New Sandy Ridge trail: Quid pro flow

[toowacky]

Coinciding with the Santa Cruz demo day on Sunday is the opening of another section of trail off the 338 trail.

The new trail, "Quid Pro Flow", will continue off the end of the 338 jump line, duck into the woods for a bit of singletrack, then open up into its own jump line that's longer than the 338 section! The technical trail flows along the ridgeline west (and parallels an old road bed), then undulates as it traverses back to meet up w/ the original 338 loop.

Thanks to the BLM, IMBA, Jason Wells, and the crews out there this summer (Ethan, Bama, and the youth crew) for making this happen.

Stop by on Sunday to check it out and if you like riding Sandy Ridge, consider giving back at an NWTA trail work day this winter (monthly, November thru May).

[nh4cl]

Sweet! Can't wait to try it out.

[SmallAirAndy]

Great name, too. Looks like I'm Sandy-bound this weekend.

[ImaKlyde]

Great name, too. Looks like I'm Sandy-bound this weekend.

Gonna take the kids for a stroll?...'cuz we both know you don't ride mountain bikes any longer.

Brock...

PS: I smoked meat...and ate it in your honor-ish.

[SmallAirAndy]

Gonna take the kids for a stroll?...'cuz we both know you don't ride mountain bikes any longer.

Brock...

PS: I smoked meat...and ate it in your honor-ish.

Challenge accepted. See you up there this weekend?

[ImaKlyde]

Yep. Pick me up at Rancho del Brocko at 7:45 and have my coffee hot.

brock...

[OldHouseMan]

Looking forward to checking it out.

And love the name.

[B42]

I couldn't wait and went to go look at it yesterday evening. That team has done a great job. The multiline through the jumps is terrific addition to the trail and will appeal to a lot of people this way.

The amount of rock work is almost unbelievable. Have fun everyone, I'm not sure how you couldn't.

Thanks for building such a great place, and who is "Cody" of "Cody's Kicker". I think that's what the sign said.

[toowacky]

Here are some teaser pics from Ethan who's been leading youth crews up there this summer building new trail (both QPF and the other new trail that drops off 338 viewpoint to H&S).

I'm pretty sure Cody is one of the summer workers (see photo 3).

[Photo Credit = Ethan Furniss]

[B42]

Thanks for the pictures. They really show the multiline in the first picture and The Cody Kicker (you either jump the kicker or burn the corner). I'd bet we have some GoPro video by the end of the weekend.

[pigdog]

I just spent the last 5 hours up there and managed 3 laps through the new Quid Pro Flow. I'm freaking speechless. The mentioned rock garden work is killer - looks intimidating at first glance but I cleaned both sections on the third try, actually had more problems with the short rock drop after that. The huge flowy berm to jump to berm is magic. There's a decent climb out from the bottom, all single track and a couple of uphill techies.

These guys are putting their experience to work and have waaay stepped up the trail building skills. Insane amount of fun. The run from the top of 338 through to hide n seek and back to the car is now a real deal lengthy blast. Face hurts from grinning

[mattsavage]

I'm not afraid to say this might be the funnest segment of trail in the United States... It has everything: techy rocks, booters, berms, narrow xc single track climb out... Guys with 30" bars might want to watch it in a couple spots.

Anyway, soooo much fun! Amazing work and huge thanks to the builders for the job well done! I just hope they keep the gravel out of there....

[jmountain]

I really enjoy Sandy Ridge and am deeply looking forward to riding this new section. Yes, I do have to add please, please no more gravel....

[pigdog]

I'm not afraid to say this might be the funnest segment of trail in the United States...

Easily most fun I've ever had on any trail I've ridden in Oregon / WA. The real deal again though is upper 338 to upper hide n seek to lower hide n seek back to the car...close to 7 miles of single track, 90% of it downhill

[etacata]

Living near Windells allows me to hit Sandy Ridge pretty reugularly and watching this trail system develope and grow more and more popular each year has really amazed me. Just when you think it cant get any better they go and add this new trail! It trully is a gem! [I]t has a little bit of everything and then some.....i find myself doing multiple laps on it constantly in the past week.

Hats off to all the trail builders. I know there are a few youth work groups that have put in many hours building the trails and the work they are doing is incredible. Thank You!!

CB

ps. do you think the new trail will be part of the super D at all?

[Serenity Now]

Add my name to the list of fanboys. Unbelievable!! That trail system just gets better all the time. I heard they have plans to add another couple of miles before November. Bring it on.

The ultimate would be to include some singletrack alongside the paved climb so you can avoid roads altogether, but I don't know how realistic that is, and I'm surely not complaining about what they've done to date.

[pieschelc]

Trail looks awesome, I see they have a new trail guide map as well. The last trails were awesome but its a bit of a drive. Any videos would be sweet to see

[trimess]

The ultimate would be to include some singletrack alongside the paved climb so you can avoid roads altogether, but I don't know how realistic that is, and I'm surely not complaining about what they've done to date.

But that would require people who actually like to ride XC and not downhill/freeride only, which Portland area is seriously lacking.

I have been amazed at how no one in this area really likes to go uphill. technical uphills are a blast!

[poppa#1]

But that would require people who actually like to ride XC and not downhill/freeride only, which Portland area is seriously lacking.

I have been amazed at how no one in this area really likes to go uphill. technical uphills are a blast!

99% of the folks that I ride with do not find themselves in this catagory.Most of us actually live in Portland too.I would prefer more trail overall verses an up hill only trail.That road "climb" is pretty nice and relaxing.I think of it as a nice time to drink and rest the hands.

[toowacky]

Trail looks awesome, I see they have a new trail guide map as well. The last trails were awesome but its a bit of a drive. Any videos would be sweet to see

Link to new map:
Sandy Ridge Trail Map - August 2011

[Jaybo]

I rode it yesterday. It is an unbelievable trails for the gravity group with nasty rock and good flow; however, I bet the name will morph into something like: Hospital Ridge because guys are going to munch on it

I would like to see an uphill only trail built for guys like me who like to stay on dirt for the whole ride. I find the road climb boring.

[dangdang]

Hit up QPF yesterday for the first time as well. That trail is sweeeeeeet.
I gotta agree with Jaybo, the road is boring... but at least its quick!

[eporter]

Yet another vote of approval, and thanks for the work, on QPF. Those rock gardens are beautifully built. Nice addition of the rock drops in the gardens, and on the trail. I rode it all clean, only to get bogged up on the collapsed trail from animal burrows to root ledge combo towards the intersection with 338. Dang varmints...

The new Rock Drop access trail is smooooth. I rode the original rock drop access from 338 loop and it seemed a lot less technical and rocky. Maybe a few loads of gravel have been dumped in there?

Hide and seek trail was also in really great shape.

It all keeps getting sweeter.

[DavidGlennWhitman]

Me to try it this year

[noparking]

how much fun would the new trail be on a 8in dh bike?

[stunzeed]

how much fun would the new trail be on a 8in dh bike?

Too much pedaling for a DH bike, the jump sections are tight and then you have to climb out of QPF to get back to hide and seek

[sgf2]

Just hit it Saturday too. Great trail!

Have to say, forget all this uphill trail talk for now. I'm sure i can speak for most of us... We'd rather have another trail or two for going down vs a climbing trail. Road is boring, but easy and quick.

and Nopark, it would suck with an 8 incher its down but there's still lots of pedaling...

[dangdang]

Too much pedaling for a DH bike, the jump sections are tight and then you have to climb out of QPF to get back to hide and seek

I agree. The elevation gain on the way out to hide seek would definitely be a bear on a DH bike...

[Jaybo]

I don't think there is enough elevation loss to justify a downhill bike; however, a 6" bike like the Banshee Rune would eat it up. A really cool bike for the all mountain guy who likes kickers and jumps. Igusta would love it! He would probably do so many laps he would need someone to intervene to keep him from hurting himself

[jgusta]

I don't think there is enough elevation loss to justify a downhill bike; however, a 6" bike like the Banshee Rune would eat it up. A really cool bike for the all mountain guy who likes kickers and jumps. Igusta would love it! He would probably do so many laps he would need someone to intervene to keep him from hurting himself

Haha, yeah rode it for the first time last Friday night afterwork. Was pretty pleased with it, but the knee didn't care for the slow, pedally rock gardens all that much even with +6" of travel up front (when healthy again should be fine though). Really liked when the trail opened up for the burmy, table, double sections, even though they are a little tight in sections and require sufficient speed and timing to hit them all right. I think a DJ or slackish hardtail would be fine on this section as well since trail is pretty smooth once past the couple manufactured rock gardens at the beginning. All good stuff regardless and looks like this year's Super D course will be ran on it, should be a good one and I am very tempted to do it

[JPDX]

Looking forward to riding it now that it's open. And to follow the other posters about the gravel being spread all over Hide n Seek, please no more F'n gravel at the work parties! Hide n Seek is nothing like it used to be now with the gravel spread all over it. That stuff is just plain unsafe. How about a work party to remove it from the trail?

[jgusta]

Yeah it hard to welcome the addition of gravel all over the natural, organic dirt surfaces. But FWIW, I am riding lower H&S much faster than I have ever have right now due to improved trail design over the years and I have been riding there fairly regularly since fall of 2009 when it first opened. Even though there is a bit of loose gravel right now, it's still bedding in more and more over time and will keep the trail rolling most of the year (much better than the eroding slime for turns that was there before and will get better with time). I usually don't like manufactured stuff on natural trails, but man I am having a blast on that trail right now. Thanks to all builders/designers and work groups up there, you rock!

[toowacky]

Hide n Seek is nothing like it used to be

Yep

There's definitely some extra gravel from efforts by volunteers and contractors to repair and armor/reinforce H&S, both before and after the Super D series in particular.

I don't think there will be a work party to remove gravel, but you're welcome to join fellow riders this winter/spring at a Sandy Ridge trail work day... and have direct input into how the trail is maintained. Like, you could say, "I think there's enough gravel here, so let's dig a trench and armor with larger rocks over there and then top with dirt".

There's a lot of rock, dirt, gravel and paver blocks that volunteers have hauled over the past couple of winters, making the trail better each time. Doesn't mean it always works out 100% each time, but overall the trail improves a ton. H&S is sooo not what it was... that's a good thing, and it will continue to get better. That's a big Thank You to Sandy Ridge volunteers.

[Lil' Red]

Yep

There's definitely some extra gravel from efforts by volunteers and contractors to repair and armor/reinforce H&S, both before and after the Super D series in particular.

I don't think there will be a work party to remove gravel, but you're welcome to join fellow riders this winter/spring at a Sandy Ridge trail work day... and have direct input into how the trail is maintained. Like, you could say, "I think there's enough gravel here, so let's dig a trench and armor with larger rocks over there and then top with dirt".

There's a lot of rock, dirt, gravel and paver blocks that volunteers have hauled over the past couple of winters, making the trail better each time. Doesn't mean it always works out 100% each time, but overall the trail improves a ton. H&S is sooo not what it was... that's a good thing, and it will continue to get better. That's a big Thank You to Sandy Ridge volunteers.

[Jaybo]

If you remove the rock you get mud in the winter. It is a catch 22. The area doesn't drain super well and needs some love to stay intact. Great work, guys!l.

[toowacky]

ps. do you think the new trail will be part of the super D at all?

<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/28061431?byline=0&amp;portrait=0&amp;color=c9ff23" width="400" height="225" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/28061431">Sandy Ridge Course Preview</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/krisjamieson">Kris Jamieson (Jaymo)</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>

[toowacky]

Also, this in from Bama, who Fat Tire Farm has hired to work @SRTS this summer (Thanks FTF!):

(disclaimer: we haven’t finished it yet)

On the 338 loop traveling counter-clockwise direction (that’d be the “normal” direction), after the view-point, just before you hit the junction of 338 and Hide and Seek, there’s a section of gravel berms followed by some rollers. The rollers end with a fast right-hand berm that goes into an abrupt switchback.

Bama blog: 338 Stepin’ it up

[mattsavage]

Also, this in from Bama, who Fat Tire Farm has hired to work @SRTS this summer (Thanks FTF!):



Bama blog: 338 Stepin’ it up

Awesome, cause that usually requires grabbing a bunch of gears to hammer up the switchback and searching for the lever on the seatpost to raise it up (for those of us who don't have a remote...).

[eporter]

Nice, I wondered what the giant pile of gravel and newly cut "shortcut" through the switchback were for.

[KTMDirtFace]

That looks really fun. It looks like the whoops in bend but with some rocks and other fun stuff? I like rocks.

Is this trail in Sandy? I may go to the Mountain View MX track this saturday in sandy how far are these trails from there?

[Lil' Red]

That looks really fun. It looks like the whoops in bend but with some rocks and other fun stuff? I like rocks.

Is this trail in Sandy? I may go to the Mountain View MX track this saturday in sandy how far are these trails from there?

About 20 minutes, it's not a bad drive.

[B42]

Toowacky, thanks for the great video. I appreciate all the time you spent editing that, it's not easy, and you did a great job.

Someone mentioned some new sections of trail. They (the trail gnomes) have already plotted it out, named it, and started on it. Link to the info: Winner!!! The New Trail at Sandy Has Been Named! | Northwest Trail Alliance
It starts where you finish the climb out of 338 on a bench in a clearing. I happened to take a few pictures there a while ago because the view was so nice. The center red pin is the GPS location of those pictures, and hence the start of that new trail.

MobileMe Gallery
Latitude: 45° 23' 27.6" N
Longitude: 122° 1' 19.2" W

[strader]

I checked out QPF yesterday. Sweet trail, props to the builders!
I don't find the gravel bad at all, and it looks like it's doing the job it intended. Remember a year or two ago when they had to close Sandy ridge whenever there was a serious rain? With the amount of use it's getting it would be a rutted mess without the gravel armoring. There must have been 40 people there last night.
As an aside, anyone know what's up with the tabletop at the start of the last jump/berm section on H&S? The landing appears to be really short and steep for the length and speed of the table. Like if you clipped the back wheel on the end of the table it looks like you could go otb? I'm no dirt jumper, so maybe it's just fine the way it is.

[toowacky]

Toowacky, thanks for the great video. I appreciate all the time you spent editing that, it's not easy, and you did a great job.

I can't take credit for that, I just linked to it. Jaymo of Windell's/NWSOF put that together. Sweet vid, though... anyone have any more HD helmet cam vids of the new section?

And now....

Gravel report 20110824:

Just talked w/ the BLM, and it sounds like a lot of the gravel has been swept off the trail-- to be reapplied as necessary when things get sloppy this winter. And things will get sloppy, but hopefully not as bad this year, given the work last winter.

The new trail that's still being worked on (Two turntables & a microwave) will go from the aforementioned "Proposal Point" off 338 and connect in at the bridge of H&S. If you look at the topo of the area, you'll see it's really steep. The trail will favor a 6" bike and have tons of burly rock.

Anyway, should be rippin' for the Super D! Trail is hard and fast right now.

[free-agent]

please consider grabbing a NWTA/IMBA membership sign-up card at the upper kiosk on your next ride. They are in a bad@ss looking mailbox.

The organizations and trails need your support. It's only $30 to become a member of both for one year (about the price of a chain), and there are many other benefits as well.

Or, click here to sign up online. Trails like Sandy Ridge wouldn't exist without your support. Also, the more members we have the more political clout we have as we continue to find new places to build trails, bike parks, pumptracks, etc.

Cheers!
Brian

[poppa#1]

I thought that the gravel was fine last Sunday.Compared to the last trip it was great!The new rock gardens are fantastic.Thanks

[jgusta]

please consider grabbing a NWTA/IMBA membership sign-up card at the upper kiosk on your next ride. They are in a bad@ss looking mailbox.

The organizations and trails need your support. It's only $30 to become a member of both for one year (about the price of a chain), and there are many other benefits as well.

Or, click here to sign up online. Trails like Sandy Ridge wouldn't exist without your support. Also, the more members we have the more political clout we have as we continue to find new places to build trails, bike parks, pumptracks, etc.

Cheers!
Brian

[Glide the Clyde]

I like this one posted by Shane Wilson on the IMBA website with of some of the work and build process as well as some riders giving it the shakedown.

[jgusta]

I like this one posted by Shane Wilson on the IMBA website with of some of the work and build process as well as some riders giving it the shakedown.

Was that a "seggy" in the Life Cycles movie

I like that one too, it captures the soul and spirit of trail building and riding at Sandy Ridge. Dude on purple bike rips big time, like his style

Thanks for posting this!

[jmountain]

I wasn't aware of how it gets in the off season (I'm off snowboarding) so yep sounds like the gravel is a good necessity and to that I say Rock On!!

[lifeis11]

i was planning on riding this weekend, but it looks like the super d is this coming weekend?! any idea if i could ride it fri, sat or sun?

[ride_nw]

i was planning on riding this weekend, but it looks like the super d is this coming weekend?! any idea if i could ride it fri, sat or sun?

Relevant details here about trail closure on saturday and shuttle options. Looks like friday is wide open, not sure on sunday:
http://www.oregonsuperd.com/w/wp-con...Schedule-2.pdf

[lifeis11]

good info, thanks guy.

looks like its going to be friday early or not at all...

[toowacky]

Of perhaps some interest for fans (or hecklers):

Brian Lopes' Twitter (thanks Matt Savage for the tip) indicates he's racing the Super D

[strader]

Bummer, they just announced Quid Pro Flow won't be part of the race course:
http://www.oregonsuperd.com/w/wp-con...ouncement1.pdf

I was really looking forward to racing it, but they have their reasons.

This is a pretty exciting bit though from the announcement about their plans for next year:

Next year the Oregon Super D Series will become full Enduro multi-stage events with some of the old tracks, but with the addition of new and different tracks as well as
different formats.

[jgusta]

Bummer, they just announced Quid Pro Flow won't be part of the race course:
http://www.oregonsuperd.com/w/wp-con...ouncement1.pdf

I was really looking forward to racing it, but they have their reasons.

This is a pretty exciting bit though from the announcement about their plans for next year:

Yeah, a lot of people seemed to be looking forward to doing QPF with the race, but think it's for the best they are not. But, I am biased, cause I am very likely to do the race now unless my surgeon says no way tomorrow. The rock gardens on QPF and the semi-long climb out were just a little too harsh on my rehabilitating knee (ruptured patellar tendon repair 9 weeks ago) and I am able to run the old course with no probs, other than having to use an adjustable seatpost for the little climbs on the course as evident by my ride tonight.

[mattsavage]

Yeah, a lot of people seemed to be looking forward to doing QPF with the race, but think it's for the best they are not. But, I am biased, cause I am very likely to do the race now unless my surgeon says no way tomorrow. The rock gardens on QPF and the semi-long climb out were just a little too harsh on my rehabilitating knee (ruptured patellar tendon repair 9 weeks ago) and I am able to run the old course with no probs, other than having to use an adjustable seatpost for the little climbs on the course as evident by my ride tonight.

Yeah, I second that. Originally I said do it, but after doing several laps on it over the last couple weeks, I've decided it's just too much for a race. For the pro's, sure, they train for this , but the majority of us below Cat 1, it would just be too hard to be competitive, even in our own class. Dangerously exhausting, by the time you're halfway down Hide and Seek you're riding by Braille, making mistakes, braking late, not looking ahead or through corners... Just surviving....

The original course is just about perfect for a fun, fast, competitive course. Maybe after the new Turntable...Ironing Board (whatever it's called) trail is done, it'll be a good way down from QPF for a new Super D course.

I think there should be a side trail that cuts that climb out from the low point of QPF and goes straight over, sidehill, to tie into the new turntable trail. But, I haven't looked at the contours to see if that's doable... Probably. That would be fun and fast.