It's when you try to make love on top of a fallen free whilst someone makes the first cut near the root ball.
Trail Maintenance
- Thread starter Rob Rides EMTB
- Start date
Ah ok, thanks, all this time I was confusing it with a beech around…
Too funny
.I have to be careful when I use terms that others may not understand. Ie; my sister was not a Hooker. She was a “hook tender“.
(another logging term).
Just to avoid further confusion in the thread.
When I say "Cut near the root ball" .. I'm referring to where the trunk of the tree meets the roots at the ground - nothing to do with the testicles of "The Bucker". So @steve_sordy, if you were about to post "How do you know which is the root Ball" - now you don't need to.
When I say "Cut near the root ball" .. I'm referring to where the trunk of the tree meets the roots at the ground - nothing to do with the testicles of "The Bucker". So @steve_sordy, if you were about to post "How do you know which is the root Ball" - now you don't need to.
Aren’t “root balls fun? At first the ground feels like an earthquake. Then you start rising. Finally you realize what’s going on and run for your life.
There’s a root ball in there somewhere. It tried to stand back up after I cut it off.
The diameter of that log would come up to my root-ball if I was standing next to it.
You forgot the more commonly used solution "Ignore it"
I agree. There’s nothing wrong with saying no. There are even red-lines that I won’t cross anymore. Building around or over is sometimes a good option.
Panic Edit; no no no @Zimmerframe . That’s not what I meant. The zoom on my iPhone is probably broken.
whew.
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Agreed but it is not really a problem in the first place if you can just ignore it.......it usually belongs to someone elseYou forgot the more commonly used solution "Ignore it"
Fallen trees are the gods telling you to build a jump or some other feature. Make some content out of it too!
I've recently used a DeWalt 18v chainsaw and was completely impressed by how good it was for such a low voltage, and how light and easy to carry it was. On the strength of that I bought the Makita equivalent to use the batteries I already had and it is similarly good, though not as compact. And pretty affordable as a body only.
I've recently used a DeWalt 18v chainsaw and was completely impressed by how good it was for such a low voltage, and how light and easy to carry it was. On the strength of that I bought the Makita equivalent to use the batteries I already had and it is similarly good, though not as compact. And pretty affordable as a body only.
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ottoshape
Well-known member
Hand saws and machetes can put a hurtin' on a body too. When I'm clearing brush I have to remind myself I'm pretty far from a sew-you-up place so be alert and don't slice a leg, hand or arm open. I also bring along some heavier duty work gloves for thorn and bramble protection. Getting something stuck in your hand can be painful and annoying for quite some time.
I carry blood stop, and a kit. I’ll stitch myself up no problem if possible. I have a battle dressing (tourniquet with built in blood stop) in the saw kit.
I do agree about hospital distance!!!
I’ve seen a 40 inch+ fall, jump up 8 ft and over 16-20ft after the cut. Really really violent.
Wrong place, doing things you shouldn’t, and no stitches will be needed, maybe a mop.
It seems like any level of first aid training is helpful for this sport. You never know when things are going to go sideways for yourself or someone else. I always carry a first aid kit in my backpack and I’ve needed to use it …several times.
A small handheld cordless chainsaw can be extremely dangerous. They can spin out of your hand in a split second and tear into your forearm. Ironically, a longer bar and chain is less dangerous (36”+). It’s less likely to have a rapid centrifugal spin when a kickback occurs. It also places you a little further from any hazards. Not practical to transport though.
Rolling logs and loaded limbs can cause a world of hurt. Sometimes simply touching a loaded limb with a folding handsaw is enough to release all that stored energy. You better watch out.
I usually bring my electric chainsaw for a trip or two after a heavy storm. This years Amy really messed up trails up here. I also bring at least one other biker for safety. The «rule» here seems to be as long as trees have fallen across marked trails «everyone» is free to help opening the trail. It is usually bikers that do this work, as well as some old hikers.
This also helps with the attitude towards ebikers on the trails as hikers see us clearing fallen trees.
I spend at least 5-7 days every year with a chainsaw in my backpack when I’m out on my bike
So bring a partner and be very careful of trees that are still attached to the root. If they spring back up it’s really dangerous
This also helps with the attitude towards ebikers on the trails as hikers see us clearing fallen trees.
I spend at least 5-7 days every year with a chainsaw in my backpack when I’m out on my bike
So bring a partner and be very careful of trees that are still attached to the root. If they spring back up it’s really dangerous
Great subject, and timing too! I’ve been looking into buying one of these BigBoy 2000 manual saws for next srping trail cleaning here in Quebec. Most trails in my area (not in trail centers) can go without maintenance for long periods of time. I’m aware of the dangers but one can do some trail maintenance without being a certified lumberjack. 
Interesting reading all the comments about maintained trails. Most of the forests I ride locally are managed pine forests owned by Forestry England. There is no trail maintenance or building other than that done by local riders. Every couple of years typically in January and February Forestry England fell large quantities of trees and stack the trimmed trunks by the side of fireroads ready to be collected. Often at the same time extensive undergrowth like Rhododendrum is cleared. Occasionally any built features like jumps are bulldozed! The net result is usually a big mess everywhere including damage caused by the big tracked vehicles to access/fireroads although they are repaired later in the year.
Fortunately trails where the trailhead is not obvious escape the carnage. Others can be covered in debris from the undergrowth clearance. The amazing thing is it usually only takes the Easter school holidays for all that rubbish to be cleared and put to use......building trail features!! Obviously most of this is done by kids.....some are quite proficient trail builders...others not so good!
So riding these trails is often a voyage of discovery......some jumps, drops, platforms etc are fun...others suicidal....hehe.
Fortunately trails where the trailhead is not obvious escape the carnage. Others can be covered in debris from the undergrowth clearance. The amazing thing is it usually only takes the Easter school holidays for all that rubbish to be cleared and put to use......building trail features!! Obviously most of this is done by kids.....some are quite proficient trail builders...others not so good!
So riding these trails is often a voyage of discovery......some jumps, drops, platforms etc are fun...others suicidal....hehe.
I think a folding hand saw is a great tool for trail maintenance. A pair of garden shears comes in handy also.…some trail maintenance without being a certified lumberjack.
I usually pac those two tools with me on each ride. Easy to store in a backpack and fairly lightweight. A hairy blow-down tree can be easily trimmed (safely) and the trail becomes passable. Leave the trunk or log for another day or someone else.
Sometimes it’s the small limbs or branches at face height that become a problem. The garden shears are handy to trim those rather than breaking them off, which can leave a sharp pointy hazard.
ottoshape
Well-known member
Agree 1000% but keep forgetting to toss a pair in my pack! Always have the folding hand saw...
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MountainBoy
Active member
Rhododendron.
MountainBoy
Active member
Too funny
I have to be careful when I use terms that others may not understand. Ie; my sister was not a Hooker.
I always wonder what people are thinking when they capitalize "hooker".
An example of when to build a feature and when not to;
A long popular mtb trail used by myself and others until a very large tree fell across. 4-5’ in diameter. No problem right? Except there was a steep ravine on one side, a rock cliff on the other, and the tree was leaning at a 45 degree angle.
Then someone decided to build a feature over it.
. A steep ramp, 12” wide, up and over and then down the other side. If you reached the top your head would be 7-8’ in the air. Probably fun for the few who have the skills but this definitely blocked the entire trail for me and others. A ride around or “chicken -lane” was not possible in this location.I only know of one skilled rider who attempted it…”never again” he said “ too risky “.
Sometimes we have to consider the flow of the trail or its intended purpose. I might have done something different there.
Edit; reminds me of a song by the Pixies “Where Is My Mind”
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randycpu
Member
2 problems with "Ignore it":You forgot the more commonly used solution "Ignore it"
- My ebike is too heavy to throw over my shoulder to go over it
- Too much poison oak around here to trail break around it
that certainly sounds in the "suicidal" category! Typically the jumps we encounter are relatively small but still present a challenge because unlike bike parks the ramp is typically less than half a bike length long so timing release is in a small time window. The biggest mistake they make however is building a jump with no real prospect of missing a tree when landing or landing in the scrub beyond the trail...unless you merely roll over the jump. Discretion is the better part of valour! (or valor if in the US!)An example of when to build a feature and when not to;
A long popular mtb trail used by myself and others until a very large tree fell across. 4-5’ in diameter. No problem right? Except there was a steep ravine on one side, a rock cliff on the other, and the tree was leaning at a 45 degree angle.
Then someone decided to build a feature over it.
I only know of one skilled rider who attempted it…”never again” he said “ too risky “.
Sometimes we have to consider the flow of the trail or its intended purpose. I might have done something different there.
Edit; reminds me of a song by the Pixies “Where Is My Mind”
(Or valouruserly if you’re from around here).
Yeah, the suicidal stuff is just …suicidal.
Chicken lanes are always a nice option. It’s the gaps that I have the problem with. I think I’m allergic to gaps.
A wind storm a few days ago. Volunteers are busy clearing fallen trees and debris.
Many trails were affected. It’s a busy time.
Many trails were affected. It’s a busy time.
ottoshape
Well-known member
Any thought towards making those downed trees into a jump?
Oh yes! There’s enough material there for a few features. Sleepers, cedar poles and even some cedar decking in the area.
I’ll speak with the other mtb biking groups and see what’s suitable for this trail.
I use this trail several times a week (Bullet Dodger) which merges into “Bullet Catcher”. (Very close to a gun range). It leads to a network of trails.
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