Trail-Race Prep 2- Wanna help?? Saturday morning 3/31 @ 9 if the weather holds
Length alert! Much to share.
Saturday Morning we'll be out putting more finish touches on the Sylvan trails. The trail map has been posted and many have been riding the route laid out last weekend. If you've been riding, here's a list of things we've discussed that we'd be happy to have you take on:
1. Consider massaging the Corner coming out of the center double track and turning the 180 to go into Brick Yard. This includes getting some dirt on the concrete sticking out at the very top of Bricklyard entrance to help out less tech riders.
2. Massage the Corner right before the big log in the new section before the hog trough. This corner currently defies the laws of physics. it sucks and blows at the same time.
3. Remove the log right after this corner. oo- Or make a wooden roller over it- actul rounded roller not just an up and over? Hmmmm. Please remember- trail builders who have been using chainsaws for 45+ years cannot use them here, and that log is very hard wood.
4. I plan to work on the Holzisterbahn to make it a little more beginner friendly without losing the fun. There was a guy who had access to hardwood who partnered w me putting this in, Mike something maybe? and I have lost his contact. He's a good dood, if anyone knows him have him shoot me a text, please.
5. After the Holzisterbahn trail where you go up the steep bank and 180 on the double track to go back down and to the north- About half way through after you drop down the smaller bank and begin riding to the left, there is a dead tree leaning back toward you on the right side- we HAVE to take this out- it's gonna kill somebody when they hit their head on it. Again- no chainsaws, please.
6. Add dirt or change the rocky drop between the trees before the hog trough- there's a good B line, but this has just gotten weird. there is good weird- but this is bad weird.
7. Massage the hard left turn from the new trail to get onto the hog trough trail. This corner didn't work out as good as we thought it would. Maybe bring the rider onto the old trail earlier? I didn't stop and look at it but this corner isn't great.
8. At the VERY end of the course single track- the last 10 feet of trail where we come back into the start area by the fountain. This last 10 feet is REALLY tight now that we’re running at speed and it’s a bad place to hit a bar end- and you are so close to hammering in the open you’re not focusing on the tight trees. Looking at this in the direction of travel, can we slide the trail before this tight section to the left (North) about 10 feet over, starting maybe 30-40 feet back, to line the trail up better? The trees are big enough that they aren’t really weeds and the roots on the left of the tight section are really nasty, so opening this up may be difficult.
9. On Stonehenge, we need to put in a short section before the 1st steep downhill but after the 5' thick tree right before it. This will be a shortcut for novice riders only so they can enjoy the 1st part of Stonehenge without getting into the tougher new section. This shortcut should go straight/slightly right (South/slightly West) and tie back into the last straightaway heading out of Stonehenge.
10. ???- As you ride, if something is "off" lets talk about it. Most of you have my contact and if you don't, you know someone who does.
If the weather holds- We'd like the trails groomed as much as possible. 10th annual Stampede- 14 years in the making!? Sylvan is impressive and we want everyone who rides this race to go home thinking that Sylvan Island, FORC and Moline Parks exemplifies why they love this sport. Should be an easy goal, because Sylvan, Parks and you- the people in FORC- do exemplify why people love this sport.
Now the bad news:
A benevolent benefactor who LOVES the work you have done on Sylvan but cannot get out to help has donated funds for an after trail work brew. However- Moline parks has made it VRY clear that they do not want alcohol on the island... (patiently waits for comments) I'd like to head off some of your frustration by pointing out that the trail crew is very aware of:
A: all of the cans we pick up from the anglers
B: the garbage from the druggies over by the powerline tower
C: the number of piles of disaster we clean up from abandoned homeless camps
D: the number of male prostitutes that tried to come to Sylvan after the crack down on credit island and how our popular use of the island drove them off
E: that it is unfair that the group doing much of the hard work to make Sylvan great is having our culture appropriated while being denied the sweet nectar Ben Franklin said proves god loves us- all while the abusing groups do what they want
F: of all of the people volley balling, playing softball and doing other activities at Parks where people partake of reasonable amounts
G - Etc Ad nasueum: all of the other hundreds of examples that you can probably come up with.
I get it, think about who you're talking to here. 
Here's the thing- the reason FORC has 8 parks and 40+ miles of trail in the QC is because we work with land managers right up until the moment we decide not to anymore. (Example- LT) While we build an environment where people are comfortable and feel welcome with their families with alcohol all over the QC, the land manager for Sylvan has made this request and we will honor it. While we won't take alcohol, FORC has no authority to enforce this rule so please do not cause friction with other groups who partake- that is not our role here.
So- trail builders are welcome to meet at Bents in Moline when the work is done and the 1st hearty, delicious brew for each trail builder will be on our benefactor and the trail Steward- Yes, Social Justice Warriors has increased the costs of our building trails. Yes, we will still build- SJW's be dammed!!
-Vibrato
Believe in yourself? Well sure, of course. But be aware that "believing in myself" has been the root cause of most of my injuries.
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"I feel sorry for people who don't do this." -Badfish41- after bombing the Hermosa's at Levis Trow.
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