Suggestions for my own private north shore

[knucklebuste]

Aight boyz and girls. I've found my spot and it just so happens it's right across the street from my crib where else but in da woodz. We've decided to build way deep in the bowels of the woods, away from MAN and that means that we'll have to utilize whats in the woods as we can't go carrying 500 2x4s 1000 yards into the woods. We will be using trees that are dead but stable to build a ladder type drop over a rock. Kinda like the spider at nam, but something you can actually get up on without killing yourself (unlike the spider at nam) It will just consist of a ramp/ladder going up to the top of the rock (6') and then a horizontal ladder going across the top of the rock to the end of it and then a nice little dirt tranny to land on should we actually get up enough ballz to crack our head open on it. What I'm wondering is about building techniques, as far as tieing the ramp to the ladder with trees and what type of nails people use. Seems it will be difficult to hammer nailz through 3" tree sections. Any ideas or help is appreciated.
knuck

[Jisch]

Knuck:

I don't have a ton of experience but here are my suggestions:

- strip bark off any trees you are going to use - if you don't strip off bark the wood will rot in short time. There's a bridge that was built by some well meaning mtbers at a place I ride, they did not strip the bark. Within 2 years the rungs were rotted out, within 3 the whole thing was buried in the muck it was supposed to span.

- Make the rungs on the ladder close enough so your foot can't fall through - while I haven't personally fallen through a ladder, its a good way to break something.

- If you're going for longevity, zinc coated nails are not supposed to rust like regular framing nails will

- Pre-drill holes for the nails in the rungs with a portable electric drill - it will be very difficult to get a nail through 3" of oak or maple, especially dry stuff. I've found one nail in each log is plenty.

I've got my own personal trail around my house, though most of it is built with rocks, not logs. Its definitely not North Shore, more about getting over stuff than launching it. Here's my one log invention (tiny teeter totter).

John

[AA]

OK Knuck,

So you are ready to create your own "North Shore". Now that you have your landowner permission (just nod & say "yes I have permission") it is time to start building. Dont be putz and cut down live trees or nail it live trees. Use galvi nails as John suggested and pre-drill as needed. The biggest problem I've seen w/ built stunts is that the basic structure is just nailed together as opposed to some structural components (bigger logs) notched to give the whole thing some strength. A good bow saw and a sharp hatchet or axe will help you create some of the joinery. Keep in mind that built stunts need to be maintained (check for loose planks periodicaly and make sure no one has vandilized it so it falls dow at the least opportune time). It takes a lot of work to build stuff. BTW a cool method I've seen to make planks for the bridge surface is to use 2 axes and split 5" or 6" logs in half to make planks, put the flat side down on your stringers for a flatter surface that wont want to work itself loose as you ride on it.

Wow what a nice land owner to let you build this stunt on their property........

[knucklebuste]

Yep it's all signed off and the best ******* part is no one will be sued say someone gets injured. Imagine that?
No one goes out there. The kids in my hood are lame. They are too :o :-XAFRAID TO GO IN THE WOODS :-X :o
I said to them, why don't you guys build some DJ's in the woods? They said well um ah um our bikes aren't good for the woods. Kids.
No concept of all the great freeriding they are missing.
knuck

[CouchingTiger]

I'm going to assume that you own, or have permission from the landowner to build. That said, the above suggestions are valid. Also keep in mind not to cut live trees (as you stated you didn't plan to) or nail to live trees. Just like back in the dorms, freestanding structures only ;)

Other key is OVERBUILD! Oak is strong and wirey and lasts a wicked long time. It can be used well for the base. I built all the junk in my backyard out of solid pine logs (between 12" and 16" in diameter) and cut them lengthwise. I then morticed and pegged them together. The stuff is still rock solid after 3 years.

-Couch

[knucklebuste]

Since all you cats are all worried :o about landowner permission, here it goes. My builder that built my crib owns the land. We are buddies and ride ATV's together back there, well before I got rid of mine and converted to MTB instead. I told him the other day I was building some bridges to cross the streams. I forgot to tell him about the 12' ladder drop though :o He said "go nuts, I don't give a ****"
We've also had a lengthy disussion before about the state and the SUE ME mentality and he knows I would not sue him if I became a parapalegic, I would do the right thing and ask someone to kill me, not sue because I enjoy persecuting people. Besides what's a parapalegic gonna do with all that money anyhow? Knuck

[zach11979]

Be sure to tell me the location of the trail so I can ride it. Don't worry, I won't sue you if I break my neck

[Dawgee]

Hey Knuckle if you get hurt so bad that you want to be shot can i have your bike?????????? LOL

[knucklebuste]

Well we've s-canned the whole project for now. Fu*king dirt bikes ruined all the trails. Now they are just a river flowing around the hills. Of course the kids on the dirt bikes have no concept of trail maintenance so they'll just keep digging the ruts deeper and deeper. Time for some retaliation. Roofing nails, or a complaint to the town and or police? How do I get rid of them? Whadaya think? Knuck

[CouchingTiger]

I'd be hesitant to complain to the authorities. Next to MXers, MTBs are the next worst threat to the civilized world. Setting "traps" like nails and such will ultimately lead to someone getting hurt and you going to jail and losing you house and other worldly posessions.

-Couch


Well we've s-canned the whole project for now. Fu*king dirt bikes ruined all the trails. Now they are just a river flowing around the hills. Of course the kids on the dirt bikes have no concept of trail maintenance so they'll just keep digging the ruts deeper and deeper. Time for some retaliation. Roofing nails, or a complaint to the town and or police? How do I get rid of them? Whadaya think? Knuck

[knucklebuste]

Yeah I was just kidding. I would never trash anybody elses posessions. I just wish they would realize that if they stayed off the trails till they were dry they would be better for everyone. I mean I rode my RM 125 out there a year ago when I had it along with my ATC 250R when I had that too and never caused any damage. The trails are basically unridable now and kids these days are so frickn lazy. They'll never fill in the ruts when and if it ever dries. There is like 20 kids in my hood with MTB's none of them ever go in the woods. Never. I'm like "why don't you guys ride in the woods? Smoothe out the trials? Cut some brush?" They go "no our bikes wont ride good in the woods"
Frickn lazy pricks. My first real mountain bike (or I thought so at the time) was a WalMart Mongoose. I rode the thing for months. At the time, I thought to myself, wow I can't believe I got a Mongoose at WalMart for $250. I was stoked until I bought an issue of MTBAction and read about bikes and realized what a real bike was. Oh well, I'll fix the trails when and if they dry. I'm not gonna be a dick either and call anybody. I was a 2 stroker 1/2 my life. Not gonna be a dick. I just wish these guys weren't so lazy. Knuck

[Jisch]

I know when I was a renegade mxer I had no qualms about riding unmarked property, and come on spinning tires is cool - because you can. Its a power thing.

Anyway - the one thing that would stop me from "trespassing" was knowing that I was trespassing.

If I were you I would put up some No Trespassing or Keep Out signs. That combined with some well place rumors of a farmer with salt peter in a shot gun...

John

[knucklebuste]

Well my neighborhood is still being developed. Once it's all set you think people are gonna put up with the wining of 2 strokes all day long? NOT. What pisses me off is that there is 80 acres back there, tons of trails and the one decent downhill loop we like to do they have to tear it to shite. RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. Well once the hood is set and peeps are moved in, just like everywhere else the dirt bikes are gonna be
:-X OWNED :-X
That's why I got rid of my motorized shite. All done listening to people bitch about it. So when the dirt bikes are all done, I'll be pedallin away in silence in the woods with the occasional sound of the rotors from the life flight bringing me to UMASS memorial.
knuck

[SloMoJo]

My friend Knuckles....
I think you just like to be pissed off about something.
Not sure why....Life is good you know.

Come join us....
There's great riding all around us.
Have you heard of Millbury yet?
Been to Leominster yet?
Did you ever check out Mt. Pissa?
Great places close to you.

Face it...you don't live on the North Shore.
You live in Woosta....it's OK tho.
It would be better if you had a trail bike...but you can make due. ;)

[knucklebuste]

YO whut up at Millbury. don't tease me dud. How I get there? desc the terrain. When you goin? what? who? where? Millbury ha? A riding spot I haven't heard of? GIMME. GIMME. Knuck

[AA]

Man you have got to be the least resourceful mountain biker in the world. Millbury where is that? Can I get there from my house? Is it any good? Where where where? Open your eyes and ears. make friends with the LBS people in Worcester even if your dont buy all your stuff there and perhaps you will be pointed to the stuff close to your house.

Here is a link for a bunch of guys who ride in your area. They originally started as XC racers but they know the local terrain. BTW I'm guessing if you email them w/ your obnoxious Knucklebuster persona you will surely never get a response.

http://www.teambums.com/

[SloMoJo]

;D
You know I'm just rattling your cage buddy.

Millbury is this sweet set of single track. It's so well kept...the dudes over there actually rake sections of it. Right along powerlines...5 mins from Pike and rt 122 intersection. I forget the street name. Splat and I are going..prob next week. If you want to join us.

It's no jumpfest tho....just great twisty run thru the woods...New England style.

ps.
For the record.... Knuckles is pretty cool in person.
No need to dis anyone here.

[knucklebuste]

Hey guys, I'm the first to admit I come off as a hard ass. As far as being resourceful. Tell me where I find info on Millbury. Yeah I know where the town is, but it's kinda big ya know? It's not on Nemba, it's not on BS. So how the heck am I supposed to know where it is. You guys tell me when your goin and I'll take the ******* day off if I have to. I'll be there and I'm gonna ******* ride wit ya's. AA. I know I come off as a hard ass, but I'm not. I also willingly admit that I suck ass. Suck worse than anyone on here. I also smoke so that slows me down considerably. I'm on zyban and I'm GONNA quit. I can't have **** slowin me down. Now with the hucking thing. I pretty much give up. I'll find the hucks as I go, and I know there's no NS stuff around here. Theres a spot in CT called Valley Falls I'm gonna check out that has everything possible to kill yourself on, but I'm not an expert. I take stuff slow. I stared at a huck at Green Hill Park in Woosta for 3 trips and a total of 2 hours. Me and Jimmy2x finally threw it down and it was like 4' at the edge, like 5 or 6 feet as the tranny goes down where we land. It was nothing. 2 hours of staring. We got it on film and it's frign embarrassing. Nothing I'd ever post. Anyhow we analyzed that huck high and low, played it safe and now OWN it. Stupidity is not gonna overcome my wanting to huck. So basically if I was to email those guys AA, you actually think I would be the as*hole that I come off to be on here if I want to meet new people. No I wouldn't. I get along with everyone. I never tell anyone they suck, and I admire people with skill as well, and believe me, I'm probably an amateur compared to you guys. Splat is like Mr. Speed Demon, but he doesn't smoke and rides way more than I do. The weather has kept me down, but I've made a pact with myself to go unless it's downpouring. So my trails at my crib are out for now and I'm gonna check out Wrentham, Franklin, or Foxboro later. Knuck

[CouchingTiger]

Hey, Knuckles, maybe you really mean to be saying "dud" as in (according to Websters.com);

dud ( P ) Pronunciation Key (dd)
n.
1. A bomb, shell, or explosive round that fails to detonate.
2. Informal. One that is disappointingly ineffective or
unsuccessful.
3. duds Informal.
a. Clothing.
b. Personal belongings.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Middle English dudde, a cloak.]

when really I think that you mean is dude, as in;

dude ( P ) Pronunciation Key (dd, dyd)
n.
1. Informal. An Easterner or city person who vacations on a ranch in the West.
2. Informal. A man who is very fancy or sharp in dress and demeanor.
3. Slang.
a. A man; a fellow.
b. dudes Persons of either sex.

[knucklebuste]

I know it sounds silly man. I just dropped the e, ya see?
It means not to demote someone in any way. It's just a new twist on dude. All my buddies use it and it is my creation and it soon will sweep the nation. Dud.
Knuck

[Mt.A TODD]

AA rides too fast for you Knuckles!

[knucklebuste]

Yeah, well if and when I ever ride with him (AA), he can leave me in the dust. No biggie. I'm a slow PHUCK. Maybee I'll succumb to the evils of an XC bike someday. Till then it's just endless pain on the 35lb+ Pigs. Sweat and Kill. Knuck

[Jisch]

Hey Knuck,

I live pretty near Valley Falls. Let me know if you make the trip and I'll join you. I haven't been there in a while. I'm supposed to be going there next week, if I find all those stunts on Bikerag, I'll let you know. They look pretty well constructed. I'm no hucker, but I'll do the ladders and such. I'll bring my camera and take the shots... Its not a very big area, so it shouldn't be too hard to find 'em. But I have heard that they are concealed.

John

[knucklebuste]

Sounds good man, have to see about next week, I'm not a master hucker either, but would definitely like to check it out. What would be the best way to go down there. I'm right near 395, can you get there from that highway? Knuck

[Jisch]

Nope, can't get there from 395. You're screwed.

Probably the best way to get there is to take 90W to 84W exit 67. Looks like an hour ride or so.

I live off exit 67 so I could meet you there and lead out from there, its about 10-15 mins from there. Perhaps Mark M, JT and IAB would join us. Again - I don't know where those stunts are so its going to be a stunt safari.

Can anyone here lend a hand in finding this stuff?


John

[knucklebuste]

Well I'm hip for a ride, don't know if I can do it after work though. I get out at 5, have to go home and get ready. I wouldn't be there till like 7pm. Is a Saturday possible? Knuck

[Jisch]

Saturday or Sunday AM is be good for me. Saturday is better (I think). I'll know better after talking to HQ tonight.

John

[knucklebuste]

I was thinking of next saturday actually, but actually thats the weekend of the 4th. Not that I give a shite. I'm no stranger to blowin off a day of work either. Knuck

[Jisch]

I can't do next Saturday, but I can dp mext Sunday (July 6th). I'm going to try and check it out some night this week or next if I can. Maybe I'll have some kinda plan.

John

[CouchingTiger]

How about this, Knuckles, pack your gear so that you can head to the ride directly from work.

Less talk about why you can't ride, and more riding ;)

That is all ...

-Couch

[gungywump]

I couldn't resist. 8) ;D ;)

[knucklebuste]

Dude I'm in frickn tears. I just pis*ed my pants.
knuck

[JimmyTwoTimes]

HAAAA!!! ******* MINT!!!!!

Good one dude.

[Jisch]

I rode Valley Falls last night. There are some very sick :o stunts set up there. The drops vary from 3 feet to over 8 feet. There's probably 10-12 different stunts set up. Honestly I didn't see any that I would attempt. Most of the stunts are of the hucking variety. They all looked very well built. I don't have the bike, the balls or the will to start doing that stuff.

On a XC note - It was a good ride, there's some nice swoopy downhill, some technical stuff. There's a really nice very singletrack trail that rides along a ridge. Its a good place for an after work ride. IMHO, not quite big enough for a weekend ride. OK, I'll admit that it was nice not getting beat up by the rocks, like most other places I ride. A friend of mine is just starting to ride MTB, I think I'll bring him here - its a good place that's not so technical that he'll hate me afterwards.

John