Comments on: Backbone Trail Maintenance June 2010 http://corbamtb.com/news/2010/06/25/backbone-trail-maintenance-june-2010/ Concerned Off-Road Bicyclists Association Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:52:46 -0800 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: John Wallace http://corbamtb.com/news/2010/06/25/backbone-trail-maintenance-june-2010/#comment-31 John Wallace Tue, 06 Jul 2010 04:34:14 +0000 http://corbamtb.com/news/?p=666#comment-31 I have to agree with D. Kubler and most our your comments Mark - and also note that overwhelming response of trail users that I have talked with about the trail work - very dissappointed that the rocky sections and root/rocks on the swithback were removed. These features have existed as long as I have been riding the trail (15 years; there were more, but about 10 years ago, some equally disaapointing "work" was done), so the safety concern seems more than lame. About 90% of the work was fine, the tread may be a bit soft for a few moths, but will be fine soon. But the effort put forth to remove rocks and smooth out the trail is absurd. This is a fairly demanding trail - not many novice riders, if any - so why, why, why... Lack of oversight, yes, but also misplaced priorities. WIth the same amount of effort, they could have cleared brush for 30 miles. The photo with "some rock left in the tread" is a really bad joke - this used to be a really fun and challenging section! A few weeks ago I was riding with a friend and he made this section for the first time - he was so pumped! Beyond this section to the east, the work was well-done, including filling in a washed out corner (which also was fun as-is, but I can see fixing it); however, they then demolished another short, rocky section (which they should have left alone - zero reason to remove it). It just goes to show that 90% good is overwhelmed by 10% bad.... I have to agree with D. Kubler and most our your comments Mark – and also note that overwhelming response of trail users that I have talked with about the trail work – very dissappointed that the rocky sections and root/rocks on the swithback were removed. These features have existed as long as I have been riding the trail (15 years; there were more, but about 10 years ago, some equally disaapointing “work” was done), so the safety concern seems more than lame. About 90% of the work was fine, the tread may be a bit soft for a few moths, but will be fine soon. But the effort put forth to remove rocks and smooth out the trail is absurd. This is a fairly demanding trail – not many novice riders, if any – so why, why, why… Lack of oversight, yes, but also misplaced priorities. WIth the same amount of effort, they could have cleared brush for 30 miles.

The photo with “some rock left in the tread” is a really bad joke – this used to be a really fun and challenging section! A few weeks ago I was riding with a friend and he made this section for the first time – he was so pumped! Beyond this section to the east, the work was well-done, including filling in a washed out corner (which also was fun as-is, but I can see fixing it); however, they then demolished another short, rocky section (which they should have left alone – zero reason to remove it). It just goes to show that 90% good is overwhelmed by 10% bad….

]]> By: Douglas Kubler http://corbamtb.com/news/2010/06/25/backbone-trail-maintenance-june-2010/#comment-30 Douglas Kubler Tue, 29 Jun 2010 18:10:14 +0000 http://corbamtb.com/news/?p=666#comment-30 How does one submit photos with comments like Mark Langton did? How does one submit photos with comments like Mark Langton did?

]]> By: mark http://corbamtb.com/news/2010/06/25/backbone-trail-maintenance-june-2010/#comment-29 mark Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:13:15 +0000 http://corbamtb.com/news/?p=666#comment-29 I agree that sometimes they might as well leave it as is. However, the new conditions are no more or less dangerous than other conditions that have existed in the past/will exist in the future. Loose dirt is part of riding mountain bikes on trails. It's a new challenge, and the trail is still open. What's the problem? BTW, I totally agree with you about the switchback that had the root removed. I wish they would have consulted us/Hans K. I have a feeling there was not enough oversight with regard to the trail crew. I agree that sometimes they might as well leave it as is. However, the new conditions are no more or less dangerous than other conditions that have existed in the past/will exist in the future. Loose dirt is part of riding mountain bikes on trails. It’s a new challenge, and the trail is still open. What’s the problem? BTW, I totally agree with you about the switchback that had the root removed. I wish they would have consulted us/Hans K. I have a feeling there was not enough oversight with regard to the trail crew.

]]> By: Douglas Kubler http://corbamtb.com/news/2010/06/25/backbone-trail-maintenance-june-2010/#comment-28 Douglas Kubler Tue, 29 Jun 2010 16:13:58 +0000 http://corbamtb.com/news/?p=666#comment-28 I rode Kanan-Corral on the 28th. If the weathering will scuplt the trail why waste labor on creating so much loose soil? They should leave the tread as is. --- I am disappointed that the rocks were removed for safety. The maintenance has created new dangers. (1) Descents & switchbacks with loose soil. (2) Angled depressions optimized to divert one's wheel. --- They can justify removing rocks but how do they justify removing roots? The root-dominated switchback has been turned into useless mush. I rode Kanan-Corral on the 28th. If the weathering will scuplt the trail why waste labor on creating so much loose soil? They should leave the tread as is.
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I am disappointed that the rocks were removed for safety. The maintenance has created new dangers. (1) Descents & switchbacks with loose soil. (2) Angled depressions optimized to divert one’s wheel.
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They can justify removing rocks but how do they justify removing roots? The root-dominated switchback has been turned into useless mush.

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