Black Canon Collective

Category: Building

  • TRAIL CHANGE – PLEASE READ

    Basically we’ve started the first phase of re-building and tweaking 143, and as such it will now ride very differently:

    The kicker that shoots into the seating area (with the left hand side option; thread the needle) has been completely re-built; it’s now set back 2-3 ft, has a bigger transition, is a little kicky AND there’s now a proper full width landing to aim for.

    Please ride it carefully as it feels completely different, so you’ll need to take a slow run first to get a good feel for the kick before going for it…

    Cheers

  • Dig Day – come and have your say!

    Sunday 10-5

    We’ll start by discussing peoples ideas for the new XC Descent (BDT) and the new OneFourThree lower section, looking at the trail corridors and getting some stuff down on paper. We’ll mark out a route and try and take some measurements so that we can produce a good sketch for everyone to use when generating ideas before the next dig day.

    Then we’ll work on repairing some features on Spoons, mounting some new signs on the noticeboard, and giving the area a tidy up before making a list of any the existing features that need repairing, and wish list changes to existing trails so that we can get materials before the next dig day.

    See you there!

  • Many hands make light work…


    Marion and Neil (Robin’s Parents) have worked really hard over the past year to secure some funding so that they could rejuvenate their local playing fields, something that will benefit everyone at Corsley and nearby.

    Yesterday the Black Canon Collective were proud to be a small part of their project as we installed a load of pre-fabricated bike track features and built some tasty berms.

    With so many kind volunteers we managed to go from standing in a bit of scraggly field to riding around an awesome little bike track within a day, something that genuinely seemed impossible at the start of the day. But we were treated like kings with a never ending supply of bacon butties, sausage rolls, tea, coffee biscuits, cookies, squash and sandwiches being supplied from the pavilion through out the day. It was great, and certainly made sure we had enough energy to finish the task, and do a bit of riding right at the end.

    The track has got a start ramp, four berms (one of which is a three way berm), two rollers, a stepped ramp, a balance beam and two little kickers; it’s flipping ace.

    With the summer approaching it’s sure to get lots of use and will be the perfect place to learn to ride features for kids an adults alike, so go and have a look for yourself.

    Thanks to everyone who came along to lend a hand, be proud, you did a great job and made a wonderful thing, but most of all thanks to Neil and Marion without whom it wouldn’t have happened at all.

    Now, what’s the lap record…Robin…?

  • Home Grown – The Ride Journal

    A little while ago I wrote an article for The Ride Journal about The Allotment; how it came to be, what it means to me, and how important it is to the club. On Thursday the article was published along with a wonderful illustration by Matt Wellsted that was commissioned especially for the piece. If you click on the bottom image you will be able to view it at a higher resolution, which should be big enough to read…


  • Dig Day – the results…

    Thanks to all those who made it out to the Dig Day on Sunday!
    We achieved everything we set out to do (thanks largely to Curtis and his ace fence posting skills) but fell short of being able to start any of the new sections or features for lack of additional bodies. As well as what I’ve snapped on my iPhone we also raked and repaired the whole of Puppets lower section (including a tweak to the last corner), raked over MCC (to keep it loamy and fun) and scoped out the climbing sections for the Dinner ’til Dusk trail.
    The trails are holding up real well, and with a bit of TLC they should be in great condition fo the summer, but what new stuff would you like to build with us? What do you daydream about riding there? What trails do your imaginations carve down the hill? It’d be great to get a real army of people to the next Dig Day so that we can continue to add to the trails so that the Allotment stays fresh and rides sweet….

  • Dig Day – Sunday 11-3

    Happy new year to you all!

    So, what better way is there to start the year than to come along to the Dig Day from 11:00 until 15:00 tomorrow (Ok, you could always take part in the SPAM Winter Challenge , which will be ace as always… but, well… OK, back to this…)?

    The aim of the Dig Day will be to erect the new notice board, tidy the trails up and to look at improving the sharp right hander before the rock garden on Spoons. There will also be some work on MCC (the XC descent) with Ian in preparation for the next Diner ’til Dusk event and the final of the TickerTape Winter Series.

    So, see you tomorrow!

  • the subtle nuances of urban recycling

    Well despite the forecast the weather was fine, in fact it was a wonderful day to be at the allotment. For those who chose indoor in favour of outdoor – well, you missed out. Plenty got done and we had a good time doing. We now have a great new race line on spoons with a nice little rock garden. I say *little* because compared to those found on rockier slopes it’s not much of a feature – BUT given our loamy location you’d be encouraged to focus upon the sheer determination required to locate and assemble such a collection of rocks. Sure it all looks a little muddy right now, but one shower and every stone will shine through.
    The corners before will offer some flat out drifty lushness and will develop as they get ridden over the next few months. Nothing completely new, just subtle tweaks to make it all knit together with flow.
    As for the rest of the allotment; we sorted every bit of drainage de-clogging old and cutting new to keep the trails running sweet come rain or shine.
    Thanks to those that came and did, hope to see some more of you next time….

    dig

    IMG_1077

  • DH Dig Day – Sat 5th June

    Its Dig Day this Saturday and there’s plenty to do!

    We’ll be aiming to continue work on the new bottom section of BBMS which will include; bench cutting the new line, building a catch berm, building up a drop and then continuing to clear the trail to the very bottom.

    Hopfully plenty can make it out, it should be great weather and would be ace to be able to open this new line by the end of the day. Oh, you might need insect repellent though but dont worry if you haven’t got any – we’ll be selling it on the day!

    See you there… (starts at 10:00am and finishes at 16:00, any help during this time is greatly appreciated)…

  • Weeeeeeee Boing

    Today 8 people made it out to the DH dig day

    (given that it’s Easter weekend that’s pretty good – what with so many people being away)

    Everyone worked hard through the rain and constant bullying – “I can’t see any digging!!!! Chedge stop standing there, Ben jump up and down on the mud, Josh…Josh….JOSH!!!!”

    By the end of the day we’d finished the massive berm at the bottom of ‘Battery Hill‘ (on ‘Puppets‘), dug up two monster stumps and started the long loamy raking mission to clear the bottom section of the trail.

    The lads below had become a trail digging version of the A-Team, so it seemed only fair that they get to name the feature they’d worked so hard to make. After everyone had a go riding it, giggling like kids riding a massive new berm with a kicker at the end (!) they had made their decision…..

    What I hadn’t expected was that they would choose to call it “Weeeeee Boing“, yes, as in the sound of someone riding the berm whilst saying “weeeeee”, then “boing” as they jumped off the end. And Yep. I know…. no really.

    But do you know what? It’s a great name because as far as I’m concerned they, and the others who worked hard on it last dig day, have earned the right to call it what ever they like.

    Well done Ben, Ben, Ian, Josh, Max, Robin and Sam – you’ve made a monster and then gone and called it Betty.

    (Puppets is now officially open again, although the bottom section will still need some work to finish it off)

  • Holiday Dig Special

    I know, that’s ridiculous – it’s always special!

    Come along to the dig day this sat from 10:00 until we get tired (so around 17:00 ish)

    We’ll be working on Puppets and will stand a good chance of getting it all finished which will mean we can open the trail up again!!!

    So, the usual drill – you bring a rake, lunch, some elbow grease and hard graft and we’ll match that with tools, doughnuts and some elbow grease of our own. Beans.

    p.s. look what we were building this time last year…(worked out pretty well ey..?)