Red Barn : New trail features

[Beast Tech]

Kidding, right? If not, apologies: http://www.thebigredbarn.co.za/

 

I was naive enough to not know where this awesome place is, but now I do know, so I am going this weekend! 

[HowellingWulf]

I was naive enough to not know where this awesome place is, but now I do know, so I am going this weekend! 

Good man! You'll enjoy it!

[YetiDJ]

The Barn is an awesome spot to ride!! With regards to the logs, I rode the track with the owner (of the barn), he's also the trail builder and I asked him about the logs. 

The reason for the logs are as follows:

1. They keep the jumps from eroding as quickly from rail as well as riders

2. The lip stays "perfect"

3. It allows novice riders to pop over or just ride over the jump without causing ruts in the lip

4. When hit right it shoots you over the jump!

 

And after the rain etc they'll probably bury half of the log so that the log just forms the lip.

 

In my opinion there are too many jumps, burms, bridges and a crapload of singletrack to keep in perfect condition without taking shortcuts like with the logs, or the mesh over the bridges etc

 

PS. I did manage to clear most of the jumps, even with the logs and the sand still being somewhat soft (rode there Friday mornin

Best of luck with "the lips staying perfect". Wood and soil have different friction erosion rates from tyre wear or water erosion. The wooden lip will out last the soil, resulting in a protruding bump that will make a great spot for some action photos!

[RockCoach]

I was naive enough to not know where this awesome place is, but now I do know, so I am going this weekend!

 

It explains your location...

[Beast Tech]

Good man! You'll enjoy it!

 

So I visited this place on Saturday morning (It was pouring). All I can say is it is the smoothest trail I have ridden in jhb! The mud just made it that much more fun! The blacks aren't quite black (I understand why they do it though). But really well built and maintained! 

[Dominic Cullinan]

Hi Dirt Merchant, and other table toppers at the BRB

 

All the Berms and Jumps have hardened really well after the rain. After trying the jumps in their hardened state, I couldn't have agreed with you about the Kickback effect. I believe I have fixed the problem and you can now hit the jumps at full tilt and land them quite comfortably.

I really value input like this from other riders as learning to build Trails Jumps Berms etc has been a work in progress for me and my team of trail builders led by Enos.  

My next work in progress will be small  pump tracks at various places on the course, and any constructive criticism will be highly valued.

We went riding at Red Barn yesterday and our favorite riding spot seems to be getting better and better. Super stoked to see all the new berms and jumps going up...

 

They are not compacted yet, but once the work is finished this is going to be the best riding in Gauteng by country mile. 

 

My only gripe would be the jump designs: Why all the the tree stumps on the jump lips? I know it ( the logs ) is less maintenance, but a compacted "dirt lip" would be much better. IMO the logs kills the flow over the jumps, and less experienced riders are more likely to get bucked.

I would also prefer it if the jumps were table tops...it improves our skills and teaches us how to jump and ride better.

 

Otherwise : GREAT JOB!

[BigBoy10]

Must say also ride there often, thanks for the good work.

 

One question seems to be some security concerns lately, branches across trees etc, are there plans re this?

[Samurai Pizza Cat]

Hi Dirt Merchant, and other table toppers at the BRB

 

All the Berms and Jumps have hardened really well after the rain. After trying the jumps in their hardened state, I couldn't have agreed with you about the Kickback effect. I believe I have fixed the problem and you can now hit the jumps at full tilt and land them quite comfortably.

I really value input like this from other riders as learning to build Trails Jumps Berms etc has been a work in progress for me and my team of trail builders led by Enos.  

My next work in progress will be small  pump tracks at various places on the course, and any constructive criticism will be highly valued.

 

 

Hi Dominic,

 

Great to hear! We'll be hitting Red Barn this weekend, and once again: Thanks for the hard work and great trails!

 

PM me your email / mobile, we need to discuss some "off topic"  plans.

[shakamara]

Took the gf out for her first ride at BRB this morning. She absolutely loved the st and easy riding of the place and gave me a new appreciation of how cool it really is to ride there. I was able to branch off on a couple of the routes to hit the usual jumps etc that feature along the way, it is getting so much better to ride there. Big up to all the guys putting in the effort to make things a lot more exciting. The jumps are much better than they used to be, even with the log tops. I checked plenty soil lying around so looks like much more to be expected. Just one question though, could the two drop offs be cleaned up a little, maybe with a little more flow leading up to them, think its called broken rib, just odd to have to do a loop just to do them. And if the 3 guys riding this morning on their AM machines are on thehub, nice job riding those spots, santacruz and commencal bikes, dont see many guys riding those areas as well.

[Dominic Cullinan]

Must say also ride there often, thanks for the good work.

 

One question seems to be some security concerns lately, branches across trees etc, are there plans re this?

[Dominic Cullinan]

Must say also ride there often, thanks for the good work.

 

One question seems to be some security concerns lately, branches across trees etc, are there plans re this?

[Dominic Cullinan]

Thanks for all the positive feedback. Re the broken rib jumping run. My thoughts exactly and ive been lying awake thinking up a loop that will include the two drop off's a proper gap jump and a possible lip jump out of the bowl on the LHS. That will be my winter project.

[Dominic Cullinan]

RE the security issues in the area. We have not yet had a bike jacking within the confined of the barn routes. Part of the security regime is to react extremely quickly to any reports no matter how innocuous they might seem.

We often have night rides, runs, host races etc, where we block of tracks using bunting held down with rocks or place trees across a route to temporarily block it and those might be remnants of those blocked routes. Trees are also constantly falling across tracks particularly the black gum trees. I would however far rather investigate each riders concern so please report any incident to the front desk and it will be immediately investigated.This will also include any one riding to the barn from say Irene, Midstream, Midrand or Kempton Park

[floatfox]

Was there on Friday...lots of work going into the place and thats great..but how about the pricing..

[Heel Drop]

Was there on Friday...lots of work going into the place and thats great..but how about the pricing..

I think the pricing is spot on for what you get. Great single track always kept clean ( lots of hard work going into building it) The venue is great and then security as well. Compare this to any other spot in Gauteng and see what you get for what you pay. I think its really great plus you can buy a season ticket to get some discount if you ride there allot.

[floatfox]

The price has now gone up to R45. Per ride..