Ridenparadise
Likes Bikes and Dirt
We spent about 4 hours yesterday using stored gravel to help solidify some new trail from this week's work. No surprise to anyone on the Goldie - it was really wet. 150-200mm fell in the first part of this weather event and whatever is still to come will make itself known starting later today. Combined with all the little ponds of water on the ground, rain today and tomorrow will super saturate the soil. Since breaking down, Cyclone Marcia has become a much broader system with heavy rain falling to our north. We may get another 200mm by tomorrow combined with strong wind and possible lightning.
What happens after this sort of rain event is that water flows along roots running on bedrock under the surface clay layer. That layer of clay swells and become soft after the rain stops. While suspect areas in grade reversals and between rollers were OK yesterday, they will become softer and more vulnerable over the next few days. All the recent drainage works on Three Hills and Casuarina will be a bog over the next 4 days at least.
When we use gravel to stabilise new work, we spread and embed it by tamping the surface. This process takes days to settle and the surface remains like jelly until it starts to dry. Unfortunately we cannot make the trails rideable immediately, just better able to withstand traffic and future weather. Therefore, as all trails will remain very vulnerable and for your own safety with regard to falling trees and limbs, please stay away from the trails over the next 4 days.
Finally, a big thank you to the MTB community - we saw no-one riding yesterday afternoon. It seems the message is getting out that allowing time after bad weather means better riding for all (and less repair work for volunteers). Also, hats off to Giant Bicycles for cancelling their demo days this weekend. It is nice to have industry support for our trail system. In the past the land manager banned racing in Nerang National Park after a wet weather event caused damage. QPWS rangers don't even access the fire roads in these conditions and they do monitor the effects of trail use. It is great to see riders getting on side. For the third time this year, MTB movies are the go this week. Cheers.
What happens after this sort of rain event is that water flows along roots running on bedrock under the surface clay layer. That layer of clay swells and become soft after the rain stops. While suspect areas in grade reversals and between rollers were OK yesterday, they will become softer and more vulnerable over the next few days. All the recent drainage works on Three Hills and Casuarina will be a bog over the next 4 days at least.
When we use gravel to stabilise new work, we spread and embed it by tamping the surface. This process takes days to settle and the surface remains like jelly until it starts to dry. Unfortunately we cannot make the trails rideable immediately, just better able to withstand traffic and future weather. Therefore, as all trails will remain very vulnerable and for your own safety with regard to falling trees and limbs, please stay away from the trails over the next 4 days.
Finally, a big thank you to the MTB community - we saw no-one riding yesterday afternoon. It seems the message is getting out that allowing time after bad weather means better riding for all (and less repair work for volunteers). Also, hats off to Giant Bicycles for cancelling their demo days this weekend. It is nice to have industry support for our trail system. In the past the land manager banned racing in Nerang National Park after a wet weather event caused damage. QPWS rangers don't even access the fire roads in these conditions and they do monitor the effects of trail use. It is great to see riders getting on side. For the third time this year, MTB movies are the go this week. Cheers.