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You are hereForums / By Discipline / Mountain (off road) / By Location / Australia / NSW / Northern Beaches / I agree.
I agree.
I agree.
If they smoothed the track and removed all the rocks and obstacles, beginners wouldn't need to dismount or ride around the obstacles. This should mean there wouldn't be multiple lines and no widening of the trail footprint.
A smooth track (possible made of cement or compacted dolorite) would stand up to erosion better and replacing those big humps with drains (those big humps scare me) should see more beginners using the track.
If they removed a lot of the trees on those narrow trails (you would be able to see a lot better), had a bike stand half way round so we can rest and made the fast riders ring a bell as they approached, the place would be crawling with social riders and families.
Just my thoughts.
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No offence Beany, but if that's the kind of riding you're looking for, pop down to Manly Seafront. Nice smooth path, nice view, plenty of seats and stands to rest at, etc, etc.
No offence taken, but I like riding offroad away from cars, fumes and seagull crap, but I'm also not into the seat of the pants, out-of-control, adrenalin fuelled, sweat soaked riding.
That's where a smooth, wide Manly Dam trail would be my ideal - add a coffee shop or a tow line to get up the hill - heaven.
I would like to see Manly Dam become like a bike path in the bush and then maybe the advance riders would go elsewhere and stop disturbing the serenity of my afternoon pedal.
Sounds like your kind of ride?
OK, no, seriously then... what about Terrey Hills? It's flat(ish), has a coffee shop at the end, is mostly smooth firetrail in the bush with a great view at the end. There's no seagulls there so what more could you want?
As for all that out of control stuff, no, no... one should never ride out of control. It might look like that to the untrained eye, but if you've seen me at the Dam, aside from slow speed falls trying to get up/down rocks (which can hurt no-one but myself) it's all control. Yes, really!
I would like to see Manly Dam stay like a mtn bike path in the bush and then maybe the stupid riders would go elsewhere and stop disturbing the serenity of my afternoon pedal.
And last time I checked, hanging out at a coffee shop and being towed up hills doesn't count as a pedal!
I thought I would like Terrey Hills, but there was dirt, dust, mud, sticks and twigs everwhere.
Not only that there were also copious amounts of horse excrement and the track went on for over 3 kilometres without heading back to the start, so I gave up.
I later found out it was a there and back again track - which is correct because I'll never go back there again.
You are, aren't you....
Says it all...
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
Love your work!
Your a funny bugger. Look forward to riding with you.
Greg
Wow. I came here to escape the kiddy dribble that's plagued the Farkin forums but long behold, they've invaded here too!
Guys, the Northern Beaches is built on a big rock with some very good terrain. Good being my opinion, but rough would be more suited to a beginner rider. I do enjoy a nice smoother trail that just winds through the trees and has endless amounts of dirt instead of clay and rock but guess what... that ain't here.
Check out Yarramundi or Ourimbah if you want a smooth trail that's still fun and offers a technical challenge unlike our 100km fireroad races. Killingworth, Sparrow Hill, Majura Pines, etc are a few more examples.
As for those finding the "dumbing down" process a little too boring... try hitting those sections with more speed. I personally find all the man-made stuff (wooden bridges, rock gardens, etc) to be the hardest sections to hit quick. In the end, we've got a 10km loop that's on our doorstep. I remember the days when it rained so hard, the Dam was closed for more than 6 months. You really appreciate something when it's taken away from you for that long.
Now quit bickering and join us for a pedal there on Saturday.
and more fun! has this post done anything good for the sport or our reputation? (rant over)
Have we all lost our senses of humour or the ability to read between the lines? There is no hope, clearly everyone reads the telly, watches today tonight and takes everything that's written anywhere at all at face value.
I'd ride manly Dam every day if they roofed it to protect me from the rain getting into my latte, and if somebody would ride my bike for me, perhaps they could hire out those pedal taxis you see in the city?
Now where's my two cents, come on, someone owes me.
I like your thinking - a covered trail, that would cut down on the erosion problems and be sun safe as well.
If we could ensure everybody stayed on the trail (either by small walls or some other devise) we could further mitigate the erosion. Overtaking would be a problem, but for a narrower trail footprint I could live with not being overtaken.
If a small Asian man is taking you round the Dam in a rickshaw? One could wear a white suit and no socks and scowl at all the swooning ladies. Much safer as you're not even likely to break a sweat, and wouldn't cost as much as a replacement chain given the strength of the aussie dollar!
They say the sport is about progression, so lets look at the natural progression of your rickshaw idea.
Rather than these one on one rickshaws, wouldn't it be cool to have some sort of scenic railway, or motorised vehicles (like the old jalopies in Dream World). Brilliant, why not have bikes attached to the conveyor to make it more life like and they can get splashed in fake puddles, nearly stall on the climbs and have near misses and the like.
I can smell the money rolling in.
To prevent further erosion problems they should restrict trail access to riders who weigh 65 kilos or less and do not have any hair on their legs.
Cafe lattes all around ...
who is going to fix the girls bikes if the boys are banned from the trails?
you would still be there wouldn't you?
ouch! pink lycra loving roadie boy!