[Closed] Old quarry - new trail(building)

Not much trailbuilding love then...

Here's the maiden run anyway

*likes*

Lots of love for this. How long in total?

good work, looks like you still have room and hight to make it nice and long as well

whish i had that and the time to do something like that

Hehe - good work there!

Nice bit of space to do some more work as well

Thank lads. Appreciate the love 😀

I work 12 hour shifts with a weird pattern so i get a fair bit of time off when everyone else is working. So far it's maybe 350m long with 500m or so til the flat bottom. Then there's the option of cycling along the base that has a few interesting features already, up the other side and down again (some nice ridge lines to ride down) and back to the start. It's officially finished when i reach the bottom (that's when the beard goes) but i'll see how it goes. I'd love a few more hands but my riding buddies are a bit lazy when it comes to building. No offence - but it's true 😉

looking good- where in the country is it- may have so building time free

Thanks for the kind offer Rockhopper. County Antrim isn't that handy for most STWers 😀

ah, yes bit of a commute with a shovel on my hardtail....

Nice! What's that stuff off to the right near the end? Looks like some epic drop potential...

Chief, the first is probably around 10 foot onto a ledge followed by an 80 foot fall to your death 😀 (i shouldn't smile really, there's been a few deaths up there). Near the bottom where i hope to go more gradually, there's scope for a reasonable drop or two and some bigger jumps 😀

That is pretty sweet looking although prob too gnarly for me in places.
Hat off to you though for doing all that on your own??
Edit-Pah-looks flat in your vid (rofl).

Update:

Mostly work work this last week but squeezed in a few sessions.

From where i left off, rock garden and a bit of bush trimming
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Leading onto another rocky path
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to a little drop
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Hopefully the downslope will generate enough speed to float over this little kicker and into the following berm (still need to sort the drainage on the jump)
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The previous occupants kindly left his berm thing which will get some more soil threw at it, but as the second pic shows, go too high on the berm and you'll fall to your death!
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And the first jump/s again, 'cause i'm proud of it 😀
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looks really good, is it Magheramorne by any chance?

nice bl00dy work, man.
props.
😀

fab work. What's the beard status/level now? You at ss level yet? 😀

Thanks lads. No maccabe, it's a little closer to Antrim 😉

Beard status: Verging on Country Singer with a hint of hobo

my hero*!

Sweet! Like that a lot. Well done you!

Nice,. I like that you've left room between the features - there's stuff I'd like to try near me, and I reckon I'd be ok, but it means committing to doing a whole series so I've never had the bottle. If I could do each individually it'd be different, obviously 😀

Sweet!

Might need to raise that kicker a bit if you want be sure of getting over the dog though.

🙂

I like that you've left room between the features - there's stuff I'd like to try near me, and I reckon I'd be ok, but it means committing to doing a whole series so I've never had the bottle. If I could do each individually it'd be different

That's the joy of building your own stuff i guess. I've tried to put a quiet zone before each feature to get yourself set - or chicken out.

Our Belle (dog) has already laid a couple of eggs on the trail 👿 then disappears off to roll in the excrement of various wildlife. I don't think she'll be back.

Anyway, here's the latest pics...

Drop to landing to kicker to berm to kicker (the pile of stones in the foreground). Digging that berm out is a killer! It better bloody work!
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From the side
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Flat landing to another berm
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I had to alter my plans for this berm a bit. I had planned to go fairly high up the rubble, but thanks to a dream that i fell over this berm and bust myself, i've kept it a bit lower. Should be great though 😀
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A nice fast exit then heading toward the top left of the pic.
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Planning a berm and a natural-ish descent down some debris with a few more berms onto a nice gradient with giant jump/drop (well as giant as i dare). Nearly there.

Nice work. I probably wouldn't ride the gaps myself.

Buzz, apart from the 20 foot step-up at the start (which has an alternate, smaller table/hip) the gaps (about 8-15') are shallow and just need a bit of speed to clear them. I haven't rode from the rock garden onwards but tomorrow i'll see if i've done my sums correctly 😀

You be careful on that berm to gnar cliff death young man!!

Roger that Jive.

*ing rain * off you ****!

It lives!!!

After an extended summer break, my spade, my dog and i headed back to the quarry for a bit more digging. No pics due to thick fog, but i managed to finish off the bermy, jumpy thingy that leads onto the berm of death. I swore i could hear weird noises from the far end of the quarry. Rumbly noises mixed with shrieks and wails! Spooked the dog out and had me a little worried too. As the fog lifted slightly, i could make out strange white shapes. Then i twigged. Game of Thrones are transforming [i]my [/i]quarry into a winter battlefield!

Just added this thread to my favourites, love seeing it grow.
🙂

not often I read thread like this and think I wonder is it near me.......and it is, haven't been up there in ages was over run by enduro riders for a while (ktms and Hondas not 650b wheeled fashionistas)

I'm sure I've still a stash of rust tools hidden in the woods in a few of your pics

awesome stuff!

haven't been up there in ages was over run by enduro riders for a while

When i started there were a few trials riders kicking about and doing their best to ruin the jumps. Lately though the owners have been putting in a bit of effort to keep everyone out by blocking all the large entrances, then there's the rare birds nesting in a cliff face - which if you disturb them, gets you a hefty fine. Seems to have done the trick as there are no fresh tracks about.

I'm sure I've still a stash of rust tools hidden in the woods in a few of your pics

If you've got a mini digger in your stash, can i borrow it? 😉

You're more than welcome to have a play next time you're in the area Simon (same Simon that knows J Doc?) - it's been built to be ridable in the rainy season.

Just added this thread to my favourites, love seeing it grow.

aye that's me, drive past every day on the way to work but not been on the mtb since june sadly, must get my finger out and get up for a wee look

Forgetting the clock thing meant my planned early start this morning was stupidly early 😳 The Game of Thrones guys are all done so i could crack on.

Looking up the trail to the drop to wee jump to berm to jump...
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The heavy rain of late put the drainage holes to the test...
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Only a couple of minor puddles have formed along the trail, so job done.

Berm of death (BoD) follows but i've had a change of plan for the next bit. I was for heading down a loose rocky scree slope but it was a bit slow and awkward to get to. Instead there'll be another fast berm after the BoD which will lead to another step-down jump 😆 onto this new landing which i dug this morning. Still needs a bit more work but should generate plenty of speed for the final bit of the trail.

Rocks on the right are a rough indication where the kicker will go.
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Top stuff!

Good thread, looks like a fun place to ride 🙂 wish I had somewhere good like that to build.

looks like a sweet place to buil/ride

I have an old unused (very overgrown) golf course near me that has some interesting features I've always wanted to build into something... Not suitable for a run as long as that but some fun drops and bridges etc!

This thread is quality! Inspiring stuff, top work that man.

Got a few hours of muck moving this morning before it lashed down. Made a start on the linking berm that follows on from the BoD and leads to the new step down thingy. No point building the kicker for the step down til i know how fast i'll be hitting it (learned that one the hard way 😀 ).

Marked it out first...
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Then, after a few tweaks, added some bulk
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Got a good bit of 'soil' lobbed on. It's a pain to excavate but it's perfect for building. Loads of gravel and various sized crushed rocks mixed throughout which drains and packs down really well.

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You can barely make out the two piles of stone that mark out the rough kicker position. Busting to ride it 😀

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Couldn't resist building the kicker.

Just checked the forecast for tomorrow and it's to be windy but dry. Riding time and i'm very excited 😀

I invited a couple of riding buddies over on Saturday to help with testing duties. Didn't have the camera though so took a run up this morning in between rain showers. First vid is from the tipity top but since messed up the last drop i had another go on just the lower half (it's got a bit more gradient). I really need to get fitter 😀

Apologies for any swearing

Had to remove them ^^ in case my kids heard daddy cuss 😳

Fear not as i've seamlessly combined them and added some music for your viewing and listening pleasure.

That, Sir, is very cool. Good work.

Good stuff - it puts the trails we've built in our local woods to shame!!

Like. Jealous too 🙂

Yeah, that looks really fun.

Fantastic,..how much are the bacon and egg butties at the cafe going to be? 😀

As I can't see a barrow, I presume you used your gorilla tub? Top work 🙂

Thanks lads. I must say i'm pretty chuffed and relieved with how it's turned out so far - especially the last half as i didn't ride it until Saturday. Would have broke my heart if it didn't flow. Luckily it's really fun and seems to work (all those dry runs pretending the spade was my bars paid off 😀 ).

Bacon sarnies will be free! And yes it was mostly done with a bucket and spade. The barrow gave up after the first day.

If you're think of building a trail - do it! I've enjoyed every minute so far (except from having to wash poo off the dog every time she goes up) and now i've somewhere really handy to get my winter adrenaline fix.

Looks great. I was looking for inspiration for a trail I am building in the forest. It is very open with lots of nice sandy/clay soil and the odd big boulder/rock. So far built a gap jump over a dyke, a drop off and a few pump humps. Your track does not look like it has that much drop, is that right? The place where I am building is a bit like that so have you any tips for making/maintaining flow and speed? So far I have built some small berms and tried to sculpt the bumps so that you can pump them. I think I will have to concentrate on each bit. I did the gap jump when I built it but now it is a bit wet so can't get that much 'controlled' speed.

With the local trails we have built (East Sussex) I often find there is "Too much" height loss, so you are needing to lose speed, not gain it. A flowy trail with only a gentle slope builds speed very quickly.

Your track does not look like it has that much drop, is that right?

Yeah. The top section if fairly flat and pedally but the gradient gradually increase as you get towards the bottom. It was kind of intentional as i was trying to milk the terrain as much as possible. The only place you need to brake is just before the first two small drops so it'll save on pad wear 😉 I just left a bit of space before each feature to squeeze a few cranks in if needed.

As for maintaining flow, look out for natural crests and dips in the land and try to incorporate them if possible. Anywhere you can get some free speed is good. Build your landings and berms solid so you don't loose any speed on them. I wouldn't worry too much about sculpting them just yet. They'll find their own shape when you ride them a bit. Getting the drainage right will help too, but if you've got sandy/clay (jammy git) you shouldn't have too many worries.

I did the gap jump when I built it but now it is a bit wet so can't get that much 'controlled' speed.

It can be tricky building at this time of year. What works now probably wont when things dry out a bit and visa versa. I'm already thinking of increasing the size of the jumps on mine, but i'll probably save that until late spring.

Stick up a few pics sure. Always like to see other peoples work 😀

Here are a few picks of what I have been up to today.

This is a trail I have been working on for a bit. Nice swoopy trail though forest with nice rolling dips. Big rock that I turned into a little drop:

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Over a road and over a small gap jump.
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I heighten it a bit as the landing was up hill.
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Been cycling past this for a while wondering if I could dare drop it.
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Cleared a run up and did one line. Will have to go back to do the other one and leave the biggest to the DH riders.
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And this is the rock from the bottom.

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Love that mini cliff. Be a shame not to go off the bigger side. It would take a bit of graft but 10' would only be about 6-7 once the landing was built and you'd get some squirt of it. You could do an alternate round side and down the slight slope at the front (in the 4th pic) and hip onto the landing of the 10'er 😀