BKB on holmbury trail building

The mechanic in Nirvana is one of the best in the country, Rowan is a top lad! Don't know Simon that well but always seemed alright when I've spoken to him.
Must get back for a visit would be good to see how the trails have changed in the last 10 years from when I lived down that way.

Maybe they were the guys I bumped into a week ago – I said hello – and got completely blanked – came across them again – blanked again. Whereas a couple of young lads in full stormtrooper + 8" travel bikes were totally the opposite – chatty and asking me how the suspension worked on my bike – I explained it didn't have any – they looked bemused and commented it must be a really old bike LOL.

^ ^ 😆

Is this going to come back round to a 'roadies/XC riders/storm troopers are miserable, they never say hello' discussion?!

Aren't there multiple rides that go out? There always used to be a jumpy one on Saturday and a normal XC one, the XC one was certainly infamous for being of the 'if you're not quick enough you make your own way home' attitude! I'd be interested to go out with them, but it's just the wrong end of the hills for me.

Totally agree with many of these comments. Ride anything fast and it will challenge even the best riders. I love that whole area – Leith, Pitch, Peaslake, Holmbury etc. Still think it's great that these sanctioned trails exist. It's a 25 min drive from my place, so is perfect. I can even get there pretty much all off road if I want to. For me I like riding with a handful of mates wheel to wheel, having tea and cakes at Peaslake or the tower and chatting with other riders and finding new routes that I haven't done before. This is why I ride and every time I do I feel lucky all this is virtually on my doorstep. To lose any aspect of the above would be a massive shame. There will always be the minority who think they own the place, but they are the minority, so let's keep it in context. As for the guys at Nirvana, I've not ridden with them, but they sorted out my bike this week within 24 hours when nobody else could, and they clearly know there stuff. Restored my faith in bike shops – helpful, quick, great service, great attitude and a top mechanic. Thanks to these guys I will be riding tomorrow and that means a lot to me.

anyway getting back to the original crux of the thread, there was a right knobber (MTB!!) on Ranmore on Sunday who thought it might be great to put a random log at the end of Abbazabba, which was promptly removed as being completely pointless. A heated discussion enthused "too technical is it" WTF – mong just wrong! I'll give you technical you spacca..

"Return Of The Jedi"? I've always known it as "I Should Coco"! Namingly, conceptually partnered with "In It For The Money" from the car park further up the hill…

Anyway, returning, as Sui says, to the crux – as a "Friend of Hurtwood Control", I recommend that if you're in the hills and you come across any similar knerb-heds ruining the trails, get on the mobile and ring ranger Mark on: 07920 705 070 or at the office on: 01483 267267.

I always carry some paper and a pen to note down any registration numbers or other identifiers to pass on to interested parties. 😉

PS: I tried joining in on one of Grumpy Simon's "social" rides once – after dragging off the back for ten minutes, I gave up. He attracts properly fit people – don't apply if, like me, you favour going first gear up everything… 😯

Good idea to pass around the ranger's number. If he knows people are on his side and on the lookout, this will be a great help.

So good, you posted it twice!

there was a right knobber (MTB!!) on Ranmore on Sunday who thought it might be great to put a random log at the end of Abbazabba, which was promptly removed as being completely pointless

Whilst I'm totally against people altering trails like BKB and Yoghurt pots, I think its a much greyer area when you get to more unofficial trails like Abba Zabba. Obviously don't know the specifics of what they did but whats pointless to you is not necessarily pointless to someone else. As far as I'm aware nobody owns these trails and they end up evolving…there's quite a few more jumpy bits around Abba Zabba popping up.

Hmmm, I don't think that's on, suddenly altering a trail in a potentially dangerous way!

With my limited skill I can ride Abba Zabba, but frankly if I came across a random log at the end of it I suspect it would all end rather badly! As it would on most trails frankly!

nuke – Member
there was a right knobber (MTB!!) on Ranmore on Sunday who thought it might be great to put a random log at the end of Abbazabba, which was promptly removed as being completely pointless

Whilst I'm totally against people altering trails like BKB and Yoghurt pots, I think its a much greyer area when you get to more unofficial trails like Abba Zabba. Obviously don't know the specifics of what they did but whats pointless to you is not necessarily pointless to someone else. As far as I'm aware nobody owns these trails and they end up evolving…there's quite a few more jumpy bits around Abba Zabba popping up.

specifics is quite easy

it's right at the end before you do the 30 meters or so climbing. the bit where people normally stop to wait for everyone. just at the bottom of the runout a log was put across. – now why oh why would putting a random log across the runout of this bit be a good idea – it's something you expect the red sock brigade to do!

i'm all for evolution of trails, but planting random obstacles that play no part in a challenge, especially when it's used at night and people are used to razzing through, it's plain daft. Lets put it this way, it's just like putting a log across bosanova as a "challenge" – you wouldn't do it..

How big was this log? IIRC there's been a log across the trail roughly where you describe for a while now 😕

My word. Haven't been over there for 6 weeks as I had a fracture in my hand. Rode BKB today – its like a **** motorway! Can't even see where the original trail was.

If you can't stick to a trail without cutting corners everywhere, don't bother riding it.

won't hear a word said against Nirvana cycles (not that anyone here seems to be saying any). They've really helped me out over the years, always at short notice, and their rides are class! I don't know of any other shop quite like it. When my bike finally dies, I'll be replacing it with something from Nirvana, just because I've been going there for years and never really laying down serious cash and it's time I did.

I'm bemused by DHrs sessioning BKB, and the idea of building sad little 6 inch jumps just before the wicked berms is risible. I'm now all about XC, but I've ridden lots of DH and you need a certain type of topography for big MX-type jumps/drops. Holmbury just isn't it. It's got a different (and in my view way more compelling) appeal – smooth California type singletrack.

It's almost like they're trying to prove they're more hardcore than anyone else at Holmbury, the irony being, if they were truly hardcore, they'd be on the 30 foot gap at Woburn, and not anywhere near the North Downs in the first place.

You get the same thing skiing. Often it's actually more fun to rip down the middle of the piste right on the edge kicking up cloud of roost, than to go off piste, but you see kids trying to go off piste just for the sake of it even where it's crap and miserable. If they were real powderheads they'd be at La Grave, not…Meribel! It's a result of marketing I think.

Rode Pitch, Holmbury etc today, and whilst brilliant fun, it was quite depressing how many of the trails have suffered straight lining. Part of the problem is people insist on riding stuff like Xmas Pudding all year round, and then bypass the muddy puddles which when dry create the character of the trail but instead straitline them. T1 is a case in point. Given the number of riders now regularly turning up I guess there's nothing that can be done but depressing nonetheless.

I was also up there today and couldn't believe how busy it was everywhere! There must've been near on 100 riders in Peaslake, crazy! It's no surprise the trails get trashed frankly.

Lots of damage up there for sure, but 100 riders?? I was there around 8 am and there were three of us. Trails change and evolve but that's to be expected, I had a brilliant ride but the dog is worse for wear..

>I was there around 8 am and there were three of us

Like durrrrr….

Rode Pitch, Holmbury etc today, and whilst brilliant fun, it was quite depressing how many of the trails have suffered straight lining. Part of the problem is people insist on riding stuff like Xmas Pudding all year round, and then bypass the muddy puddles which when dry create the character of the trail but instead straitline them.

That is the case on a lot of the trails, but with the likes of BKB a lot is also down to people riding it on big rigs and as one LBS owner in the area with DH racing experience says they simply haven't learned to take corners on such bike bikes, so they straightline.

Yeah I reckon getting on for 100 riders, including a number sitting around sunbathing without shirts on! That was about 1 o'clock, was much quieter earlier on, although we passed a group of more than 20 at the bottom of BKB!

Saturday was rammed around there. Other than the bit between Holmbury and Leith, it was constant traffic.

There must've been near on 100 riders in Peaslake, crazy!

I've got tomorrow off and intend to spend as much as it as possible on the Surrey Hills…bet I don't see a soul (with the possible exception of njee20 😉 )

Still even when I am up there on a weekend, Surrey Hills is large enough area that even when there are large numbers at Peaslake/Leith Hill tower/etc they soon thin out. I was out yesterday around trails like Windy Willows and I didn't see a soul.

I don't really mind how many people are sunbathing in Peaslake, better that than out on the trails!

We caught a few people up on some of the trails, but otherwise didn't have too much traffic, there's enough riding up there to lose people after all!

I've got tomorrow off and intend to spend as much as it as possible on the Surrey Hills…bet I don't see a soul

I have tomorrow and Tuesday off 😀

So well worth getting up early for a clear run then it seems.

I was out round Holmbury Hill way on Saturday afternoon and to be honest I didn't think it was that busy.

Saw a few large groups, but got a clear run on almost all of the trails. A fair number of people were stopped at Peaslake, but there was still room to sit down.

I was a bit surprised after hearing all the fuss on here, I must say.

Mee too I was out from 7.30 odd until about 11.30 and didn't get held up anywhere other than BKB by a bloke on a unicycle.

On reflection that was odd.

Ladies legs was just fantastic the bit through the pine wood was just surreal.

Saturday will always be quieter than Sunday. Yesterday there was a queue to go down Barry's. I didn't go that way myself.

As for massive crowds in Peaslake – if you do pitch up there and it is getting rammed then please consider hanging out somewhere else rather than adding to the chaos – the locals don't much appreciate it when things get quite as busy as that!

I queued for the first time ever at the top of Bazza yesterday. I counted a dozen riders! Also, a couple of riders walking back up the trail to get to the trail head… Slightly disturbing phenomenon.

First time on the new build though and I have to say that it's really exciting – big, swoopy berms and fast singletrack cutting back and forth across the escarpment.

To the riders who pulled up when I was at the side of the track letting really fast riders go through – I'm still not "Andy"!! 😉

Yep as I said there were no problems on the trails really, just at Peaslake, I didn't stop, just marvelled at the sheer number of people bringing the village into total chaos!

Suits me if people would rather drink tea and eat cake than ride the trails though!

By the way, I didn't see any modifications to BKB, but did see a bloke stack it quite hard near the bottom of the bermy bit.

Hope you're okay if you reading this.

PS: Oh, and I realised that, after talking to the riders at the top, they were all new to the area – they didn't know what I meant by the "new build" as I explained what the trail used to be like, and why the the new trail had to be built…

We are now into the new tourist era. Good thing? Bad thing? Dunno at the mo'.

Just added on the Hurtwood website:

"Just to add a couple of points:
1) any continuing vandalism of this sort anywhere on the Hurtwood will put at risk the strategy currently being pursued by the Friends of the Hurtwood and supported by the Landowner, that allows mountain bikers to enjoy this great environment. The investment in BKB; by the Surrey Hills AONB, the bikers and your Charity through the Ranger was not inconsiderable, so it is saddening to find that some people can be so thoughtless
2) central to our management of biking is the active support of the biking community, so please would all biker Friends continue to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity around any of the trails, or indeed anywhere on the Hurtwood, to the Ranger who has authorisation to take whatever action is approriate. This especially includes any short cutting onto the lower (new) end of BKB and the creation of any parallel or subsidiary trails
Finally my thanks to those bikers who reacted to this situation which allowed the Ranger to take immediate action to restore the trail to its original condition."

Got to be a good thing for the local area surely. I know that the tea shop is doing well!

I really like the fact that more people are into bikes now, makes me look slightly less mad.

Also one thing I heard down at the teashop, a guy had taken on that little drop at the top of BKB for the first time, he was dead chuffed and I thought good on you, I'd hate for MTB to get cliquey based on peoples skill levels and all that, I've always liked the fact that MTB is inclusive.

I do think some of the stormtroopers can come over as a bit up themselves TBH but that is most likey my perception I expect.

nuke – Member
How big was this log? IIRC there's been a log across the trail roughly where you describe for a while now

i know the log you mean, but just before that! you ride down a small 'mound' -(effectively the end of Abbazabba) for a better description – it was literally at the bottom of this on the runout! We saw the bloke put it there so we removed it and then had an argument about it.

BKB now has worldwide appeal. most of the voices i heard 'whoop de whooping" and shouting "high-five!" or "that was rad!" in and around peaselake had a distinctive south african or antipodean twang.

Yeah two guys I play football with in London have recently started MTB one Australian one South African. The Australian guy often goes to north downs, swinley and south wales with his mates.

However it was quite funny the South African guy saying he was heading off to the Long Mynd on the weekend.

Oi! you lot, looks like I've received a flaming in my abscence 😉 No worries we're all entitled to our opinions – I'm not feeling the heat too much, I'm actually chuckling here. After being informed on yesterdays night ride that I've been flamed, I think all is reasonably good humoured.

Cheers Si and Rob!

I guess I'm a little sensitive to this type of 'trail building' as we're facing a CTC Ian Warby take over of our local forest at Tilgate, they are planning on charging £6 per day to ride it, and WE have to provide the trails etc etc it goes on. There is a meeting with the officials at the K2 leisure centre 29th April 7.30 if anyones interested.

I rode Abbazabba on Sunday too, I can't recall any logs in the way, not to say that there wasn't – I didn't notice anything unusual. Did 'blind terror ' ending though, so could have been on the other section s'pose.

As to the Nirvana comments – sounds about right :wink:,although anyone going out expecting a hard xc ride on the Sunday will be dissapointed, it really isn't that – more of a cruise to the technical trails. It must vary, and I am a intermittent regular.

[waves to lurking Chuffnuts]
🙂

Whereabouts in tilgate? Where the jumps and 'downhill' track were/are (haven't been down there for at least a year) in the bottom corner?