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Rider Down 19th Hole Manly Dam
Ohhhh Man cringe. Hope its not too bad. But looked like a broken ankle or something.
Ambulance was there & a few of his mates. Few other riders hanging around.
Decided to keep going since the ambulance was in attendance.
with these things its hardly ever a false alarm.
All the best and a speedy recovery for the rider.
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If the potential change in lines may have played a part?
If so, maybe some signage saying track changed ahead could be a good idea.
The new B-line is a bit sketchy. The rocks at the base of it had moved around making it a bit more than a simple, hold your breath roll down. I could certainly imaganie someone getting a wheel caught and heading face first into the ground.
If the lines going to be open then probably with either removing the rocks altogether; up the level of difficulty but no surprises, or get those rocks wedged in there good and strong.
The A-line is just mental and anyone attempting it should have a fair expectation of lost skin or broken bones
Just to sort it out in my mind, what do you all consider the A, B and extreme lines?
As your riding towards the drop offs, B would be the further-est to the right hand side, A the almost straight, but just a little to the left after leaving the approach trail and finally the far left hand side is the Extreme drop down??
My opinion only.. Lines should go in order of dificulty, therefore;
A-line is the big drop
B line is the big double roll down all the way to the left.
C line is the smaller roll down to the right of the A-line
D line is the easy line all the way over to the right
I'm all for taking responsibility for my own actions. There is signage now intermediate & expert or something. However to me its just local knowledge and i agree it can be tricky.
You know, the rider could be an expert for all we know, sometimes things just go wrong. Just because he crashed we all assume he's a beginner?
Responsibility should be with the rider. A line B line? Ive gone trough times where I just get off on that bit even though I've gone over it successfully 100's of times. today I walked for respect to rider who crashed.
Daniel's nailed it. There are actually four lines, although I did think Council was trying to discourage or close the A line.
Where did this guy come off? Was it the last roll-down onto te clay pan, or the second-to-last one, where that gutter on the left that used to trap so many beginers has been filled in with some rocks and dirt?
Daniel you say the B Line rocks have moved? Just interested if you'd ridden it since they did the work and it's moved since then or whether it was the first time you've seen it since the work?
Anyone else noticed movement of the rocks? For mine they made a few changes, including an additional rock jammed in which was fine. I haven't seen it since last Sunday though.
From my perspective when you take the Intermediate sign to the right, you then do a further right followed by a hard left to roll over a small gap in the rocks and then you roll down the various lines (excluding the A line which is where you would have gone left at the sing at the top?) The B line to the left is the place I'm referring to.
Cheers,
Agree, with @daniel. I've done the A/B line. Once. Never again. No skin off. But a broken wrist and 3 ribs...
My point is. Even if they were an experienced rider and regular rider of the dam, you get to know where almost every little rock/roll down/log/step etc is. If suddenly they have been extensively altered and you don't know about it. Then it may well go pear shaped. If a sign was there saying track altered etc I'm sure any responsible rider would think "hey, something's different, best in check it out before I blindly commit".
Having said that, it's also quite possible he/she did that, but just buggered it up.
All the best for a speedy recovery to the injured rider.
The problem with the B line is that some riders trying to develop their skills will add some rocks at the bottom of the second part. If the rocks get moved by another rider who doesn't think them necessary, when the first guys comes around again end expects them to be there……..snap, crackle, pop!
I wonder if there could even be a small sign with a suggested method for those who want to stop and scope out the B line before attempting?
Gents, things change and if you are unsure or its a dodgy roll always have a look before you go. Expecting signage is just crazy, take responsibility for your own riding.
There's a difference between natural change and people interfering with the track.
but there is no possible way you can stop people interfering.....and therefore the risk is on us riders.
otherwise we get like the USA.....Id rather be able to ride around Manly Dam & take responsibility for my own actions.
Its like sky diving.....you jump out of a plane....there is risks involved. And it should be up to the individual to understand those risks. not the accounting department of Warringah Council or lawyers.
Lol! Try telling that to a Strava hero!
But I do agree with you Warthog. People should take responsibility for their riding and that includes assuming that all is well on a technical section.
Maybe the sign could say "Don't modify the trail. If you can't do it without dumbing it down, you need to improve your skills"
The risk is on us riders.
But measures can be taken to discourage stupid people from making changes where the consequences are significant, such as pinning things down with metal rock spikes where people may come into a section blind, of which there are a few around the Dam.
As for being like the USA for litigiousness, we're already there mate.
NSW is the third most litigious state in the world, behind California and Texas. NSW and Queensland rate as the second and fifth most litigious on a per-capita basis.
LOL.....I was the one wearing a Strava jersey....ooops
^^^ This.
I'm with @Warthog. MTB'ing is a dangerous sport and requires a level of skill, experience and common sense to keep safe. MT'B'ing is about adaptability and expecting the unexpected and being prepared or experienced enough to make that split second decision that will either make you nail it or come undone.
Where does experience come from? Riding and getting it wrong more often than getting it right.., hopefully our injuries are less serious as what this post is about... But ask yourself, have you broken a bone MTB' ing? I know I have (an ankle in fact!) and it was from inexperience and a stupid mistake... I've learnt from that accident and it wouldn't have been prevented by a sign. It was my mistake and my responsibility.
Now I'm no expert, and I've been known to fall off just looking at a trail entry, but too many signs would actually distract me from what my front wheel was doing in the "now". Basic skill of what we do is looking as far ahead as we can so that we plan our approach. Sometimes we don't get much notice but that's where our experience should kick in. If you want predictability a bike park is for you.
Best wishes to the rider down and a speedy recovery...
I'm all for changing trail conditions and those micro- second decisions to keep it all together. That's why I ride; the adreniline is the only thing that keeps me sane after a week playing office politics!
What I'm concerned about though is a poorly "designed" section. That b-line roll down is blind at the base, particularly the second section. Keep it natural and I'm happy as, I can choose to ride it or not. But design it so that it's likley to fail and turn into a wheel catcher.... Well actually I'll ride it anyway... But someone is going to get hurt.
@danielschipper... I haven't actually rode the modified section of MD yet and you've raised an important point that no sign would prevent... Human interference
The ulimitate responsibility comes down to everyone using the trail not to medal... Can a trail ever be built that can't be altered by riders? Probably not. It comes down to doing the right thing and not modifying the trail to suit oneself. If you can't ride it, practice it... If you don't like it just accept it and move on.
Part of the problem is the signage.
"advanced" doesn't tell you much. Compared to the other "advanced" lines on the golf course section that an intermediate rider can run through at speed, there's a world of difference.
A bit of proper IMBA grading and signage wouldn't go astray and let people know that the A line here is a serious undertaking.
Once again its a storm in a tea cup!!!!
All 4 lines are built well and can be easily ridden. I have ridden them all without issue.
MTB is a dangerous sport and requires a fair degree of skill. There is nothing wrong with the 4 options. People need to learn to take responsibility for there own actions!
I have ridden just about every DH track in NSW and raced on most of them too. When I show up to a track I have a roll through first to see if any changes have been made, rocks moved and to generally scope out the track. If I was to charge blindly into a run and crash the only one to blame would be me!!
2 of the 4 lines at the 19th hole are quite challenging and if your not sure, haven ridden for a while or its been a few weeks since you rode the dam then you should stop and check the line out. If you don't there is only one person to blame, YOU!
Please don't think that I am talking about everyone or having a go at anyone in particular but on this forum but I have found that the attitude on here can be a little disturbing. Some people think that tracks should be dumbed down, made easier or even asking for signs to tell you how to ride a particular section. WHAT A JOKE!!!! These people need to go and have lessons or practise a lot to increase there skills! Manly Dam isn't and has never been an easy or beginner XC track. It has always been challenging and should stay that way.
If you are having trouble with a section, stop get off and then watch how many other people ride that section. Then have a go yourself, but don't just stop at one attempt. Go back up and have another go and then another. This is the only way your going to get better.
People need to stop blaming other people or the track design for their lack of skill!
End rant!
Hey guys and girls.
Iv'e been riding manly dam since i was 10 years old, im now 33.
The changes that come to the dam mtb track each time just make it better and better For riding and drainage.
Iv'e found that if there are changes to any part of the track, it's best to get off ya bike and just have a look at the lines to take (19th hole)
Seeing as i live at Beacon Hill i start at 19th hole (best part of the track My 2c) and on a sunday i'll get off at the drops and watch for 20mins. 1 in every 7 or so come in way to hot and loose it on the 1st big roller over the bars and thats the A line (in my opion).
The extreme line needs a DH bike anyone on here hitting the X line with speed? Theres 2 nice drops now with another rock drop at the bottom next to the tree (far left)