Falla Brae entry at Glentress

We've been rebuilding the entry section to Falla Brae, just doing the finishing touches to it, should be re open for this weekend.

More on this soon.

Air Maiden at Glentress

After a super successful first event last year, Air Maiden returns to Glentress on Sat 10th and Sun 11th Oct.


It's a very neat concept - a womens only freeride coaching day with some of the UK's finest skills coaches on the Saturday, followed by a chance to put those newly developed skills into practise on the Sunday with a freeride comp.

What Lynn the organiser has created is an event than enables women of all abilities to have a go, develop their skills and have fun in a totally non intimidating environment. Whether it's getting wheels off the ground for the first time or working on riding the big huck, all are welcome.

To make the event work the whole of the Freeride Park will be closed for the Saturday and Sunday. Sorry for any inconvenience this might cause - there are lots of other trails to ride though and the uplift running at Innerleithen the same weekend, provides another riding option, as do the other 7stanes centres.

More info on Air Maiden at: http://www.airmaiden.co.uk/

All-abilities day a success

Around 80 people joined the 7Stanes team and the Rough Riderz on Saturday 12th September for a first of its kind demo day.  Five different vehicle/bike providers very kindly donated their vehicles and services for the day to show disabled and non-disabled riders what is available.

Everyone who participated including staff had an excellent day and lots of happy people left the forest.

Forestry Commission Scotland and 7Stanes staff are currently looking at future opportunities for some of these vehicles.

The Rough Riderz also had an excellent day especially having the ability to demonstrate their skills and give information out regarding their club.

For further information contact Mandy Burgess on 01387 272440.  Rough Riderz website is at http://www.roughriderz.co.uk/

Pics

"you should get some plants in there mate!"

What's a trailbuilder to do when he wants to grip paint some log balance beams but the weather gods are conspiring to give us rain, rain and more rain?

Hope for a spell of fair weather? Not much luck so far this summer..

Cover the beams over with a tarp? Ok, keeps the rain off but ideally air needs to get in aswell for the wood to dry sufficiently, so the paint adheres effectively.

So after a little thought, a rummage round the yard to see what we had in stock and a few modifications we present:

Skinny (balance beam) cover mk3:

We've currently got two log skinnies on Dougie Bank Climb at Glentress covered up. Hopefully the surfaces will be dry enough to paint in a couple of weeks, regardless of what the weather's been doing. Plus the covers can be taken off and reattached super easily, so even if the weather's looking iffy we can still crack on with the painting then cover them over again to dry properly.

Ideal, especially as we'll be putting 1 layer of wood primer down first, then 2 thin layers of grip paint, each needing 24hrs to dry between coats.

We should hopefully have these completed and reopened by early October, and will also soon be starting work painting the log skinnies on Cardie Hill Climb, up to the Buzzards Nest car park. Don't worry, we've not forgotten about them!

Why no rabbit netting you might be wondering.

Netting works great on certain timber features such as wide, mellow boardwalks where rider braking is minimal and unplanned exits off the sides unlikely. On narrow balance beams though, the netting quickly becomes torn in the middle from braking forces and at the edges where riders pop off the sides catching pedals as they go. This means frequent maintenance with lots of patching up and loose bits of wire to contend with.

Grip paint will provide a decent amount of grip across the whole riding surface but crucially should require less frequent maintenance, be less time consuming to repair and will avoid a build up of layers of netting/staples from patching operations.

We'll keep you posted on how it works out. In the meantime, feedback on grip surfacing (rabbit netting vs grip paint vs no grip treatment etc., always welcome as is any feedback on the trails.

Stramash is postponed

Stramash Freeride Festival planned for the weekend of 19th - 20th September at Glentress has unfortunately been postponed. More info is on Stramash's blog

The good news though is that it will be happening in September 2010. Keep an eye on www.stramash.com for updates.

With a rare chance to race down the best descents at Glentress in the Enduro aswell as enjoy a full blown freeride festival - it's definately one for the diary in 2010.

All abilites day at Ae, 12th September

We're running an open day at 7stanes Ae on Saturday 12th September to showcase and demo the facilities, equipment and services that can be used by disabled riders on the mountain bike trails at Ae.

Full details on the All abilities day page on the 7stanes website.