Dalethorpe Forest Trail, Sheffield, Canterbury - 11 August 2013

[Transalper]

Dalethorpe Forest Trailride near Sheffield, Canterbury is on again this coming Sunday, 11 August 2013.
I'm thinking very seriously about it this time, anyone else going?
I know some people say it's their favourite. Mostly forest hills instead of open paddock for a change (so I'm told)... and a river.

Grenville's (the organizer's) blurb...

Dalethorpe Forest Trailride

Sunday 11 August we will be holding the best forestry event in the South Island. Ever wondered why the North Island enduro riders make the SI riders look so slow, well they don’t ride riverbeds and wide open paddocks, just slippery forestry trails. Hone your riding skills and experience single track trails winding through the trees. They are planning to start logging this forest in the next twelve months so these trails are not going to be around for too much longer. For children and novice riders there will be plenty of options available so you don’t miss out on a good ride also.

Cost is $50 unless you take the kids for the family rate.

Flyer link here from the myrides site . (http://www.myrides.co.nz/content.asp?syscmd=dl&ID=02152BAC1B524FCB8FAF5D0AF4DDCD26)

[mattsdakar]

Dalethorpe Forest Trailride near Sheffield, Canterbury is on again this coming Sunday, 11 August 2013.
I'm thinking very seriously about it this time, anyone else going?
I know some people say it's their favourite. Mostly forest hills instead of open paddock for a change (so I'm told)... and a river.

Grenville's (the organizer's) blurb...

Cost is $50 unless you take the kids for the family rate.

Flyer link here from the myrides site . (http://www.myrides.co.nz/content.asp?syscmd=dl&ID=02152BAC1B524FCB8FAF5D0AF4DDCD26)

Hey TA,
I've done this ride three times and love it, lots of single track thru trees and quite a long river bed section with multiple crossings as well as knarly hill climbs.
The forest sections makes it quite unique as far as Canterbury trailrides go
Unfortunately I'm working Saturday night and Sunday so can't make it this year
I don't think people will be disappointed!

[Dent]

I am intending to be there. The forestry can be fairly challenging, both up and down the hills under the pines.
The river section will get you wet, so bring the right clothing etc. I recall last year it was fairly cold and I stopped to wring out my gloves they were that wet - possibly because I was going a little faster than strictly necessary :)

The forecast predicts some rain Fri/Sat (3-5mm) and less on Sunday. If it gets too wet it may be postponed.

[fridayflash]

lucky buggers, im salivating after reading the blurb:drool:
anyone wanna lend me an bike...ill be there saturday night!

[Transalper]

Yeah been watching videos from last year (it was postponed by a couple of weeks back then because of the wet weather, I'm on grenvilles email list for notification) and spoken to people who love the ride.
The videos have me pretty keen now. Last couple of years several things such as money (meaning no gas/ no suitable tyres at the time/ etc etc) being a main reason stopped me going.
This year I'm all set up.

WR has heated grips so that helps with cold wet hands, not a miracle cure but helps.
I should be easy to spot, I don't bother taking the road gear or big tank off the WR so will be riding in full ADV spec. (minus mirrors)

couple of last times videos I've watched...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7JNuSJknEo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7JNuSJknEo)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTUTHGHT2Y8 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTUTHGHT2Y8)

WR on the Foxdown trailride Sunday just gone.
285905

[fridayflash]

i like your style man! ive trail rode in adv trim before too...even raced my xr650r in an mx in full roadie trim
incl mirrors..then rode home again.bit of fun but i dont think ill do it again lol

[pete-blen]

looks like it will be a good day out...
how the hell do I get the bike there
don't really want to ride it there & back..

[Transalper]

looks like it will be a good day out...
how the hell do I get the bike there
don't really want to ride it there & back..

If R can't make it then you can take his spot in the Van. Will confirm when we are sure.

[pete-blen]

If R can't make it then you can take his spot in the Van. Will confirm when we are sure.

That would be great ... If yer got a spot...:woohoo:
Got to fiddle with the clutch on sat.... Rekluse has way 2 much slippy at the moment...:mad:

[Transalper]

That would be great ... If yer got a spot...:woohoo:...
Yep, confirmed I have a vacancy in the van, hope your bike fits in, should do, bit surprising what fits through the door.

[pete-blen]

Yep, confirmed I have a vacancy in the van, hope your bike fits in, should do, bit surprising what fits through the door.


It's only the 250... not the 660...
Think I put it back to a manual clutch for
the day... Then I know it will work....

[Transalper]

It's only the 250... not the 660...
Think I put it back to a manual clutch for
the day... Then I know it will work....
Been talking to a man who knows the ride well, hope you have sharp tyres and are good with slippery exposed tree root covered hills... being from Nordie land I'm thinking you have experience.
He suggested I use my lower gearing option so will be sticking the 12T front back on with 49 rear.
Says it's the manliest one of Grenvilles and to take nibbles because there are no short ways back if we have a bad day.

[pete-blen]

Been talking to a man who knows the ride well, hope you have sharp tyres and are good with slippery exposed tree root covered hills... being from Nordie land I'm thinking you have experience.
He suggested I use my lower gearing option so will be sticking the 12T front back on with 49 rear.
Says it's the manliest one of Grenvilles and to take nibbles because there are no short ways back if we have a bad day.

A nice brand new set of michelin AC10....:cool:
nibbles... pocket full of muslie bars....:drool:
Bad day!!!... How hard can it be...:sweatdrop

[Transalper]

...
Bad day!!!... How hard can it be...:sweatdrop

Hard.

Might take the indicators, carrier and little white windscreen off after all.

Not going to overthink it any further though so will go with that.
PM or txt to arrange pick up... aiming for on the road about 8am I guess

[pete-blen]

Hard.

Might take the indicators, carrier and little white windscreen off after all.

Not going to overthink it any further though so will go with that.
PM or txt to arrange pick up... aiming for on the road about 8am I guess

I will come around to you before 8am... bikes kept only a few mins from your place..

[Transalper]

I will come around to you before 8am... bikes kept only a few mins from your place..

Sweet....... bring it on.

[pete-blen]

maybe a wee bit muddy & wet 2morrow...:cold: :facepalm:

[Transalper]

Yep and the tree roots more slippery than ever. I'm used to them on the flat, adding hill should be interesting.
Have removed the roady bits from WR now. Front end was a 5 minute job but the rear blinkers took for ever to get in to to remove.
Dropped to 12T front sprocket too at Lintons suggestion.

Dug the POV Camera up and charging batterys now too.

[pete-blen]

I have put heavyer clutch springs in..
sure that was the prob..the Rekluse had
nothing to work against...
Seems better.... guess I will know 2morrow

[Transalper]

Good stuff, fine weather all day.
40.4km loops (by GPS reading).
Took us about 3 hours each... got passed a lot, only passed people who were stopped or stuck, the whole thing was a bit tighter and trickier than the usual rides but all quite dooable.
The boggy ditches near the start messed me up on the second lap, got through them ok on lap 1.
Tried the middle enduro deviation on lap 2, it undid me a bit loosing the front several times on the roots.

[pete-blen]

Yer those roots got me more than once or even twice....
All in all it was a great ride... 40km under trees is
something yer don't get to do very often....
And about 3k down the river with 15 or more water crossings..

thanks TA for takeing the bike out... I wouldn't have been
able to do it other wise....

[mattsdakar]

Yer those roots got me more than once or even twice....
All in all it was a great ride... 40km under trees is
something yer don't get to do very often....
And about 3k down the river with 15 or more water crossings..

thanks TA for takeing the bike out... I wouldn't have been
able to do it other wise....

Good stuff fellas, told you it was a rippa!

[Dent]

It certainly was a good day. I was trying to decide if I should go, looking at all the rain in chch, but its such a good ride I went anyway.
Well 2/3 of the way there the rain stopped and it was clear it had not rained at Dalethorpe that day.

The track was what I expected. First loop I stopped a few times and took about 2.20. It was a fairly clean lap, one small fall and one missed corner, so I was feeling good about that.
After lunch I decided to try the 1st enduro on the 2nd loop. That was a slight step harder than the main track forestry, and yep the roots were tricky. Well done to Grenville for getting the difficulty just a step harder, not too over the top there.

Later in the lap after the river I seemed to be making more mistakes on roots, and getting quite out of shape on the hills, which I put down to poor fitness and running low on energy. Took a few more longer stops after that. The last part of the forestry seems harder than it was, more roots etc. Took just on 3hrs with all my falls and stops.

Overall a good day.

[pete-blen]

didn't take meany pic.... heres a few
http://imageshack.us/a/img15/5871/6r6z.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img21/2619/5ui2.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img12/2121/ljq6.jpg

[browny]

http://imageshack.us/a/img12/2121/ljq6.jpg[/QUOTE]

looks like you found some ghosts there

[ShinySideUp]

Hi guys, I see this ride is coming up again in August. Totally like the thought of it, but it sounds tricky. Can you please advise how much harder it is than the twisty stuff at, say, West Melton/McLeans Island?

Happy in the forests and mostly okay with stream crossings, but inexperienced on hills and lack confidence on steep sections, up or down. Having said that, this month finally got off-road tyres which I expect will help a lot.

This trail sounds like so much fun.

Cheers.

[pete-blen]

Hi guys, I see this ride is coming up again in August. Totally like the thought of it, but it sounds tricky. Can you please advise how much harder it is than the twisty stuff at, say, West Melton/McLeans Island?

Happy in the forests and mostly okay with stream crossings, but inexperienced on hills and lack confidence on steep sections, up or down. Having said that, this month finally got off-road tyres which I expect will help a lot.

This trail sounds like so much fun.

Cheers.


It's well worth it.... 90% is like what yer see in the pics above with about a 3km river section &
the odd bog hole... The ground gives good trackton...
There's the main loop with easyer deviations for the familys/quads & the harder enduro deviations...
The main loop is about 40km around...
There was talk that the forest was to be logged so whether it's the Dalethorpe of old..guess we will find out...

I see you have a sherpa... if yer riding that.. lower the gearing... last year I rode my TTR250 with the road
gearing...spent 50% of the ride in first gear...

I will be there.....

[ShinySideUp]

Thanks Pete. Cheers for that. Enjoyed showing the family the pics. Looks like a great trail.