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MD extended loop direction?
Hi all,
Just wondering if there is a house view on the correct direction of the Manly Dam extended loop single trail. I was out this morning heading north and a came across 5 or 6 riders coming towards me. It's pretty tight so not much time to avoid each other.
Is there an agreed direction?
Thanks,
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I think the builder intended it as a primarily uphill trail, which would make it clockwise like the rest of the loop.
It certainly flows better as a climbing trail (except perhaps for that difficult rock obstacle at the southern end that I haven't had the cajones to tackle yet).
That said, I have ridden it both directions but yield to climbing riders.
It does ride a lot better uphill than downhill. During the week or at night will be the only times I ride it in reverse. During busy times like the weekend I personally think that it's much better to go uphill only to avoid the risk of collision.
last saturday who built this.He said it was built to be ridden up.Bloody nice bloke and a champion effort from him...
Definitely up.
Just ride it whatever way you want and enjoy it. If someone's coming the other way say howdy, give them a smile and move over a bit. It's not rocket surgery...
@ Pancakes, talk like that will get you into trouble with the folks around here.......
I'll be placing some signs up soon stating both the trail names and the direction to be ridden, this will make more sense once the bantry bay trails are open.
Cool. That should make it a lot more enjoyable for everyone. Can you also do some signs saying no children or slow riders or anyone on a Huffy to ride.
Do you ride the main loop backwards also?
While the Possum track is relatively new, it's understandable that people ride it in different directions. But the fact is the trail builder above has stated it's been designed to be in a specific direction, and it will make sense to the flow of the trail network once Bantry Bay is opened. This track will become more and more popular and there are points with blind corners, so you can't just have a free for all. Same as the main loop.
"Cool. That should make it a lot more enjoyable for everyone. Can you also do some signs saying no children or slow riders or anyone on a Huffy to ride."
I'm 2 of 3 on that list.
oldandslow, by looking at your user name we can deduce you would have previously had 3 out of 3, so things are looking up!
BT, there is not a single corner on that track that is blind. There are plenty that you should exercise caution on, but that's the same on any tight and twisty track. I'm assuming the signs will banish walkers?
I'm kind of surprised anyone is taking the moral high ground on this track. As good as it is, don't forget it is of dubious legitimacy. Once the Bantry Bay tracks are opened I'm assuming this will lead to signs directing riders across the footbridge then onto Aquatic Drive and down Allambie Rd to join in with the Dam trail below Allambie Oval?
Surely no one is proposing riding along the pipeline/lower pipeline single track as part of the "wider loop"? It's a bit indefensible to take a stringent position on this and then go ride on land you're not meant to and tracks which Warringah Council specifically don't want riders on.
Like I said, ride it, enjoy it. Say hi and move over. It's not that hard...
Pancakes you are tailing out of your @rse.
Firstly , Dreggsy built this trail, and he built it with going uphill as the intention. As far am I'm aware you had zero input to the building or design, please correct me if I'm wrong. Show a it of respect and gratitude to the trail builder . You're welcome to go and build your own multi-direction trial for all of us to come and ride anytime you like.
Secondly, at the last open day/BBQ at Manly Dam the rangers openly stated the long term plan was to legalise the single track under the pipeline.
I think giving right of way to riders climbing sure makes sense. Yes respect to Dregsy the builder. But we Aussies love our burocracy . And that's exactly why we have become a nanny state. We want to be told how to ride. We want to be on the moral high ground. Because we want to follow rules.
Who cares if someone wants to ride the wrong way around. Let common sense take over. But hold on. None of us have any of that anymore. Because we are being told how to ride. And then lawyers get involved. Because we are not following rules. And that's why we are the country with the highest litigation per capita.
Basic set of rules I'm all for......1o commandments come to mind. No I'm not religious. But they make sense.
The Possum/Kevin Costner trail is on RMS road corridor land.
Eventually, in the dystopian future it will be paved over with bitumen.
... unless they come to their senses and wake up to the simple fact after a hundred years of roadbuilding, the evidence is clear that building wider roads only induces more demand, and more traffic.
I can't see sanity on that front breaking out anytime soon, so enjoy it while it's there. There s no issue with putting a trail in there.
What have I started? Its a trail to get riders off the narrow road for those who do the "extended loop". Just ride your fucking bikes and have fun. It will all make sense in the long run. PS I wonder if wiggle are the ones handing out prizes at the races you enter.
.
"...Just ride your fucking bikes and have fun..."
dreggsy, at first I thought you were being overly prescriptive. Now I see we're actually on the same page.
Nice bridge building near the tree ramp too, Ahmed.
Bit too late buddy, your posts were arrogant, the most arrogant and factually incorrect on here. Dreggsy won't care, but you came off like a goose
Who rattled your cage? Factually incorrect? Which bit? Wait a sec don't answer that as I couldn't give a flying fuck...
are we arguing over this? @pancakes has a point.
Good ole strava shows over 400 people have ridden the trail downhill, many of them nobmobbers. Its a great track that has had LOADS of work put into it and there wouldn't (or shouldn't) be a rider that doesn't appreciate it.
But
Unless a trail has been deemed ABSOLUTELY one way, then it will most likely be ridden in both directions, with each direction presenting its own challenge. Even though it was originally designed/built with a direction of flow in mind. I can think of countless trails in Glenrock, Kiwarrak and beyond that fit this bill. Even the Dam itself gets ridden in reverse (sure its at nightime, for obvious reasons)
I love the trail, yes, ive ridden it in both directions, yes ive encountered riders, runners, people walking dogs, kids etc in both directions. Ive had fun negotiating the rock step ups and downs, the creative bridges, the tight turns. All of them im hoping are making me a better rider and better riders out of my kids.
As an aside to this, riders coming from the Forestville/frenchs forest/Belrose area going down to do a lap of the dam will continue to use @dregsies trail as it is soooo much better than simply riding on the road. Im sure this will continuw to some degree even after the new extension is complete.
With this in mind, riders will still continue to meet from different directions on this track, and im sure they'll continue to say gday and move left and continue on their merry way. Either to the Dam, or to coffee after the Dam.
Now can someone baby sit my kids so I can go ride my f..king bike!
Tine for everyone to chill out and go for a ride
http://youtu.be/hgCqz3l33kU
gets stuck in your head!
Or his account has been hacked by SpokeyDokey.
"Bit too late buddy, your posts were arrogant, the most arrogant and factually incorrect on here. Dreggsy won't care, but you came off like a goose"
Sorry, I got a bit hot under the collar.
Pancakes first post was on point, but then he kept going on, and on, and on.....
Can be a cranky little fellow!
Hey what happens when people start parking at the Aquatic centre with aim of riding only the 2 new trails on the BB side with the Possum thrown in? I assume riders would then use the footbridge to cross the parkway and ride the possum in reverse before crossing over to the new stuff.
Then they would ride the Possum again in the 'correct' direct to finish at the Aquatic centre.
Personally I don't have too much of an issue as long as crew coming 'down' give way and say g'day.
Can someone point me in the right direction how I even get there and what the extended loop is? I mostly ride by myself early in the morning so havent really met other riders that I could have followed so far.
But google is your friend.
Found this: http://www.strava.com/activities/999999999
[Mod. removed profile showing illegal trails]
You're talking about this, right?
http://www.strava.com/segments/7521275
assuming you start at say the Hydraulics lab in King st.
when you get to the end of the golf Course wiggle instead of turning right to head downhill towards Curl Curl creek,
Turn Left
You exit Manly Dam
Cross the Wakehurst Parkway
directly across from where you exit Manly Dam is a little track through some bush.
its perhaps 10-15m long
you will hit a dirt road which runs parallel to the Wakehurst parkway
turn right.
Follow that fire trail until you get to a gate. maybe 500m?
after the gate you will see an entrance to some bush on your right.
its immediately after the gate.
Follow that track.
its referred to as The Possum.
The possum is split into 2 sections.
eventually you will end up on a road. can't recall what its called.
turn right up the hill.
a few m....maybe 50? you will see a footpath going in the direction of the wakehurst parkway.
Turn into the foot path
go along it ....no more than 50 m. on your left The possum continues. If you blink you will miss it.
close to the end you will come into a clearing. It is perhaps a fire clearing? the path continues not straight ahead but at about 1 o'clock. just look for it.
Keep riding
at the end of the Possum. you will come to another foot path.
turn right.You will see a pedestrian bridge
Cross the bridge which goes over the Wakehurst parkway.
Immediately after the bridge you will see a trail heading right. Take that path. Its maybe 300m long.
But be careful. There is a massive jump towards the end of it. But its marked. Just take it easy first time down there.
when you get to the end of this track you will hit a pipeline.
Turn left.
follow the pipeline to the end. perhaps 1.5 km?
there is a fence & you will hit Allambie Road
turn right or down the hill.
This is where it gets a little complicated as you have several options.
100m or so turn right into Martin Luther place.
at the end is another gate. This will get you into the nursing home trail.
Its a fire trail for most of it. but turns into single trail towards the end.
there are some turn offs...like eva's trail. Do not take it as its closed for bikes. Keep going left.
at the end you will end up at an oval with a scout hall & practice cricket pitch. turn right after the scout hall and before the cricket pitch
you will also see a car park for the Tennis courts.
You will see a fire Trail immediately to the left of the tennis courts.
Take this trail.
follow the main trail. there are some turn offs. just keep to the main trail.
When you start going downhill. You will find yourself at the junction of the Steps & the main MD trail which leads to the 19th hole.
Your back on track.
Hope this helps.
very much appreciated. I hope the Dam stays open and if so I will try my luck finding the extended loop on the weekend.
Apologies on the illegal trails on that link. It looked OK on my small screen but obviously I didn't zoom in closely enough.
hawkeye, do you know if Peanut butter is one of the dodgy tracks? Or is it part of the Gahnia track?
This is the loop I was talking about
http://www.strava.com/activities/180743079
Hmmm, @Rob. Looks like I'm second on that segment. Funny. I've never ridden G.W.Mr.T. in reverse...