The digging is done, the trails have bedded in and the new Lee Quarry trails are now ready to ride. The pump track was tested and the bits that didn’t work were pulled out and rebuilt. You have to work hard on it, but the rewards are well worth it. You don’t have to be an expert either, just start by trying to get all the way round without pedalling. Start with wheels on the ground and ‘pump up the jam’. There are going to be some shenanigans on this little track at the Singletrack Classic Weekender
It’s not all pumping, humping and thumping though. There are two new climbs. Here’s a shot of the new first climb, which opens up the northern area of the quarry.
The whole section was built using the uber tool of trail building – the walking excavator. This thing can move in so many ways it’s freakily alive. Have to say I was a bit spooked by it, especially when it just walks off down a crazy steep slope. I also had to scramble about underneath it, chucking rocks to act as foundations for rock slabs that the big machine was holding up.
Keep going up this climb and you’ll tackle plenty of rock slabs, giving plenty of technical challenge. This red graded trail then goes into smoother singletrack with a couple of wall rides thrown in if you fancy them.
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The skills area features are now all connected together into loops. In addition to the balance beams, see saw, step ups and rocks slabs there are now berms, learner table top and drop offs, rollers and loose rock surfaces. Hours of fun are to be had.
Leading down in to the skills area are four new lines approximately 250m long, which are graded from red to black. There is a red pump line and berm line and two harder berm, roller, jump lines. You’ll have to go up there to see them though, because I haven’t had chance to photograph them yet!
And finally….There is now a Slab to rival the one up at Gisburn Forest.
The next instalment of this blog will be all about the nearby Cragg Quarry and the new 4.5km trail that is there.
Ed Oxley
The new stuff is awesome! The first climb in particular is more fun than I ever thought a climb could be and is a real challenge. I can see myself spending many an hour in the skills area too, such a good opportunity to practice and improve.
I look forward to seeing what you and Rowan and the rest of the crew can do at Cragg, can’t wait to link the two together.
Good work Ed!
That looks great, can’t wait to try it out.
Amazingness…
..what is the link to Singletrack and who is paying for it all?
It’s our local “playground”. We’ve been kinda consultants about the stuff there since before there was stuff there. Lancs County Council fund a lot of it.
And it’s where our Singletrack Classic Weekender will take place on July 3rd!
The Aggregates Levy is a source of funding. Basically this is a tax levied on the quarrying industry, the proceeds of which are invested in communities which have suffered the effects of quarrying.
Tony Lund the Lancashire County Council Countryside Officer is one of the prime movers behind this project. He should be inducted to the northern mountain bike hall of fame!
Looks mint. Might try and get up there on my week off in a couple of weeks time…
Looks great! I’ve gotta get over there 🙂
adds to list of rides to do for my week in Calderdale over Easter 🙂
rode this yesterday
It’s ACE!
What they have done with the new sections is frankly awesome. The Slab is great.
Couldn’t find the drop off section though??
Check out the ripplemarks on some of those slabs!
afrothunder88 – The drop offs are in a corner of the skills area near the bottom of the two red skills lines.
I;ve been up twice in the last week but haven’t found the pump track yet??
Bregante – Just ask someone where it is when you’re there!
Alternatively, climb up the main track from the parking area at the bottom, but don’t turn left onto the red climb. Stay on the main track as it goes up and round to the right and up into the main quarry. You’ll come to the pump track.
Take my hat off to all involved, fantastic work. Just shows what could be done with so many sites in the area. The new section at the top is fantastic though didn’t get to ride it all coz my mate snapped his rear mech (and suffered a severe case of quarry rash…) Goin to up to Cragg Quarry in the morning. Happy days for local riders