Gisburn Forest Trail Development

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  • stumpyjon
    stumpyjon Posts: 4,069
    Yep, they started crushing rock three weeks ago and started to lay trails last week. Martin, the Forestry Commission warden, was clearing branches from the trail with a chainsaw being chased by a JCB. Mind you the contractors did lose two diggers in a bog at one pint (cue a bit of North Shore?).
    It's easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission.

    I've bought a new bike....ouch - result
    Can I buy a new bike?...No - no result
  • tony_m
    tony_m Posts: 70
    Hi stumpyjon, glad to hear you hit the magic 1k. I'm sorry I missed it, but after having had a rather good time at Fleetwood Beer Festival on Friday afternoon, I'm afraid I just couldn't face the drive out to GF on Saturday morning. :wink:

    BTW, when I went over there for a play the week after we built the bridge / tabletop combination, I found this at the top of the first section - I can only presume that somebody isn't overly impressed with our efforts... :shock:

    comment.jpg
  • dave_hill
    dave_hill Posts: 3,877
    At least they wiped... :shock:
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  • stumpyjon
    stumpyjon Posts: 4,069
    Thankfully it had gone by last weekend when I went up to play, people eh, shoot the lot of 'em I say :roll:
    It's easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission.

    I've bought a new bike....ouch - result
    Can I buy a new bike?...No - no result
  • Oli Hayes
    Oli Hayes Posts: 35
    I didn't expect to see that when I checked the thread this morning! Must have been a walker, i'm sure a rider wouldn't cr@p on the trail!

    I turned up on Saturday a little worse for wear, I had a few too many lager's on Friday night, there was more work in a sick note than there was in me thats for sure! I'd like to say i'll make up for it on the next dig day but its the day after an uplift day i'm on so I probably be just as knackered!

    I believe a group of scouts are down to do some volunteer work in the next or so, hopefully that will get the trail to that next drainage ditch, after that the next section brings us to the fireroad.

    It might be good idea to go back up the trail fixing any problems and adding any features before we get to the fireroad, once we get to the fireroad its going to be easier to spot the trail so its going to end up being used more, plus it is a red route so it does need to be a bit more challenging.
  • tony_m
    tony_m Posts: 70
    stumpyjon wrote:
    Thankfully it had gone by last weekend when I went up to play, people eh, shoot the lot of 'em I say :roll:
    Indeed, especially when they do it right in the middle of the trail!!! :x

    As it happens, I mentioned it to Martin Charlesworth in an email, and asked him to pass the word on to Martin Colledge so he could deploy the official FC Poop-Scoop (aka A Shovel) before anyone got it in their knobblies. Guess he, er, did the job before you were up there. :)
  • Oli Hayes
    Oli Hayes Posts: 35
    Just spotted this on Singletrack magazines website, its a local mag and they are running an article on the proposed trails in their next mag,

    http://www.singletrackworld.com/2009/02 ... rn-forest/
  • stumpyjon
    stumpyjon Posts: 4,069
    Bl**dy hell, I only wrote that last night, they haven't even emailed me to say it's on the website yet :shock: .

    I'm in shock, didn't even think they'd publish it 8) .
    It's easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission.

    I've bought a new bike....ouch - result
    Can I buy a new bike?...No - no result
  • pete higham
    pete higham Posts: 134
    nice one jon :D

    the more exposure the better 8)
  • Oli Hayes
    Oli Hayes Posts: 35
    I did wonder if it was you who had sent it in Jon, I think it was the 'And there’ll be a Singletrack T-shirt winging its way to Jon shortly' bit that gave it away!
  • GT Destroyer
    GT Destroyer Posts: 1,719
    The Gisburn project is getting quite big isn't it? TBH I wasn't sure how big it would get but it sounds very impressive.

    Good work on building the trail so far - I must make a point of coming to ride or even to help :shock:

    Are the building days quite regular, each weekend?

    errrrrrrrr - I just acrolled up though and saw the picture of she-hite, is that what you lot are doing over there, I'd concentrate on building a toilet block before the trails I was you!!
    500 Miles in 5 days
  • stumpyjon
    stumpyjon Posts: 4,069
    ha ha.

    Trail building days are every fortnight and alternate between Saturdays and Sundays. Next one is Sunday 8th March. Build time is roughly 10:00 to 2:00 pm which leaves time afterwards (or before) to have a ride. We were actually saying last week it now needs riding to check for problems etc. If you want to help you'd be more than welcome, give me a shout.
    It's easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission.

    I've bought a new bike....ouch - result
    Can I buy a new bike?...No - no result
  • Mancunianfightingcat
    Mancunianfightingcat Posts: 2,054
    just in case anyone misses this thread.........



    http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=15195208#15195208
    Ants
    Orange Blood - Orange 5SE - Marin Rocky Ridge
  • Oli Hayes
    Oli Hayes Posts: 35
    Bit of an update from Sunday's digday.

    The digdays will now only be on Sunday's, it was previously alternated between Saturday's and Sunday's but as most people are busy shopping and working etc on Saturdays and the turnout tends to be better on a Sunday it will now be Sundays only.

    There was also talk of dropping down to a monthly digday, Martin Colledge and Nigel Pilling have put a lot of work into the trail, with them being there for nearly every digday it was meaning they were working a six day week with sorting all the tools before and after the session.

    I personally would like to keep going fortnightly so may see what would need doing to carry it on like this, i'm not fussed about taking tools up etc if needed just not that powerbarrow(no towbar).

    There has been a group of Venture Scouts and minders from Settle up the previous week doing some trail building, they've done a great job and managed to build a bridge over the drainage ditch as well as joining this up to where the trail had ended(maybe 10-15m of new trail).

    It was a great turnout for Sunday's dig so a fair bit of trail went down in the 4 hours of work, I'd guess at maybe 20m of freshly dug extra trail. Anyway the bit of trail that is being built at the moment is on slightly steeper terrain, it also seems to be better ground to dig in as there doesn't seem to be half as many pesky little roots! There is also the possibily of the first black graded option being put in on the next dig day along with the easier red option.

    Nigel has also contacted the administrator of the Facebook group Gisburn Forest MTB Trail Development to see if he can become an admin on the group and add some more information and photo's.

    The website for the trail and its development has still not been sorted, if anyone has any website building experience and would be interested in making one get in touch with with Martin Charlesworth using the email address below.

    The next digday was down for being on Saturday 21st March but this may now be held on the Sunday instead, it might be best to contact Martin.Charlesworth@lancashire.gov.uk and get on the mailing list to make sure if you are interested in coming along.

    I'm sure there's loads of other bits of info I've missed out such as contractor progress but I can't remember what Nigel has said about it.

    Oh, and I've definately fallen out with bushman saws and will be avoiding them at all costs on future digdays!!!
  • Mancunianfightingcat
    Mancunianfightingcat Posts: 2,054
    Just been up there tonight. The contractors certainly have started and are cracking on at a fair pace. I walked up one section which must be about 1km long and is all finished apart from 2 bridges. It is absolutely awesome with massive berms and loads of crests and jumps. I can't wait for it to open!
    Ants
    Orange Blood - Orange 5SE - Marin Rocky Ridge
  • Oli Hayes
    Oli Hayes Posts: 35
    Mancunianfightingcat wrote:
    Just been up there tonight. The contractors certainly have started and are cracking on at a fair pace. I walked up one section which must be about 1km long and is all finished apart from 2 bridges. It is absolutely awesome with massive berms and loads of crests and jumps. I can't wait for it to open!

    A couple of my mates have been up for a nosey too, I haven't been for a look myself but from what I've have been told it will be awesome, also to get the nod of approval off them means a lot to me, there more into downhill and freeride than XC so if they're impressed its got to be good!

    This weekends dig day is on Sunday.
  • tony_m
    tony_m Posts: 70
    http://www.singletrackworld.com/2009/03/gisburn-forest-gets-180000-for-mountain-bike-trails/
  • JxL
    JxL Posts: 383
    tony_m wrote:
    http://www.singletrackworld.com/2009/03/gisburn-forest-gets-180000-for-mountain-bike-trails/

    Great news, decent trails are always welcome :)
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  • stumpyjon
    stumpyjon Posts: 4,069
    Well I'm really aching this evening but we did get a good length of trail dug out. Two more dig days and the section we've been working on for the last 12 months should be complete. Today we were putting in a nice little downhill bit (only a few yards) and some more swoopy, bermy singletrack through the trees. The weather was pretty good too.

    WE COULD DO WITH SOME MORE HELP THOUGH. SO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT COMING AND GIVING US A HAND AND HAVEN'T, NOW'S A GREAT TIME TO GET OFF YOUR BOTTOMS AND CONTRIBUTE :lol: .

    Contact details are on a number of the posts on here (or pm me if you want more details, I don't bite unless really hungry). Next dig day is the 19th of April, the weekend after Easter.
    It's easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission.

    I've bought a new bike....ouch - result
    Can I buy a new bike?...No - no result
  • tony_m
    tony_m Posts: 70
    stumpyjon wrote:
    Well I'm really aching this evening but we did get a good length of trail dug out. Two more dig days and the section we've been working on for the last 12 months should be complete. Today we were putting in a nice little downhill bit (only a few yards) and some more swoopy, bermy singletrack through the trees. The weather was pretty good too.
    Good stuff!!! Unfortunately I couldn't make it today due to a poorly van (I went out and did 50 miles on the road bike by way of penance... :wink: ), but hopefully should be there next time.
  • stumpyjon
    stumpyjon Posts: 4,069
    I'm hoping to be there on the 19th too, just need to arrange a passout.

    Come on the rest of you, fingers out :)
    It's easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission.

    I've bought a new bike....ouch - result
    Can I buy a new bike?...No - no result
  • clodhoppa74
    clodhoppa74 Posts: 331
    wow.

    i went up to gisburn for the first time last weekend, and i think i'll be a regular. took my wife up for her very first mountain bike ride, which she loved.

    not sure which carpark we were in, but it's the one where you start the purple route...

    i wish i could get involved in the digs, but although i can ride a bike i can't walk, (weight bearing issues on my thighbone) so is there any other way to be of help?

    would just like to say that we appreciate all the work people are doing in the area, and that's coming from the Yorkshire side ;)
  • stumpyjon
    stumpyjon Posts: 4,069
    You could contact Martin Charlesworth - Martin.Charlesworth@lancashire.gov.uk , he's the guy running the co-ordination of the volunteers. I know they were looking for someone with some web skills to create a site, don't know if that got sorted.

    Martin will probably add you to the email list, may be a need for volunteers when they officially open the trails?

    Either way glad you appreciated what we've done (even if you are from t'other side :twisted: ).

    PS you probably started in Cocklet Hill carpark, bit of singletrack leading out from the carpark near the entrance, some new trails tantalisingly disappearing into the forest on the right just after you set off?
    It's easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission.

    I've bought a new bike....ouch - result
    Can I buy a new bike?...No - no result
  • realnumber 1
    realnumber 1 Posts: 675
    First time I've looked at this thread for some reason lol :?
    Sounds good I will have to check it out sometime. Bit far for me to become a regular thing though :cry:
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  • clodhoppa74
    clodhoppa74 Posts: 331
    stumpyjon wrote:
    You could contact Martin Charlesworth - Martin.Charlesworth@lancashire.gov.uk , he's the guy running the co-ordination of the volunteers. I know they were looking for someone with some web skills to create a site, don't know if that got sorted.

    Martin will probably add you to the email list, may be a need for volunteers when they officially open the trails?

    Either way glad you appreciated what we've done (even if you are from t'other side :twisted: ).

    PS you probably started in Cocklet Hill carpark, bit of singletrack leading out from the carpark near the entrance, some new trails tantalisingly disappearing into the forest on the right just after you set off?

    that's the one. enticing is the word, and there's a bit of track below left not long after that that looked interesting too.

    my wife's from your side of the fence though, so i have dual nationality;) i've been looking for somewhere to get her hooked on the cycling, and you've done it at gisburn. definitely 'friendly' enough to encourage, but interesting and varied enbough for her not to feel patronised. if that makes sense.

    it felt good to be able to show her a small part of the different styles, the wide easy (ish) roads, and the bits swooping between the trees.

    we'll definitely be back. friday, by the looks and if the rain holds off ;)

    i am actually a web designer/graphic designer, so maight be able to help. if it's needed.
  • Oli Hayes
    Oli Hayes Posts: 35
    Its been a while since I've added anything to this thread, some how I'd become unsubscribed......

    The first volunteer section is really close to completion, there was a great turnout on Sunday's digday, to the point where there was only just enough tools to go around! This made a real difference as a lot of work got done, I think all the digging on this section is done and its just a case of stoning up the last bit, I think it will be finished on the next digday provided a few more wheelbarrows are brought.......

    The contractor built trails are coming along nicely, they're not finished yet and still need time to settle, people have been riding them already, if you are one of these people, have some decency and stay off, the tape across the trail is a sure sign that its not open yet.

    On a side note my 'local' trail has now been bulldozed :cry:

    It was a great trail for the two or so years it was with us and a lot of blood sweat and tears were spilt in this time, unfortunately in the end an agreement with the land owner could not be reached, the moral of the story, don't build illegal trails, get involved with Gisburn Forest instead!!!!
  • Mancunianfightingcat
    Mancunianfightingcat Posts: 2,054
    I had a walk round with the missus the other day. We followed a lot of the trails and also the marker tape. I can't wait, it looks likes it's going to be awesome.

    As Oli, says, stay off the trials until they're open. It'll benefit us all in the long run!
    Ants
    Orange Blood - Orange 5SE - Marin Rocky Ridge
  • sparrowlegs78
    sparrowlegs78 Posts: 2,583
    I've looked at the new trails...the bit that comes down the the stream crossings looks brilliant!....i've not ridden on any...just looked and drooled :lol:
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  • Mancunianfightingcat
    Mancunianfightingcat Posts: 2,054
    Anyone know when the next dig day is? I've emailed the man at the FC, but just wondered any of you lot know?
    Ants
    Orange Blood - Orange 5SE - Marin Rocky Ridge
  • stumpyjon
    stumpyjon Posts: 4,069
    This Sunday (in fact FC man just emailed the confirmation out 15 mins ago).

    Should be a good one to come to as we're likely to finish the first volunteer built bit this weekend if enough people turn up, we've about 10 yards at one end and 50 yards at the other to link to the fireroads.

    If you don't get a response from Martin (which is unlikely) pm me your email address and I'll send you all the joining instructions / maps etc.

    Hopefully see you Sunday.
    It's easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission.

    I've bought a new bike....ouch - result
    Can I buy a new bike?...No - no result

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