Just wondering if anyone knows of anywhere on the Q's with the potential to create a new trail (like Jambo and Sharki did). We could get a few of us up there and create a STW special stage. It would be quite satisfying.
I worked on an alternative exit to what Sharki calls Sams Track recently and that was good fun, just me and a mate, it's quite a nice exit onto the Motorway now.
Anywhere with potential?
I rode up past the DH track at Paradise last week, it all looked as though it hadn't been ridden for quite a while.
Anywhere with potential?
Uh. The quantocks?
Pretty much anywhere you choose can have a trail put through it with enough effort.
Choose a gradient and route to suit your preferences.
The potential is there within GW area, a known builder of trail centre trails has already surveyed the area(on a map) and said iirc, he could design and build a 30km loop in the area
This would be part of the official 1SW,which is a 7.5million pound investment project to develop trails in the south west.
Though it looks like from a recent report, the Quantocks are no longer thought of as one of the Hubs 🙁
All the land is managed by the FC and although they appear to have tolerated what a few trail shapers have done, it's not to say they aren't completely for it.
They still have an obligation to keep the place safe and to limit harm to all users. So new trails would be seen as unmanaged and therefore force uncontrolled liability upon themselves. I think!
Also, as well as being a AONB, there are lots of SSSI(sites of special scientific interest)so rare plants, animals, etc are protected, monitored, etc.
Any disturbances made by trail building for example, would be seen as harming and would damage an already frail relationship with the FC and AONB.
The Quantock hills have over 90km of permitted paths we can use so it's not like we really NEED more. That would be one of their points.
Yes, there have been lots of work in the triscombe area, this has been monitored and 2 years ago, due to stupidity of others alot of the work had been destoyed by the FC, due to unsafe and un-environmental friendly methods of trail building( wood nail gunned into trees, for one example)
Signs were then put up warning any new non natural trails would be destroyed, which was not a negative, but a positive encouragement to still use the area, with respect.
Since then over 20 DH runs are being used very frequently, though i'm sure a very close eye is being kept on things...
This is a step towards working with the FC on such trails and i hope will in the future open up new possibilities, for a network of non DH trails.
If the FC funded 1SW fails to reach the Quantocks, the only other chance is the forming of a trail group, working with the FC, using volunteers and charities to SLOWLY design and build a network of mtb trails within the FC land.
It is a working forest, so getting it official means it doesn't get trashed by the harvesters whilst they go about their business, if it does they have to reinstate it for safety reasons.
Sams track has always been evolving, with multiple variations attempted after crossing the motorway, and there's jambo's tools in there somewhere from such a session 😉
Some one tried to build a trail over near ashley combe, turned out to be an abomination straight down the fall line and the standard of building in particular the ladder were shocking, the less said about the lack of clearing the landing sight the better.
I'd normally encourage popping in little trails, after all what harm can it really do?
However, like i said, we have a frail relationship with the AONB and the FC up there it need strengthening not weakening. IMHO.
I've talked previously with the rangers about such things and Andy who's funded jointly by FC and AONB agrees the potential is there, but it needs doing properly, as in officially.
If i return my aim will be to do such things and even get a damn cafe/bike shop back in the hills.
Safe digging 😉
Dibbs, with so much in triscombe and the trails at orchard portman running well in the summer, Paradise is left to the lydeard kids.
I was speaking to a ranger up at Ramscombe in the summer and he was saying as long as the trails are safe and not too dangerous the FC are happy for people to tinker with them. What they don't want is massive jumps created and dangerous building which could result in serious injury.
He was also telling me that they have been assessing the Chimney for a while as its getting very eroded and potentially dangerous.
They have a job to do and I respect that. An official trail up there could be great but it would have its pit falls too I guess. I think the best thing to do it work on stuff that has overgrown or not been used for a while.
Our tinkering on Sams Track was for an alternative exit onto the Motorway (the first half) as a mate of mine had a nasty OTB down there. The new one is pretty easy though but the end is still quite steep.
How good would it be to be a ranger up there?! Ideal job territory.
Shame about the chimney, but it will always get used one way or another, it's been a classic.
Good that you spoke to the rangers and heard their views and opinions, good to maintain that we do care.
I've seen many go OTB there or just refuse(for the better) to even try it, even if it's just as hard to walk down it it would appear 🙂
More of a concern with that exit and the one at the bottom, is how it spits you right out onto the forest road, both of which are very fast sections pieces of road if you've descended from up top, also quite blind exits to run over dogs, etc.
I've looked into ranger work, but the two they have are always worried for the jobs, especially in times of government cuts.
Their jobs are quite involved and not all cruising the hills in 4x4s and on quads. Sometimes they liaise with the general public, and even take them out for educational walkies, such as fungus walks, bat hunts and to hear the stag rutting.
Most of that is fine, well the hands on practical stuff, it's the bits where i'd need to actually think i'd struggle on. lol