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(especially as I have seen someone tumble down into the burn)
That's how I did me knee!
Another potential issue with clubbiedean is I think it is an LNR, so as well as landowner permission there might be some other issues with doing work in it, not sure though. I kind of feel it would take quite a bit of engineering to fix that bit too, and I'd worry any woodwork would just get ripped up and burnt by the kids that partay in there.
There is quite a bit of horse traffic in Pistachio and the branches are definitely deliberately placed. I often remove them to ride through and have seen them put back by the next day. I'm not sure if they are for the horses to jump over or someone trying to stop bikes/walkers, I suspect horses but there might be a local busybody.
I guess the rangers will lead the work or we'll just be standing around bickering about which bits to fix and arguing about lines 😆
As far as Clubbiedean goes, it was the Rangers who put the rail on the sleeper bridge at the other end so presumably they can get authorisation for work there. They're aware of the wounded knee corner but I don't think they have any concensus on what to do with it either. Actually changing the existing bridge wouldn't just be contentious, it'd be bloody hard to do right.
TBH it'll be academic in a few years time once it finishes collapsing, it won't take much now.
i should definitely be able to make the june date. great idea this 🙂
bigjimI guess the rangers will lead the work or we'll just be standing around bickering about which bits to fix and arguing about lines
could be - but not if I am in charge! 😈
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Wow, only just saw this, must have been on holiday when it was originally posted. Certainly good for August, might manage June although it will be on the back of a week's canoeing in Ardnamurchan and I may not be back in time.
Re: sanitisation, someone, somewhere, is always going to be upset when a trail is repaired, I'll bet there's plenty of people right now who enjoy scraping their pedals down either side of the black hill rut...
I've also seen what the horses do to Pistachio so would question if its worth fixing, althought the upper bit is the fun bit anyway and it seems to weather the horsing. Would it be possible to improve drainage to the muddy bits? Once they dry out the horses mighten't churn them so much.
13thfloormonk
I don't have any experience in trail repair so I really don't know what is possible. I want to see pistachio repaired tho.
teh rangers obviously do have some and I am hoping some of the riders with trail repair experience come along as well. I have had some input from IMBA local reps as well who want to get on board
Part of the reason to get involved is so we can have input so that repairs need not remove all the fun
Hoping to get some more solid info in the next week or so for everyone. I think the consensus seems to be pistachio, phantoms and black hill are the priorities
I really really want to make this work folks. I just hope we get the diggers onthe day. even an hour or two will be a help - organise a ride that day and stop off to help perhpas
I mentioned this to the manager of PHRP who I've got a good professional relationship with through work. He says they really appreciate the enthusiasm and willingness and this is the kind of collaboration they are going to need to keep paths maintained with the financial climate they are facing, and based on the first couple of days we'll hopefully be able to build a relationship to base further work on, so as Jeremy says it would be great if we can make this work.
Does anyone know if any of the Glentress trail fairies are Pentlands riders? They'll have good experience.
Some of the Uni hardcore are trailfairies (and they also help build trails at Glentress 😀 )
Drainage, drainage, drainage.
Provided a trail is well drained, then even quite poor soil will remain fairly firm with reasonable useage.
You need drainage to stop water running/seeping onto the trail (i.e. high side drain), and also drainage to ensure any water can drain away from the trail itself (low side drain).
The standards needed at GT shouldn't be needed in the pentlands.
A lot of techniques used by the Glentress Trailfairies aren't really applicable for the Pentlands. I can't imagine that digging a tray down to the mineral soil, filling it with type 1 and battering it with a motorised heavy weight until it's solid would be popular in Pistachio Way or even possible on Black Hill (how deep would you need to dig?). 🙂
That said, smarter fairies than I (e.g., mc, above) may have actually learnt the principles involved and should be able to apply them and/or direct others in their application.
I have posted on the Trailfairy mailing list about this.
I was thinking more they would be handy and enthusiastic with a spade rather than getting all technical 😆
Stop right there.
EVERYONE knows "wounded knee" is in fact that hill north of Maidens (Harbour Hill?) where our very own italspark did his knee in in 1989, trying to slow a sled that mcmoonter had made from a pallet and some old skis.
n0085 🙄
Kit has pictures to back up Clubbiedean's claim to "Wounded Knee", what have you got, Al? 😉
THE MEMORIES OF A LEGEND 😡
Sorry Al, nae pics of Italspark's knee or the sledge. On the night in question on its first run the snow was frozen so we were going for a max speed run over a cornice.
Italspark was the bravest so he went first. After launching over the cornice he was doing about 30mph when he leapt off fearing death. His leg went through the frozen crust and stuck while his body continued at 30mph. It ripped the tendons in his knee apart. Wol and I carried him to A&E. We didnt even look for the sledge. I went up next day to find it in case someone else tried it. It was miles from where Italspark fell. I cut it up for firewood.
Cheers Pete. There'll probably be medical records if you want them ChrisL 😉
I thought that the established STW level of proof required is "pics or it didn't happen"?
This all happened pre-stw.
No bikes involved so surely doesn't apply!
How did people manage to make decisions regarding mountain bikes pre STW? I can imagine them shuffling around bike shops like a zombie horde, crying over the tyres.
Tyres = "Groondies"
Groondies +1. There was only one tyre back then.
Right - more details.
I had a meeting with the rangers today, Fruitful discussion indeed. There are constraints upon the rangers that I had not appreciated in that they can only work with permission of the landowner. Also we are unsure of just how many folk we will get out and therefore how much can be achieved on the day. The rangers also have a policy of attempting to maintain previously built paths in the first instance befoer doing work on other paths. This might not always fit in with our priorities.
So - taking everything into consideration for the first of these days Sunday 19th June Green Cleuch is the target path. There are a couple of sections on this where drainage is blocked and the path has deteriorated significantly. There are a couple of different sections in Green Cleuch that need repair and hopefully we will be able to complete these repairs in a single day which is one of the reasons for choosing this path rather than picking an area where the work will take many days.
Depending how this goes will to some extent influence which path we go to on the second day - make this a success and we will be able to tackle something more difficult and intensive next time..
So - meet at 10am on Sunday 19th June at the gate nearest Bavelaw on Green cleuch. [url= http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=317050&y=662550&z=0&sv=nt170625&st=5&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf ]GR NT170 625[/url]
It will be perfectly acceptable to do a part of a day or even just half an hour on your way past. The rangers will be bring spades and gloves but if you have your own and can bring them great
Can people post up on here if they are coming and for what sort of time? Can those of you who were in contact with other groups let them know and again post on here some indication of how many folk and when?
Ta muchly. Lets make this work chaps and chapesses!
BTW - I am away for two weeks after Saturday so won't be able to bump this or reply until I get back.
feel free to email me and to pass my email (in profile) on to appropriate groups.
Ta
Sorry TJ - I'll be riding through the English Midlands that day.
Good luck with this and well done for organising it.
I should be there for 10am. Your map link is not working for me. Is this the gate at the wall with the style? not a great description, sorry!
I'll be there at 10AM. I can bring a shovel and a mattock so I'll be driving. Is the nearest place we can park at the car park at Threipmuir or are we allowed to take cars up Beech Avenue and is there somewhere to park up there?
Cris - I'll check on that. Teh rangers will have a 4x4 anyway
TJ, that's better. I was thinking closer to bavelaw castle so thanks for clearing that up.
TJ and others - well done for organising this. I have other commitments on the 19th, but as a rider who rides in the Pentlands once or twice a month, I'd like to say thanks for your efforts.
Really hoping I'll make it for the day, from 10.00 (driving up from Lancs the previous day). Well, someone's got to take the photos, eh?
Don't forget yer sandwiches 🙂
any more?
I'll bump this a couple of times in your absence TJ.
I'll be there - hopefully make it for 10.
I shall be around that weekend and the other half should be back from the Rob Roy at some point in the day. I think I know the sections being done in that area, I remember crunching over the ice over them in the winter they were that flooded.
I thought landowner permission might be an issue, its always a time consumer for us at work.
I'm expecting to be there.
Ta chaps.
Would love to make it but my other half is in Slovakia so I'll have the kids. May take them out for a walk/ride and pop round with some cakes in true trailfairy style. Well done TJ.
I got an email back from the rangers. They will be able to ferry people from the carpark to the site if needed. No private cars up beech ave. I'll sort details out when I get back - probably a meet point in the carpark.
Excellent, thanks TJ. I'll aim to be at the Threipmuir car park at whatever time is chosen, then.
Unless mini Dair arrives early, I'll be there at 10.
I'm a 50/50, but assuming I make it I'll just ride in, for 10am.
Very regretfully, I'm not gonna make it next week; circumstances conspiring & all that - my only chance to get a guilt free (except missing trail repairs 😳 ) run home on the motored bicycle... Scarcely an excuse I know. Will be closely monitoring, and ensuring I make the August date. Feel free to bring a club and administer some bad-ass [url= http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Retrophrenology ]retrophrenology[/url] on the next Wednesday night ride.