Downhillers

[rosco]

I have noticed recently on some of the tracks around Hobart, namely Rivulet track, on the bottom side of Strickland Avenue, and S57 which it joins to, that there has been a bit of trail modification....

I met one bloke digging rocks out as i rode up Rivulet one day, near the top, where it drops from Strickland Avenue, and asked why he was doing it...his response: "Its a bit shaky through here, and i want to go faster."

SELL YOUR RIG AND GET A ROADIE if you want smooth and fast.


He then proceeded to tell me he is going to put a pallet a little further down where the raised manhole is, and a drop exists, but still make it rideabale for everyone else who doesn't want to do pallet drops, and those who are willing to ride up also, this was good thinking, but still it is not ideal.

I rode back up there the other day again to find a kicker made from a section of stormwater drain, i don't know who these people think they are, but it is definitely not their land, as far as i know it is Cascade Property? (I'm happy to be corrected if you own it)

The removal of rocks and other modifications of this track are going to increase the erosion, and lets be honest, this track has a fair bit of use, the soil is clay, and gets really slippery without rocks to give some traction.

The only benefit of a bit of speed is going be negligible, because you are only going to have to slam the brakes on and do a big downhiller rear end drag into that tight chicane around the tree, unless you are smooth and have some ability, but those who are removing small obstacles such as rocks which hardly break the ground surface clearly do not have much technical ability, so they are going to be the problem.

Think about people such as Rennie and pro riders with skill next time you want to make something easier, because a groomed trail won't make you a better rider.

[biketaviousmaximus]

Yeah, that's the down side of 'public' access land. I guess he has as much right as the guy who built it in the first place.(which may well be no right)

I don't think people should change the work of others, but it's evolution....right or wrong if it's on 'public' access land it's open slather. Hopefully it ends up being an improvement, otherwise just change it back and the the most persistent builder will prevail????

[Jared]

Or this sort of modification could be the final straw for those tracks on the mountain that the council/cascade has turned a blind eye to MTBers riding fast on them, endangering walkers who partake in that area and the potential of law suits.

Do this sort of modification on private land, or make it discrete. If I lived in Hobart still, I'd be heading up there asap to remove any sort of man made object that might be on that trail.


Some of the older members might remember the old "drops" track... how long did that last after people started putting pallets on it? then they stuck a sign right in front of it. I'm sure people still ride it - I know I used to - but thats beside the point.

I need to go get another beer...


(ah, f##K, I just sounded like Sam!)

[Ceng]

I have noticed recently on some of the tracks around Hobart, namely Rivulet track, on the bottom side of Strickland Avenue, and S57 which it joins to, that there has been a bit of trail modification....

I met one bloke digging rocks out as i rode up Rivulet one day, near the top, where it drops from Strickland Avenue, and asked why he was doing it...his response: "Its a bit shaky through here, and i want to go faster."

SELL YOUR RIG AND GET A ROADIE if you want smooth and fast.


He then proceeded to tell me he is going to put a pallet a little further down where the raised manhole is, and a drop exists, but still make it rideabale for everyone else who doesn't want to do pallet drops, and those who are willing to ride up also, this was good thinking, but still it is not ideal.

So rather than actually explain to the person doing the work, in person, what they are doing is potentially hazardous, you decided to write it on a forum instead?
Makes a lot of sense, good work

[rosco]

So rather than actually explain to the person doing the work, in person, what they are doing is potentially hazardous, you decided to write it on a forum instead?
Makes a lot of sense, good work

I did tell him that putting the pallet in would make the track unrideable for anyone else, which is when he explained his ideas.

Just to clarify. Hope that makes sense.

[biketaviousmaximus]

Yeah, as touched on by Jared. It's also important to remind the brotherhood that super fast or dodgy stunts 'could' have these trails shitcanned.....

But keep on (legal) building kids, we all love it!!!

[NathanM]

Being a public "forum" rosco has again raised an issue for "discussion" which is an ongoing hot topic, access to legal riding trails on the mountain.

If Rosco felt comfortable, and not everyone does feel comfortable confronting random people out on a trail, he certainly could have relayed to this person that the trail he was modifying is in fact Wellington Park land and modification to it is illegal and can jeapordise further use of this and the other tracks currently available to MTB usage.

They're are several people now getting involved both independently and at club level, to advocate for and build more legal trails. Taking Kellevie as the example, a proper approach to the land owner has resulted in a new XC race track being built and further access available to build more trail.

Being in NZ at the moment, riding their bike parks and speaking with the locals has been a huge eye opener as to what can happen when clubs/group get together with a shared purpose. The local forestry/parks etc have realised the tourism and public relations potential opening up their land has created for them, with local companies including fox, N-Zo etc on board sponsoring trails and their maintenance.

The trails themselves are then maintained by either individuals/groups/clubs ensuring that they are kept in pristine condition. However any trail work outside of this is strictly forbidden. This ethos has resulted in some amazing trail networks and perfect riding 365 days a year. companies are also profiting from this through mtb hire, shuttling, on site cafe's, bike stores etc so everybody wins.

so in conclusion, think about where Tasmanian MTB riding is heading and what you can do to help it's future. This starts with -
- DONT TOUCH ANY OF THE TRAILS ON MT WELLINGTON OR CASCADE LAND. They're not yours to change/maintain and all you're going to do is have them removed from MTB access.
- STOP USING NON-MTB TRAILS ON THE MOUNTAIN. on my last trip I encountered a group of about 8 young DH riders shoot a full speed down a walking trail, through a 5 way junction on braken lane. These guys had no regard for any other users who they may have hit (and caused serious injury/death to) including other riders. Just think what this does for our image? It all gets reported back to the land owners and when we ask for more trails access this is just the kind of actions that have stopped further access

Ultimately if you want better maintained and/or more challenging tracks, have a chat to your local club or someone like the French's who are funded and insured (AFAIK) to build trail/park. They're always in need of more trail monkeys and what better way to learn the proper skills for trail building with a view to environmentally sound and sustainable riding track.

[agent laraby]

if you enjoy riding there dont feck with it as i garuntee if it becomes a ewok village it will be closed down the minute someone gets all spinal.

some one else carries tho burden of liability for the land that these trails are on so unless you are happy to be sued and get some manlove in jail on their behalf when some one gets injured, leave it and work with legitimate trail projects instead.

also of consdieration this may also feck up chances for legitmate ride days.

i admire track builders its great to see some people contribute but it needs to be legitmate.

sounds like you got religion gtvi2000

[NathanM]

right on brother laraby.

what's this "manlove" you speak of? Do you have diagrams?

BTW - spellcheck for feck's sake

[GAR]

The part of the Rivulet Track we are talking about has been there for a long time and was originally established as a WALKING track, and is still used by many for that purpose. Use by mountain bikers is a relatively recent phenomenon.
To the best of my knowledge all the bush area below Strickland Ave and Huon Rd (down to the brewery paddocks) is Cascade Brewery's private property, and I wonder how much longer they will tolerate the sort of work that has been going on recently. Even on the section below the Strickland Ave bridge there is at least one new ramp above a gully.
S57 is one issue, but putting ramps etc on the Rivulet Tk is another matter entirely. I often ride up as well as down and if there are obstacles other than the natural ones that prevent me riding parts of it uphill they will be removed.
Anyone riding down should also bear in mind that they may meet riders or walkers coming the other way on this track - it is not down hill only!

[frenchy]

Grrrr...I hate pallets, I absolutely hate pallets...what better way to absolutely ruin a good track than to build a half assed ewok structure huck to flat? And digging out rocks? As has been posted above if you don't like rocks take up road riding, mountain biking is about rocks...we love rocks. If you want to get into trail building rivulet track-and anywhere else on the mountain is a NO GO. This track is used by walkers all the time and banging a palet in the middle of it is only going to make us all look like dick heads. There is plenty of legitimate trail building happening if you want to get involved, if anyone wants to do the right thing message me for more details...

[jarred]

I am in total agreeance with what seems the majority on this thread. We've got it good through cascade property lets not push it. When i first rode down and noticed what was being built, the first thing i noted was large chunks taken out of trees on the side of the track for no noticable reason!! WHY?? All this is going to achieve is more attention and ultimatley get us banded (probably sooner rather than later) and i cant see cascade just banning rivulet, they will ban riding on all there land, which will mean a pretty boring lower half of the mountain. Kids on school holidays do it on your own land!! Think about everyone else who enjoys these tracks!!

[liquid]

as rochshox say, "the earth is not flat" couldn't have put it any better myself.

why go ride if it's not a challenge? if you don't want bumps then there is a bike track from the cenotaph, all the way right out to woop woop.

i totally agree with you guys too.

[high lux]

Just a little warning guys, i was up on the mountain today (freezing my butt of) and came down rivulet. The person who made this "jump" is not only an idiot for building on one of the most public tracks but also has no concept of track design/jump building at all. I don't know why he took out the rocks to make it faster, you have to hit this thing at a snail's pace otherwise you'll get yourself arse kicked over the bar's. Picture a short rather steep kicker, somewhat like a kid's attempt at a dirt jump (surprise surprise) on the steeper bit right at the start of the track. Oh yeah, there's also a bit of carpet over it. does anyone notice a trend,

My point, whoever you are you've screwed my favourite part of that track. For gods sake, if you're going to build on a track that gets used by every downhiller in hobart, not just you, then at least put some thought into it.

Last point, what should we do, should we knock it down or fix it so you don't have to jamn on the anchors.

[GAR]

Get rid of it - that sort of crap doesn't fit with the nature of the Rivulet Tk. If I get a chance to go that way this weekend I'll see what needs to be done.