added the B line that I have issues with my chainring hitting the rock they've put there.
I agree with you with not dumbing it down, but the entry to the A line can be made better.
Maybe you can tell us which line to take so I can save my chainrings
I rode it this morning pre dawn and had the same issue with dragging chain rings on the new line.
After decades of riding the line I have been conditioned to roll over that edge. However with the new work it now requires a boost to clear the lip rather than a simple rollover. It will take some getting used to but its a fun option now you can carry some speed in to and out of this section.
While this section has lost the notched and steppy old difficulties, it hasn't been dumbed down. The new challenges are fast and flowing but definitely challenging.
Looking forward to getting all the new lines sussed.
Rode it tonight.
Probably should have ridden it for the first time after the track changes in the daylight! So the old 'B' line now leads you straight off that big rock which I was not expecting and the front wheel just kept going down down down...... then that awful moment when the forks hit then flex and you either go OTB or jussssttt make it. I made it! then the next part the folks are talking about has changed and the old line now leads you into a chainring crunching rock which I obligingly hit too.
I wouldn't say the track has been dumbed down but the lines in those two sections are now different to before so I recommend you take it slow the first time you go through and learn the new lines.
Did a couple of passes this morning along the new works.
First time rolled over the A line and yes chain crunched. Went back up and did the B Line... although at the moment it is a bit of an A minus line. Includes a tight switchback over a rocky section that needs to bed in.
Third go back up and I happened to run into the trail builders and commented to them about the chain crunch. They were well aware and suggested that it needed to be hit with momentum. Next time down just let the bike run a bit and no chain crunch but took my heart into my mouth as I hit the other side.
My verdict - the new A Line is now more difficult then the "old" line. Yeah
And they have also added an extra feature at the next step down with an A Line the trailbuilders described as "the hero line". Stop and have a look!
I did a lap on sunday which was the first lap I've done of the dam in months. I didn't hit my chain ring anywhere, so am struggling to picture where you mean. Does anyone have any photo's (especially of the 'hero' line).
When you guys say "roll over" are you doing it slowly and just dropping your front tyre over??
Really if your doing a roll over like this you should be pushing you bars/front wheel out as you roll over, this keeps the front wheel up a little longer rather than letting it dive down straight after. Sounds like you also might need a touch more speed.
I have been riding the dam for the last twenty years and am a very very technically proficient rider. A lot of people that ride the dam(might not be you) really need to work on the technical ability's.
I rode it over the weekend. I'm defn not technically proficient and rode the intermediate line. Must say I like the way they are making changes - keep the technically bits for you folk but dumb down some parts so us novices can get get better.
For what it's worth I get off about 4-5 times per lap (45-50mins lap) and am in favour of some dumbing down. In saying that I appreciate the dam was technical before I started so my views aren't necessarily right.
Please keep the tips on best way to ride the dam going or maybe as they keep making changes you can pass on similar advice.
Thanks heaps.
I've got some video footage I'll try and post up over the weekend.
I've not hit anything dropping over the first bit, but then I slot in to normal line for the big rock steps drop (which is toned down now).
The Hero Line, is carrying your speed and jumping off the big rock. But, you will need to get over the first drop clean and carry quite a bit of momentum to hit the designated landing area....
Not for me.
Stay tuned for the video.
I crunched my chain ring on my first go at the new A line at the top of the track the other night too. The fact is that if you roll over it your going to bottom out.
It truly is bad designing and the fact the trail builders know it's there and could easily fix it is ignorance.
My biggest gripe is why are they a stuffing around with that part of the track when there really was nothing wrong with it and doing nothing about parts of the track which really need it. ie: the last section before the bottom car park. Its like riding through a brick yard.
I think they have made that top section more dangerous than before because you need more speed to hit that rock and they haven't even build up the top side to launch off it.
It's different when it's natural rock but to build it like that they obviously don't ride.
All it needs is a rock jammed in behind so you can roll down if you so choose.
And before you say to me just take the chicken run that's not option for me i never take that road and it's no excuse for poor trail building .
It's no wonder people choose to build there own tracks when that's what happens when you leave it to the pro's
There's always road riding or basic fire trails if you want easy lines. One of the challenges of MTB is ever changing trails; hitting a trail at speed and then finding out that a line changed.... and dealing with it.
Trails being made easier is one thing, and should bring about protest, but a trail being made more challenging... Seriously... Time for a tea spoon of cement!
It seems we all like different degrees of difficulty so I guess if you have A and B lines as often as possible then more people will be pleased than not.
Fact is there is now a B line around it so there should be no one complaining its too hard. If its beyond your riding ability then use the B line!
I'm not compaining about it being to hard just not built properly.
I was mistaken , i thought they were fixing a MTB track but they are actually building a footpath and those rocks are placed to discourage people from going down there.
And the other large rock they have placed in the middle of track further down is purely to slow you down on what was a nice fast section.
I rode the section of trail today and disagree with the comments about the trail being dumbed down, easier, slower, etc.
At speed the new section, in my opinion, is much better that it was previously. The rocks are not there to stop people going down that section; it's clearly designated as a green & black line. The rock is also not there as a roll down feature, it's meant to be hucked / manualed off and is a "gate" to ensure that if you come down that way you'll be OK to huck / manual / launch off the next drop.
The alternative is the green line which due to the way it brings you into the second step does;t have the risk of sending a beginner over a ledge.
Also the final rock they have put in place, if the second drop is hit at speed, it actually helps you pump into the next section of the trail. That rock is placed a perfect location where you're suspension has rebound to the top again, you can get the bike light over that rock then pump int the corner.
Personally I'm looking forward to a clear run at this section of the trail (it was busy today). I think it will be faster than before, but harder to achieve that speed, and therefore more fun!
Keep up the great work trail builders!
I have no idea where you are talking about?
I must ride there 6-7 times a week and have never hit a chainring anywhere.
If I think i'm talking about the right spot it it where you descend before approaching the wooden rise before the "golf course rock" (rock platform over looking the golf course)
Also I have not seen them dumb anything down or make anything harder, all they have done is fix the armouring and fix some pretty eroded bits, those "A-Lines" have always been there.
you just need to go faster and lift your front wheel.
There are a few changes up top, but you deal with it and get on with your day.
now get out there and ride you bike
I'm pretty sure the chain ring crunching rock has been slightly modified over the past couple of weeks and is now a bit more roll-able than it originally was. Could be wrong but that's my impression.
Edited to say: I think the new changes are great. I guess there was always going to be a bit of smoothing out of trails but in general the character of Manly Dam has been maintained. The new 19th hole is really fun!
Haven't been thru there for a couple of weeks. Might have to do a reccie.
Has been put there. Not sure if it was done by the trail builders or some "trail fairy"...
I am really enjoying the modifications to the dam. I ride there at least 1 - 2 times per week and more in summer, and have been riding there for a couple of years now, not as long as a lot of the regulars here. I think its more flowy because of the new work. I met the guys working on it about 6 weeks or so ago and they were happy to stop work and talk about what they had done and the future work, ie the other side of Wakehurst etc. I think the main thing is they are there to make things better for as many people as possible, hence the creation of the A and B lines. They also told me that Manly Dam is one of the most frequently ridden trails in NSW, maybe Australia, I can't remember exactly, but the number per weekend is in the hundreds, could be something like 400, sorry for the vagueness. Just on an aside, I rode a trail down at Kentlyn last weekend,I rode with the trail builder who showed us around, amazing single track with lots of fun rock sections and a downhill for those into that.
Has any one had any luck getting off the advanced section of the new line at the 19th hole.
It's a great line, I've eaten crap on it on both attempts.
What's the best way to tackle this.
Slow roll or mono it.
But the last time I saw someone do that line it was slow and rolling it.
This won't help your ego but it was a 14yo kid on a xc hardtail.
No I haven't been shamed into giving it a go. I don't bounce like a skinny 14yo kid any more.
19th hole certainly looks easier now then what it was a few years ago. Put the body armour on and keep on trying I guess.
As for the chain ring issue up the top.
It's not there to roll over. You need to launch off it hence the reason it's graded advanced.
Take the intermediate line if you wish to take easy rolls.
Have they tarted up THIS line at 19th hole? Or do you mean the old far left line?
http://youtu.be/hzkj7sO2IQk
Line is still very similar, its now more to the left with another 2 drops quickly after each other.
And have a look at it. What's the closest road to the 19th hole?
Edit:
Nah, it's the same one.
It's good fun. I filmed it from a slightly different position to above but being a numpty I don't know how to post up the clip.
The far left line has been dumbed down a bit tho.
I did the different lines at the 19th hole today. Obviously the ones off to the far right as you approach are basic and Im sure you have them dialled in.
The A-line (shown in the vid above and is immediately to the right of the telegraph pole as you approach) is, for me, a slowish approach then off the brakes and huck / keep the bike pointing down onto the lander. Then just let momentum take you over the little step after that.
The B-line is to the far left as you approach the pole and is a slow roll for the first bit, then off the brakes and perhaps half a pedal to pop your nose up as you land or just push the bike forward (depends on your skills). Keeping off the brakes as soon as you have done the first part seems to be best to keep your speed to then launch off the rock thats been ramped up 2-3 metres after the bottom.
The first part seems a little faster now compared to a few years ago as someone has put a few rocks in there to make it easier.
All good fun and worth spending a few mins to play around on.
Had a ride late arvo yesterday after work, trail is in good condition and dry. I finished riding about 5.10, still 20 minutes worth of light I reckon, can't wait for those late afternoon rides! It was one of the few times I rode there and didn't see anyone apart from a few runners.
its piss easy roll down the 1st at a nice slow speed , put your weight back and wheeli off the 2nd drop into the jump
yep this has been smoothed out and the tree trimmed back