Thursday, April 28, 2011

"Leg Bone" continues

The last couple days have seen work progressing nicely.  Toni came out and helped one afternoon to add some of her muscle to a couple bigger jobs.

The trails now marked out to the top, the only small compromise is moving the trail head back down the track a little, meaning thigh bone has already started :)  This allowed us to incorporate some nifty trail features as well as ensure the climb was not to steep but will make the descent a "hoot" of a ride !  We had always planned something interesting as the easy climbing track, "ankle bone" has been built.

Large Log Obstacle
This wonderful fallen tree provided an excellent opportunity for something a little different, an A line over a "Y" in the log, with a drop off on the back side as you descend.  We cut a narrow gap to slow down those that choose the "B" line for the descent, this is also the line you have to take when climbing.  The "Y" in the log will be filled will loose logs from another coppiced tree (only 1/2 full presently) , leaving the logs "loose" under the wheels should add a degree of interest to the trail feature !  Pics are worth a 1000 words, so hear's a few thousand.

Chainsaw cut for the "B" line through a 3ft thick log !
"A" line of the same log, looking up, with a drop off  on the
down side !
Same log from above, "A" line (left), "B" line, right
Logs curing, after debarking, in preparation for use as
stringers on the up-ramp over the log
Once again we have coppiced logs beside the trail for use in construction, in my opinion, the most environmentally sustainable method of construction, knowing the provenance of the materials !

Half Bench
Here the trail threads between a large spotted gum and a large string bark, the down hill side is right near a 10m near vertical drop into a creek.  The large spotted gum was providing stabilisation but needed a little help to make the track a little "safer" and more sustainable.  We built a rock wall and filled it with cut material from the benched track a little further up the trail.

Through the trees, before
Through the tree, after
Rocks providing stabilisation for the fill.
Benched Trail
We also spent a fair bit of time benching the track where it was needed, the side slope is not particularly steep, so not a lot of cutting is needed, that combined with the softer, loamy, ground made for quick excavation.  Having done a lot of trail work in Townsville on the Douglas trails where the ground is rocky and the soil as hard as rock, this is about 10x as fast ! Sweeeeettttt...

Benched track through the rain forest on "Leg Bone".

Interesting Obstacles
Gravity Drop
There's a nifty Gravity Drop, as an A line (descending only), to come, I have roughed this out and it's rideable, if you're careful but really needs a little benching as there is a small off camber section that is a bit "tricky".


Overlocker Corner
This has two sets of two large trees to thread the needle through, thus "Overlocker".   Sewing aficionados will know why we called it "Overlocker Corner"

Top of the corner, first set of trees
to "thread" between

Half way through the corner, the second set of tress
to "thread" between
Then cross a log as you exit the corner

Soil ramps (large rocks buried) over a log
after "overlocker" corner.
I would estimate we are about 50% of the way through the trail so far.  I hope to have it finished by the time of the social ride, on the 29th May.

Rescheduled social ride - 29 May !

The promised Nymboida MTB Social ride is on again.  The inaugural ride last year went down well, so we decided to repeat the ride again this year (original date in April was cancelled due to rain !.  Keep an eye on this site for updates, in case (heaven forbid !) we need to cancel the ride again due to inclement weather !


What : A social Cross Country mountain bike ride near Nymboida, single track and firetrail
When: Sunday 29 Mayl, 9:00am
Where: 41 Martin Rd, Nymboida

How to get there <--- (clickable link to map)


All skill levels and riders welcome.

Well maintained bike, with a helmet, spare tube and drinking water is a must

See you all there !

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Trail work has started again

Now I have finished several projects around the house, I am back working in the trails again !  The trail names for this Northern Section are based on the "Dem Bones" song. Toe, Foot and Ankle are done... now it's "Legs" turn.


DEM DRY BONES


Your toe bone connected to your foot bone, 
your foot bone connected to your ankle bone,
Your ankle bone connected to your leg bone,
Your leg bone connected to your knee bone,
Your knee bone connected to your thigh bone,
Your thigh bone connected to your hip bone,
Your hip bone connected to your back bone,
Your back bone connected to your shoulder bone,
Your shoulder bone connected to your neck bone,
Your neck bone connected to your head bone,
I hear the word of the Lord!
...

Leg Bone
I have been spending some time scouting where to put the trail, all we knew was where we wanted it to finish, on the northern intermittent creek, these many walks in the bush (which I enjoy thoroughly, getting to intimately know the lay of the land) have resulted in the bottom 1/3 of the trail being decided on, so I have cleared the trail corridor and started building in earnest.

Benched trail, Rake Ho lean showing cross-fall !

Some jobs require more muscle then I can bring to bear on my own, so Toni helps out when she can.  We went out early this morning, forgoing a ride, to do the creek crossing.  Manoeuvring the large rocks by myself was more then I could handle !

Toni, tidying up the Creek crossing

The crossing is mostly finished.  We will use some concrete to fill some of the gaps, we will mix the cement  with on site gravel, to make it is "natural" as possible but we will need to wait until the creek drys' out.  It is completely rideable but parts of it will wash away (where we have used a little dirt) if we have a big rain, these are the parts we want to concrete.

The new track looks great and we have a few interesting obstacles planned, including a drop off, off a large diameter felled tree and we've cut a narrow gap for a "B" line through the same tree, with plenty more to come !

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Trail Signage

We finally installed the trail signage a couple weeks ago.  Most of the work was done my a local artist and outdoor enthusiast, Pamela Denise.  More about her here  Thanks VERY much Pam !!!!

Toni with some of Pam's signs !

Installed at one of the trail network hub points

Which way to go !

We have since added a couple others that Toni has done

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Social Ride is off

UPDATE: RIDE IS CANCELLED DUE TO CONTINUAL RAIN !!!

With all the rain over the past six months (another 35mm two days ago) and being away for a month, trail development has been slow we did manage to finally finish the last "B" (easier) line around one of the "tricky-er" obstacles.  All the difficult obstacles have a "B" line

but the promised Nymboida MTB Social ride is on again.  The inaugural ride last year went down well, so we decided to repeat the ride again this year.


What : A social Cross Country mountain bike ride near Nymboida, single track and firetrail
When: Sunday 17 April, 9:00am
Where: 41 Martin Rd, Nymboida

How to get there <--- (clickable link to map)


All skill levels and riders welcome.

Well maintained bike, with a helmet, spare tube and drinking water is a must

See you all there !