[Closed] Queen Elizabeth Country Park QECP trail building

Pics from this weekends dig:

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Really good fun, 20+ people both days.

Edit from the big finish.

is the last bit rideable or is it closed off until completion

Taff- Ride with caution because its not official open but it will be fine if you have a little test on the berms that are complete.

Snakebits are open and now one of my fav bits of the park 🙂

Snakebits? Where is that? Haven't been up for a while so probably behind on a lot of the changes!

Its the Switch backs that were added in 2009 by velocity and updated by the QECP collective past to dig weekends. The bit in the start of the youtube vid.

Its the Switch backs that were added in 2009 by velocity and updated by the QECP collective past to dig weekends. The bit in the start of the youtube vid.

That never worked as the berms wernt high enough , or long enough ,for the rate of descent and angulation of the corners

Ah right, I do like those, there were a few berms that didn't quite work before. I thught that was the palce int he youtube clip but for some reason it look different. Will have a wander up there tomorrow night I reckon

Give them a go now singletrackmind we have changed 80% of corners, loads more flow.

Bit of test of the new bits at qecp: http://www.pinkbike.com/video/248587/

From now till the launch (19th May) we are not starting anything new just, Just touching up the new bits, some of them are still bedding in and will need patching up next dig days Fri 30th March, 21th & 22nd April. If you would like to help feel free to come along.

Happy trails guys.

is the last bit rideable or is it closed off until completion

I even helped build that berm .
Wish I had done abit more now.
Not ridden the new section but the rest of new sections are riding very well now its dry.

If you were there Sunday you did a great job. Lots of effort went into them.

Yep . Sunday. Did 2 laps then stopped by and wheeled barrows around for about an hour .
Had stuff to do so unforunatly couldnt stay longer .

Going to head up there at 12.30 on friday for a ride and then do some tweets to the finish. If anyone want to join me let me know.

A vid from yesterday, shows most of the new stuff.
Lovely and flowy atm

rode it last week for the first time in the dry. Absolutley fantastic. if the aim of the track is speed and flow ( with short brutal climbs!!!!! )then it is 100 % successful. it is now a great place to ride. a massive thanks to all those who have made it happen

brutal climbs

The switchbacks are much better now, thanks trail fairies 🙂

I rode all the new stuff for the first time on Sunday (been away in the alps skiing)

The new stuff is ace I really like the totally new section by the red horse trail.

Good work guys !!!

I've been really enjoying it. Don't normally stick to the park but had some fun in there recently... made even more fun with the addition of Strava!

Im going to have to get back over there for the day, looks vastly more flowy than before! Cant wait!

Congrats to all involved here! With the tunnel, this should be much more accessible for others including me! Last week I saw a post with a map and a description of the new trails on a forum. Can't remember which one. Does it ring a bell with anyone? Thanks in advance for any link.

It's on bike radar forum in pics and vids section.

Did 3 laps on Sunday .
Really enjoyed it , despite binning it like a newbie on lap 2 .
It seems really hard now , like a mini trail center , but without the fire roads to catch your breath .
NOt sure how a 4 hr enduro will work as there are very few overtaking spots. A 2 / 4 / 6 lap format with a staggered start might work abit better , with the feild thinning out as the 2 and 4 lappers finish .

Race route will be different, with fireroad climbs section for overtaking 😉 Should be about 6 laps. 🙂

Jeez it's wet up there! Came off the bike for the first time in ages just after the last berm on the final descent where it's a little off camber. Not really helped my Strava attempts!

Yeah was up tonight and struggled for grip in places !!!! Nice evening though, loving the trail

haha you've really got to watch your tyres in QE, and then slow down some on the hard chalk. something tacky for the wet, but not spiky (just skates). Bonty mudX or 42a minions are good choices.
When's next dig Scott? end of the month?

Was there a couple of days ago.

First time I rode it must have been about 3 years ago. Was on a downhill bike which didn't help but was pretty good.

Went back again with my hard-tail after hearing about the improvements and it was awesome! Was a very wet day and we got completely soaked, but was one of the best days riding I have had for a long time! I miss a bit of mud! Don't get much of it in North Wales where I live.

Was using mud-Xs tonight and still found it hard for grip. Couldn't make it up the little steep hill after the switchbacks!!

Was it anyone off here who took the mick as I passed them... heard something about being overtaken by a Welshman

Taff, last month that was so easy you could just pick any line up there and go. i was running crossmark/aspen and laughing 'cos it was suddenly so easy to clear. all of it, whole trail is massively easier dry tbh. in general, QE = scary in the wet, but good for your skills. some ways this is nice because it's different every time you go. but only when dry can you really let rip in there. maybe it's just me and lack of balance/skills.
as i live here i have the opposite problem - learning to trust the tyres more when i go to Wales! you guys have some magic grippy wet rocks.

Yeah I know what you mean. Had dry tyres on for the past few weeks and been hammering it around then today it was like having the brakes on. A cold doesn't help either really

Next dig is next weekend 21st & 22nd April. Meeting out side centre 10.30.

Tyre choice is important at QE. If its wet/mud I run mud x and anything else nobby nics. Or if its really dry/dusty something fast rolling.

Been runnin captains an fast traks when dry... Super quick... Just not qui k enough accordin to Strava!

Well took a little trip there today. Absolutely fantastic, really like what you guys have done with the final descent...got a bit carried away on the last built up berm and got full on 2 wheel drift and almost high sided in front of loads of people...and thats in the dry with mud x's on.

Loved it, ended up doing 5 loops, shame I'm not about for the endurance race you've got planned in May. I would have definitely entered.

Not sure if there is a strava segement for the new final descent yet, but managed 8th on the penultimate descent, which isn't bad for an anthem with the saddle at full height and dodging other riders !

DT78, were you riding with another guy on a HT? He was a bit of a newbie? You on a white Anthem?
If so, we were the 4 guys that were chatting at the start of the first table top section (at the drop in). We were guiding an journalist round and explaining what we had built - he seemed impressed and liked the trails 🙂

Oh for the love of god I'm now 12th on that descent!

Doesn't sound like me, my anthem is an 09 x1 so orange/white/silver. First 3 loops I was belting round on my own, next 2 laps was with my mate on his orange patriot 66 who insists on grinding round with only 9 gears and wonders why he suffers 🙂

I was there 11.30 to 3ish - Wearing black kit / white helmet if that helps 🙂

I'm really impressed, it is a fantastic training loop now, I am aiming to get under 30min loops by the end of summer, but every time I go you guys have made it longer (!)

It is definitely more popular too. I used to remember not seeing a single rider a few years back

Not sure about hitting those berms at pace in the wet though!

Where was the journalist from?

Sorry Taff 🙂

Appears I'm 3rd on the overall trail to, but that is a time from when I last rode there in October, and the track is different now, not sure why it's still showing that one. I'd be 6th with my times from today.

That's fine... I'm second on that but want a KOM!

Im 6th on the penultimate descent but that was on my singlespeed 😉

The journalist was from MBR.

Great to see so many people having fun on bikes at the park today.

Don't forget Its the dig next weekend, if anyone could spair a couple of hours that would be great. Still lots to do before the launch on 19th of May.

I'm not on overall orange trail apparently, must be cos i have been riding the red trail for last 6 months. Full trail is on the new website:
http://www.qecptrailcollective.co.uk/

Rode the trail today - congrats to the team on the new trail, much improved.

http://www.pinkbike.com/video/255358/
New Vid Pre veiw of most of the new bits on the new red trail.
Trail launch will be at The QE Cycle Fest 19th & 20th May 2012.

Also at the The QE Cycle Fest there is MBUK Royal Rumble 4 hour Enduro MTB Race. Some of the trail builders will be racing :-).
http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/78220/MBUK-4-hour-Enduro

see you on the 19th 🙂

Free camping too at QE that w/e! Its going to be sunny as well, there cant possibly be more water up in them skies 😉
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