MTBers at work

The foundations for legitimately built singletrack in the North Downs were laid this weekend following two days of hard labour by a
chain gang of enthusiastic volunteers. With direction from organiser Rebecca Milbourn and Forest Enterprise ranger Rory Cobb, picks and shovels carved out nearly 2km of virgin singletrack in the woods outside Coldharbour.

Huge numbers of riders flock to the area around Dorking and Leith Hill from London and the surrounding area, attracted by the large network of rolling, leafy singletrack and well-stocked local tea rooms. Many of the paths have evolved without permission from landowners and are seemingly tolerated quietly but conflicts have occurred and the need for some legitimate building was clear.
After several months of lobbying by local rider Rebecca Milbourn, backed by bike friendly forest ranger Rory Cobb, permission was granted for the first stretch of trail to be cut into the woods above the village of Coldharbour, plumb in the middle of some of the most popular riding terrain in the area.

Hi ho, hi ho…

To set the ball rolling a team of twenty or so early-birds assembled at the trailhead on Saturday morning to receive a safety briefing and introduction to the rudiments of the building of sustainable trails according to IMBA guidelines. A visit by Aston Hills supremo Ian Warby earlier in the week demonstrated the principles of drainage and construction techniques and volunteers were soon enthusiastically hacking away at the undergrowth and blazing a furious trail under the watchful eye of Rory and Rebecca.

Rory and Rebecca keep an eye on things

A steady fall of rain on Saturday night and Sunday morning soon highlighted which sections had worked and drained successfully and which had turned into a soggy mess; a useful lesson for those returning to admire their handiwork resulting in much of the first day’s work being re-jigged and improved. By the end of the second day clear progress was obvious into a third section of trail and the foundations of a cracking piece of singletrack were obvious to all. Passing walkers and horse riders seemed surprised at the activity but the response was overwhelmingly positive, vindicating hopes that the trail can alleviate some of the pressure on the area’s overused bridleways and diffuse potential conflicts.

Summer Lightning coming together

Once bedded-in Summer Lightning, as the trail has been optimistically monikered, should prove to be a fun, flowing addition to the North Downs riding terrain. For now the emphasis is on building a foundation onto which officially sanctioned garnish can be added at a later date but there’s plenty to bring a smile to your face whether you wear your shorts tight or baggy. It should be emphasised that any DIY builders keen to do their bit should contact Rebecca via the JustRidingAlong website first to avoid jeopardising the current good relations with the authorities. Future building weekends are planned so watch this space or check with JRA for details.