You are hereManly Dam update for 10 Feb
Manly Dam update for 10 Feb
Area:
Manly Dam
Status:
Red/Closed Good Afternoon Mountain Bikers,
Unfortunately the track has not sufficiently dried out as yet, with further storms/rain/showers forecast for the next few days. Therefore the Manly Dam mountain bike track remains CLOSED this weekend. We will re-evaluate conditions early next week and advise accordingly
Kind regards,
Manly Dam Rangers
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It's lighting up pretty red now over on the left there!
I dont know why they wait so long to send an email.
I just hope there arent people out there riding as it must be absolutely soaked right now
It has been officially closed since last week. This was just an update to confirm that it is still closed. I think that's a god idea otherwise people would assume that it's just been forgotten about ad ride anyway.
Congrats to the Rangers for getting the news out there! The more communication we have the better.
daveh, i realise that, but i think more communication would be better. I often wonder if i have missed an email and wonder if the trail has had a status change.
Still people out riding the trail yesterday afternoon. Saw people setting out for a ride from the parkway carpark - right after the thunderstorm!
I hope you said something..... not much use posting here complaining if you didn't say a word to them
It was the busiest I'd seen the Wakehurst Pkwy entrance when I went past yesterday. Bikes going in and bikes coming out covered in some brown gloopy stuff?
Must have been DJ'ers as they obviously couldn't read the big red sign! (please don't jump on me for this analogy, I'm just using it for comic effect and in no way support the view that DJ'ers cant read. It's just a joke, and anyway DJ'ers tend to have the best wet weather riding around)
Met a fellow MTB'er out on his road bike this AM. He expressed dissapointment that the Dam was closed when he got there to ride yesterday, but did the right thing and went home. I suppose it's indicative that whilst we, the exalted, sitting on high in Castle NoB, are aware of the multitudionous methods for determining the status of Sydney's trails from the comfort of our climate controlled iEnabled abode, the majority aren't.
I don't suppose that one frequent poster, with close contacts in the MTB press, could see his way to suggesting to the editor that a list of links to resources with up to date trail info could be squeezed in on page 4? Otherwise I suppose it will be up to Hawk to stand at all three entrances handing out flyers when ever there's been heavy cloud cover, as we can be reasonably confident the council is unlikely to increase signage advertising the existence of the "Dam status" email service.
Here endeth the sermon. Peace be with you.
I reckon take pics of the offending rider's cars and post them up on the forums. Hopefully then they might be recognised and someone can say something to them. There were even a few cars parked at the hydro lab yesterday, with empty bike racks on them...
Lol! I must admit the idea did occur to me to subtly hang around with my GoPro running and film the reactions of people to the sign firstly,a nd then to being buttonholed and asked to not ride.
Would have made for interesting viewing!
I was just a bit too shattered after my circuit around Akuna Bay and West Head yesterday to be bothered. The climbs were hot!
By the way, I spied quite a few other mountain bikes on the loop with road slicks fitted
very often I yell out "too wet" as I ride past on my commute, even when it's not officially closed.. if its too wet it's too wet right?
Was at my LBS today getting parts (don't tell my better half)
They asked if I had been riding off road lately, I said no too much rain.
The youngest worker said 'why not it's the best time to ride, slide and stuff'
I calmly explained that you do a heck of a lot of damage doing that and ruin the trails.
He went 'fair enough I didn't realise that.'
So maybe that's why people ride in the rain, they don't know the damage they are doing and they think its 'fun'.
I prefer to stay dry and not damage my bike and the trail.
A couple of years ago when I was starting in MTB there was a gruesome few months of rain. I ignorantly kept on riding the Dam through neck-deep puddles simply because I didn't know any better and I'm sure I wasn't alone.
Some info through the MTB press would certainly help as would better signage at the entry-points of the Dam. I wonder how much it would cost for three electronic signs with GSM receivers so the rangers could sit back in HQ and remotely update the latest trail status and community service messages?
is to have some movable arrowed signs like the bush fire danger ones-with the 3 colours at key entry points
Is there a link on this site to tell people how to get the official trail status updates from Warringah Council? I for one would be hugely disappointed to arrive at the Dam after driving an hour, only to find out it's closed. Better communication methods are needed but you will always get a minority who will ride regardless.
Take Mt Annon as an example. They open and close the track all the time but they also update the tracks status on Facebook the minute they do it.
Everyone has a healthy respect for Mt Annon track and the people that run it becuase they actually put some effert into the track and go out of there way to make sure we know its open or closed.
With Manly dam they dont update there website and they very occasionally send out an email saying its closed. The emails are usually days/weeks after alot of rain and the damage has already been done! Unfortunately alot of people have no idea when tracks are open or closed and the people that run Manly Dam need to put far more effort into notifying people.
Some points that Manly Dam needs,
They need a Facebook page and website that is updated daily. Somewhere you can quickly get a track status.
Signs posted around they Dam advertising there website and facebook page (no point if no one knows about them)
They should close it far earlier than they do. Leaving it open after rain and not updating there website makes people ride it all the time.
More signs especially where people park. Once you have started a lap its hard to turn around 3k into it.
Some track work in the wet and muddy spots would help so much. There are quite a few places they drain badly on the track. It would take much to fix it.
@VTSS350: Might I then suggest joining Trail Care?
We're liaising with Warringah Council and once the POM comes out there will be opportunity to get hands-on with trail maintenance.
FWIW, Warringah Council is working through the budgeting for Manly Dam maintenance and we are conducting an audit of the Dam trail against IMBA guidelines in the next few weeks which we will provide to them to help inform their maintenance program.
We're also working with the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council and the Office of Environment and Heritage to get formal approved trails in to Oxy and Red Hill. Currently we're looking for a contact within the Department of Sport and Rec so we can get the three main land managers in Red Hill to the table to talk together. MLALC has indicated a desire to talk about trail corridors now.
So right now what we need is member numbers to formalise our credentials beyond the $600,000+ of free consulting our exec has already donated from their own time to the NPWS and other State bodies to get to the current state of play.
For the investment of less than what you'd spend on a takeaway lunch you can help secure high quality trails in Northen Sydney: www.trailcare.com.au