[Closed] Gisburn forest - Latest trail developments

That looks good.

Looks like a result considering the weather being suffered all around!
Hope I'll be able to lend a hand in the unlikely event there's a dig day on when I'm visiting relatives in Ramsbottom...

looking good 🙂

It's a bit squidgey underfoot but we've got off really lightly compared to the poor sods a few miles further north.

A big thank you to the guys who interrupted their ride yesterday to shift a good few wheel barrows of stone.

I asked Martin yesterday about trail repairs after the recent rain. He apparently kept a bit of money back from the original funding for improvements but was waiting for some bad weather to highlight which bits are really suffering. Hopefully some of the bits like the climb to the crag and Hully Gully will be improved over the next couple of months.

Right off for another damp day digging.

Looks easy, when are you putting in the difficult bit? 😯

I'm thinking going up to Gisburn today. It'll be my first time.
Considering the recent weather battering is it worth going up there today.
I live in W Yorks, so it isn't miles away.

ive been twice to that forest, one was ages ago when it was all big family paths not even arrows were placed lol, but ive been recently and its really good, lots of berms jumps singletrack, northshore etc, keep building!!

I'm looking forward to trying it out when I'm home for Christmas. Having ridden there since I was about 4 with my dad, I look forward to seeing the changes.

You won't recognise it if you haven't been up there in the last 9 months or so!

I really enjoyed helping out yesterday and I'll definitely be going to get stuck in again. (not that those photos show much work going on!) 😉

Hopefully some of the bits like the climb to the crag and Hully Gully will be improved over the next couple of months.

Rode up there a week ago,& what doesn't help is all the numpties who,when riding up towards Whelpstone Crag,steer either side of the large rocks that are placed in the centre of the track,& in doing so churn the ground up into a muddy mess.

FFS! ride [b]OVER[/b] the ****in' rocks!!!

yes gaz were getting that a lot, we put time and effort into making things interesting not just a smooth gravel path and people just ride around it , perhaps they should stick to the blue grade trail

FFS! ride OVER the ****in' rocks!!!

anyway good work!

Here's some 'working' photos

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looks like you had a good turn out , hope you left some work for Sunday

Looks easy, when are you putting in the difficult bit?

Interresting you said that, Nigel from UU has his eyes on some even more difficult and higher log rides a bit further down.

all the numpties who,when riding up towards Whelpstone Crag,steer either side of the large rocks that are placed in the centre of the track

That's been clocked, a bit of money from the original funding was kept back for that sort of thing, Martin has been waiting for some bad weather to highlight the weak bits, think the weather has been bad enough now. Hopefully he'll get some contractors in to fix that. He's also working on what to do to the big berms in Hully Gully so they are less slippy but don't get sanitised. Might need a big volunteer day to barrow materials in. Like Terry said we're learning on our bits too, going to sort some corners so you can short cut them, others will have sharpened stakes to encourage you to ride the correct route.

Terry, we had a good turn out again today as well, wasn't expecting it so that was good. Loads left to do, I've sent you an email bringing you up to speed.

Terry
I spent the day making pretty paterns
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those log's look like they took some time

wow eve that looks a lot of work well done

Looking good Paul.

Great to see some photos from the day. I got well into peeling the bark from that tree with the medieval weapon.

It was the first time I've done any proper trail building and I'd recommend it to anyone. It's really interesting to see how the trails are made from idea, to design to construction. I can't wait to bore everyone to death when we eventually ride that section and I can tell them about toppling a dry stone wall, barrowing gravel and doing the spade work.

Give trail building a go for a day. It makes you feel righteous to be doing something positive rather than just gassing on about bikes on the internet.

Amen brother 😉

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The raised approach to this wonky bridge was taking shape and looking good aswell.

Got another 30 metres or so of trail laid today, including an uphill dog-leg which goes over a few patches of roots, swings tightly round a big tree, and ends up with a nice clear sight-line to the start of the log-ride.

By the time it was fully stoned and gravelled, it was too dull and dingy for my camera to work properly - hopefully somebody else got some decent shots of the "After", in the meantime this is the "Work In Progress"...

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...that log section looks just a bit fun, whereabouts is that on the ride? Any ideas on when the new section will be rideable?

As for when it'll be open, there's still a lot of work to be done, including some boardwalk leading into it and an as-yet-to-be-decided means of getting back to the road (plus any additional fun features that spring to mind on the way 😀 ). I think somebody mentioned February today, but obviously it ultimately depends on how many dig-days we manage to fit in, and how many people get involved (hint, hint... 😉 ).

Once again, the Trail Boggarts have been up to mischief deep in the woods. 😈

Today they've topped off a goodly length of half-done trail, and laid another 20-plus metres of brand-new trail (to go with the 60 or so laid on Thursday and Friday). This includes a rooty corner leading to another shonky bridge...

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Then follows a sinuous climb between the trees before starting the run-in to the log-ride which can just be seen in the background of the previous shot...

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Unfortunately they weren't actually able to complete the bridge today due to their inability to manufacture planks (no comments, thank you... 😛 ) - this task will require the intervention of the all-powerful Master of the Forest and his mysterious Men In Green.

For anybody who is interested, the next dig-day is scheduled for Sunday December 13th 10:00-15:00, when it is hoped to commence work on more wood-based delights. 😀

These are the last of my photos from last thursday:
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Bump 😆

Exellent Gisburn Vimeo film, Enjoy 😉

Nice.

But what is that yellow thing in the sky?

Nice vid GavGas, didn't think conditions could be so dry down there...

Eve Libertine - Member
The raised approach to this wonky bridge was taking shape and looking good aswell.

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We also got another 30 or so metres of trail laid. A few extra hands really does make a difference, so if anybody else fancies spending a few hours messing about in the woods with a bunch of like-minded people off an internet forum, you'd be more than welcome. 8)

[quoteso if anybody else fancies spending a few hours messing about in the woods with a bunch of like-minded people off an internet forum, you'd be more than welcome.

How do we get involved, would love to help

Gisburn is my "local;" (45 mins away)

How do we get involved, would love to help

martin.charlesworth@lancashire.gov.uk

To find out about ad-hoc dig-days, email [b]stumpyjon[/b] up there ^^^ (his addy is in his profile) and he'll add you to his list of [s]victims[/s] willing volunteers. 🙂

Good effort.

I hear you're going to be the glamour in an MBR feature on volunteer trail building any day now as well.

did you guys see the article in mbr about the ggod folks willing to give up their time to do trail building ,they did talk about gisburn at length.

I'm in the mag, I'm the one with the barrow in the 2 page picture.

I'll be signing autographs if anyone wants to send their copy of the mag to me!

Midweek dig days sound like a laugh. I'd be willing to give up my midweek to help out in the new year. Who do I email to be notifed of those?

Appartently the Rollercoaster/hully gully will be closed in January for repairs and resurfacing.

Mikey, any mid week digs are organised by Stumpyjon ^^^^ email is in his profile. I'm usually ok for mid week digs, with a bit of prior notice.

Good effort.

I hear you're going to be the [b]glamour[/b] in an MBR feature on volunteer trail building any day now as well.

hi just got my mbr , nice right up and some good pics, good to see the "flat capped foot soldier" tony-m , scott and jon getting good coverage

You guys are really doing a great job.
Think you guys need a chain saw.

the "flat capped foot soldier"

Still, got to live up to the Northern stereotype eh? Now, where did I leave me whippet... 😉

You guys are really doing a great job.

Think you guys need a chain saw.

Glad I turned up as Im in the mag, couple of digs at us being northern but at least we are able to put gloves on the right way round lol. Look at the pics you'll see what I mean..

Think you guys need a chain saw.

Every volunteer who turns up are just ordinary lads and lasses, there's no 'them and us'. Most of us are just average MTBers (with the exception of Ed-O), just willing to put a few hours in to dig and/or push a wheelbarrow around.

Anyone wanting to lend a hand, just drop me a mail. Next official dig day is going to be Jan 10th. We could really do with extra bodies on that day as we're going to have a go at repairing parts of Hully Gully (they can't easy get machinery in there now so volunteers are better suited to fixing it). We're also trying to arrange a dig day between Christmas and New Year, looking like Tuesday 29th at the moment, but it needs confirming.

Jon

Good news about repairs to Hully Gully. Worth starting a new thread for that one Jon.

What are the trail conditions up there like at the moment?

Also is it OK when it freezes as well or does it become to slippy on the rocks etc ?

Been there twice and the rain both times was "of biblical proportions" 🙄

I'm working up there tomorrow so I'll let you know!

I imaging it'll be pretty good frozen. It will certainly solidify the mud on the top loop climb to Whelpstone Crag. The lower loop stuff should be fine under the trees. Boardwalk sections will be treacherous! If it's windy it will be f. cold in the exposed areas.

hi i rode the trail last Sunday morning with heavy frost and small amounts of ice about, some of the rocks were a bit slippy but the board walk was great despite it being white with frost , all the trail in the trees was fine

Ed, that's a good idea, I'll get one going closer to the time. I'm off next week so might well try and get a ride in up there. Should be pretty good in the frost ans snow (it's snowing where I am and -2 degrees at the moment and the forecast looks great, bit more snow, very cold and sunshine 😯 ).

Jon
Might be worth calling it Hully Gully/ The Rollercoaster. Most posters seem to refer to it as a rollercoaster.

Is the 29th a definite date? if so, I'll book it off work.

I will be in Wigan for 10 days as of Tuesday. Is Gisburn rideable at all this time of year?

Oh well today's session is cancelled. It's probably good fun up there today but not much good for the skills we were going to do.

Ace Hebden ride last night. Proper drifty in the snow and an iced beard too.

i'll help on the 10th. stumpyjon YGM

Ed do you do guided Hebden nightrides? if so what group size do you require?

I can update on what the place is like in the ice because I was there on the 11th of December after there had been a heavy frost. It was bad in two locations.

1. The board walk just past the quarry was extremely icy and dangerous.

2. The berms in the gully/rollercoaster were iced up and pretty dangerous.

It is hard to believe... we have a short section of log ride in Thetford, closer to the ground and only 3 trees long and it is going to be ripped out by the FC cos it is "too dangerous". It was built under FC supervision, they provided and placed the wood work, they even cut the riding surface but now they say it doesn't fit with OGB37 and because a few peeps have fallen off and hurt themselves it has to go. So much for a standard approach to trail building eh?

The attached is someone's vid of the bit in question [url=

and you can see how tough it is! 🙄 Interestingly, for you gnarly northern softies, this section of trail is so radical (according to our FC team) that the whole lot is going to be trashed for public safety purposes!

BTW, note how the rider avoided all the obstacles (ref the rock section mentioned earlier in the post). While it is disappointing when people do this, the rider is exercising discretion, this concept seems not to exist in the FC, they believe that if obstacles are there, everyone will automatically ride them. 🙄

Ed do you do guided Hebden nightrides? if so what group size do you require?

Email me ed@great-rock.co.uk

Slowjo
Have they told you specvifically what the issue is within OGB37?. On the face of it, I can't see that obstical would cause any issues width to height ratio within FC guidelines. Any slippy surface issues could be sorted out, as could any H&S signage issues. Presumably, a ranger/forester has to inspect and risk assess the rest of the trail periodically, so it's no skin off their nose to also include any obsticals in that H&S inspection/risk assessment.

It was inspected about 3 weeks ago because of the accidents. The surveyor went on to produce a report with specific reference to OGB37 and consequently the whole section was condemned as inappropriate. This is a section on the red route, the surveyor deemed the whole section to be black! 😯 He then went on to say that it should be scrapped because the build standard was outwith the new regs. So, it is toast, has to be gone by Easter and will not be replaced. We are arguing hard to see if it can be amended to be brought within the regs but at our last meeting when I asked for a definition of a red graded obstacle, a black graded obstacle or anything, they were unable to tell me. They were quite unequivocal in their stand that it will be destroyed. (As for the standard of construction, I can assure you, these obstacles aren't going to fall down or degrade any time soon. They are very well built and as solid as... a very solid thing!)

The only other obstacle with any technical difficulty is the platform as it has a narrow exit ramp. I have screwed this one up and face planted from half way off it but that was my own fault. We did get a complaint from one guy who took his 3 year old up it (on one of those crossbar seats) but apart from that, if people fall off they just get up and get on with it.

Trail inspections.... we have trained up trail inspectors who do most of the trail assessments, the rangers hardly ever get out at all.

slowjo, it looks fine to me, we're about about to put something in similar as a try and see before the main feature. From what I understand hand rails are advisory if a structure is more than metre of the ground and mandatory if it's more than 1.5m.

The problem is all in the interpretation. If they think that's a black obstacle you should see what our guys are planning for a black section. The logic we seem to be following is as long as the feature is visible so you can see it coming and there is a proper chicken run or alternate route it's in. All these posts are beginning to worry me a bit. Thankfully our main guy is a committed rider and builder as well as happening to work for the FC as head honcho for his patch 8)

Paul 29th is looking pretty likely, I'll email everyone later to confirm. Fair point about the names, been trying to call it Hully Gully after I got a look from Martin for calling it the coaster 😆

Neil, cheers, got your email and have replied. Ta.

hi , yes jon all these posts about the fc and risk assessments and such like are very worrying, i hope martin doesn't get over ruled by head office over what we are allowed to build

It seems to be non-riding FC guys on the ground causing most of the problems. Martin and Nigel were trying to work out how to get around the features at height rules. Something along the lines of if we build the obstacle on top of a mound of soil it'll still comply, even if the fall to ground level is more than a metre 😆 , he was probably joking, probably 😯

WOnder if the FC in Scotland and Wales is going this way. Might have to get a copy of these infamous guide lines.

yes it seems pretty obvious that these risk assessors just don't understand mountain biking or mountain bikers

I think the problem lies higher up the chain in each FC area with FC recreation officers and regional policy makers. A cycle ranger or forester who inspects or risk assess, generally just do what they're told. Martin Colledge is fairly high up in the North West as head NW forester. So, he is in a position to set the policy to a degree, certainly to heavily influence it, especially as he is personally willing to lead it and take ownership at Gisburn. From what Cheeky Monkey has said to me re Yorkshire FC issues, it's much more difficult dealing with policy making FC people who just don't get what trail builders are interested in and trying to achieve, which reflects what the vast majority of MTBers want.

FWIW we have also been told not to expect any financial help from FC in future. We have to raise all the money for anything we want to build as well as financing all maintenance, as well as facing the risk that they could arbitrarily decide to take it down at any time. In Thetford the only thing the FC are going to spend money on is family trails.

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I might be talking sh1te here, but I presume that the FC can more easily access financial partners with more family orientated trails ie Sustrans money. Other proposals for more ambitious funding require more work and are more fought over ie Sport England, central/local gov., EU cash etc. It's understandable when the poorer parts of the UK get lots of investment and the richer parts don't. What I can't quite fathom, is when long standing official trail building groups, who do everything by the book and request little financial help from FC, just their support, get nowhere or are fobbed off. The arguement of lack of FC manpower and resources, in every case I've experienced or read about, appears to be a convienent excuse rather than genuine reason.

The first dig day of 2010, and only 11 months of the year left... 🙄

Anyway, work finally continued on the new logride section, though it'll still be a while before it's actually finished / open. The two main logs are now nicely joined together, and the entry ramp has been built...
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As has the mid-point corner / bale-out ramp (the latter still to be finished off with gravel)...
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Both options have been fully tested by our tame crash test dummy Ant... 🙂
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Work has also commenced on the "practice log" towards the start of the section, together with the alternative / "normal" trail running alongside...
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Next scheduled dig day is Sunday 14th February, when we'll be attempting to patch up Hully Gully.

Looking good.

Valentines dig..?

Mugboo - Member
Looking good.

Valentines dig..?

And yes, Valentines dig will (weather-permitting) be an attempt to cure the sludginess down Hully Gully. Spraying it with concrete was suggested as an option today, but I think we're going to start off with gravel and see how that goes first. 😆

Doh!!! Double post... 🙄

Just out of interest, why is the first section of the main logride (much) narrower than the second, when you can only get to the second by completing the first?

why is the first section of the main logride (much) narrower than the second

I can't see the pics at work but I'm guessing your looking at it the wrong way around, you start with the ramp and finish with the thin bit.

Just out of interest, why is the first section of the main logride (much) narrower than the second, when you can only get to the second by completing the first?

I guess we'll have to measure them both next time just to be sure.

For anyone who's interested, a couple of logride vids from yesterday have now been posted on the [url=

Forest MTB Trail Development [/url]Facebook thing (towards the bottom left of page).

Looks very neat on video!

Will wait until you have finished the section before trying though!!

Cheers 🙂

Any update on the repairs that were planned to the erosion in the Rollercoaster/Hully Gully section?

Any update on the repairs that were planned to the erosion in the Rollercoaster/Hully Gully section?

As far as I'm aware, the plan is then to keep the Gully closed for about a month afterwards to allow the new surface to settle and harden. The exact countermeasures required to enforce this haven't yet been decided... 😈

Was there at the weekend and was thinking that closing it for a while would be a good option. Rather it was closed now and hopefully back to its best for the spring.

Also had a sneaky look at the log ride section. Not sure if its for me, but it will add interest for some people.

Good work all round!