Gisburn Forest Trail Development

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I WAS OUT AT GISBURN WITH RICK AND LARGE PHIL ON SUNDAY TOO, TOP RIDE I THOUGHT, WICKED BERMS, REAL GOOD FUN, AND A DAMN GOOD SLOG N'ALL! RICK, GET OFF THEM FAGS MATE, I WAS FINE WHEN WE HIT THE BLACK STUFF, AND IM A FAT LAD! FUZZY DUCKS WAS A WELCOME SIGHT FOR A GOOD BREW, AND THE BEST ROCKY ROAD IVE EVER TASTED, TOP BLOKE TOO WHO RUNS IT, HAD A GOOD NATTER AND A LAUGH WITH HIM!!! I'LL BE BACK AS SOON AS I CAN GET UP THERE, MASSIVE THANKS TO ALL PEOPLE INVOLVED IN BUILDING US SOME BLOODY GREAT TRAILS, NO MORE RIVVY FOR ME FOR A WHILE!

Whytepeak

Is it all signed up now?

I'm thinking of going tomorrow, but will probably wait until it is all marked up before I give it a go.

grumsta

Don't think so - apparently the posts are in but not the markers, and some of the old markers are still up. I am holding out until it's signed up properly as well I reckon.

stumpyjon

Up to another fortnight unfortunately. A lot of the posts are in but I think the sign manufacturers are late with the actual markers. There is an upto date map on the other thread (in Routes) or I can send you a GPS file if you want, just PM me.

im first to die

i went on monday and did the full route from car park 13.9 miles it took me 1h 50 min and loved every bit apart from the bloody miges
they seem to be starting a new section just after the end of the volinter red section is it going to come out at the end of the old red route were it joins the fire road

stumpyjon

Initial plans for the new red bit are just to take it to the bridge in the bottom. Longer term, yes it should carry on up the otherside, cross the fire road and head up to the quarry (and act as a return route for the DH brigade). Gonna be a while before it happens though, 50m of trail in a dig day is quite alot. Need more spade monkeys.

nksheridan

Had my first go today on the red trail - really good IMO Much better than Grizedale TNF and the Marin Trail (IMHO!)

Couldn't find much on the web besides this and the facebook group so I went mad with photies today and I'm trying to get a gallery together.. and a little webpage with route maps etc. If anyone has stuff to contribute it's here http://mountainstuff.wordpress.com/gisburn-forest-mtb-trails/

Cheers,
Neil.

[feeling guilty I didn't help out now!]

monkeypants

I'm off there tomorrow, I went a few weeks ago when there were no signs (except for the laminated paper ones). Fortunately I got a map from Mark (iirc) the Fizzy Duck chap but still got lost. Here's hoping I do better this time!

Cheers for all the hard work.

nksheridan

monkeypants wrote:

I'm off there tomorrow...

Yeah they have the laminated paper things at the start of each of the trails still "you've found one of the new mtb trails.." - I did alright just following the red route signs and keeping an eye open

Have a good ride

compo

Went ysterday - Great trails but the signage is a bit confusing although it should be better when it is completed.

The cafe van was amazing - especially the rocky road cakes yummm!

They also gave out free maps which were very useful

delcol

did it again today, managed to find the bits we missed last time,. it's pretty good i rate it.. did the volunteer bit it's awesome welldone guys,..

thanks to the guys who played guide..

was playing on the rock roll thats so much fun, the speed you gain off that into the rock jump.. the next sectiion is so flowing,..
then it's the big berm section i love this it's awesome amazing (if it's dry) was so fast today did it 5 times. even railed the step up,...

was at lee quarry yesterday some pretty good trails there to very technical..

stumpyjon

Did the map Mr FuzzyDuck agve you look anything like this?



I should be charging royalties :roll:

Load more photos here.

I've redone my trailguide on the Singletrackworld website, they're just waiting for an offical openning date before updating it. Hopefully signage should move on apace now Martin's back.

stumpyjon

Oh and you can still help out, dig days for the volunteers are still happening every other Sunday, there's an email address on the first page of this thread if you want more details.

There are loads of plans for extending the trails so get involved.

delcol

some signs are up thats how i was able to find the bits we missed last time..

i would love to attend a dig day to give something back to the trails it's a long way from us nearly a hour and a halfs drive.. and a having a young family it's getting the time. i get no time in the week working nights so weekends are usually tied up.. i know this sounds like a gay excuse but i would if i could, when i was in whistlerin may i sacrificed a days riding to go build and maintain trails....

Oli Hayes

Is the next dig day on Sunday? It's been a while since i've been on a digday!

Rode the contractor built trail last week for the first time(not really touched my bike since I got back from France)

I've got to say its a huge improvement, there's some nice little tech climbs and some good bits of singletrack but why are there so many little doubles.........on uphills!

A couple of bits were a little wet and greasy, I can see maintenance days being needed at some point soon, especially with all this crappy weather we've been having.

All in all though Gisburn has finally got a proper trail and it can only get better!!!

stumpyjon

Yep next one is on Sunday (I'll be missing it ironically for the first time in ages, defecting to go a help build a pump track for a certain rival magazine).

It definitely needs some tender loving care and less slick mud in a couple of places.

We were beginning to wonder if you'd come back in one piece, or even at all

Oli Hayes

Yeh I made it back ok, only had three crashes in total and one of those could hardly have been called a crash, I didn't think that was too bad out of 13 days riding.

Bit depressing being home though, I haven't seen a mountain or a ski lift since i've been back!

B.A.Nana

Oli Hayes
I was asking after you at the last dig day, you'd been at every dig I went to since last October, so you were a regular face, but then I had a break (partly due to conflict with Stainburn digs) and when I came back to Gisburn digs a month ago or so, you hadn't been at the last few digs. We were wondering if you'd had an accident in France. However, It sounds like you've maybe just had the same experience I have everytime I go mountaineering in the Alps, you've maybe just lost your mojo for a few months because there's little in this country that can compare and give the same experience and buzz as the alps gives. You'll learn to live with it , It gets easier each time you go, to accept that the UK is never going to compare to the Alps , eventually you just accept the situation and get on with it. It gets easier to accept each time you have to go thru it, but now it's done you'll keep going back to the alps for more.

MTBmaniac

I had a ride around the tracks on Saturday afternoon during the heavy rain. Pretty shocked at how certain sections had deteriorated since riding them on Wednesday evening in the dry. The majority of the gravel based single track was fine. The bits that were suffering were the clay/shale sections.

The 'toboggan run' down from Whelpstone Crag to Dob Dale ruins was extremely greasy with a good inch or two of mud on top. The worst bit by far was the next bermy section that you come across about a mile after the 'toboggan run'. This was horrendous. The top of this section was extremely cut out and rutted. You'd expect this riding natural trails after heavy rain, but purpose built tracks should be rideable in all weather. I don't want to sound like I'm moaning about this too much as I realise there's a lot of hard work gone into everything and I've even spent a few Sundays up there myself helping on the volunteer section. I'm just wondering if certain problem areas would be better if they were gravelled like the rest of the route. I actually think the steep bankings on the 'toboggan run' are fine, it's the single track bits linking them together that seem to be suffering the most. I think it could be a mess by December if things are left as they are.

Does anyone know if Martin or Nigel have been up to look at the how the tracks are bedding in? I'm sure these teething problems can be sorted out. 8)

compo

stumpyjon

the map did look like that - too bad we realised that they were availiable after we had got back Good for next time though

stumpyjon

MTBmaniac

Yes Martin is certainly aware of the problems, he rode the trails on Saturday too and commented on the state of the coaster section himself. I think he's actually rather pleased more doesn't need resurfacing. I don't what plans are in place but I'm sure he's working on it.

Compo

:roll:

largephil

Did my first night ride round Gisburn in the wet last night. Very tricky conditions, so much so that we missed out the roller coaster section!!! Very wet mud and bad visibility from my lights gave us no option but to miss that part of the trail.

Doing Gisburn in the pitch black gives it a whole different dimension, very enjoyable. Not advisable without quality lighting on bars and helmet, with battery and lighting back up. +1 for GT-SI's Hope single light, put my lighting set up to shame! (Just wait till I get my P7 though :twisted: )

Rode past an owl, about 500 frogs and a rather large pair of bright orange eyes in the woods... that didn’t move for about 5 seconds when we beamed it with the head torches... brown trousers time!

On the whole, loads of fun and will be doing it again.

Mancunianfightingcat

largephil wrote:

bright orange eyes in the woods... that didn’t move for about 5 seconds when we beamed it with the head torches... brown trousers time!

I went for a walk in Gisburn Forest last night and had a fright too, I was taking a sh!t in the woods when 2 bright lights were suddenly thrust in my direction for about 5 seconds, good job I had my trousers down, I crapped myself!

stumpyjon

Tis a bit sketchy in places, was a little uncomfortable in places on Sunday morning and that was before the rain and after a few days of drying out.

Can't wait for the nights to draw in a bit so I can ride at night up there now I've got some decent lights (Hope 4 LED on the bars and 2 Tesco torches upstairs).

im first to die

mancunianfightingcat

I laughed so hard my eyes are watering and i think a little bit of wee came out :oops: [/quote]

largephil

Mancunianfightingcat wrote:

largephil wrote:

bright orange eyes in the woods... that didn’t move for about 5 seconds when we beamed it with the head torches... brown trousers time!

I went for a walk in Gisburn Forest last night and had a fright too, I was taking a sh!t in the woods when 2 bright lights were suddenly thrust in my direction for about 5 seconds, good job I had my trousers down, I crapped myself!

:shock: Wondered what that smell was

sankapil

Hi ALL

The three of us went to Gisburn Forest last night (26th Aug) not really expecting much having been there a year ago. OMG were we surprised with the amount of trail work been done on the red route it is awesome having ridden the likes of Glentress, Fort Bill and Dalby it certainly holds its own.
Even though it was wet it was one of the most enjoyable routes I've done with plenty of climbs, techy bits, riding through streams, falling over handlebars, into bogs and finishing off with a nice bit of downhill.
Highly recommend it to you all. (If you can find Gisburn Forest that is).

Sank

MTBmaniac

I was also out on Wednesday night in the drizzle. Had a good ride despite the rain. Pleased to see someone has carried out track repairs on the worst suffering bits of track. Martin deserves a medal for his effots.

Sank, just curious, you mentioned going over the bars. Did someone from your group come off on some tree roots before the dip? I managed to sneak past three riders on a bit of a short cut. Heard from from my mate behind that someone had a bit of a tumble.