Top blokes, they did a special skills training day on Saturday for the Stainburn trail builders, unfortunately I was working so couldn't go.
Are those trails new up by the mast?
No, they've always been there. However, about 2 years ago FC did a large felling operation up there, so much of it had been lost and/or churned up. SingletrAction have been given permission to reclaim trails, but we are not allowed to build anything. There are routes that have been raked, cleared and ridden. Alot of the original stuff still survives up around the trig point. I would imagine it is riding quite nicely up there at the moment. Most of the Norwood Edge stuff on that vid is from around the trig point area. On Sunday there was a group up there doing some trail reclaiming.
Great video thanks for posting.
B.A.Nana why no more building?
Because FC say so, sadly. Forest is on the edge of their area (geographically), limited funds, resources, people, possibly inclination etc. I had to do a fair bit of work to convince them to let us "reclaim" the old trail. We can promote and map it on our site (or anywhere else I guess) but they don't want it signed on the ground and it is what they call an "informal" trail.
Reclaim means no "proper" building like the Boulder Trails etc on same side as the car park. Reclaiming and clearing is, I guees, open to fair degree of interpretation. We'll do whatever fits within our understanding of FC's limitations to create a circuit that will be as durable as possible. Then people need to ride it as much as poss' to bed it in (and some bits will naturally fail and need a bit more reclaiming / redirecting etc). Maybe there'll be enough enthusiam and we'll find ways to address FC's concerns (at the time, c.2 years ago now) to change their position about formal trails in Norwood. As it stands it's informal and in my mind that possibly ties in with the fact felling of the whole area can't be too far off.
Not dissing FC, just relaying stuff as accurately/concisely as poss 😎
However, this thread shouldn't be about that it should be about Joe and Alex at ProRideGuides.
If it's the same vid as I've already seen (work limits access at mo') then their riding is truly amazing. I did the skills course on Saturday at Gisburn with them and they were also excellent coaches. Clear, thorough, engaging. Broke stuff down into easy components, drilled them and then put them together. The limiting factor was my ability and fitness but I had a great time nonetheless and if I can justs put a little bit of it into practice it'll be a great improvement.
If you get the chance to do something with them I would jump at it. They give SingletrAction members a discount that pretty much equates to the annual subs, so you're not loosing much there either 😉
Plus they've been out and helped on digs, given us photos and included a credit for the trails in the film. Top guys 😎
Great video, great riding and nice looking trails. Bravo.