New Features at Lebanon

[devinbobrien]

So, I'm new to MORC but not riding your trails...

I decided to join with hopes of participating in the creation of some new trail features. Does anyone know how these decisions are made, or what new things might be planned for 08?

Thanks,

Devin

[Danimal]

We do trail building usually on Tuesdays. 6pm - dark. We haven't started yet due to the trails being soggy. PM John Lundell (gopherhockey) or Bob Sheppard (bigwheel) for more details. All you have to do is show up.

I'm sure they'll comment on this thread so check back.

[destrago]

What Dan said. Show up. The trail crew is a hodgepodge of regulars, semi-regulars, and random people and it's fantastic.

The design of most trail features (at least at Leb) is a two step process:

1. One of the dirt bosses comes up with something (or takes someone else's suggestion), and if needed clears it with the land owner (Dakota county in this case).

2. The dirt boss describes the feature to trail workers, and the trail workers build something possibly resembling the original feature, but not always. The actual feature is frequently bigger, harder, more obnoxious, and more fun than the original design.

Examples of this:
XX Rock Garden - Every time someone cleared it we made it harder
Ted's Log - So Named because John didn't want responsibility for what it turned into.
Buck's Berm - Buck took a shovel and went nutz
Log Mountain - We just kept building... and building

The best way to get your input taken into consideration is to watch for threads here about trailwork (Usually on tuesday nights, 6pm->dark) and show up. It's about 1000% more effective than posting how the new stuff is too hard, too annoying, or blocks flow and everyone else needs to go change it. Take my word for it.

Oh yeah - welcome to MORC. !!!:cool:

-Tony

[tedsti]

What they said. We try to let people give input into the trail within reasonable limits. It has to be within the IMBA guidelines (or at least real close) and fit in with the skill level of that particular section of the trail.

If you have some good ideas, post up or better yet show up.

[bigwheel]

Adding to what Ted and everyone said. We are always looking for volunteers, and we listen to our volunteers for ideas about new features and ways to build trails. But we have to adhere to IMBA standards for the trail and the individual section. Plus, pretty much everything we do has to be approved by Dakota county.

Keep in mind that probably only 10-15% of our time is spent building cool features. The rest is spent doing maintenance, reroutes, and new trail sections. We try to make it fun, but there is a lot of work to do. Building cool features is a treat for everyone, so we try to mix that up with the rest of our work, and let everyone take part in building the cool stuff.

We will likely start trail work around the same time that the trail opens. (Probably end of month. This year, it's going to be a late opening due to the snow and cold we've had this winter.) If you'd like to get involved, we'd love to have you along. As the others mentioned, we usually do trail work on Tuesday evenings, although we will also probably have some weekend sessions this spring.

This year looks like a good one. We have a nearly finished new section with some nice rock, plus another longer one that is still being scoped out. Both sections will have some cool stuff but that will be mixed in with the other work. We also have the materials and will likely be adding some new features to the existing trail, but it will be the people who are willing to grunt through the tough work that also get to build the cool stuff.

I hope to see you there.

Bob S.

[manual63]

I would like to add to this.

When people ride the trails when they are not supposed to, usually this time of year and during or after a rain when they are wet, it creates a lot more work for trail builders. This in turn takes time away from building cool new features. Trail maintenance has to be a large part of trailwork, but can be minimized quite a bit if people respect the trails. This also goes for those who skid around all the corners, which also creates work for trailworkers because they have to fix the breaking bumps.

So please think about these things while you are out riding our trails. What you do affects everyone, and the quality and time devoted to certain projects.

[berrywise]

I would like to add to this.

When people ride the trails when they are not supposed to, usually this time of year and during or after a rain when they are wet, it creates a lot more work for trail builders. This in turn takes time away from building cool new features. Trail maintenance has to be a large part of trailwork, but can be minimized quite a bit if people respect the trails. This also goes for those who skid around all the corners, which also creates work for trailworkers because they have to fix the breaking bumps.

So please think about these things while you are out riding our trails. What you do affects everyone, and the quality and time devoted to certain projects.

Shad I have a movie recommendation for ya.

http://i30.tinypic.com/aka88j.jpg

[manual63]

Shad I have a movie recommendation for ya.

http://i30.tinypic.com/aka88j.jpg

Maybe for you. But there are still many that do not know this.....or even though they have been told it many times....it has yet to sink in.

Oh.....and that looks like a horrible movie.......:sick:

[ryno lite]

Shad I have a movie recommendation for ya.

http://i30.tinypic.com/aka88j.jpg

That's great!

[batjerk]

Maybe for you. But there are still many that do not know thisUh-huh. Not everyone here is a member of MORC, does trail work, or has necessarily visited this site enough to have read the threads about wet trails.

For the long-timers, it's probably a little tired reading about it, but for the new people, it's easier to catch it in currently active threads, than to search for it.

[Pandl]

So, that information should be posted in every topic, moved to the top of the posts as necessary. Ya never know where the new not knowing, or mud riders are at, so every topic would be good to saturate the site with good information.

[manual63]

So, that information should be posted in every topic, moved to the top of the posts as necessary. Ya never know where the new not knowing, or mud riders are at, so every topic would be good to saturate the site with good information.

Yeah....let's do that. I will get on it right away! You want me to do the political one's too?

[ppgc]

Shad, you should change your avatar image to show your disdain for people who ride in the mud. With over 7000 posts that would be saturation. That will learn 'em.

[Pandl]

Yeah....let's do that. I will get on it right away! You want me to do the political one's too?

Probably. We, well I don't, know where those mud riders would be. They could be anywhere. The more places we post it, the better. But, of course, they may be too busy riding in the mud to stop in here. Hope that ain't the case tho.

It sure would be nice if you could just make it automatic, like every 10th post in a topic, or if the system could measure how far down the last reminder was, and repost the information. Cause, one line posts wouldn't need to be updated that frequently, but long posts could use it more frequently, as some don't read down thru all the posts. That would be great!

Thanks Shad!!

[manual63]

Shad, you should change your avatar image to show your disdain for people who ride in the mud. With over 7000 posts that would be saturation. That will learn 'em.

6550 of them were about people riding muddy trails!

Okay....let's get back on topic about new features at Leb........mmmm kay!

[berrywise]

Think the odds will be better that more features will be added at Murphy vs Leb?

[manual63]

Think the odds will be better that more features will be added at Murphy vs Leb?

This is probably true. But we are in the works for making a new trail at Leb and I hope to be involved in helping add some features too it. Not sure when that will happen though since I am not heading the project.

[ryno lite]

Think the odds will be better that more features will be added at Murphy vs Leb?

I think we'll see new features added to both Murphy and Leb over the next couple of seasons. I have no idea who will add more though.

[devinbobrien]

Thanks for the responses...I'll check here to see when the first session is going down.

Devin

[gopherhockey]

Lots of really cool things in store this year for Leb.

Leb will probably have more new trail this year than features... but one never knows. One of the trails we will be doing this year at Leb will have a few longer boardwalks, if you want to call those features. They will be on a new section of intermediate trail that will be going around a big water area.

We're going to be looking for lots of help early on this year to help complete some new trail projects. Machine work will be starting as early as we can get in there.

I was out putting up the big ol' orange fences yesterday.. its going to be a while still before we can even walk back there.

[bakkeb]

its going to be a while still before we can even walk back there.

:cryin::embarass::embarass:

[dave t]

its going to be a while still before we can even walk back there.
Definately! :hit:
I stooped to a pavement ride Saturday and the entire section I could see from the road (Galaxy) was still snow or ice.

Even the powerline trail (Not very long but IMO the best paved alternative to singletrack) in Eagan had several long patches of ice and slush.

[smklugherz]

Leb will probably have more new trail this year than features...

With the addition of new trails, are we closing old trails? Are these reroutes, or new loops? Looking forward to coming to a couple trail work sessions. Can't wait to get out on the trail.

A big THANK YOU to all the MORC heavy lifters that make up for slackers like me. (I'll try to make it up with a bigger membership contribution)

[gopherhockey]

With the addition of new trails, are we closing old trails? Are these reroutes, or new loops? Looking forward to coming to a couple trail work sessions. Can't wait to get out on the trail.

A big THANK YOU to all the MORC heavy lifters that make up for slackers like me. (I'll try to make it up with a bigger membership contribution)

We are closing small areas that are huge braking bump issues. Overall a significant gain in trail, and I'm sure a tradeoff most will enjoy/appreciate.

.. and thanks!

[smklugherz]

Overall a significant gain in trail...

Gotta love that...anybody have an updated map?

[soupboy]

I sure hope that log-under gets fixed.;)

[Crash]

I sure hope that log-under gets fixed.;)

Last I heard, hell wasn't freezing over.:cool:

[dave t]

I sure hope that log-under gets fixed.;)

That's why I'm sticking with the 26"er.:D