Mid-State: Burchfield

[TenSpeed]

I think that part of Hellboy is very intimidating, but the rest of it, once you ride it, is very rideable. I won't touch that angled wall ride there, but I will ride some of the other stuff.

[reidabel]

The new bridges and stunts are a lot of fun. I'm not going within 30 feet of Hellboy, but some of the other new features were within my realm of possibility and proved to be a great time.

I think that part of Hellboy is very intimidating, but the rest of it, once you ride it, is very rideable. I won't touch that angled wall ride there, but I will ride some of the other stuff.

Yep, Hellboy was designed to have a varying set of difficulties, aiming at having something for (almost) everybody. The lowest line (as yet unnamed) is supposed to be the easiest and least risky, but because of the turns involved, people are actually finding The Highway (straight on high up-and-over) to be easier. It does have a height risk, though. Just keep your speed up so you can go over the top without pedalling and you won't risk touching a pedal down on the peak, which can cause problems. The Offramp is optional and adds difficulty to The Highway.

Pitchfork (skinny entrance up the right-side fork of the base log, approachable from the corner by the field) is definitely risky, the one that concerns me the most when I ride it, because of the drop off the side.

Twisted (the angled wall ride) is quite difficult to complete cleanly, but is somewhat less risky than Pitchfork. Definitely an advanced feature.

I'm actually planning to make the entry onto the lowest line a bit smoother by lowering (countersinking) the first deck board a bit. I may also countersink the highest board down a bit as well, just to make the line smoother so it can be done at a lower speed. These changes might not get done for a while, and won't make a big difference. Just fine-tuning things.

Pictures - in build sequence (scroll WAY down) - are here if you want to check it out without having to be there:

http://www.reidabel.com/Mountain%20Biki ... %20Me.html

[sockers]

I'm not sure this is the best place to post this, but I'm an extremely inexperienced rider (I do about 20-30 miles of road riding per week), and I'm planning on trying out this trail. Is there anything that's not avoidable on the beginner trail that would be extremely hard for a road-rider? (I do have a mountain bike with mountain bike tires).

Any other tips are appreciated, too. Thanks!

[Overdrive]

I'm not sure this is the best place to post this, but I'm an extremely inexperienced rider (I do about 20-30 miles of road riding per week), and I'm planning on trying out this trail. Is there anything that's not avoidable on the beginner trail that would be extremely hard for a road-rider? (I do have a mountain bike with mountain bike tires).

Any other tips are appreciated, too. Thanks!

Most of the areas have bypasses. It's so dry right now that the long bridges could be bypassed right next to them rather than the detour that was used prior to their (excellent) installation.

If you'd like a "tour guide" post up here or PM and I'd be happy to ride with you if it works out.

[mjpo]

I'm not sure this is the best place to post this, but I'm an extremely inexperienced rider (I do about 20-30 miles of road riding per week), and I'm planning on trying out this trail. Is there anything that's not avoidable on the beginner trail that would be extremely hard for a road-rider? (I do have a mountain bike with mountain bike tires).

Any other tips are appreciated, too. Thanks!

The beginner trail is super easy. The advanced trail should be ok if you look for the bypasses and go slow around the first time....just to check it out and give you the time to dismount and walk anything that freaks you out!

Best tip is to park at Riverbend. This lot is free, centrally located, and has a map in the kiosk. Enjoy

[AllMountin']

Good group out there today. Trail was pretty prime. Maybe a bit dusty. A few slappers, but no big deal.

There is a low branch directly over the gnarly downhill with the root drops, not far after the Riverbend entrance crossing. I've had a few close calls coming down that hill, trying to avoid it. Fair bet I'm not the only one. I think it's a safety issue. I'll deal with it next time out if nobody beats me to it, but that may be next week.

The first log over/ladder stunt on Hanson's was displaced and angled today. We put it back and pounded one nail in. It seemed pretty stable, but may not last. It's a good idea to eye it up before riding over it.

[TenSpeed]

Trail is very dry, and the bugs are out in full force.

Someone is doing what appears to be rogue trail modifications. There was a skinny on Swamp Thing, very bouncy, like a board across one of the gullies. Someone threw that off to the side of the trail. I put it back. Another downfall branch was across Swamp Thing, in the turns and twists along the river, that has been removed. Was very easy to ride right over. Someone changed part of the bridge on Swamp Thing, the connector between the two new bridges.

Keep your eyes out, you never know what someone else has messed with.

[reidabel]

Someone is doing what appears to be rogue trail modifications. There was a skinny on Swamp Thing, very bouncy, like a board across one of the gullies. Someone threw that off to the side of the trail. I put it back.

I bet they'll just throw it so far away next time that we can't find it to put it back. My little stunt at the end of Serenity had two directional boards on the edges of the deck. The one directing the exit drop was taken off and set nicely beside the stunt. I put it back in place and now it is long gone, no doubt intentionally hidden to avoid anybody putting it back again. Grrr ...

Keep your eyes out, you never know what someone else has messed with.

I guess in that regard it's a good thing that they're dumbing it down instead of making it more difficult! Although, I remember mention of somebody adding a jump on the downhill to the decking at the bottom of Annie's Playhouse. That sort of change could be a real surprise

[TenSpeed]

I also noticed that there is some sort of a new bridge, not sure which trail it is on, but there are some white logs across another gully, and then this bridge was on top of those, and now it is off to the right side. It adds a bit of surprise since you never know what is going to be where when you hit the trail.

[rvd]

I also noticed that there is some sort of a new bridge, not sure which trail it is on, but there are some white logs across another gully, and then this bridge was on top of those, and now it is off to the right side. It adds a bit of surprise since you never know what is going to be where when you hit the trail.

This:

To cover a wet spot on Bob's Supremacy I made a small log bridge today. Does this gets the approval of TC and ATC?

Someone apparently put a ladder bridge next to it, probably because my product is too rough

[TenSpeed]

Yep, that is the one. Anyone have any idea who made this new bridge?

[mjpo]

I made that bridge for another spot. Only was able to drag it about half way out there, and left if off the trail. I noticed where someone put it. Not the best use of the bridge, but no worries for now. It needs to be set in the right spot (which is where the first crappy bridge on bob's now lays to the right of the trail) but I didn't have the manpower to drag it there.
I did the stunt inspection yesterday. Reid, your board was barely on with one nail. I took it out. It provided a false sense of security. If someone hit it it would pop right off. I didn't have any nails with me. Also, Tenspeed, I flipped the springy board off the trail. I never would have guessed y'all wanted to ride that! I figured it was in the way, but that no one took the time to pull it off the trail. Sorry about that.

[xcrdr]

Springy boards are fun!

[F7Cannon]

Tenspeed, I flipped the springy board off the trail. I never would have guessed y'all wanted to ride that! I figured it was in the way, but that no one took the time to pull it off the trail. Sorry about that.

I just put that there at the beginning of the season when it was wet in that spot so we just had a simple way across. It doesn't need to be there any more now that it's dry but if people want it to stay I think that would be fine too. I ride it 50% of the time just for the heck of it and see many other people rid it as well. Wasn't really intended to be a permanent feature. Probably would be a good idea to keep it around off to the side for when it does get wet in that spot though.

[Overdrive]

It needs to be set in the right spot (which is where the first crappy bridge on bob's now lays to the right of the trail) but I didn't have the manpower to drag it there. .

Is it headed for the spot that's right after the log pile? Think that's the first bridge that one crosses in there.


btw, this is a mighty fine bridge. No apologies needed.
rvd wrote:

To cover a wet spot on Bob's Supremacy I made a small log bridge today.