Quimper Trails

Thanks for helping make the Gibbs Lake race a great success. Lots of smiles in spite of some marginal weather, and some shoddy tire choices by some. Roots were slick but the dirt was grippy. Trails looked none the worse for the wear, and it looks like there will only need to be a few patch jobs on Jack Track.

Special thanks to Carl’s Building Supply for donating a few materials to help flag the course and help QTA maintain the trails. Another thanks to the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office running support for the event.

Can’t wait for the Anderson Race in September!

If you haven’t been out to Gibbs in the last week, it’s in amazing shape. Volunteers from QTA have been out pruning, reshaping, polishing, and even pulling out the spray bottles to make sure the moss has that special glow. Why all the fuss? Because there is a race on Sunday!

The Lost in the Woods race crew is back for another year of racing. The first race is at Gibbs Lake this Sunday (August 22, 2010), and the second is September 19th at Anderson Lake. I would definitely recommend pre-registering so you can score a burrito, otherwise you’ll be eating your own energy bars.

We ran the course tonight and it’s fast and buff (probably the fastest and buffest that I’ve ever seen it), and it’s going to be fun and challenging. I’m anxious to see who is still hopping logs on Log Jam by lap 4 of the experts.

If you’re not racing, it’s a spectator friendly event some come out and support local riders. Also, if you feel like bringing your K9 friend, please keep it on a leash at all time. This is for the safety of spectators and the racers. Keep in mind that the trails will be closed for general use during the event for the safety both you and of the riders.

The trail commonly known to us as The Connector Trail will have closed portions following the 4th of July holiday. Please, DO NOT ride the closed portions until logging operations are over. We will be placing blockages and appropriate signs at the entrance to these areas before the logging officially starts. If you come across one of these blockages, please do not remove it or go around it.

In the meantime: Go ride it and enjoy it while you can. We’ll be going back in after the selective pole cut has fully completed to reconnect the trail. We’re pretty thankful to DNR for allowing us to put a little slice of heaven in their backyard.

New dirt always gets our attention. Especially when it’s dirt that we can learn something from, and use for our own designs back here in East Jefferson. A solid crew of us travelled down to Evergreen’s new pet project, Duthie Hill, yesterday. I think we all had smiles on our faces after the riding was all said and done, and it’s pretty safe to say we’ll all be back.

That’s Gary showing us how it’s done on a little treasure named Ryan’s line. We spent quite a bit of time trying to dial in this trail. One of the advantages of Duthie is that it is a hub and spoke design, with the highest point being the hub. That means all trails lead generally downhill and eventually come right back to the hub via other little service routes.

Jim hits the same table top with style.

Apparently, Garth is too big for the camera.

Different angles improve the shot. Time was spent by the designers to build specific training lines that play to very specific skills needed, then to build trails that incorporate bits and pieces of each of those skills.

Jim handles a drop on Ryan’s with ease.

Stu handled the same drop just as well. Ryan’s proved to be exactly where our skills were at, though there were a few other trails that were right up the same alley. It’s good to see how fast Duthie has developed (for those of us that have been following it on the internet), and how different each trail has really been made to feel. Care has definitely been given towards making each trails sustainable, serviceable, part of a system, and unique in its own way. I don’t think any of us can really wait to get back out there.

Come on out on June 20th for the Longest Day of Trails in Port Townsend. Quimper Trails is one of the groups that will get some needed funds from this opportunity. More information can be found on the LDT-PT website.

Why support such a thing?
Did you know that QTA members build and maintain the trails at Gibbs Lake County Park, and Anderson Lake State Park? Did you know that it was all volunteer time? Did you know that bridges require materials like screws and nails to make them safe for all of us? It’s what we do, and it’s what we enjoy.

But wait, there’s more!

Did you know that you’re welcomed to join us for trail work? No experience is necessary, just the desire for good times, good conversation, and good dirt. Contact us directly to find out about upcoming work parties, or group rides (we actually ride more than we work).

Come on out each Wednesday as we continue to add to our new loop. Workers are generally out there after about 5 or so, just pedal up to the top of the Connector and start heading down… you’ll find us. Even if you can only do an hour or clean a little bit of trail it really helps. This is going to be a fun, unidirectional, return from the top of the trail that will serve to add mileage, increase fun, and work to improve skills. It also allows us to bi-pass a section of trail that will be seeing a selective pole cut sometime this Spring/Summer.

So far we’ve put over 119 hours into this project, and there is plenty more to do! No experience required (just the desire to have great trails!).

Three of us raced in Port Angeles for the NW Cup #2/Pro GRT #1. It was pretty amazing (and humbling!) to see the skills of the pro-level riders. From the talk in the back of the truck, the pro riders were pretty impressed with the dirt in PA.

Jim raced CAT II 40-49 and placed 6th.
Garth raced CAT III 19-39 and placed 5th.
Pete raced CAT III 19-39 and placed 6th.

No word yet on how that puts any of us in the point standings (assuming there is a point tally… I mean, it is a “Cup”… right?) in our respective categories. The next race is in June. Excellent coverage of the race (along with some great shots of the pros) is available at Pink Bike.

More information on the NW Cup can be found on their Website. Special thanks to Scott for putting on a great event (and being lead cheerleader at the big step down on the Pro Course).

Jim and I made it out to Dry Hill in Port Angeles to throw our hats in the ring for the NW Cup. Pretty nice to be racing downhill bikes in March. Weather was pretty nice on Saturday for our practice runs, but plenty wet on Sunday for the race. There were more than a few bicycle mishaps during the day by a lot of people, but I still need to learn how to let off the brakes on the way down. Jim and I did manage to take a few photos during Saturday’s practice runs.

That’s yours truly on the second day of the new-to-me V10.

Jim shows us how it’s done on the Cat II course.

The new-to-me (yet to be named) V10 post race was very sloppy.

The boys at ODS know how to put on a good time (with great food) and have done their homework to create one heck of a series. Hopefully we can get out there again soon to help with some trail work and get some more experience.

Keep the rubber side down,

Garth

Nice work with the netting boys, a worthy addition.

I came across a post talking about some added trails @ Galbraith Mnt, if you haven’t seen this yet you might find it interesting.

Link to post.

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…has been added to “The Long Skinny”. It’s still skinny, but now offers 2000 times as much traction*. Netting has been added on the log to to keep wheels planted where they belong, and keep riders from inadvertently taking a dip in the water.

One of the local Crash Test Dummies shows that with the new an improved traction, the Long Skinny is 74.32% more rideable*.

*Claims not evaluated by the FDA