MTB Trailcare

Finally, we have received official permission from QPWS to commence trail works on Norco Flow. This day is very special to us….the first legal trail building day on black diamond rated trail within Nerang Forest. Those present for this historic day were: Jack, Nathan, Michael & Lynn, Kurt, Anton and Myself (Mick). It’s no secret, there’s an IMBA Trail Audit and QPWS Land Managers agreement for the proposed mtb trail network within Nerang Forest. We must strictly adhere to IMBA recommendations and land managers requests to achieve the required common outcome…. legal trails to IMBA standards. On with the day’s activities: Up the hill we go at 7.45am, via the fire road. Once at the trail head the first task was to close the trail head with barrier mesh fencing and appropriate signage indicating temporary trail closure from 8.00am til 1.00pm. Next, back down the hill I go to close the trail at the first drop, this is very close to the wimps “link“ corner. This creates our safe work zone and informs riders of intended work area. Due to the nature of this trail and safety concerns for working volunteers this temporary trail closure is necessary. The lower portion of Norco remained open for riding.

The priorities for the day included:

• Create a designated rest & recovery area with a “natural” bike hanger rack. This is intended to minimize our overall footprint within the trail head location, there’s now no need to trample thru the bush searching for a suitable tree to lean your bike against. This rest area is located on the western side of the fire road, opposite the new trail start head.

   

  Trail start re-route and realignment of approx. 15m in length, also to permanently close original start location, this new re-route now allows for faster entry speeds into the first corner which now incorporates an improved log drop/jump into bermed corner, it’s no longer a drop to flat corner as this was causing a lot of front wheel wash-outs and did not allow for carrying much speed. This new section was test ridden by Jack & Nathan, both loved it, a huge improvement. You now jump into the berm and the berm directs you safely around the corner with the ability to carry speed.

   

  

  Improve entry line into third right hand bermed corner. We pushed the lead in to this corner slightly further up slope, this now allows for a better entry line into the berm. Improvements were also made to the berm with the additional of more top dressing soil & compaction. Strategic drainage points were also added to assist with sustainability.

  

  The above locations are still works in progress and hopefully can be 100% completed on our next trail care day. The rest area requires logs or rocks to act as seats. The new trail head requires a final detail and tidy up. The drop to berm requires additional fill and structural support. The third bermed corner requires additional fill and tidy up.

  The mtbtrailcare group is now scheduled to be working on Norco Flow every Sunday morning until the trail achieved legal status.

  Many thanks to all the volunteers in attendance, your efforts and support are very much appreciated. Based on the feedback, everyone enjoyed themselves. Hopefully within the next few weeks when the trail works settle in, riders will notice a vast improvement in trail quality.

  Ride safe,

  Mick