I'd also be more than happy to help out with some trail maintenance in the Pentlands.
Bike Forum
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Edinburgh - Wednesday Night ride
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Posted 1 year ago #
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Ah good one Jeremy. I might still drop Alan an email so he is aware, could be a good way of getting MTBers some positive light in the Pentland Beacon or something.
I don't know if they want to lead in terms of locations for work or if we want to suggest places, but as I make maps for a living I can volunteer some assistance there if needed.
Soooo, nice bit of 'north shore' over the boggy bit on Black Hill then?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Signage - I was thinking laminated A4 - "cyclists" in big type at the top then a "please consider avoiding this trail in wet conditions as it is getting damaged" or something similar with perhaps directions to an alternative. A bit "Nanny knows best" so I am cautious about this
Bigjim - from the discussion I just have had we have similar places in mind.
Posted 1 year ago # -
TJ - my thoughts exactly on the signage - needs to be well worded to avoid Nannying. Anyone got any old pics of the Pentlands we could do a before/after showing some nice flowing trail and then the now damagad mudbath?
I actually think a few bits of Northshore/Bridges might be the way ahead in certain areas. There are bits of paths which have natural water courses crossing and never really dry. Might be a H&S minefield though!
Posted 1 year ago # -
Ok - Its clear we have goodwill amongst the cyclists to help. I will try to act as liason / help organise. I will come back to you with plans and be looking for labour.
I think from my point of view pistachio / phantoms / black hill would be the priorities and sympathetic restoration of the trails the aim. Anyone anything else?
nail trail is a differnt issue. One of the local chaps want top find out who the landowner is and what their view is?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Yeah I think a boardwalk over the worst boggy bits would be ideal too but would be a) expensive and b) as you say, unsure about the H&S aspects, might get people dropping off the edge.
I think Phantoms has never recovered from that adventure race in 2008 when it was really wet and all the cyclists ploughed it up.
One issue with the signage is if it is a bit strong its just going to make non-cyclists more likely to complain at/about cyclists, its a tricky one.
Perhaps we should start a new thread for this?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Is Pistachio within the park boundaries?
Of those definitely in then I'd agree with Black Hill as the no.1 and Phantoms as no.2. I don't ride the latter all that often but I used it once this winter and was surprised at how bad it was compared the the last time I'd ridden it. We used to use if on winter night rides and I don't recall it cutting up to any great extent then.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Pistachio is one bit the rangers mentioned. used to be a nice ribbon of singletrack now its a mess.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I think the horses have been quite bad in pistachio, and they are also something that would have to bear in mind when thinking about boardwalk type stuff, not sure how good they are on them!
Posted 1 year ago # -
Which is Pistachio? Sure I've ridden it but don't know the name...
Posted 1 year ago # -
TJ, Northwind spoke to the Rangers a bit last year so it may be worth getting in touch with him and seeing what else he can add to the discussion.
I'd be interested in helping out with trail work in the Pentlands.
I think I followed most of your route description but I've never ridden the Casltelaw Goat Track. Is that the trail you can see shadowing Phantoms Cleugh on the other side of the valley?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Also on the signage I don't think it needs to be aim directly at cyclists. Walkers gradually widen paths by going aroudn the boggy and wet bits.
I think they should highlight to all users that paths are fragile and easily damaged when wet.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Cris - there are a couple of routes - from the top of howden burn ride along the landrover track to the cattle grid - look for paths off to the right aftr the cattle grid. vulnerable when wet / vulnerable to heavy traffic
Are you one of the MTB scotland posters?
Posted 1 year ago # -
As has been said for the last couple of years - I'm up for some trail maintenance. Despite my repeated attempts to co-ordinate this with the Rangers, they've been completely useless at ever getting back to me and I was getting passed around various individuals. But hey ho - maybe it's just me they don't like.
I agree that any signage has to be aimed at ALL users - particularly as the equestrians cause the most damage.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Here's one of the threads from last year on trail repairs, for interest.
There'd be no shortage of willing hands for a regular maintenance regime, esp. if materials are being supplied. I'm in too, wean permitting; aside from some litter picking, minor gorse pruning + wet trail avoidance, I can't say I've returned much for 3 years + entertainment.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Are you one of the MTB scotland posters?
Yes, occasionally. I have the same username there. We have met a few times, too...
Posted 1 year ago # -
Haha, that steep chute to Blinkbonny is always an interesting one, had a few adventures on it myself, largely due to pedals and rocks.
Another willing hand here for trail maintenance, although a lot of my weekends are booked up already, I'd be willing to make time.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Thought so Cris. If you keep your eye out for any action on this here perhaps you could liase with them see if any are interested. I have stopped going on there as I never used it.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Count me in as well for some trail fixing.
Also might be worth contacting Roz at IMBA (roz.pollock@imba.org.uk) who occasionally posts on the Edinburgh Uni forum (see here) and was talking about organising some trail maintenance sessions.
One other thing to bear in mind about Black Hill is it took a hammering when they were doing the dam work at Threipmuir - that was the diversion route for everyone when the track north of the reservoir was shut over last winter.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Yep, guiltily I have to admit I started a bit of a move towards some trail repairs then completely dropped the ball on it and I've totally failed to do anything about it. Got as far as meeting the rangers and going out to discuss pistachio way but then other things got in way. They were very receptive, though they did want to keep things fairly low key.
(aside- what was discussed was formalising the left-hand line that goes round the first sump- that's on the left as you climb- as the current "trail" just goes through the lowest point in the woods and is sometimes below the level of the stream. There's a "diversion" already formed there, it'd just need dug out slightly and better material used to build it up a little and to make it more obvious... The second one being more problematic, we talked about either a rock line for peds and pedallers using locally recovered stone, or possibly a reroute involving removing/partly removing the big fallen tree)
I'm not sure I've got the drive just now to restart that even if the rangers were in a mind to listen to me after messing them around, but I do still have some contact details etc and definately up for being a digger if not an organiser.
So if anyone does want to pick up the flag drop me a line.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Oh...
TandemJeremy - Member
Erosion is the one that pees me off. Black hill and nail trail have suffered badly - apparently in an MBR guide ??? without any warning about the delicate nature.
To be fair I think for these you can point the finger a bit at Andy Barlow who did the black hill route- though they did it in summer, it wasn't printed til autumn. And the MBR/Nail Trail was Crawfy, you could tell him off for it but I don't think he'll listen
Posted 1 year ago # -
Definately up for lending a hand with digging. Been lots of talk over the last couple of years and nothing has come of it, the fact is, if things carry on the way they are, the place will be destroyed.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Northwind - I have been in contact with the rangers as above and am going to really try to follow through with this. As you say receptive adn helpful so hopefully this time it will happen. I shall try not to go tooo "TJ" on them
but I will persist
Posted 1 year ago # -
Hey jeremy did any of those photos from wednesday come out well?
Posted 1 year ago # -
No - not really
Posted 1 year ago #
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