Mid-State: Anderson Park

[AllMountin']

I'd been eyeing that log up for the last year. It would mock me on every ride, begging to be ridden. As I cut it, I wondered if you hadn't already been riding it as is.

Darkness came before I cleaned the whole thing, so I'll have to ride it next time out. I did manage to clean the hump/turn a number of times, but haven't maintained enough balance/concentration to finish the easy part. I initially thought it might be rollable, but don't believe that is the case. I find that I need to roll the front tire on, swing the back up and on, roll forward, and then swing the rear a bit more to keep the tire from tracking off. Pretty challenging IMO. The nice thing is that the penalty for failure is low. I found that I could either drop off the left/right, or the bike frame would just end up straddling the log.

There is so much dirt packed into the Y entrance on the last log that I'm not even sure what to do to make it easier. As for shaving one of the big rides... I don't really have the saw for it. My puny 14" trail saw is no match for those big logs.

Thanks for your work on blue, Joe.

[centralRH]

I just returned from vacation a couple days ago and finally got a chance to get to the trail last night. Excellent work with the trimming and logs. THANK YOU Joe and Steve and anyone else who did work out there for taking care of things while I was gone. I need to fix my trimmer before I can get out there and help.

As for "flat topping" one of the logs. I guess I am O.K. with this if our advanced log riders are good. I don't like to dumb things down, but as stated earlier there are enough logs out there that one could be simplified. I think there is a bit of disagreement about which log to make easier though. Some think the log that fell last year at the bottom of the downhill (before the left turn and log pile) is best, while others think it should be the log that fell 2 years ago just a bit further down the trail (after the log pile, with the Y entrance and dirt ramp).

The only thing I don't want to do on the green loop is add lumber. I would like to keep the features on the green loop built with natural materials. That may mean they are only with us for a few years, but trees and logs will continue to fall in this area provide new features in the future.

BTW - other than a few slappers trail conditions are excellent. Very fast. The new Playground sections are breaking in nicely. I agree the big drop lands smoother than the short drop. The short drop has less downhill fall than previously anticipated.

[jonw9]

Rode out there last night. Thanks Joe for clearing Blue a bit, and nice work on the log pile AM.

Trail was fast, albeit a bit dry. Something on Red reached out and snatched my front wheel, but other than that things were great.

Keep your eyes open out there riding, there was a group of 4 or so helmet less kids riding red backwards. I informed them of this and they replied " I know"....

[rvd]

Rode here tonight. Blue is still tight and twisty, but it is nice to not have to constantly duck under branches! The weedwacking was very nice too. Thanks for the work out there.

As for "flat topping" one of the logs. I guess I am O.K. with this if our advanced log riders are good. I don't like to dumb things down, but as stated earlier there are enough logs out there that one could be simplified. I think there is a bit of disagreement about which log to make easier though. Some think the log that fell last year at the bottom of the downhill (before the left turn and log pile) is best, while others think it should be the log that fell 2 years ago just a bit further down the trail (after the log pile, with the Y entrance and dirt ramp).

So, after all this log ride discussion I had a good look around today. The first log just before the downhill is "hors catégorie" for sure; I tried it three times but couldn't get my back wheel on even once. The second, just before the left 180 and log pile is nice; it has been shaved a bit and is fun to ride. I didn't complete it yet, but feel it is near my skill level. The third log ride, with the y-entrance, is obviously easy to get on, but in its unshaven state and higher off the ground I find it pretty intimidating. I like how all of this is shaping up. Fun to try new stuff...

[bockrona]

Rode yesterday, conditions were hot.

There are some sticks down from that quick storm, but nothing major, the tree crotch on green is blocked though.

[rvd]

Conditions of the trail bed were excellent today, even right after the rain. The red loop has a bunch of slappers that could benefit from some pruning. The leaner on red, on the fast section just before the merger with blue, has become a decapitator and needs to be propped up or taken out, probably.

Towards the end of our session (after the one only other Thursday 'group ride' rider had left) Allmountin' and I rode green in reverse, which was a bunch of fun. Any chance we can reverse the trail direction once a week (or one week a month) to 'keep it fresh'?

Btw, before I arrived, Allmountin' posted the slowest ever time on the 'Green Loop South' Strava segment: 1h 15 mins and change (http://app.strava.com/rides/11408757#198338729). Can't wait to see the footage of his exploits.

[AllMountin']

Can't wait to see the footage of his exploits.

What happens on green loop... stays on green loop.



I think it's the most difficult feature I've ever attempted, and I'm claiming bonus points for cleaning it when wet. I've dubbed it "The Green Monster".

[centralRH]

Nice work Steve. I think calling it the Green Monster is very appropriate considering I think it is a fallen Green Ash (going off the bark pattern in the pictures).

Currently the work life balance thing is tipped in the wrong direction. I will not be able to get out there to do any trimming until next week.

[centralRH]

I took the hand pruners for a ride and trimmed the face and body slappers on the red loop today. It should be good for a little while. Trail is very dry hard pack with dust on top. Some of the corners are a bit slick. Some work was done on the emergency two-track and the end of the blue loop was trashed a bit. The ending log pile is gone.

[AllMountin']

Some of the corners are a bit slick.

^This. Did some unintentional drifting through the turns today. Red loop looks great. Thx Brad.

...the end of the blue loop was trashed a bit. The ending log pile is gone.

I also noted that the single log crossing was gone early on blue, after you make the big climb and start back down hill. I didn't personally care for it anyway, but FTR, I didn't do it.

Things are pretty well trimmed and cleared right now. Get it while it's hot. Literally.

[centralRH]

I noticed that log was gone as well as some other "tricky" tight spots on the blue loop (I am not talking about the trimming Joe did, but the removal of some small trees and bigger branches). The character of the blue loop was supposed to be TIGHT. Something a bit different than red and green. The blue loop is now no different than the red loop. Thanks to whoever ruined the character of the trail. Some people just can't leave things alone.

I know this kind of stuff is going to happen, but it is disappointing. The trail is getting gradually easier as more of this stuff occurs. Soon enough it will only take 20 minutes to complete the entire trail...maybe that is the bandits goal. Can't improve their bike handling so they modify the trail.

[reidabel]

I sympathize with you, Brad. It seems to be happening all over, unfortunately.

When I first started riding (Burchfield) a few years ago, I read in the kiosk that riders weren't supposed to change things, because somebody with more skill might enjoy the thing you found impossible or inconvenient. The only time I've ever seen it happening, there was this really big guy and a kid, taking out a small log. If there hadn't been a kid there, I probably wouldn't have said anything to this giant, but I went over to him and said "I don't think you're supposed to be doing that". He growled at me "It's garbage". Hmm ... okay. I told him about the sign, and it turned out he was the trail coordinator at Burchfield. My first time meeting Jeff

Ironic that the one time I run across somebody doing something "wrong" and he's The Man!

[bockrona]

I will miss the that downhill log on Blue. Not because I liked it, but because I wanted to fill the topside w/ dirt and make drop/jump out of it.

[bockrona]

Be careful on the drops. There is a broken board on the first one, and some flexing on the second. Looks like the end boards are getting a lot of pressure from the takeoffs. We may need to consider some beefier boards for the last bike length.

Also, without the need to duck under that fallen tree on the new exit from the playground and with the ground all chopped up and soft there from the clearing, it would be pretty easy to make that a fun downhill by adding some contour to whatever new line is put in. Maybe a couple bumps and a berm?

[centralRH]

Be careful on the drops. There is a broken board on the first one, and some flexing on the second. Looks like the end boards are getting a lot of pressure from the takeoffs. We may need to consider some beefier boards for the last bike length.

Also, without the need to duck under that fallen tree on the new exit from the playground and with the ground all chopped up and soft there from the clearing, it would be pretty easy to make that a fun downhill by adding some contour to whatever new line is put in. Maybe a couple bumps and a berm?

Drops fixed.