Gisburn Forest

delcol

dont think i seen this section. i dont really know the names apart from hully gully i remember seeing home baked but cant think were abouts on the trail it was...
i remember a rockgarden early on in the trail i think it's the volunteer built one.. will have to get back over to gisburn not been since summer last year..

1mancity2

Homed baked is on the bottom loop and twist up through the forest, the rock steps can put riders off because of the trees either side.

I find the best approach is no brakes until you hit the bottom, (I never use my brakes) which in turn flys you into the corner then as you exit the corner look for a tree stump, bunny hop off this into the next corner, great fun...

Will be up there 8am Sunday if anyone wants to tag along..

1mancity2

stumpyjon wrote:

Might have been, more likely Kev, he likes to pounce on unsuspecting riders to make sure they get the most out the trails.

We've got another day of repairs on bottoms before we get back to building new trail (which is infinintely more rewarding).

Stumpy is it safe to ride the new trail section and bottoms then?

stumpyjon

Pretty much, Bottoms is fine, was rideable before the repairs, just more back to blue grade as it was designed. The new section is also OK to ride although take it easy as there's a lot of loose material on the surface (had a poor batch of aggregate). People riding it will help clear the line. There's some gravel missing from the last bridge on the new section but if you clear the severe cobbles on the last swoop it won't be a problem.

The trick to Homebaked steps is to clear the top step and then let the bike go to the bottom (don't brake on the roots half way down). Took me a couple of false starts to clear the steps and I was the one who put the big step in at the top.

1mancity2

stumpyjon wrote:

The trick to Homebaked steps is to clear the top step and then let the bike go to the bottom (don't brake on the roots half way down). Took me a couple of false starts to clear the steps and I was the one who put the big step in at the top.

Nice one will ride it Sunday then!

Yeah brakes on the steps is a bad idea, adjust your speed before you hit them and let it roll. Does take a few deep breathes to get it done the first time.

delcol

i thought it was home baked. i never had any issues with the rockgarden on this section. like mancity said just slow down before you hit the rockgarden choose your line then commit..
there's a simlar rock garden at healy nab it's quite steep....
may try to hit gisburn next week..

frankspencer1979

Not sure its the trees that put me off, although if they weren't there I would just ride round! Not the point though that is it!

I think its the big step, if I go to slow I'll punt myself over my bars and too fast I'll end up out of shape and in all sorts of trouble further down. I'll crack it eventually.

delcol

go in slow, almost stop but be ballenced, as front wheel goes over the step allow the bike to fall awayfrom you (forward and down) this will put your hips (bum) over the back wheel you wont go over the bars, as your weight will be back over the rear axel (and you wont be going fast enough to otb)
as the rear wheel bumps down this should push the bike back uptowards you and put you central on the bike again.


see if you can get hold of fluidride ride like a pro there's a really good section on there that covers rolling drops and steep terrein.

1mancity2

frankspencer1979 wrote:

I think its the big step, if I go to slow I'll punt myself over my bars and too fast I'll end up out of shape and in all sorts of trouble further down. I'll crack it eventually.

I usually manual down it. :shock:

stumpyjon

Yep it's definitely the step that freaks people out, didn't realise it was going to be such an issue when I built it. Basically wot the others said, the only thing I'll add is don't attempt it when there's black ice about! only time I've come off and then I was glad there were trees there as I grabed one rather than hitting the ground.

A little speed is required to clean it smoothly, Ithink I usually hit it too slowly. In fact the best descent I've made down there was on my hardtail (always ride the FS around Gisburn), I was debating with myself all the way down Homebaked as to whether I was going to ride the steps, finally decided not to and realised it was far too late and I was going faster than normal, smoothest descent I've made, still not had the balls to hit it at that speed normally though.

frankspencer1979

It is quite reassuring that the dude that built it seems to struggle a little too!

It's good its there though, there'd be no real challenge without features like that and the sense of satisfaction I'll get from cracking it should be, well.... satisfying. Maybe I'll give it a go next time...... maybe! :?

1mancity2

frankspencer1979 wrote:

It is quite reassuring that the dude that built it seems to struggle a little too!

It's good its there though, there'd be no real challenge without features like that and the sense of satisfaction I'll get from cracking it should be, well.... satisfying. Maybe I'll give it a go next time...... maybe! :?

Im off work next Friday and going Gizzy if that helps!!!!

stubs

Took me 4 goes to clear them steps. attempt 1 ouch who put that tree there, attempt 2 nearly make it but last little rock straight over bars land on my feet, attempt 3 just rode off into the trees but it was very very icy, attempt 4 chasing my mate right on his back wheel and clean forgot what was coming till I was at the bottom.

Nos 5,6 and 7 went okay but No8 didnt got to the bottom sitting on the stem cap then ended upside down so technically I cleared it just didnt clear the flat bit at the bottom

stumpyjon

I helped build the log rides as well, only cleared the first log so, bottled the corner onto the second.

1mancity2

stumpyjon wrote:

I helped build the log rides as well, only cleared the first log so, bottled the corner onto the second.

That corner is tight to be fair, but really good fun!

stubs

stumpyjon wrote:

I helped build the log rides as well, only cleared the first log so, bottled the corner onto the second.

Never got past the chicken corner either. WAaaaay to narrow for me.

stumpyjon

Ant, one of the trail builders got around that corner before we put the planks in, he had to stop and hop his back wheel around and then carry on again. Mind you he does run skills courses so he ought to be good.

delcol

that log is cool i only been once since that was there and cleared it on my first go.

i didnt know it turned i just saw and though sweet rode it then seen the turn, but somehow managed to clean it.

1mancity2

Went up Sunday, New trail is really good fun, tight fast and some tricky bits (at speed).

Did hopeline a few times but had to call it a day when a rider lost his kneecap on the gravel, (kneepads are great) anyway the video of the helicopter kept my boy entertained.

Rider has ok, said it was his first time and hit the jump far too fast and next thing was rolling on the floor.....

Muttly1981

1mancity2 wrote:

Went up Sunday, New trail is really good fun, tight fast and some tricky bits (at speed).

Did hopeline a few times but had to call it a day when a rider lost his kneecap on the gravel, (kneepads are great) anyway the video of the helicopter kept my boy entertained.

Rider has ok, said it was his first time and hit the jump far too fast and next thing was rolling on the floor.....

Ouch heard about the helicopter being called out, was told it was pretty sketchy in places with ice on the floor.

delcol

Ali what have i told you about hassling those newbies by hogging their back wheel..

1mancity2

delcol wrote:

Ali what have i told you about hassling those newbies by hogging their back wheel..

Wasn't me guvnor, honest!!

Was a really nice day, cold but dry, bit slippy here and there but that just adds to the fun :evil:

frankspencer1979

It might seem daft posting a question about Llandegla in this thread but I was after advice from people who know Gisburn but have ridden at both and can therefore compare.

Am off to Llandegla for a day soon and was wondering how it compares to Gisburn. If I can confidently ride Hully Gully and the Hope Line (albeit without jumping!) but am still thrown by the Homebaked step, is there anything I should outright avoid at Llandegla, or is it all rollable? Videos of the B-Line make it look rideable to me, so long as I'm not a numpty and throw myself down it at full tilt! I realise videos don't always tell the full story.

I won't be blaming anyone but myself if I break my face! Thanks for any advice.

1mancity2

We went Saturday and did the Red/Black with the new "B" line.

Have to say the new stuff really is quite good, loads of tabletops, step up jumps to get your teeth into and all rollable, Just watch near the end there is a rocky down section a bit like homebaked step (hit it fast and you won't feel it)

you won't have any problems its a bit more up and down than Gisburn and a bit longer than the full "8" loop but worth a visit.

The freeride section is brill, was getting some nice air on the bridge drop off.

If your going one word of advice, if you do the black watch the boardwalk sections, if you hit them fast you fly of the ends (which was great!)

mintedox

How do you get to the top of the slabbed section? We ride straight past it everytime.
I have been going to Gisburn more at night recently, it's put a new edge on it for me after so many daytime rides.

1mancity2

mintedox wrote:

How do you get to the top of the slabbed section? We ride straight past it everytime.
I have been going to Gisburn more at night recently, it's put a new edge on it for me after so many daytime rides.

When you go past the slab (on right) carry on, couple of berms and there is a rock you drop off (only small) just before it a post on the right, go right here and follow the trail round to the top.

mintedox

Cheers bud i know where you mean

kenton

Rode the new section a few days ago. Brilliant. Loved it. This place is fast becoming the best trail centre in the uk. All it needs is a more thrilling final decent to the car park but not sure that's possible with the topography. Oh and love the idea of an extension above and below the hope line or another longer hope line somewhere. As someone else says , we need something to rival a- line !
Loved that severe cobbles bit on the new section. I can see some one straight lining it at the bottom and going straight over the edge into the air and down to the stream though. The catch berm at the bottom is like a ski jump ! There is going to be a lot of braking bumps at the bottom. Still loved it though . Assume there is going to be a chicken run along the top. I can see people have walked / ridden around the top already.

stumpyjon

Aye the chicken run has been considered, personally I'd prefer to drop the trail down the slope a little and then use the slope as a natural berm (twas my original intention but then I went and missed one dig day and we ended up with the mega swoop ). If we do get breaking bumps at the bottom there's still plenty of stone there to extend the cobbles. I think we may need a sign at the top saying warning, extreme cobbles ahead!

Hopefully be starting the singletrack access to the new section on Sunday so we end up with a proper integrated extra kilometre of singletrack bypassing all the fireroad.

As for the carpark descent, it's pretty likely the car park will be moving in the very near future with new singletrack links to the new site, but as you pointed out topography isn't really on our side.

Maybe one day we'll get around to tweaking the berms on the last descent to make them flow more smoothly.

TheGeneralist

frankspencer1979 wrote:

off to Llandegla for a day soon and was wondering how it compares to Gisburn. ....... is there anything I should outright avoid at Llandegla,

If you live close to Gisburn then the only thing I'd tend to avoid with Llandegla is going there.

It's a gross oversimplification but fairly accurate for all that.... Gisburn is amazing and has some lovely technical challenges. Llandegla is a dull overgrown bmx track with only one technical challenge in the whole route. If you can ride all Gisburn and enjoy it then you'll find Llandegla dull unless you like jumps.