IMBA Visits The United Kingdom

Feburary 2000

By Judd De Vall

The Pipeline Trail swoops and twists across the contour of the hill, dipping through groves of oak and hawthorn before popping out at the sight of a stone turret. A centuries-old farmhouse sits in the valley below us, in the midst of the most picturesque green pastures that Scotland has to offer. Welcome to the Trail Care Crew's adventures abroad....

Editor's note: In February 2000 IMBA's international advocacy coordinator Judd de Vall went to Great Britain to join Kathy Summers and Joey Klein (Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew No. 2) for two weeks of trailbuilding clinics. The entire trip was supported by sponsors in the UK. Below are excerpts from Judd's journal.

Getting Dirty

For the first three days of our trip, we will be riding and working on the trails of the Afan Argoed Forest near Swansea. On the way to the area, rain drops start to fall on the windshield. Moments later our wipers are on high; barely keeping up with the deluge. We arrive and sprint to the visitor center for some hot breakfast: beans on toast, fried eggs, sausage, ham... The UK cholesterol loading has begun.

We gear up and head into the woods for a ride. Flat tires ensue and we find ourselves standing in the rain overlooking the coast. One word defines our first ride in the UK: Mud. Now we know why all the locals are riding with disk brakes and fenders.

All over the UK trailbuilders use "armoring" to help their trails endure the year-round precipitation; in essence creating turnpikes along miles and miles of trail. In some places, underground springs necessitate up to three feet of crushed rock. Once laid, they "wacker-plate" the rock surface with a motorized compactor reminiscent of a roto-tiller to make a rough pavement-hard surface.

Happy Valentines Day!

An all night drive up to Scotland has put us near Dumphries, where we will be holding a trailbuilding school with Forest Enterprise. School begins, with land managers, the Scottish Cycling Union and the Full Mental Bike Club in attendance. On the second day of the School, our plans to do a big reroute are cut short by a foot of fresh snow.

Coed y Brenin (The Land of Kings)

Our first day in Coed y Brenin, we hit the highly publicized Red Bull Loop, examining the locals' trailbuilding savvy. Here, mud has been nearly eliminated by using armoring.

On steep sections of trail, armoring won't adhere to the surface, requiring a technique that Dafydd calls "Stone Pitching." Huge rocks are buried into the natural surface of the trail. Refrigerator-sized keystones are dug into the bottom of the section to hold the other big-screen TV sized stones in place. The tactic requires extensive labor, but results in a super fun and bombproof cobblestone effect. This could be the answer for those super wet areas up in British Columbia and short, steep sections everywhere.

Sunday is a Trail Building School workday. We finish two legs of trail, a rolling crown switchback and a pitched downhill section. Some go for a ride in the afternoon but most of us finish up in the dark. Before we know it, we're running to catch our plane at Heathrow back home to the U.S.

A big thanks to everyone at Forest Enterprise, West Wales Cycles, RealVert and Rik's Bike Shed.

For more info on IMBA's efforts in the UK contact .

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	IMBA Visits The United Kingdom Feburary 2000 By Judd De Vall The Pipeline Trail swoops and twists across the contour of the hill, dipping through groves of oak and hawthorn before popping out at the sight of a stone turret. A centuries-old farmhouse sits in the valley below us, in the midst of the most picturesque green pastures that Scotland has to offer. Welcome to the Trail Care Crew's adventures abroad.... Editor's note: In February 2000 IMBA's international advocacy coordinator Judd de Vall went to Great Britain to join Kathy Summers and Joey Klein (Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew No. 2) for two weeks of trailbuilding clinics. The entire trip was supported by sponsors in the UK. Below are excerpts from Judd's journal. Getting Dirty For the first three days of our trip, we will be riding and working on the trails of the Afan Argoed Forest near Swansea. On the way to the area, rain drops start to fall on the windshield. Moments later our wipers are on high; barely keeping up with the deluge. We arrive and sprint to the visitor center for some hot breakfast: beans on toast, fried eggs, sausage, ham... The UK cholesterol loading has begun. We gear up and head into the woods for a ride. Flat tires ensue and we find ourselves standing in the rain overlooking the coast. One word defines our first ride in the UK: Mud. Now we know why all the locals are riding with disk brakes and fenders. All over the UK trailbuilders use "armoring" to help their trails endure the year-round precipitation; in essence creating turnpikes along miles and miles of trail. In some places, underground springs necessitate up to three feet of crushed rock. Once laid, they "wacker-plate" the rock surface with a motorized compactor reminiscent of a roto-tiller to make a rough pavement-hard surface. Happy Valentines Day! An all night drive up to Scotland has put us near Dumphries, where we will be holding a trailbuilding school with Forest Enterprise. School begins, with land managers, the Scottish Cycling Union and the Full Mental Bike Club in attendance. On the second day of the School, our plans to do a big reroute are cut short by a foot of fresh snow. Coed y Brenin (The Land of Kings) Our first day in Coed y Brenin, we hit the highly publicized Red Bull Loop, examining the locals' trailbuilding savvy. Here, mud has been nearly eliminated by using armoring. On steep sections of trail, armoring won't adhere to the surface, requiring a technique that Dafydd calls "Stone Pitching." Huge rocks are buried into the natural surface of the trail. Refrigerator-sized keystones are dug into the bottom of the section to hold the other big-screen TV sized stones in place. The tactic requires extensive labor, but results in a super fun and bombproof cobblestone effect. This could be the answer for those super wet areas up in British Columbia and short, steep sections everywhere. Sunday is a Trail Building School workday. We finish two legs of trail, a rolling crown switchback and a pitched downhill section. Some go for a ride in the afternoon but most of us finish up in the dark. Before we know it, we're running to catch our plane at Heathrow back home to the U.S. A big thanks to everyone at Forest Enterprise, West Wales Cycles, RealVert and Rik's Bike Shed. For more info on IMBA's efforts in the UK contact .


Help \| Site Map \| Copyright