Getting Involved

[SeaWolf]

How can I get involved in the maintaning of trails out at Hartwood? I know you can't just go out there on your own and just start hacking away. Somebody should hold some sort of maitenance day or something if there is something major to be done.

[Shiva]

I agree, I'd like to help also - let those of us who are not associated with an organized group know - i'll get some guys out there to help.

[riderx]

Originally posted by SeaWolf
I know you can't just go out there on your own and just start hacking away. I disagree. Unless you are cutting new trail, just get some friends together and fix some of the bad spots. Move or saw fallen trees if you can't build a log ramp over them. Cut off cheater lines. Fill in mud holes with rocks and other solid material to keep them from getting worse.

A perfect time to do this is when you've had a bunch of rain and you shouldn't be riding on the trails. Gather some tools, a couple of friends and go to work. With a few people and a couple of hours you can accomplish a lot. Even by myself, I've made huge improvements getting out and doing 2 hours of solo maintenance.

No excuses, get to work!:D

[Fergie]

Before you do any more than removing fallen sticks and slight drainage stuff, be sure to find out who maintains the trail. If you search around for a while, and can’t find anyone, or if you have been maintaining the trail for a while yourself – do it to it.

We had a big problem a while back of people cutting logs that other people were riding. It really sucked the way they neutered the trail, and really ruined the flow of a tight and technical trail.

DON'T CUT ANYTHING THAT HAS BEEN RIDDEN! If there are chainring marks or tire marks, don’t mess with it.

If the trail is not a legal trail – DON”T DO ANYTHING - There is a good chance the trail is kept that way to prevent it form becoming too overused, or discovered by the wrong people.

If you are blocking shortcuts, MAKE 100% SURE THAT IT IS A SHORTCUT, and not the original trail.

DON”T CONFUSE GROOMING WITH MAINTENANCE. Removing rideable logs, rocks, and leaves is grooming the trail, usually to make it easier. But easy is not better or improved, and there is no limit to how much a trail can be made easier.

Please don’t get me wrong, I think you are basically right in what you posted, but I think someone could get the wrong idea and go out and start removing fun obstacles. I also recently got an email from someone who kept blocking the original trail because they did not know where the trail really was, and thought it was a shortcut. Also, just like with working on a bike, tools can be the fastest way to mess it up if you don’t know what you are doing.

This is just the way things are in my neck of NY (25 north of NYC.) If things are different in your neck of the woods let us know.

[riderx]

Don't worry Fergie, there's nothing I hate more than someone coming along sanitizing the trail. On the rare occassions that races get held on our local trails, all the fun stuff gets cut out days before. It leaves me fuming - if you want it smooth then ride the road. But, I also see too many people who don't get out and work and then complain about trail sections that have constant problems. Educate yourself a bit and take action, but don't ruin anyone else's fun. Become an IMBA member, it's worthwhile, they can get you hooked up with a local club and their quarterly newsletter always has trail maintenance info.

When I mentioned sawing/moving logs, I guess I should have been more clear. I'm talking about stuff that is newly fallen and can't be ridden/walked over by any trail user (bike/horse/hike) - like chest high stuff. Your rule of thumb is good - if it's been ridden, leave it. If you can't ride it, learn to, it's part of progressing.

[Mauriceman]

Hey kids, we're meeting December 15th at 10 am at the mansion parking lot to work the trails at Hartwood. Bring tools, I think we might bench-cut some off-camber sections.