I bought Salsa Woodchippers for the Gryphon.

It’s tken me ages to build and I still can’t sus’ the drop levers / deare mech combo on the rear. Figure it’s probably chain length.

Hey ho, I digress ;-)

Side by side I estimate by eye that the WCs are the same shallow-ness as on one mary bars but the grip is much longer on the former. Got big wide beasties as well at (IIRC) 46cm and “regular” diameter to fit MTB stems.

Oh, and they’re both flared because I figure they’ll be better off road / in rough stuff and it’s what Sam’s test Gryphon had on which I liked so much I bought one.

Let yourself go a little and put on a layer of winter fat, nature’s way of insulating yourself.

Nothing wrong with the quality (no ones come back to me from an order of c.50) regarding quality or construction. Only minor issue was the cut of the neck on the DH stle shirts which, when standing up felt a bit odd but was grand when riding.

We mixed up whatever styles they had (road, DH with long or short sleeves for no extra cash as well). Design work was all included ion the price as well although we had done some already. Brian came up with some good pointers though about logo position and camelbaks / visibility etc.

My experience was they were faultless. Hey ho 8-)

Have used TCJ and they have been great. Shirts fit some right bloaters. Think it’s Brian who you deal with, email / call and I’m sure he’lll sort stuff out (or be honest if it won’t be big enough).

The issue is the status of the dedication of a trail.

Shared trail – shared use
Dedicated bike trail – bike use
Unmarked trail – free for all

Sorry chap, don’t think there’s any such thing in the vast majority of FC managed forests. From personal experience FC will restrict the access of horses (and bikes) in certain areas but access on foot (and by association, the dog as well) is rarely if ever prohibited.

I’ve had this discussion with bike rangers, recreation rangers and beat foresters in the woods where we’ve built trails. There may be the odd exception, but it’s that and not the rule.

Anyway, like I said before; share and share alike, easy come, easy go, always look on the bright side of life etc etc 8-)

Whilst anecdotal I got burgled in the same week that the local bike shop got broken into (a 1 minute, in and out job) and a week before someone in Rawdon was hit (for three decent bikes). Talking to the guys in the shop they’d had several people in over the week before and after reporting thefts.

I think there is an element of thought and planning to quite a bit of it. There’s different levels of thieves with different degrees of organisation and planning. IMO. Whether it’s all researched off STW I really couldn’t say ;-) We’d got burgled the previous year (house) so I suspect they probably identified there was good pickings to be had and just lefet it for a while before coming back. Sadly the increased security I fitted after the first time still wasn’t enough. Obviously went too cheap on my cost / benefit there :-(

It puzzles me that the scrotes who burgled me clearly didn’t come with many tools. They burgled my neighbour’s shed (sash lock into timber frame d’oh!) and got chisels and a long handled screwdriver from there. This they used to get through the side door. Then they magiced up a set of 42″ bolt croppers (I think they were Irwin Records, certainly they were full on pieces of kit, cast handles and very heavy) to cut through the security chain. Ironically my little 18″ croppers that they’d found in the garage weren’t up to the job (they’d clearly tried with them).

On the one hand it seems opportunist (nicking tools to do the door), on the other it seems organised (bringing / being able to get huge bolt croppers). They must have had some brass neck to spend the time they did cocking around with all the doors and croppers (not to mention they only bashed in the top half of the stable door so it wasn’t like they could get out too easily and quickly). All within a couple of metres of the house and sometime around 3 or 4 am.

Whatever, I hope they get what they deserve. I won’t be so melodramatic as to wish death and dismemberment but it’d be nice is something they really liked and valued was taken from them, and preferably forced back up their arses! Still, even if I’d known they were there there was toss all I was going to do about what with three of them with long spikey things to force doors and jab at people ;-)

Put the frame number on the bike in several places (prominent ones like the head tube, top tube/down tube and seat tube) as well as the underside of the BB. Make sure it’s somewhere where it can be clearly seen. Everyone get in the habit of asking what the frame number is when they buy something secondhand. Ideally the manufacturers need to make these marks so they’re consistent and clear and are only struck once.

A scrote can make excuses for the number under the BB being scrapped off / damaged / illegible but in two or more separate places on the same frame? Unlikley I reckon.

Bikes are generally hard to identify. You might know your pride and joy but I suspect few riders could probably pick it out from a description and even fewer “non-bikers”. At least then they’re much easier to identify and so (possibly) a bit harder to sell on.

I hope the **** that got my 5 Spot, Alpine and Kobe Ti all end up sitting on the seatposts without a saddle. Theiving scum.

All I know / hear around north Leeds is that this summer seems to have been the worst for bike theft that several shops can remember.

Report it to your local authority rights of way officer.

FC = land manager, not owner ;-)

Share and share alike, show some consideration, try not to get too upset about it all, there’s a time and a place etc.

Life is too short to be too angry, too often.

8-)

Gil at thecycleshed.co.uk.

There’s always Stainburn if you fancy something like that:

http://www.singletraction.co.uk/projects.php?page=Stainburn

so do you get told HOW to dig, etc, or are you expected to know what you are doing? I mean i obviously know how to dig, but there’s digging and there’s digging.
Or is it just a case of “make it better, however you think best”?

Surely it takes more skill (and time) to dig a feature that will last, than one that will erode quickly?

We have guys with lots of experience in building good quality, durable and sustainable features. We try to apply that skill and experience to new people and any trail building so things work and last. So yes, it is “directed” digging.

However, we don’t always get it right first time but that is a fairly standard experience amongst most trail builders (be they “pro’s” or volunteers). There’s alwasy bits that need subsequent tweaking and amendment.

For example, understanding and predicting what will happen with waterflow when laying out and then building the trail takes a lot of effort and insight. Even then you can build it with all the best plans and then find in reality it’s different.

Also, we often go in and build after clear felling. The disturbance and impact of the felling contractor, their machines and the usual detritus / destruction they leave behind changes the behaviour and routes of surface water significantly. It’s all just stuff to try and work around / with.

So, long answer in short – we tell you what to build where (in a nice way). :-)

Anyone fancying coming along to a dig is more than welcome. We work at trying to make it open and friendly so people don;’t feel like spare parts or end up standing around not knowing what to do. The typical groups are a varied mix of young / old, riding gods / novices etc. TBH it’s justs like your typical random assemblage of riders.

Yes, that would be an option. However, FC control sponsorship “rights” and have some particular ideas about sort of stuff should go where in the forests.

TBH, Dalby is predominantly soil inversion or quarried on site (hence why it’s rather sandy in places). Stainburn is somewhere where we’ve bought, or arranged to buy a lot of stone and, if you look on the marker posts whilst riding the trails there, you ‘ll often see sponsor details. That was arranged many moons ago though.

We’re always looking for cheaper ways to get stuff and are not shy of saying we’re a volunteer organisation and would like stuff for less. Sometimes it works, others not. There’s no hard and fast rules for all this stuff, so much is off the cuff and individual’s inclinations.

They might be although in my case certainly weren’t.

Hey ho, burglars are the fcukers, not us discussing it 8-)

They should maybe have some weekday ‘dig days’ to capture all us weekend workers who aren’t available Sundays?

Good idea but it’s already a significant task organising the monthly digs at weekends, nevermind also doing them during what a lot of other people consider their working day. Saying that if you and enough people were keen I’m sure Gil would be pleased to hear from you and see what could be sorted.

The only issue we’ve had with “out of regular dig day” activity is regulating quality of construction and ensuring what gets built (on FC sites) is what is permitted. Trailbuilding isn’t rocket science but we spend quite a bit of time “behind the scenes” planning and liaising to be able to build new bits or improve others. Lot of it rests on goodwill / track record / trust. That can get eroded pretty quickly if we let a bunch of (well intentioned) not-so-experienced folks go wild in the woods with shovels ;-)

I’ve never seen figures from FC regarding the income into Dalby since the trails (and everything else) went in. Nor do I know what they set aside for trail maintenance (nevermind development ;-). I know they put some money into the provision of a cycle ranger although I also think that is more of a match funding situation with the original OPS1 (IIRC) money.

Membership of SingletrAction (http://www.singletraction.co.uk/page.php?page=Sign_Up_For_Membership) or simply a donation (https://www.paypal.com/uk/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_flow&SESSION=TlZcFI_QmHrXnsgZ_G5SMcH5VRUBsBmNETi7lPrz4kZgSgKQxb4Rh7EFehG&dispatch=5885d80a13c0db1f8e263663d3faee8dc60d77e6184470d55d73a93d5b9f6c6e) simply goes into the funds which get administered by the club (i.e. the riders / volunteers / trailbuilders who are members and come to the AGM or the like). Usually we blow it on coke and hookers ;-)

As if, we’re so bloody Yorkshire about money it’s untrue – short arms and deep pockets. Typically almost everything is voluntary, we buy tools, then daft buggers donate sweat and toil to fill the big gap between a shovel and some woodland and a constructed and armoured trail bed. The next purchase is typically stone at c.£25/tonne. We can easily use 20 to 40 tonnes on a few hundred metres of trail, at which point you can see why we always try to save money for stone as without that there’s not going to be a fully armoured trail.

Sorry, I’m nearly off on one there ;-) Join SingletrAction or drop a few pennies into the (metaphorical Paypal) collection tin if you think this is worth supporting. We promise to use it as bests we can to improve riding wherever we get to help. We’d rather see you / anyone at a dig day but if that isn’t possible then cash is a very welcome second choice.

Tim, Chairman, SingletrAction 8-)

Have a dog. Absolutely f-all use when house was burgled last year and when they did the garage this summer. Alarms, locks and chains all far better, don’t need feeding, incur vet’s bills or have to pick up their crap ;-)

A tip for the Pragmasis chains; buy extra locks so you can effecively chain several together on the one length of chain but the scrotes have to cut a link to “free” each bike. Helpful folks that sell that stuff.

I had 5m of 11mm and TBH it was a right PITA to handle. However, I’ll be replacing / supplementing it with 2No. 2.5m long 13mm chains each with Squire shielded hasp padlocks.

I fully anticipate they’ll be heavy but hopefully a bit more manageable than the previous 5m length. Also going to hang them all higher in the garage so the scrotes can’t get leverage on croppers off the floor.

I really hate burglars.

Some good info and products to be had on here:

http://www.torc-anchors.com/security-chains.php

I’ve had an 11mm chain cropped using 42″ croppers during a burglary, however, I think that was mostly down to my poor placement of chain (too close to the ground so they could get good leverage on the croppers) and the fact that one chain secured all the bikes (one link cut and take your pick of 7). Plus once they were in they had the garage as cover so they were out of site and noise was muffled.

Now alarmed with a PID linked to the house system. Trembler on the door. Upgrading to two 13mm chains. Dusk til dawn lioghting around side and back of house. I’m sure they could still nick stuff but at least it’ll be harder.

I funking hate burglars and theives :-P

Great Kathmandu on Burton Road and near the Victoria (?) pub.

Haven’t got a clue how big their takeouts are but the curries always used to be great.

Went January this year. Thought it was great. Sometimes/someplaces the lifts were awkward to go top to bottom and they weren’t always the fastest but it’s a big places stretching along a whole valley side and has a reputation for lots of accessible off piste and powder (if the conditions are right).

One of the places I’ve enjoyed most over last few years.

Google “29 Inches” and the website of that name has quite a bit about set up of flared drop bars. Might be of use.

The IMBA stuff is good and probably worth paying for. Like anything, it’s guidance and a bit general in places (and some stuff works better in particular locations and sometimes it’s a bit wide of the mark) but it’s got most of the core stuff in there and should be essential reading if you want trails to last.

Lee McCormack’s “Pump Track Nation” as a $10 pdf download from http://www.leelikesbikes.com is also good. PT focused but quite a bit of stuff is transferable.

IMBA US’ site also has quite a bit of good, free information on it. Takes a bit of rooting out as the site isn’t the clearest at times but worth it. There’s a bit of stuff on our site as well:

[urlhttp://singletraction.frankencrank.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=1309[/url]

Not sure if all the links are up-to-date.

Or go to a local dig day (if you can find one) and learn from others there who have greater levels of experience.

McCarthy Stone are building retirement flats off Rufford Avenue in Yeadon (LS19).

Just done the site clearance (old building demo, trees and vegetation). Building contractor now on site and starting with groundworks.

Apologies for a slight hijack but what carbon forks fit / have folks tried on their roadrats?

You’d be welcome at any SingletrAction dig day for some ideas but I’m guessing you’re down in Sussex.

Paul and Simon have already suggested some good stuff and Ian Warby is a good guy to talk to. Finding a local trail group could be really useful, pick their brains on a dig day and you never know, they might come and give you some design advice, maybe help with tools or the like.

Is there a local IMBA rep / presence?

You could do worse that trawl through the IMBA UK and IMBA US websites, there’s a variety of information on there, some free and some manuals for not a huge ££. Lee McCormack’s book about pump tracks (Pump Track Nation) is a $10 pdf download from http://www.leelikebikes.com and contains some really useful stuff about building (that can be applied in many locations, not just PTs).

Good luck and feel free to post on the forum at http://www.SingletrAction.org.uk or email if you have any questions that you think we might be able to help with.

Fair enough, I’m not your dad ;-)

One thing to bear in mind, if there’s an established trail group or similar active in the same area it would only be polite to talk to them. We have had “kids” building DH-ish tracks in the woods where we do some of our work.

It’s a bit of a PITA because it has the chance to undermine what we’re trying to do with FC, isn’t built very well and generally makes everything a touch more awkward. Also, whilst I’m not claiming “dibs” we have been working on some of these sites for years (8 or 9 at the one I’m thinking of) it’s a bit galling to have someone waltz in and do what the heck they like without even talking to us.

Yet again though, this might not apply in your situation.

8-)

I have been told (by a chap who designs and sells bikes) that some headsets should be assembled dry (the one in question had cartridge bearings). I didn’t believe it and greased the cups / bearing interface and over the top of the bearings.

AFAIK water and grit will get in there eventually, better they’re coated with something to keep it out a bit longer plus it helps prevent metal to metal issues.

Can be the first “dad” to say – get the landowner’s permission ;-)

I’m not going to argue pro’s and con’s but it’s undeniably gutting to spend time and effort building a sweet trail to have a landowner find it and tear it out. They will find it, sooner or later. Permission up front can help ensure this doesn’t happen.

Your situation and POV may vary etc etc. Of course if it’s your land, knockk yourself out 8-)

Sharki’s and Scruff’s advice is all good. Getting to an “official” trail building day is a good way to pick up tips. Depends where you are. We (SingletrAction) have a few across Yorkshire.

If you aren’t going to get permission then, personally, I’d go for a softly-softly approach. By that I imagine just raking a line and very gentle / subtle shaping and pruning to create only essential trail features. The less it looks “built” the less other users may feel they “object” and therfore less likley to report or destroy it themselves. Plus the less alarming and striking the land manager is likley to percieve it when it is, eventually, found. That might not be possible with what you have in mind.

IMBA UK and the parent organisation IMBA have some good information on their respective websites about trail planning and building. It can be a bit hidden away and some of it has to be paid for but there’s a lot that’s free (especially on IMBA). Lee McCormack’s pdf book (a $10 download) “Pump Track Nation” is excellent (LeeLikeBikes.com). Not just for PTs as you can take the concepts and apply them to trails very effectively.

IMO water is your biggest enemy. Try to avoid the fall line whenever possible. Make sure water can run off the side of the trail faster than it can run down it (cross fall).

PLan it form top to bottom in advance taking into account all the stuff the others have mentioned. Use what you’ve got to hand. Start simple and learn from your mistakes, you’ll make loads ;-)

Good luck.

I went to the last IMBA conference (and spoke / ran one of the workshops about volunteers – SingletrAction).

On the one hand “you’ve got to be in it to win it” is a good (if a bit sanctimonious ;-) ) expression. Alternatively, there comes a time when you have to step outside and act separately to the “establishment”. Both camps seem represented in the posts above 8-)

I agree completely that there ought to be greater focus / co-ordination / establishment of an effective network of volunteers / MTB activists and grass roots stuff that’s actually happening. Any organisation needs a certain degree of red tape to exist but the key focus must be “doing stuff”. Unfortunately, “stuff to do” oftem involves long and drawn out planning / preparation / funding stagees to get to the point where people can get hands on and involved (and you often don’t need / many people aren’t interested in the lead up stages). Nevermind (English / Welsh issue) the campaign for proper access rights. Whilst it’s a key issue it’s dry, dull, laborious etc.

Whilst SingletrAction is affiliated to IMBA I am sorry to admit that I don’t really know what benefit that offers us (other than, possibly, the access to some reference info etc on thier website). I’ve said as much at the AGM. I really want a representative body for MTB in the UK (subdivided or whatever) however I don’t know how to do it and, with SingletrAction, I’ve got more than enough on.

I think that FC being so strong and almost all consuming in the MTB / trail development scene, as a phase, is passing. I think there are pro’s and con’s to this dominance but it does need to pass and be replaced with something more balanced across more landowners and users. I think this is going to be a real challenge for IMBA.

Sanny’s point about BC, their support for “that” cycling discipline, access to money and sport development is good. Bear in mind though that BC probably does “conferences” and all the other jazz (perceived by many as a waste of time and effort on this thread) well. Hence they also get into the money pots.

Pfffttt, I don’t know.

As a thought, if “we” wanted a representative body that supported grass roots trail development and that represented MTB what would it need to provide (to want people to join, stay members and participate)?

I’ve cleared trunks and boughs of fair diameters using a Wilkinson Sword (or whatever they’re badged as now) brush hook. It’s not the best tool for hte job but it’s a versatile and effective one for lots of trail work. People look at you funny in the woods when you meet them and are carrying one though ;-)

If they’re old and rotten it should be do-able though quite probably a fair effort. Still, what that’s worthwhile in life isn’t ;-)

Failing that – features.

D’oh! Got my numbers the wrong way round. You’re right, 18T.

Already got a Spot SS rear wheel.

If clamped in the frame, lift the rear wheel, grasp at 12 and 6 o’clock, puch/pull in opposite direction between each hand. If it waggles and knocks it’s likley to be the bearings.

Are they cartridge or cup&cone?

Or you might have a bent axle I suppose but it usually presents a little differently.

Many a true word spoken in jest

;-)

Ta.

I have a set of midges as well (in a box, waiting for the build) but read elsewhere about the short drop extensions (right word?) and possiby sliding off.

Will fit the woodchippers and see.

What an utter load of pish TJ.

Excellent. Flickr slideshow well worth watching 8-)

Avoiding work and browsing the internet.

Reviewing a draft of the first dig day report one of the volunteers has done for Gisburn Skills Trail. Circulating it back to folks and it’s now up on the internet (see Ed O’s blog on this site and here: http://www.singletraction.co.uk/index.php?fn_mode=fullnews&fn_id=115

Talking to someone in a “cycling organisation” about a trail development at Location X. Fingers crossed it’s going to be good.

Chasing a landowner for a meeting as he wanted some design advice and not sure if the other guy I was talking to about it has managed to sort one out. Bit of a worry as it was back in early September.

Emailing an old associate who I’ve recently bumped into again about the set up of a MTB group in the NW and attending the next meeting.

Tried to work out which digs I can go to this month and what time I need to keep spare for the family.

Checked my emails umpteen times to see if the guy I emailed at Yorkshire Water regarding trails at Timble Ings has got back to me (no :-( )

Bought a set of Salsa Woodchippers for a project bike I really must build.

Tried to find the plan a volunteer did for the trails for which I’m supposed to be organising the dig day on Sunday (woo hoo, Norwood ;-) )

Ridign a bike – nowt. Stuff related to bikes and trails – quite a bit.

Maybe I’ll get chance at the weekend 8-)

Guys, check the instructions in the box (great english / chinese translations ;-) ) and the website. Some of the stuff is on there.

IIRC “commute” setting was c.9hrs.

Not used mine yet on the bike. Only thing I have noticed is the light flashes when first connected to battery. Not that I perceive it as an issue.

Imagine the velcro will rough-up with use.

Good man, we like members and their cash 8-)

The only thing better is bodies on a dig day ;-)