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Trail Trolls
Over the last years that I've been riding there's been two causes for damage to my bike. The first is expected; the odd stack and a bent derailleur, torn side walls in tyres, dinged rims etc.
The second is coming across improvements by trail trolls, those who consider them selves as trail fairies but who in reality have no idea. Now I'm not having go at real trail fairies, those who create the trails and keep them in good condition. Rather I'm having a go at the idiots who think; I'll just add some rocks to that step up, make that drop a roll down (with rocks in the landing zone) or throw some sticks over the trail so we don't need to ride through mud (it's mountain biking people... HTFU).
How about instead of stuffing things up for others you spend that time learning to ride the features or washing your bike. Leave the trail fairy gig to those who built the trail and if you really want to get into building then get in contact with the trail builder; if you're really part of this community it should't be hard for you to get in touch with them.
End of rant... I'm off to wiggle to order a replacement chain after catching a Trail Trolls stick in my rear wheel.
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landings have caused a fair few over the bar incidents for me.
Thing is with a small amount of skill development the original drop without the roll is often easier and safer as it avoids an awkward transition.
I don't have an issue with bigger drops having well built rolls as a b-line and think this is good as it's less trail to maintain and less environmental impact. So long as the correct speed for the drop means you clear the roll.
It's the small slower tech drops where your back wheel needs to land close to the drop that are an issue. Especially if the lander is flat and riding a hard tail where you drop the tail first to flat. Landing a hard tail back wheel on a rock or roller is unpleasant.
Which trail are you talking about?
Could you mean the new deviation around a 10 meter long bottom bracket deep sized puddle?
which by the way has dried up, the reason I did it was even though the dam was "closed" peole were still riding it, even when we were scouting the deviation trail you could hear people riding through the big puddle.
Thanks for shopping at wiggle, you local bike shop says thanks...
...
I agree with everything Daniel says. However, as a resident online troll, I'm not sure my endorsement carries much weight.
Even though I built the trail, (by myself) and am always trying to do my best in the way of keeping erosion to a minimum, that by building a bypass around a swamp, which, certain on list people like to ride through when conditions are bad and the rest of the dam was probably closed.
That I am in the wrong! Please explain...
So if it's true that you built the trail single handed, or even were a part in it, then I have to say a huge thanks as it's very sweet! Particularly that new extension down to the fire trail gate.
But the sticks.... maybe just a muddy fairy this time... as that was always going to result in bike damage rather than trail closure.... And coming hot on the heels of the issues up at St Ives looked pretty similar what was going on up there.
Dude do you seriously think this trail appeared from nowhere by magic? FFS where do you think it came from?
Dreggs has been working on it for over 18 months or more.
Seriously pull your head in, who the fark are you to criticise the work of one person who has built a new trail that is now ridden by everyone? You seem happy enough to ride it but instead of thanks you criticise? How much trail work have you done for others?
Mind blown
I designed it to be an (uphill trail only) as part of the new bantry bay loop which is due to open in 6 weeks, sure its fun to ride it downhill, but be very wary of other users especially on weekends.
As for little sticks, i have never thrown them down to injure people or bikes, i have continuously tried to block off the other entrances / trails with alot ans alot more trees.
But sheesh, again this morning I did a lap and somebody tried to remove the blockage.
Look what you've done now, Spokey.
Gotten everyone's blood pressure up again for your own cheap thrills.
@Daniel and Dreggsy. Spokey and I never ride that trail as it's a bastard to get the tandem around those tight corners.
Hey mate, apologies for calling you a troll after the hard work you've put in. It's awsome piece of trail and will certainly help with that link into Bantry Bay.
Knowing that the trail has been re routed on purpose I'll certainly stick to the new line. Perhaps sometime over the next few weeks I can give you a hand out there for a few hours to make up for the misunderstanding?
Thanks for the great trail!
Without knowing what direction it was supposed to be ridden..(before) it does indeed ride heaps better uphill on the power rather than on the brakes downhill.
The only "minor" modifications I have done is with my body while crashing at that log/bridge rollover section.. I find that hard to ride clean.
thanks again!
Guys, my mates and I love the Possum & extension. You may not remember but we were the first ones to ride the new section from the firetail gates when you had just finished cutting in, I don't know who it was but the water hole was being filled with rocks, but alas it would need to be filled with about 1-2 tonnes of blue metal, or some awesome drainage as after a good rain you need scuba gear to get through! Will keep to the new line around there.
Also, we do Reverse Possum all the time as part of our Dam Super Loop, we are always conscious of people on the up and move over accordingly. Everyone is pretty friendly when you meet up/down down/up.
Great work all the same! cant wait for Bantry bay to open, keep an eye out on the Flow boys website, they are apparently doing an updated article/ride preview on it before it opens in 6 weeks.
Well done to the trail fairies and a good outcome for all
Great that this can be discussed on a forum so everyone understands what is going on
Now I just need to get down there and ride it!
you will get your two heads through this trail.
It is tight and twisty, I mean really tight, to be honest I thought it had been built by pygmies I hit that many trees the other night.
Nice trail though none the less.
Dreggsy.... maybe it's time for you to start incorporating some "idiot barriers" on your trails. A couple of nice square dirt jumps at the entry tends to work.
Thanks for the concern
But if both my heads don't have lots of bumps and divots after a ride
I have not been riding the right kind of trail
Sorry. Too right, Oldandslow, let's just keep the tandem to Red Hill. Which brings me to dirt bikes...
Guys please be very careful what you say.
The *real* trolls, the NIMBYs whose names we know who have been agitating against mountain bike trails of any kind, can easily twist what is being said here out of context to make trouble.
Let's not shoot ourselves in the foot after all our hard work to date to become legitimate.
Like!
Daniel. Did u never consider that the 'trolls'' and the 'fairies' could be the same people. Having spent a few days helping Dreggsy building and maintaining this trail, bush bashing through trying to find a line to avoid the swamp, and getting bitten by two ticks in the process, this sort of comment pisses me off. When you have an area that constantly floods, there is no point in having a trail through it. The nature of mountain biking is that you are riding through the bush and is the nature of the beast that you will therefore encounter sticks and stones. If you do not like this, perhaps you should just stick to riding on the road and send comments about potholes to the council who are paid to maintain them. Alternatively, the time you obviously have to sit at your computer and whinge, you could spend more usefully, and next time you ride the trail, stop for a few minutes and remove some of the sticks that seem to cause you so much grief. Or you may wish to pay me to take a few days off work so I can spend the time to groom the trail to your satisfaction.
Mick
Hey @aussie Mick. I've acknowledged my error, apologised and offered assistance as recompense.
Hope to see you out on the trails sometime
First up, well done dreggsy on turning a folorn slice of scrub into a fine addition, either up or down. Really adds a lot of fun to a lap of the dam. I would happily shout you a coldy for your efforts. :thumbsup:
Secondly, I think you've gone a bit OTT on the defense.
danielschipper stated straight up,
"...Now I'm not having go at real trail fairies, those who create the trails and keep them in good condition. Rather I'm having a go at the idiots..."
and,
"...Leave the trail fairy gig to those who built the trail..."
You were teflon coated so I don't understand the acrimony. As you would know, trail modding by those who would rather alter the trail than learn how to ride it is a real issue.
As for the wiggle dig. They support this site so I would not have thought it a bad thing to mention them, and the LBS is always happy to charge me labour (and I'm happy to pay it) to work with the bits I rock up with.
Happy riding.
I put up a few signs saying that it was to be ridden up hill, alas somebody has pulled them down already.
Same happened to mine on the Aquatic Centre track when I put up A/B line signs near the gap jump.
Did you put them on trees or star pickets? I'm thinking it's some greenie wannabe taking exception to "defacing" a tree.
I haven't gotten around to replacing mine yet.